Harman to Negroponte: Deliver the NIE Before November
Harman to Negroponte: Deliver the NIE Before November
Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, has sent a letter to intelligence director John Negroponte demanding that he complete the second NIE on Iraq quickly, and release a declassified version before the elections in November. An excerpt:
NIEs have been produced in as little as several weeks, as in the case of the 2002 report on Iraqi WMD. While I understand the desire to be thorough, events in Iraq make it urgent that the Intelligence Community produce this NIE immediately. If your intention is to delay this report until after the November elections, I do not think that is appropriate given that U.S. troops are at risk at this moment. …
I urge you to expedite completion of the NIE and to release it in both classified and publicly releasable unclassified forms.
White House advisor Fran Townsend said yesterday, “My understanding is the planned release date, given the work that must be done to have it be comprehensive and complete, is January of ‘07.”
UPDATE: A reader tips us off to the following tidbit from the Council on Foreign Relations:
How long does it take to write an NIE?
NIE drafting guidelines included in the July 9 Senate report describe three rough timeframes: a “fast track” of two to three weeks, a “normal track” of four to eight weeks, and a “long track” of two months or more. The vice chairman of the NIC told Senate investigators that an NIE prepared in 60 days would be considered a very fast schedule and that NIEs typically take three to six months to complete.
Read the full letter:
September 27, 2006
The Honorable John Negroponte
Director of National Intelligence
New Executive Office Building
725 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20511Dear Director Negroponte:
I received your letter of September 26, in which you confirmed that the National Intelligence Council (NIC) is writing a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq. Though you promised that the NIE would be completed “in a timely manner,” senior White House officials have indicated publicly that the report may not be completed until January 2007.
This timetable is unacceptable. Sectarian violence, which has reached record levels and continues to grow, is putting our troops – not to mention millions of Iraqis – at grave risk. Furthermore, the proven ineffectiveness of U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces, an absence of effective infrastructure reconstruction, and political crises that threaten the fragile new polity have made it clear that we need a new strategy in Iraq.
NIEs have been produced in as little as several weeks, as in the case of the 2002 report on Iraqi WMD. While I understand the desire to be thorough, events in Iraq make it urgent that the Intelligence Community produce this NIE immediately. If your intention is to delay this report until after the November elections, I do not think that is appropriate given that U.S. troops are at risk at this moment.
U.S. policymakers need the Intelligence Community’s insights to determine how to defend our troops and our interests in Iraq. I urge you to expedite completion of the NIE and to release it in both classified and publicly releasable unclassified forms.
Sincerely,
Jane Harman
Ranking Member
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Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, has sent a letter to intelligence director John Negroponte demanding that he complete the second NIE on Iraq quickly…
As she sits on the Intelligence Committee, it means she has a pretty darned good idea of what the NIE should contain.
Negroponte… gads! how did we ever end up with this evil cabal?
September 27th, 2006 at 12:02 pmThis should be demanded – not asked for.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:06 pmnow if that aint’ convenient. what do you mean the work. the work to forge, hide, and only release ‘key judgments’. it’s a fricken piece of paper. go get and release it. f. nonsense.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:07 pmYou don’t think we might enter into the time of accountability do you? Remember Dems, when it’s our turn, no BS.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:08 pmLet’s see…Any minute Republicans will be calling her an out-of-control lesbian who hates America and our freedom.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:10 pmThe Bush Regime will probably have Karl Rove swiftboat Rep. Harman! They will never release the document that she asks for unedited!
September 27th, 2006 at 12:12 pmAlright, so far one Democrat has demanded the prompt release of the NIE. How about if all Democrats did so—and with a unified voice? How about if they made such righteously indignant statements as “the administration should not be playing politics when the security of this country is at stake”? That’s exactly what the Republicans would be doing if the shoe were on the other foot.
BigCynic.com
Read “Master narratives: Conservatives“
September 27th, 2006 at 12:20 pmI’m hearing some very strong voices for the cause of justice and integrity and honesty in (some of) our women Senators.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:24 pmTo those of you who are speaking out and standing up to the craven and cowering majority of male Senators,you may know that your courageous stances will be acknowledged and remembered come November 7th.
And Hillary, dear, we appreciate the sacrifice you are making in keeping up the appearance that you may have presidential aspirations. Drawing the attention of the cretinous right wing wacktoids away from the quiet groundswelling of consciousness building within the majority of Americans regardless of party affiliation; is a noble task.
The lightning rod you have become, and the admitedly underserved abuse which is being heaped upon your head makes it a rough go, I’m sure.
We are also trusting that you have the common sense to realize you are not the future leader America needs at this juncture.
If the new report is not released, the Dems have enough fuel to in all probabity to take the House and the Senate. If it is released and is bad as it seems, those Republicans up for midterms could stage a revolt against the administration during a special session after the recess and probably carry the day.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:26 pmHmmmm, has Negroponte been in conference with Pat Roberts?
Senator Coverup has this delay thing down to an exact science.
Oh, that’s right, Negroponte has to spend 3 hrs/day at the health
club, so it may take even longer than Roberts.
Is anyone else as sick of this bullshit & bravado song & dance
September 27th, 2006 at 12:28 pmas I am? Why do Neocons hate Americans?
…and that NIEs typically take three to six months to complete.
In three to six months we could all be dead!
September 27th, 2006 at 12:33 pmJohn negroponte, the Cliff Notes:
http://peoplegetready.blogspot.com/2005/03/john-negropontes-betrayal-of-american.html
With a record like this, he’s ready for his own show on Fox…
September 27th, 2006 at 12:38 pmSo Fran Townsend was full of it yesterday? There’s a shock. Flat out lied to the press. I wonder if the press will let it pass without challenge. Here’s what she said:
Why am I not suprised?
September 27th, 2006 at 12:45 pmIf all Democrats demanded the prompt release of the NIE it would be the best thing Republicans could hope for. Republicans would be shouting “treason,” “coup,” “Democrats hate our freedom,” “irresponsible,” “Democrats give comfort to the terrorists,” and Americans would panic. Dems poll numbers would plummet. Republicans win.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:50 pm…We are also trusting that you have the common sense to realize you are not the future leader America needs at this juncture.
Comment by aguafiero — September 27, 2006 @ 12:24 pm
very well put… and i heartily agree…
September 27th, 2006 at 12:51 pmIs this true ? the democrats have a back bone . Where have they been for the last 6 years , lost in the wilderness of mendacity ?
September 27th, 2006 at 12:52 pmIf you want to find out “what the truth is” surf the international net!
It is there and in ENGLISH and all over the place.
Personally, I do not need some yo-yo flack in the BUSH GOVERNMENT, and particularly not “KILLIN’ JOHN NEGROPONTE” to tell me what kind of shit the BUSH FASCIST CABAL has got us bogged down in. These “reports” are NOT GOING TO TELL US ANYTHING THAT WE DO NOT ALREADY KNOW!
This whole exercise is just more ROVIAN “smoke and mirrors” bushit to confuse the issue and provide distraction before the Midterms.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:01 pmThe back bone of their FASCIST DOGMA for this case is simple:”IF YOU CAN’T CONVENCE THEM WITH LOGIC, BAFFEL THEM WITH BUSHSUIT, of which they have and endless supply!
The first report was written in April , theres plenty time to release the second damning report
September 27th, 2006 at 1:11 pmThere are two issues I have with Representative Harman’s letter.
First, she was not strong enough.
Second, she addressed Negroponte as “The Honorable”
What she ought to do is drag his ass in, kicking and screaming, and get answers.
But alas, she is a Democrat and until next January, is left to P-R devices only.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:14 pmWho leaked the NIE? He needs to be arrested.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:40 pmWhat? Accountability? Responsibility? Integrity? Honesty? Openness?
September 27th, 2006 at 1:44 pmHeavens, what government does Harmon think she’s dealing with?
Asking for the release of a potentially damaging report just before an election? Has she lost her mind? This is like the Phase II that Pat Roberts was supposedly going to release last November, when it was already a year late. He was highly indignant that the upstart Democrats would challenge the delay.
This is Bush&Co. They answer to no one.
#16 – “Where have they been for the last 6 years , lost in the wilderness of mendacity ? ”
No, that’s where the Republicans have been.
The Dems have been shoved into the background by the Reps because the believe they’ll be the majority party forever more.
The Reps don’t pay attention to the past (no single party remains majority forver) and they ingore the present dis-satisfaction by voters with the ever increasing Republican failures.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:48 pmWait a minute! The report has already been released to several members of Congress including several Democrats.
So why can’t one of them release or leak a copy of the entire report to the public?
September 27th, 2006 at 1:50 pmWho leaked the NIE? He needs to be arrested.
Comment by pou
Since it appears that this report contradicts what the President and his staff are saying publicly, I think whoever leaked it should be given a medal!
September 27th, 2006 at 1:51 pm#20
Who leaked the NIE? He needs to be arrested.
Comment by pou — September 27, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
—–
Actually, whoever leaked the NIE needs to be congratulated and awarded a medal!
Three cheers for the leaker!!!
September 27th, 2006 at 1:53 pmRep. Jane Harman is someone I respect. I’m glad she is standing up to the administration. Rep, Jane Harman, please when they bend over, kick them straight in the ass, just for me!
Please realize that John Negroponte is part of the Federal Criminal System that I’ve been talking about and he’s one of many. Going after this report to we all learn what really was happening before election time is one issue out of many that we still need to get to the bottom of. There have been more backhanded games going on to cover things up for so many years that it’s mind boggling. This is why right now we need to stand up and push for what is right!
September 27th, 2006 at 6:19 pmYou have Nancy Pelosi and Jane Harman (whom I respect, especially Pelosi) in the House demading the release of the 2nd NIE, but not a single Senator is making that same demand? Did Clinton, Obama, Feingold, and Reid, just disappear into thin air?
September 27th, 2006 at 8:25 pmBig Cynic #7
You are absolutely right…
September 28th, 2006 at 3:14 amDemocrats should unite, get loud and demanding just like the screaming Reptiles. Think about it… the only people who wouldn’t like it are people who wouldn’t vote Democrat anyway!
Aguafiero #8
Right. Hillary would make a fine president, but at this point, it is so critical that we save our nation from the Reptiles, that we cannot afford the chance of running anyone but the “standard” white male. It’s just the way things are right now.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:17 amWake Up and Smell the Cash, Y’All
How blind does one have to be to not recognize that we really have only one political party in this country, with two sub-groups? It’s all about the benjamins people, period. Money to gain wealth and wealth to maintain power. How many of our federally elected officials are millionaires anyways? Far too many.
So go vote, Dem or Pug, it makes little difference. At the end of the day money will always rule and middle America will still carry the bulk of the burden.
All Hail Amerika!! The greatest Plutocracy money can buy.
September 28th, 2006 at 5:22 pm