NPR’s Rehm: Delayed Iraq NIE Will Undermine Case For Escalation

[Tuesday_Morning]

audio at link: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/25/rehm-iraq-nie/

Six months ago, Harper’s Ken Silverstein reported that “in spite of pressure from CIA analysts, intelligence czar John Negroponte was blocking a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq.” National Intelligence Estimates present the consensus view of the U.S. intelligence apparatus. Despite pressure from Congress, the administration insisted it could not complete the NIE until January 2007.

Last week, however, an administration intelligence official told senators that the report is still not complete. According to Silverstein, Senate hearing attendees “believe that senior intelligence officials are stalling because an NIE will be bleak enough to present a significant political liability.”

Yesterday, NPR host Diane Rehm may have revealed why the NIE remains so politically sensitive. On her national radio show, Rehm said:

It’s my understanding that the National Intelligence Estimate…is going to suggest that adding troops is the wrong way to go, that it’s not going to improve the situation.

[scarletwoman]

1. The escalation has already started, it's way too late to make a difference now.

The "surge" is already happening -- combat troops due for rotation out of Iraq have already had their orders extended. Troops due for rotation INTO Iraq are being rushed in ahead of schedule. Troops are being moved out of other areas of operation into Bagdhad.

People keep talking about this escalation as something that can still be stopped. It's too late, the military orders went out on the very day that the Decider announced his "decision". The mobilization began that very day.

We need to stop allowing ourselves to be distracted by the Congressional Kubuki Theatre of "debating" the escalation instead of tracking what's actually going on under our noses.

The new military operations have already commenced -- pay attention to THAT!

sw