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| Bush to Declassify National Intelligence Estimate | ||||
| 2006-09-26 | ||||
| WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Tuesday said it is naive and a mistake to think that the war with Iraq has worsened terrorism, as a key portion of a national intelligence assessment by his own administration suggests. He said he was declassifying part of the report. "Some people have guessed what's in the report and concluded that going into Iraq was a mistake. I strongly disagree," Bush said. He asserted that portions of the classified report that had been leaked were done so for political purposes, referring to the Nov. 7 midterm elections. Bush announced that he had instructed National Intelligence Director John Negroponte to declassify those parts of the report that don't compromise national security or intelligence-gathering methods. Portions of the document that have been leaked suggest that the threat of terrorism has grown worse since the Sept. 11 terror attacks and the war in Afghanistan, due in part to the war in Iraq. Democrats have used the report - written by analysts from a range of U.S. intelligence branches - to bolster their criticism of Bush's Iraq policy. The administration does not dispute the findings, but claims only part of the report was leaked - and does not tell the full story. Negroponte "is going to declassify the document as quickly as possible - declassify the key judgments for you to read yourself," Bush told reporters in the East Room. "And he'll do so in such a way that we'll be able to protect sources and methods . . . that our intelligence community uses." Using a portion of the report to attack his Iraq policy and suggest it has fanned more terrorism is "naive," Bush asserted. Bush said the full report shows "that, because of our successes against the leadership of al-Qaida, the enemy is becoming more diffuse and independent." Both the chairman and the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee had urged the White House to release the material. "You read it for yourself. Stop all this speculation," Bush said. He complained that "somebody leaked classified information for political purposes" and criticized both the news media and people in government who talked to them about classified material. And in related news: Democratic Leader Asks For Closed House Session (AP) WASHINGTON House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi asked her colleagues Tuesday to close the House's doors for a highly unusual secret session to discuss a classified intelligence analysis on global terrorism.
According to the media reports, the intelligence estimate "is the administration's worst nightmare. It is not a corroboration of what the president is saying. It is a contradiction of what the president is saying," she said.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the Republican-controlled House would allow the Democratic effort to shift the chamber's attention to one of the most controversial political issues of the November elections: the Bush administration's policies in the war on terror and its handling of the situation in Iraq.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #15 Should al-Zarqawi continue to evade capture and scale back attacks against Muslims, we assess he could broaden his popular appeal and present a global threat. 1 threat less! |
| Posted by: SwissTex 2006-09-26 20:32 |
| #14 I'd bet the result of this is that a lot of people start wondering, "Why was that classified when it's the same thing I read in Newsweak two months ago but with inferior grammar." followed by "I wonder how much it cost to assemble." The CIA had better find the leakers before the voters wise up. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-09-26 20:01 |
| #13 I conclude that staggeringly few people have any idea WTF we're up against, including Bush. I'm not so sure Bush doesn't realize it. But the POTUS has a unique set of limitations on what he says. Or to be more direct, I think that what he says has such reverberations that it tends to get bound around with careful word-ology. HOWEVER ... when he is direct, it makes big waves. And what seems matter of fact to us can seem VERY direct to others. Linking "Islamo" and "fascism", for instance. Polite leaders of superpowers aren't supposed to say that sort of thing. He did. In a very public speech he intended to be reported. I think he does believe that we must try to foster a successful modern Iraq. Not for their sakes, primarily, but because the alternatives to which we may be driven are so horrible that for our own sake we need to try this route first. JMO |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-09-26 19:39 |
| #12 The 12th NIE has a transcript of a meeting of the Vast Ring Wing Conspiracy Cabal. In this meet Bush/Cheney/Rove discuss how to make more money while subjugating the world. Also Rice gives the guys a lap dance after the meeting. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-09-26 19:26 |
| #11 I'm holding out to see the 12th |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-09-26 18:17 |
| #10 "the limited appeal of the jihadists'’ radical ideology, the emergence of respected voices of moderation . . . their ultimate political solution— —is unpopular with the vast majority of Muslims . . . a constructive alternative to jihadist ideology: peaceful political activism . . . In this way, the Muslim mainstream emerges as the most powerful weapon in the war on terror." This isn't an intelligence estimate, it's a wish list. But don't go thinking that jihad for plunder, women, and slaves has been Islam's raison d'etre for 13 centuries -- oh my no, it could be anybody! Anti-US and anti-globalization sentiment is on the rise and fueling other radical ideologies. This could prompt some leftist, nationalist, or separatist groups to adopt terrorist methods to attack US interests. Bush said the American people should come to their own conclusions. I conclude that staggeringly few people have any idea WTF we're up against, including Bush. |
| Posted by: exJAG 2006-09-26 18:14 |
| #9 According to Rep. Jane Harman (Dingbat-CA) there is a second super secret NIE that shows the world is falling. Apparently it's only this second NIE that shows the really bad job Bush is doing and it's just too bad they can't declass it (national security and all). Thing Progress (sic) has the story. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-09-26 17:39 |
| #8 Ha -- just this quote "Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.” A litt'l bit different from the leaker's expert analysis of the report, leaked to NYT. Conspiracy theory here, wonder if the info leaked was known to be wrong, and known who had that particular bit of info? Well, if the other side can think conspiracy, why can't I? |
| Posted by: Sherry 2006-09-26 17:37 |
| #7 Done... http://hotair.cachefly.net/audio/2006-09/NIE.pdf |
| Posted by: DigitalPatriot 2006-09-26 17:19 |
| #6 Everything else is fair game, why shouldn't this be? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-09-26 16:46 |
| #5 This is Rove's genius. He waits until the opposition jumps all over it, then makes a fuss over not releasing it cause it's sensitive. Than releases it, and we all see it was all about nothing, and the Opposition cried the sky is falling again. So why listen to someone who is always crying the sky is falling. |
| Posted by: plainslow 2006-09-26 14:55 |
| #4 I’m betting that Nancy SO wanted to come out her “Secret Session” claiming that all thing wrong are the responsibility of Bush and Conservatives. Bush has just denied her that opportunity to grandstand (Bravo Karl Rove). Now she will have to deal with the all the facts and not cherry pick information that supports her talking points. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-09-26 14:17 |
| #3 Headline the day after declassification: Old Grey Lady Caught with Panties Down Around her Ankles |
| Posted by: badanov 2006-09-26 14:06 |
| #2 If their is a pile of dog poop, the dem's will go out of their way to step in it. Poor Nancy, at least she tried. I seriously wouldn't be one bit surprised if Rove & Co. ends up adding seats to both houses by the time elections are said and done. |
| Posted by: Evil Elvis 2006-09-26 14:00 |
| #1 As stated above... I will read and decide for myself. Blackvenom-2001 |
| Posted by: Blackvenom-2001 2006-09-26 13:49 |