Intelligence Community Won't Release Iraq NIE Report

[babylonsister]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/nottechnicallyannie_nie_wont_b.php

Not-Technically-An-NIE NIE Won't Be Released
By Paul Kiel - April 1, 2008, 5:35PM

We've been wondering whether the public will be seeing the results of the intelligence community's hard work on assessing the situation in Iraq. Turns out (not surprisingly, no). Spencer is the bearer of bad news:

For weeks, analysts within the 16-agency U.S. intelligence community have been toiling to complete an assessment of the situation in Iraq. This morning, it finally went to the Hill: the Senate and House intelligence committees, and the leadership in both chambers, are the proud owners of an update to the August 23, 2007 National Intelligence Estimate. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee received a briefing on it. But you'll never see it.

According to an administration official with knowledge of the intelligence process, this morning's intelligence document isn't itself a National Intelligence Estimate. "It's not a formal report," the official said, "it's more or less an assessment memo, an update to policy makers."

So does the intelligence community think that the political situation in Iraq is in a hopeless deadlock? That the security gains of the past few months are meaningful and lasting? Well, I guess we'll just have to take the word of Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker when they testify before Congress next week.

[zonmoy]

1. every antiwar

and conspiracy site this as covering up that they are an utter failure.

[babylonsister]

2. That's a perfect reason why they don't want it released. Also, the

last one, publically released months after it should have been, proved Iran was not the threat everyone's making it out to be. I imagine this has more of the same info; gawd forbid we're informed of that. They want to get their war on...again.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. But aren't Democrats in control of the committees? It would be an excellent political move

to show how screwed up it is and how insane it would be for McSameBush continue the same.

[spanone]

4. great question.....really great question.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

6. I'm hoping our guys aren't sitting on this, inorder to do something right before the election.

Voters would see right through it.

[superkia]

7. Psssst! The corruption in our government isnt one sided!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. pssssst....

Jay Rockefeller, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee made that crystal clear when voting to give the telecomms retroactive immunity.

[warren pease]

5. $20 says it's available on Wikileaks within two weeks. Any takers? n/t