Intelligence Community to Congress: “The dog ate my national intelligence estimate" (Harpers)

[kpete]

Intelligence Community to Congress: “The dog ate my national intelligence estimate”
Posted on Sunday, January 21, 2007. By Ken Silverstein.

SourcesBack in July, I reported that, in spite of despite pressure from CIA analysts, intelligence czar John Negroponte was blocking a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)on Iraq. A fresh NIE—which the CIA describes as “the most authoritative written judgment concerning a national security issue”—was badly needed because the prior one, which was leaked to the New York Times, had been completed two years earlier and had grown out of date. Negroponte was said to fear that given the worsening situation in Iraq a new NIE would of necessity be deeply pessimistic, and, if it leaked before last November's midterm elections, could cause great embarrassment at a critical time for the Bush Administration.

In response to the story, six U.S. senators called for a new NIE on Iraq, and in August the Senate passed an amendment demanding that one be prepared. I've just learned that, months later, the new NIE is still not ready—to the immense frustration of Congress.

The situation came to a head last week, during a closed-door session of the Senate Armed Services Committee. This committee expected to be briefed on the long-awaited NIE by an official from the National Intelligence Council (NIC), which coordinates NIEs by gathering input from all of the nation's various intelligence agencies. But the NIC official turned up empty-handed and told the committee that the intelligence community hadn't been able to complete the NIE because of the many demands placed upon it by the Bush Administration to help prepare the new military strategy on Iraq. He then said that not all of the relevant agencies had offered input into the NIE process, and thus it had proven impossible to put together a finished product.

more at:
http://harpers.org/sb-intelligence-community-congress.html

[EFerrari]

1. Oh, kpete, you made me laugh out loud.

Because what else can you do when you read this craziness?

We should all rent "Catch-22". In fact, I wonder if I can change my name to "Yossarian".

:mad:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

2. More Bushit from our cabal

Thanks for info kpete!

[Wizard777]

3. The NIE and $1.25 will get you a cup of cofee at the 9-11. n/t

[pinto]

4. Geez. Why am I not surprised. Good catch kpete.

[EVDebs]

5. NIE's outsourced to Office of Special Plans again ? Oopie. nt

[bleever]

6. I'm rec. 5? Jackpot.

Just finished responding to a thread about the rigged pre-IWR NIE.

This is like a poorly built house melting in the first big rainstorm.

Jihad H. Christ.

[formercia]

7. Even my 6 year old son can come up with a better excuse

It's easy for them. Bush Gang candidate frat boys don't do their homework, they have been used to having a pile of cheat sheets at the frat house.

[maine_raptor]

8. Bush putting demands on the Intelligence Community?

One has to wonder just what questions they were asking the IC. If they were asking questions concerning the Surge, then given Bush's speech last, I'm wondering how many of the questions were about Iraq and how many were about Iran. Would be interesting to know, IMHO.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

9. IMO, BushCo is trying to create a cooked document about Iran

Either that or all the professionals have quit and the drunken frat boy political appointees are having to learn how to type.

[bleever]

10. kick.