Intelligence officials doubt Iran uranium claims, say Cheney receiving sus

[MiaCulpa]

The Bush administration continues to bypass standard intelligence channels and use what some believe to be propaganda tactics to create a compelling case for war with Iran, US foreign experts and former US intelligence officials tell RAW STORY.

One former senior intelligence official is particularly concerned by private briefings that Vice President Dick Cheney is getting from former Office of Special Plans (OSP) Director, Abram Shulsky.

"Vice President Cheney is relying on personal briefings from Shulsky for current intelligence on Iran," said this intelligence official.

Shulsky, a leading Neoconservative and member for the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), headed the shadowy and secretive Department of Defense's OSP in the lead-up to the Iraq war -- helping to locate intelligence that would support the Bush administration's case for war with Iraq.

In an earlier report by Raw Story on an OSP spin-off dubbed the Iranian Directorate (ID), Lt. Col. Barry E. Venable -- a spokesman for the Pentagon -- confirmed that Shulsky was consulting for this new initiative as well.

"Mr. Shulsky continues in his position as Senior Advisor to the USD, focusing on Mid-East regional issues and the ," stated Venable.

Several foreign policy experts, who wish to remain anonymous, have expressed serious concern that much like the OSP, the ID is manipulating, cherry picking, and perhaps even -- as some suspect -- cooking intelligence to lead the U.S. into another conflict, this time with Iran.

"Cheney distrusts the information being disseminated by CIA on Iran," said one former senior intelligence official. "The reports assembled by the Iranian Directorate at the Pentagon differ significantly from the analysis produced by the Intelligence Community. The Pentagon Iranian Directorate relies on thin and unsupported reporting from foreign sources."

In the build-up to the Iraq war, Cheney relied on intelligence almost exclusively from the OSP, which leveled allegations that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. This was later debunked, but no OSP or DOD officials were held accountable for what many believe was a "deliberate effort" to mislead the nation into war.

More: http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Intelligence_officials_doubt_Iran_uranium_claims_0818.html

[kimmerspixelated]

1. This is way beyond scary

It's hard to comprehend that we might actually "get fooled again"!

[jpak]

2. deja vu all over again

Is anybody going to believe them this time???

[rodeodance]

6. cheney does put the fear into people. so yes. i do think many will believe

[leesa]

3. Gee, it's too bad we don't have someone tracking these things, like, say

Brewster-Jennings, or some such company.

Will our government officials...all sworn to uphold the law and protect this nation, allow them to lie us into another war?

[MiaCulpa]

4. What I want to know is ...

who the hell do they think is going to fight this one???

[Disturbed]

5. "who the hell do they think is going to fight this one???

The US and Israeli Air Forces.

[MiaCulpa]

7. Oy

Time for torches and pitch forks, bitches!

[lyonn]

10. Good point leesa, Brewster-Jennings, and Valerie Plame

Seems that was their area of expertise? Cheney ran them out along with the intel in Afghanistan. The word intelligence needs a new definition as it can't mean being smart or knowing. It is called "stove piping", channeling, special operations....

[Sapere aude]

8. Why the hell are we not up in arms about the Vice Pres in charge of this?

Where is the dimson? He is the idiot-in-chief right?

[annabanana]

9. HEY "MAINSTREAM"!" Yeah.. You .. the f*ckers with the big

megaphones!

DO YER GODDAM JOB!!