NPR’s Rehm: Delayed Iraq NIE Will Undermine Case For Escalation
NPR’s Rehm: Delayed Iraq NIE Will Undermine Case For Escalation
Six months ago, Harper’s Ken Silverstein reported that “in spite of pressure from CIA analysts, intelligence czar John Negroponte was blocking a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq.” National Intelligence Estimates present the consensus view of the U.S. intelligence apparatus. Despite pressure from Congress, the administration insisted it could not complete the NIE until January 2007.
Last week, however, an administration intelligence official told senators that the report is still not complete. According to Silverstein, Senate hearing attendees “believe that senior intelligence officials are stalling because an NIE will be bleak enough to present a significant political liability.”
Yesterday, NPR host Diane Rehm may have revealed why the NIE remains so politically sensitive. On her national radio show, Rehm said:
It’s my understanding that the National Intelligence Estimate…is going to suggest that adding troops is the wrong way to go, that it’s not going to improve the situation.
Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and the House and Senate intelligence committee chairmen wrote President Bush “urging prompt completion of a national intelligence estimate (NIE) on Iraq first requested by Congress six months ago.” Read the full letter HERE.
Full transcript:
REHM: It’s my understanding that the National Intelligence Estimate — that now at least two months overdue — is going to suggest that adding troops is the wrong way to go, that it’s not going to improve the situation. Why has that NIE been delayed for so long? And was it deliberately delayed until after the election — after President Bush’s speech last night?
VIN WEBER: I don’t know. I doubt it. I mean, I don’t often buy into conspiracy theories in Washington. There’s too many reporters that uncover those.
REHM: Do you question that John?
JOHN PODESTA: Well, you know it was due in August. I think when they want to get something out, they get it out. And when they want to have more review, they have more reviews. So I think at this point that the Congress demand that that NIE be completed and provided to the Congress.
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45 Responses to “NPR’s Rehm: Delayed Iraq NIE Will Undermine Case For Escalation”
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And I’m supposed to be surprised that the administration once again manipulated intelligence for political gain?
January 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pmWasn’t the last NIE done in like 2 weeks? Amazing.
They should just fabricate the NIE and give us the finger. We’re used to it.
January 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pmDiane knows a lot of people but who in particular could have told her that?
January 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pmOf course they are blocking the intelligence.
January 25th, 2007 at 4:25 pmThey’ve been doing that internally for a long time.
An intelligent thought starts welling up in the cerebral cortex, and
WHAM. like a fly getting swatted, it’s put out of its misery if it conflicts with god’s version.
They will be lucky to get a response by 2009 whan this fool is out of office.. Unless ofcourse they do the will of the majority of the people and Impeach them all…Blessings
January 25th, 2007 at 4:27 pmDragging their knuckles is an odd Neoslut habit. It’s a carryover from the Neanderthal roots they share.
I don’t think they have the stomach for telling the truth.
They could be in their last throes, you know.
Vin Weber: Sold out, Bought out, Minnesota congressman has-been who just loves sucking Chimp toes. Yuk!
January 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pmFrankly, I’d find it easier to believe a house fell out of the sky and landed on the wicked witch of the East, than to belive Bush is operating this country’s government with the well-being of the people in mind. I just want to know one thing: when is the IMPEACHMENT?
January 25th, 2007 at 4:33 pm#7- Hahahahaha!
January 25th, 2007 at 4:34 pmHa Ha,
Cheney doesn’t have the stomach for the latest NIE. Niether does Bush, or any other supporter of this mess.
January 25th, 2007 at 4:40 pmNow the intelligence is being fixed to prevent the US from LEAVING Iraq.
My God, the nation is running out of time.
Please any civil servants reading this, do your best to bring the truth to light before America becomes a Newt Gingrich wet-dream and resorts to a dictatorship.
-GSD
January 25th, 2007 at 4:51 pmAll fundamentalist religions have terrorists…
http://www.cnn.com/ 2007/ LAW/ 01/ 22/ doc.killer.ap/ index.html
January 25th, 2007 at 5:05 pmFine. Let them put it off. If they release the information contained in the NIE now, it may be politically damaging to the neo-con repubs. But if they wait until closer to the 2008 elections, it will be even more so.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:09 pmFine. Let them put it off. If they release the information contained in the NIE now, it may be politically damaging to the neo-con repubs. But if they wait until closer to the 2008 elections, it will be even more so.
Comment by Chris
Excellent point. What’s a neocon to do when he’s spun himself into the corner? See post #2.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:16 pmWhy should anyone be surprised? It’s more of the same bs they’ve been using to jerk us around for the last 6 years. It’s too late for impeachment, think it’s time to storm the Bastille and hold a neck-tie party.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:18 pmWoo Woo uncle_ Ho, don’t ya know where that will go. see ya in jail dude.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:28 pmThis delay is just further proof that they cherry-pick evidence to bolster their already-determined path. Evidence? Proof? Facts? Recommendations? Intelligence? What’s that when George has his gut reflexes and Cheney provides the psychological stimulus.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:28 pmOn these sites, when a rightie is running around trying to disrupt the thread I hear a lot of people say things like: starve the troll. Well- We should do the same thing with Bush, Cheney and the rest of the administration: STARVE THEM! We should stop listening to them, demand thier exit, and demand thier impeachment and trial, immediately.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:39 pmBut the episode provided the Iraqi public with a live televised view of the extent of raw anger dividing Shiite and Sunni politicians.
or not.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
Thats about like you and I and TP eh Tator Butt Boy?
January 25th, 2007 at 5:47 pmHow can any congressmen/women allow an augmentation of the situation in Iraq without being allowed to see the most compreshensive intelligence assessment of the region. I have demanded to hear the responses of this from my congresspeople.
The American public has a right to know and a duty to hold our officals accountable.
Randy, I want to continue to question them and not let the attention span of the media to alter what the next hot issue is.
This needs to be brought out in the open once and for all.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:50 pmGSD, I agree~
I know it’s nice to think about the symbolic graves that these people are digging themselves for ‘08….but we can’t wait that long. I think we all know that, deep down. We have to worry about the real graves being dug now, for our troops, and the Iraqis.
We have to nip this in the bud, NOW.
Long article, but a good read about what we have/are creating when you have time…
January 25th, 2007 at 6:15 pmhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16610767/site/newsweek/
#21- My hot-headed response was not to infer that we ignore the officials, just not listen to as to BELIEVE them. Of course, we should ask the important questions and try to get to the bottom of the issues/intelligence. A true investigation is what is needed and I can only hope it is accurate and expediant. It goes without saying that honesty and above-board measures are what is called for and needed. Thanks for your input and exchange, 21.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:26 pmIs there a glitch w/ the post numbers again?
January 25th, 2007 at 6:32 pmYes, yes, yes- Let it all come out during the trials. Debates are for gentlemen. Trials are for criminals. And this administration is NOT composed of gentlemen.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:35 pmDuh,
January 25th, 2007 at 6:48 pmWhy else would they be stalling the NIE? NOTHING BUT bad news. Nothing left to do BUT re-deploy. Sure we might have to invade again in a few years, but the current situation ain’t workin’.
Liberal in NM, my comments weren’t directed at you. And I see that more postings have gone the way of the dodo. My frustration was directed at the politicians themselves that would rather protect their own ass then make the tough decisions.
Hagel is now speaking out and getting blasted by the right. But the American public is listening.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:53 pmSorry- I need some more peyote, Senor. And, you’re right. It’s great everyone is talking. We can all use a little more integrity, especially in public office.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:10 pmIf you want information don’t ask this administration. They have nothing to reveal. “It’s secret stupid!”
January 25th, 2007 at 7:31 pmShe shouldn’t make a statement like that without sourcing it. I’m not doubting her, but that really needs to be publicly sourced - at least as an “unnamed” source.
January 25th, 2007 at 8:02 pmSitting on an NIE because he disagrees has a certain Potemkin village flavor.
Folks, the nutometer just pegged.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:19 pmBut, but, how did they come up with the new plan without the NIE report? I guess the new plan is same as the old plans. I guess the administration will tell them further on up the road.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:31 pmDelayed Iraq NIE Will Undermine Case For Escalation…
"REHM: It’s my understanding that the National Intelligence Estimate —that now at least two months overdue — is going to suggest that adding troops is the wrong way to go, that it’s not going to improve the situation. Why has that NIE been…
January 25th, 2007 at 9:59 pmNational Intelligence Estimate? What intelligence? I’ve seen none thoughout the whole term of this administration.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:15 pm#34 - Bambi1950,
January 25th, 2007 at 10:32 pmI would guess none.
To: Zimzone, I do not appreciate your comparison between neocons and Neanderthal–frankly I think they would be mortified by the connection. The Neanderthal, after all, represent a distinct phase of cognitive and technological growth in our evolution. They wouldn’t be caught dead with a neocon.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:47 pmIt’s simple, bad news kept out of sight is out of mind.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:52 pmHere’s my theory: The NIE will not actually say what NPR is reporting. This is a plot by the Administration to discredit NPR. Yes, they’re that viscious and devious. Nixon was a choirboy by comparison.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:55 pmThe Bush administration is proof that laws were made to be broken….again and again and again and again ad infinitem…..
January 26th, 2007 at 12:03 amVin Weber is a bespectacled boil on our body politic, in my professional opinion.
January 26th, 2007 at 12:36 amIs anyone really surprised by this?
The troop ’surge’ ensures that we’ll be in Iraq for the rest of the Bush presidency. The Republicans entire Iraq strategy now is to hand it over to a Democratic president in 2009, so they can blame the horrendous mess on them. This will make them much more electable in 2010 for congress and 2012 for the presidency. It will be much like how the GOP blames the Democrats for 9/11, typical scum politics that half our public is so oblivious to they actually believe when the Goebbels style lies they hear repeatedly on FOX News, ABC, and the mainstream media.
We are a truly a nation of idiots, but by the time we realize it, our country will be so dumbed down internally, and in such extreme amounts of national debt, that China will be running all over us and the world in 30 years as the next global superpower. Let’s just hope they intend to stay peaceful.
January 26th, 2007 at 3:44 amSounds like this administration is in its “last thoes”…
January 26th, 2007 at 6:11 amDick the Snake, it’s probably more along the lines of treason charges against whoever released that specific info to Diane Rehm. Quite a pickle for the White House if it was true though, can’t wait to hear the explanation on this one.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:29 ambelieve me when i say that conservatives will blame the “liberal conspiracy” against Bush by the CIA with any negative findings in the NIE
January 26th, 2007 at 10:50 amJust continuation of pattern of intelligence manipulation and keeping the public in the dark.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:40 pmWow! Nasty electorate! So they lie for Halliburton stock & psycopath ideology. What’s new? They’re worse ideologes than the ideologes that they stirred up, who they got unemployed with AK47’s and bombs. Not much else to do when your country & job are gone.
January 27th, 2007 at 12:25 amIntelligence? What’s that?
January 28th, 2007 at 4:12 pm