Senate rethugs to form Congressional commission to investigate NIE conclusions

[babylonsister]

Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought
As Conservatives Reject New NIE, Republican Senators to Urge Congressional Panel

By Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 7, 2007; Page A09

Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran as well as the specific intelligence that went into it, according to congressional sources.

The move is the first official challenge, but it comes amid growing backlash from conservatives and neoconservatives unhappy about the assessment that Iran halted a clandestine nuclear weapons program four years ago. It reflects how quickly the NIE has become politicized, with critics even going after the analysts who wrote it, and shows a split among Republicans.

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said he plans to introduce legislation next week to establish a commission modeled on a congressionally mandated group that probed a disputed 1995 intelligence estimate on the emerging missile threat to the United States over the next 15 years.

"Iran is one of the greatest threats in the world today. Getting the intelligence right is absolutely critical, not only on Iran's capability but its intent. So now there is a huge question raised, and instead of politicizing that report, let's have a fresh set of eyes -- objective, yes -- look at it," he said in an interview.

Ensign's proposal calls for Senate leaders to put an equal number of Republicans and Democrats on a panel to study the NIE and report back in six months. "There are a lot of people out there who do question . There is a huge difference between the 2005 and 2007 estimates," he said. The 2005 intelligence estimate reported that Iran was still working on a clandestine military program, and the new assessment basically says the previous judgment was wrong on a key point.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/06/AR2007120602457.html?nav=rss_politics

[malaise]

1. Makes sense

Their only election plan -fear mongering just got fucked up. Oh fuck them.

[babylonsister]

3. Sounds like they're doing Bolton's bidding, and I'm sure the Dems

will go along with it. I wonder if an NIE has ever been 'investigated'? They're basically saying they don't trust all the gov't agencies involved in getting this thing together. I guess, when it doesn't work in their favor, they can do that.

[malaise]

5. They trust their own pathological liars more

because fear-mongering is all they have delivered in six plus years.

[madokie]

10. just buying time looks to me like

[rodeodance]

2. LBN: Topic subject Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought

Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3093207#3093207
3093207, Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought
Posted by laststeamtrain on Fri Dec-07-07 07:15 AM

Source: Washington Post

Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought
As Conservatives Reject New NIE, Republican Senators to Urge Congressional Panel

By Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 7, 2007; Page A09

Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran as well as the specific intelligence that went into it, according to congressional sources.

The move is the first official challenge, but it comes amid growing backlash from conservatives and neoconservatives unhappy about the assessment that Iran halted a clandestine nuclear weapons program four years ago. It reflects how quickly the NIE has become politicized, with critics even going after the analysts who wrote it, and shows a split among Republicans.

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said he plans to introduce legislation next week to establish a commission modeled on a congressionally mandated group that probed a disputed 1995 intelligence estimate on the emerging missile threat to the United States over the next 15 years.

"Iran is one of the greatest threats in the world today. Getting the intelligence right is absolutely critical, not only on Iran's capability but its intent. So now there is a huge question raised, and instead of politicizing that report, let's have a fresh set of eyes -- objective, yes -- look at it," he said in an interview.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/06/AR2007120602457.html

[KharmaTrain]

4. Disputed 1995 Intel???

Ahhh...is this the latest "blame the Clenis" response?

Ensign is a total tool...and I welcome an investigation into the Intel reports of 2003 and 2005...and then while we're at it, let's also look at the Intel used for the run-up to the Iraq fiasco. Yep, Ensign would sure love for the REAL truth to get out.

As usual, when you're a Repugnican, the truth has a "liberal bias"...thus they need to create a false flag investigation to create disputes where none exists.

[SpiralHawk]

6. The anti-truth squad

How perfectly republicon...

Republicons find it conveeeenient to take a WIDE STANCE on the truth...

[Gman]

7. The NIE estimate is good news, but the better news

is apparently the NIE has completely derailed plans for an invasion of Iran judging by the reaction of the neocons. The neocons have become completely unhinged.

[DearAbby]

20. I am finding

NeoCons I have "spoken" too regarding this, are quite upset they couldn't make glowing glass out of Tehran for Christmas.

People should be happy, relieved this country doesn't have to fight a war with Iran. I look at my three sons, I know I am relieved...but it's quite the opposite, their reaction.

[Gman]

23. This is not to say that invading Iran is completely off the table

it's just been derailed for now. Remember that these people never, ever give up.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. I DO HOPE this hearing will be held in the same basement room John Conyers had to hold his hearings

in?!

[DS1]

9. The GOP is asking for another recount?

[spanone]

11. and harry reid should bury it below the capital house

[Marr]

12. I can tell you what they're going to do right now.

They're going to bring in a few intelligence officials and ask them, "are you absolutely sure, beyond all doubt, that Iran does not have an active nuclear weapons program?"

When the officials reply with a "no", as any honest person would have to do even if "nuclear weapons program" were replaced with "wood elf wonderland", the Republican noise machine will spread that quote everywhere. The Republicans will then claim that 'no one is sure, so Iran must prove they DON'T have a nuclear weapons program'.

[Wizard777]

14. Republicans should be made to prove that they aren't enacting a coup against the Constitution

Bush should required to prove that he hasn't commited war crimes.

[Wizard777]

13. If there is going to be an investigation. Every aspect should be investigated.

Why Cheney withheld the report for a year trying to get dissent against his opinion removed?

Who knew what when? Did Bush know about the findings when he made his WW III comment?

Was Negroponte forced out as national intelligence director because he refused to change the report to suite Cheney?

Does Cheney's attempts to change the NIE constitute conspiracy to commit perjury?

[fascisthunter]

15. So Will They Whitewash the NIE Report? (nt)

[Beetwasher]

16. Oh, That'll Work!! Form A "We're In Complete Denial Of Reality And We're Going To Make Sure

Every voter in America Knows It" Committee. :rofl:

Republicans love to keep digging, don't they?

[truebrit71]

17. Hmmm, shame they didn't feel it was necessary for the Iraq-War "intel" reports...

...motherfucking war-mongering hypocrites...:grr:

[babylonsister]

18. Very good point; too bad the Dems are just as guilty. nt

[seafan]

19. Surrender, GOP. It's over.

Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought

By Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler
December 7, 2007

Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran as well as the specific intelligence that went into it, according to congressional sources.

The move is the first official challenge, but it comes amid growing backlash from conservatives and neoconservatives unhappy about the assessment that Iran halted a clandestine nuclear weapons program four years ago.

.....

This photo accompanying the article says it all:



Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said he will propose a bipartisan congressional commission to review the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. (By Linda Davidson -- The Washington Post)



Surrender, GOP.


The Truth is burying your party, most likely for all time.

[havocmom]

21. The CYA Commission

Or the CBA Commission

[OHdem10]

22. This is a perfect example of Party Unity and Organization.

If they accept the NEI, this damages their party--not just Bush.

Now they will change the findings or blur the report so badly
we weill still have Iran in Crosshairs. and we probably will
go to war with Iran before it is over.

Show me Democrats willing to stop them. Kyl/ Lieberman.

In a few weeks the NIE will have meant nothing. The Republicans
are the Minority Party?????

[TwilightGardener]

24. I'm pretty sure the "bipartisan" commission will somehow include Lieberman, Kyl, Graham,

McCain, maybe Ben Nelson and Mark Pryor. I'm pretty sure it will NOT include Chuck Hagel or Joe Biden. Who do they think they're kidding? Clearly they're grasping for SOMETHING to vindicate and revive Chimpy's Iran war jones.

[IDemo]

25. After all, who is better at getting the facts straight on important issues?

The sixteen intelligence agencies who assembled the NIE report, or a global warming denier?

:crazy: