Preempting Cheney

[katty]

continue at: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050803/preempting_cheney.php

Published on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 by TomPaine.com
Preempting Cheney
by Ray McGovern

Whatever plans Dick Cheney and his neo-conservatives may have had to conjure up a nuclear threat from Iran as "justification" for military action have been sharply undercut by some timely leaks to the Washington Post. In a redux of President George W. Bush's spin on the "grave and growing" danger from Iraq, Cheney protégé and newly appointed U.N. Ambassador John Bolton is on record warning that Iranian "deception" must not be allowed to continue much longer: "It will be too late. Iran will have nuclear weapons."
Not for ten more years, report sources close to the U.S. intelligence community in yesterday's lead story in the Post . Several government officials with access to the most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran have told journalist Dafna Linzer of its main judgments. By doing so, Linzer's sources seem determined not to sit idly by as our country is misled once again into a war favored only by "neo-conservatives" in Washington and their counterparts in the far-right Likud government in Israel who share a vision of remaking the map of the Middle East.

Linzer has shown commendable tenacity on Iran and the nuclear issue—tenacity highly unusual by today's lax media standards. According to Linzer's sources, the National Intelligence Estimate states that, while there are credible signs that the Iranian military is doing some clandestine work, there is no information to connect that work directly to a nuclear weapons program. Moreover, U.N. inspectors have found no convincing proof that Iran is conducting a nuclear weapons program or that it has a nuclear warhead design.

[babylonsister]

1. We have it in writing, Bolton. Hopefully this will

immobilize him. Our eyes are watching...

[rodeodance]

2. there was also a story yesterday refuting this Estimate report.

[babylonsister]

5. I guess it comes down to 'who are you going to believe?'

Seems to me, this would be too blatant even for the these horrid creatures.

[HereSince1628]

3. I don't have faith that this will stop Cheney, remember

that the PNAC had everything sitting right out in the open at their website.

We are in an episode of national militarism, at least half the country just wants to turn the military loose on people that
"hate our freedom."

[rodeodance]

4. yeah--but lovely to see him popped on!!

[Jack Rabbit]

6. The Washington Post piece is worthwhile

From The Washington Post
Dated

Iran Is Judged 10 Years From Nuclear Bomb
U.S. Intelligence Review Contrasts With Administration Statements
By Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writer


A major U.S. intelligence review has projected that Iran is about a decade away from manufacturing the key ingredient for a nuclear weapon, roughly doubling the previous estimate of five years, according to government sources with firsthand knowledge of the new analysis.

The carefully hedged assessments, which represent consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies, contrast with forceful public statements by the White House. Administration officials have asserted, but have not offered proof, that Tehran is moving determinedly toward a nuclear arsenal. The new estimate could provide more time for diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. President Bush has said that he wants the crisis resolved diplomatically but that "all options are on the table."


The new National Intelligence Estimate includes what the intelligence community views as credible indicators that Iran's military is conducting clandestine work. But the sources said there is no information linking those projects directly to a nuclear weapons program. What is clear is that Iran, mostly through its energy program, is acquiring and mastering technologies that could be diverted to bombmaking.

The estimate expresses uncertainty about whether Iran's ruling clerics have made a decision to build a nuclear arsenal, three U.S. sources said. Still, a senior intelligence official familiar with the findings said that "it is the judgment of the intelligence community that, left to its own devices, Iran is determined to build nuclear weapons."

Read more.

We should bear in mind that Cheney and the neocons have an uncanny way of getting an NIE to say what they want it say, especially when they want a war.

[wli]

7. hopefully they've got the upcoming nuclear MIHOP covered, too

Otherwise this will be forgotten and Cheney will nuke Iran anyway.