Israel: NIE Report Wrong, Iran Still Pursuing Nuclear Weapons
Y-Net:
Defense minister says Israeli intelligence disputes new US report claiming Iran no longer pursuing development of nuclear weapon. Meanwhile US President Bush says report only strengthens American resolve to push for more sanctions: ‘Iran still poses danger to world’
“The bottom line is that words don’t stop missiles, actions do,” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday evening in response to the US claim that international pressure drove Iran to permanently freeze its nuclear program in 2003.
“And there is much that needs to be done regarding the Iranian nuclear program. We need to take action in applying sanctions, in exercising diplomacy and in other venues as well.”
Israeli intelligence disputes the report’s conclusion, Barak said, and still believes Tehran is still trying to develop a nuclear weapon: ”It’s apparently true that in 2003 Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear program for a time. But in our opinion, since then it has apparently continued that program.”
In a new assessment made public on Monday, the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, a synthesis of information from American spy agencies, concluded that Iran has suspended its attempt to build a nuclear weapon. The unclassified summary marked a surprising reversal of the previous US view that Iran is aggressively pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
”There are differences in the assessments of different organizations in the world about this, and only time will tell who is right,” Barak said.
Asked if the new US assessment reduced chances that the US will launch a military strike on Iran, Barak
said that was ”possible.”
However, he said, ”We cannot allow ourselves to rest just because of an intelligence report from the other side of the earth, even if it is from our greatest friend.”
Bush: Military option still on the table
Meanwhile on Tuesday, US President George W. Bush said that the international community should continue to pressure Iran on its nuclear programs, saying Tehran remains dangerous despite the new report.
”I view this report as a warning signal that they had the program, they halted the program,” Bush said. ”The reason why it’s a warning signal is they could restart it.”
Bush said the report’s finding would not prompt him to take a US military option against Tehran off the table.
”The best diplomacy - effective diplomacy - is one in which all options are on the table,” he said.
Bush said Tuesday that he only learned of the new intelligence assessment last week. But he portrayed it as valuable ammunition against Tehran, not as a reason to lessen diplomatic pressure.
”To me, the NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) provides an opportunity for us to rally the international community - to continue to rally the community - to pressure the Iranian regime to suspend its program,” the president said. ”What’s to say they couldn’t start another covert nuclear weapons program.”
The president also said that the world would agree with his message that Iran should not let off the hook yet.
”I have said Iran is dangerous, and the NIE doesn’t do anything to change my opinion about the danger Iran poses to the world.”
In fact, Europeans said the new information strengthens their argument for negotiations with Tehran, but they also said that sanctions are still an option to compel Iran to be fully transparent about its nuclear program. European officials insisted that the international community should not walk away from years of talks with an often defiant Tehran that is openly enriching uranium for uncertain ends. The report said Iran could still build a nuclear bomb by 2010-2015.
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I think I’ll trust the Israeli intelligence - they seem to get things right. Should we say some of our intelligence has been a little suspect as late - probably due to infiltration of 40 years of lib nitwits still sucking on the public teat.
If we are going to err, let us err on the safe side. We still need to kick Iran’s ass; sooner than later.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:01 pmYeah Natalie
CIA, NSA and DIA are wrong and full of “libs”. Me thinks the “gang” is getting desperate.
December 5th, 2007 at 6:43 amPaul Ron,
Are you saying that NIE report is a “Slam Dunk”?
George Tenet told PRESIDENT Bush those very words and PRESIDENT Bush took and is still taking a verbal assassination attempt. So if that is what you are saying, I simply ask, “Are you sure the NIE is correct this time?”. Also “Who, exactly, are the sources that make up the conclusions for the NIE?”. Another question, is this report an (E)stimate or a (F)act … NIF maybe?
For someone who has, probably, been screaming “Where are the WMDs” for the last 5 years, I would imagine you would take all further NIEs with a bit of scepticism. Of course, this is probably the first one that would weaken the president’s foreign policy stance and has the possibility of weaking this country. Basically, it fits you to a tee.
Seriously, any answers to those questions above?
December 5th, 2007 at 10:38 amThis is such a no brainer. Did the world forget what Hitler was doing in the 1930’s.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:38 am