Iraq: A Sweeping, Secret New Report

[cal04]

Bush administration policymakers and their congressional backers may get some unwelcome news from a new analysis on Iraq that the office of intelligence czar John Negroponte will soon produce. In late July, leading Senate Democrats asked Negroponte to come up with a new Iraq National Intelligence Estimate, or NIE, a secret study that is supposed to reflect the views of all 16 U.S. intel agencies. The most recent Iraq NIE, produced two years ago, was generally pessimistic about the future of the country. In a letter to Negroponte, the Senate Dems asked for U.S. analysts' best assessment on a sheaf of awkward issues, including: Is Iraq in a civil war or close to it? How effective are new Iraqi security forces? Is the Iraqi government stable?

The contents of the report may have been foreshadowed in a recent series of closed-door briefings given to Congress by the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon's intelligence arm painted a scenario in which Iraq could dissolve into civil war if Iraqi security forces don't soon get their act together. One official familiar with the briefing, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive subject matter, said that the picture it painted was dire, although another official—who requested anonymity for the same reason—insisted it was not entirely despairing, since Iraqi security forces were beginning to improve. Though NIEs are normally classified, Dems are already pressing the administration to make public a summary of the upcoming study. The officials said intel agencies are under some pressure to produce the new report before the November midterm elections.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14638232/site/newsweek/

[spindrifter]

1. The longer they sit on it, the staler the info.

[yourout]

2. So.....if the report is bad you don't fix the problem. You get a ...

different report. Sounds like standard NeoCon proceedures.

[AlCzervik]

3. Will that report see the light of day?

[MannyGoldstein]

4. The Congressional Dems Won't Let Us Down!!!

They will demand its release - and if their demands are not complied with, they'll... they'll... they'll... give a quiet shrug and just walk away, like they've done on everything else.

Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin

He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin

His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burnt off
And his penis...

Brave Sir Robin ran away
Bravely ran away, away
When danger reared its ugly head
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly he chickened out
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin

[fed-up]

5. " Is Iraq in a civil war or close to it?" duhhh that took 2 years? n/t

[StrictlyRockers]

7. "Is the Iraqi government stable?" -- Three guesses...

...first two don't count.

[ShockediSay]

15. What do they need before they call it a civil war? Blue and Gray uniforms?

Or maybe a third color as well.

Time to divide the country into three equitable pieces, and split.

[HuffleClaw]

6. and then the usual pundits and pols will SLAM them for being 'naysayers'

and 'disloyal to the cause'. i recall they destroyed the career of the general who had the 'gall' to present them with a realistic assessment of force requirements for the war.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. And Appeasers of Fascism That Don't Know History... nt

[orwell]

9. Ah yes...

...the United States of America. Where the truth is "secret" and the lies are public.

Catapult that propaganda...

[Straight Shooter]

10. Whatever the report says, it's useless. Sistani has abandoned the cause.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2039029

"The Independent is reporting that Sistani has "abandoned attempts to restrain his followers" and no longer believes he can stand in the way of the growing civil war. ""I will not be a political leader any more," he reportedly told aides. "I am only happy to receive questions about religious matters."

Sistani's departure from Iraq's political scene and his return to his religious role signals an end to the Maliki regime's attempt to consolidate power and sell his reconciliation plan to the myriad of warring factions who are engaged in armed and deadly struggles against his regime, and against each other as well. It was Sistani who brought the thousands of his followers to the polls, forcing Bush to make good on his promise of early elections.

It was Sistani who forged an alliance with former militant, Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr allowing the elections to proceed. It's no exaggeration that, without Sistani's participation there may never have been elections in Iraq, or a Maliki government.

It's also clear that, without Sistani's involvement in iraq's political future, Sadr's influence will be elevated. It remains to be seen, though, if Sadr, who is arguably more prone to lead his followers to armed and active resistance, and, whose followers are already engaging government troops in street battles, will follow Sistani and lead his congregation away from the political sweet spot he's carved out for himself in the Iraqi legislature."

[janx]

13. Absolutely. n/t

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Iraq was stable, AND prosperous under Saddam before Gulf war 1

.
.
.

sure - his methods were unsavory and not to our liking,

But gee, it is HIS country -

AFTER Gulf war 1, his country was STILL stable, and Saddam circumvented the sanctions by selling oil "under the table" so to speak,

and the standard of living for his citizens remained the same

silly stuff like cheap fuel, hydro 24 hours a day and safe drinking water, etc., . .

WELL

Enter the USA with their "Operation Iraqi Freedom"

yup yup - they freed them from cheap fuel, hydro 24 hours a day and safe drinking water, etc.,

AND

for a bonus

They freed them from over 100,000 relatives they may not have liked!

Nice to have a country like the USA helping other countries so much!

[skids]

12. So BushCo has been satified to work off a stale NIE?

I think that's the story we should be taking out of this.

I mean, is it normal to have a 2 year gap in NIEs for the most expensive offshore endeavor the country is engaging in? And then for it only to be issued at the insistance of the minority party?

[bluedeminredstate]

14. This point should be broadcast

by the Democrats every time they face a camera or a print reporter. When Bush says there is no civil war and we must stay in Iraq
NO MATTER WHAT, it should be pointed out that he is quite comfortable to make this pronouncement based on outdated information and it's costing Americans their lives amd limbs. Not to mention that the treasury of our nation is like a giant ATM for Bush and GOP contractors, who are spending money in an obscene fashion without knowing what is really going on in Iraq.

You make an excellent point which illustrates yet another stunning gap in Chimp's competence, and I hope someone with the Democratic party sees this and makes full use of it. Why is it that you get it but no prominent Democrats have raised this issue? It's not even complicated for the average non-news junkie. This must be thrown at them over and over until it sticks!

:grr: