“Politics Disguised As Intelligence”
LAT:
Bolton calls report on Iran quasi-putsch
The former ambassador to the U.N. says the the latest intelligence estimate is meant not to inform but to influence policy.
BERLIN — U.S. intelligence services attempted to influence political policy by releasing their assessment that concludes Iran halted its nuclear arms program in 2003, said John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Der Spiegel magazine quoted Bolton on Saturday as alleging that the aim of the National Intelligence Estimate, which contradicts his and President Bush’s position, was not to provide the latest intelligence on Iran.
“This is politics disguised as intelligence,” Bolton was quoted as saying in an article appearing in this week’s edition.
Bolton described the report, released Monday, as a “quasi-putsch” by the intelligence agencies, Der Spiegel said.
The intelligence estimate said Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program four years ago but was continuing to develop the technical means that could be used to produce a bomb. This contradicted Bush’s assertion that Iran was actively trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
The hawkish Bolton has long criticized Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, who has said that there was no hard evidence that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
ElBaradei said the report “somewhat vindicated” Iran, which has denied allegations that it was secretly trying to build nuclear weapons. It says its nuclear program is to generate electricity.
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Bolton 08′
December 9th, 2007 at 10:23 pmIs there any way we could get a Bolton/Tancredo ticket?
December 10th, 2007 at 2:09 amI will vote for whatever cannidate that will make him Secretary of State. Also, I suggest keeping the Presidents “football” with him at meetings and summits.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:22 amMen of action.
No more pandering, no more pablum.
Dollard/Bashman 08
December 10th, 2007 at 7:55 amIran will detonate their first nuke one year into the next democratic presidents term. And the democrats will blame Bush for not taking care of this mess when he had the chance.
Sadly, this is what the greatest generation spawned. Spineless wimps that barely know the meaning of work, patriotism and God.
I pray the next generation of congressional leaders will have had combat experience in Iraq.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:57 am