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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
A Dose of Real-World Intel on Iran
2012-09-12
By Herbert E. Meyer

I've been out of the intelligence business for many years now, so I've stayed out of the debate over Iran's nuclear program.  I learned a long time ago that when people who don't have access to highly classified intelligence about an issue like this one prattle on about what they think is happening, or is likely to happen, they tend to get it wrong.  But the debate over Iran's nuclear program has become so feckless -- so disconnected from reality -- that perhaps it's time to inject a dose of what those of us who served on the national security side of the Reagan administration used to call "real-world intelligence." 
The rest is informatively scathing, and includes a story explaining why you, dear Reader, were not invited to the barbeque everyone else enjoyed thoroughly.

Oh, wait. It was someone else who wasn't invited. Really. Now go read the whole thing.
Herbert E. Meyer served during the Reagan administration as special assistant to the director of Central Intelligence and vice chairman of the CIA's National Intelligence Council.  He is author of How to Analyze Information and The Cure for Poverty.
Posted by:trailing wife

#5  It's been my experience that when people tell you they are going to do bad things to you, they mean it. Moreover, when they start to do things that indicate they are going to do bad things to you, do what you have to do quickly, decisively, and overwhelmingly.
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-09-12 08:02  

#4  I realize that it's disturbing to read that this kind of gamesmanship takes place at the upper levels of our intelligence service.

BLUF: The engire Klingon organization needs an extreme makeover.

Information is power, and we all know what power can eventually create. Witholding information or providing watered down or incorrect assessments assisted in bringing us 9/11 (and quite possibly some of the crap that happened yesterday). Little wonder Rumsfeld set up his own intelligence assessment cell within the Pentagon. Parallel government decision making stuctures are not needed. Good artikel, but I never trusted the bastids anyway. I never trust anyone who says:

"No need to count it, I've got all the money and I've got your 0600."

Posted by: Besoeker   2012-09-12 06:14  

#3  'How to Analyze Information'
Posted by: Skidmark   2012-09-12 02:59  

#2  Excellent. Lots of good comments as well.
Posted by: Glinesh Craling7938   2012-09-12 02:23  

#1  Spot on.
Posted by: Secret Master   2012-09-12 01:29  

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