NIE Iran Nuclear Report: Bush Press Conference - Part 2/2

President George Bush speaks at a press conference about the findings of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) Report on Iranian Nuclear Capabilities.

NIE Report: Inventing Facts

Many have been quick to characterize yesterday's National Intelligence Estimate report [1] on Iran's nuclear program as a long overdue "Honest Intel" [2] that will suck the air out of warmongers' sails because it clearly states "with high confidence that in fall of 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program".

Forgive this writer for being a spoiler, but haven't report after report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the many years since repeatedly confirmed non-existence of such nuclear weapons program in Iran?

For those who have not read this latest 9-page NIE report, it begins with five pages of processes, notes, and disclaimers including the following statement printed in bold on page 4:

"This NIE does not assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons. Rather, it examines the intelligence to assess Iran's capability and intent (or lack thereof) to acquire nuclear weapons, taking full account of Iran's dual-use uranium fuel cycle and those nuclear activities that are at least partly civil in nature."

Followed by an explanation of the "Estimative Language" used in the report on page 5:

"We use phrases such as judge, assess, and estimate -- and probabilistic terms such as probably and likely—to convey analytical assessments and judgments. Such statements are not facts, proof, or knowledge."

So there you have it -- An analytical assessment not based on any facts, proof, or knowledge which for the time being allays fears of an imminent threat from Iran, but cleverly transforms what was once pure hearsay into an established fact that Iran did at one point have a clandestine nuclear weapons program.

Serious implications and underlying dangers from such a supposition can not be understated since the report confirms Iran has already mastered what Mr. Bush warned the world to stop her from acquiring --" the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon"[3]. Add to that the assertions on page 7 paragraph D that "Iranian entities are continuing to develop a range of technical capabilities that could be applied to produce nuclear weapons if a decision is made to do so" and that leaves the door wide open for administration hawks like Mr. Cheney to abruptly accuse Iran of resurrecting its "nuclear weapons program" much as he did back in 2002, claiming that Saddam Hussein had "resumed his effort to acquire nuclear weapons."[4]

This report will no doubt create an avalanche of commentaries and analysis with different spins from both sides but the following concluding "key judgment" provides a hint to the timing of its release:

"Our assessment that Iran halted the program in 2003 primarily in response to international pressure indicates Tehran's decisions are guided by a cost-benefit approach rather than a rush to a weapon irrespective of the political, economic, and military costs. This, in turn, suggests that some combination of threats of intensified international scrutiny and pressures, along with opportunities for Iran to achieve its security, prestige, and goals for regional influence in other ways, might prompt Tehran to extend the current halt to its nuclear weapons program."

"International scrutiny and pressure" are of course synonyms for more UN sanctions just as the five permanent members of the UNSC plus Germany meet to convince Russia and China to go along with imposing tougher sanctions in order to enforce the status quo of nuclear apartheid by denying Iran its right under the NPT to enrich uranium for peaceful use.

Source - http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/



Russia: Iran never sought nukes

Russia's FM Sergei Lavrov has said there is no proof suggesting that Iran has ever run a program for developing nuclear weapons.

When asked to comment on the recent US National Intelligence Estimate, claiming that Iran suspended its efforts to develop nuclear weapons in 2003, Lavrov said the available data does not allow saying Iran has ever had a nuclear weapons program.

Source - Press TV
http://www.presstv.com/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• nie
• iran
• nuclear
• national
• intelligence
• bush
• press
• conference
• weapon
• holocaust
• israel
• ahmadinejad
• enrichment
• iaea
• npt

[cat2002k]

a grade D at college, grade F for his country

[sachakishlar]

this is why you americans suck and are so stupid and broke as shit

[elephunt78]

@cat2002k you know you aren't half as smart as George W., so give it up. Hope you've learned a few things over the last couple years since this ridiculous comment.

[saaif55]

i want to put my dick in his throat and he could get some strong melt...son of a bitch.....i know i can not hit you in this world..but after death sure you will go to hell..then i will come in hell to fuck you hardly..son of a bitch.....

[onemanarmy34]

gotta love the goverment -_-

[jennygoddard01]

Is the agenda on Iran because it now wants Euros for its OIL, same Reason Saddam became Enemy no 1. Not because of any weapons.

EURO'S not dollars,,,,

[DeJiKo06]

Some people are urging for actions against Iran nuclear ambition by suggesting that the Iranian program are threats to national security in Iran and USA. But in my opinion, only when the Iranians showed up with a nuclear missile on TV(CNN,BBC,etc.) and pressed the "red button" aiming it at the US or Israel, THAT WILL BE NATIONAL SECURITY. All the current babbling and accusations about Iran are nonsense!!!

[CascaMMA]

Sorry - wrong button hit - -

2:01 "This is a country that had a covert nuclear weapons program. Which by the way they have failed to disclose even until today. They have never admitted the program existed in the first place."

You'd think he was speaking about Israel. I mean, couldn't that same be said about them?

And from what I've heard, it might be the unlawful occupation that upsets some muslims. I'd say military/settler harassment on a population would create this. Let's start there

[CascaMMA]

2:01 "This is a country that has a covert nuclear weapons program. Which by the way, they have FAILED to

[Peraj82]

Shame on ammericans

Who the hell is this fucker

However they didnt have any choice

all the parties work for Zionists and

all candidates come out of secret societies

but still this is not a good rexcuse when still they have a brain to think and a moth to talk

[zainhussain1978]

That has to be amongst the single most stupid comment i have heard in my life. The USA has consistently used depleted uranium in Iraq. It has killed more USA soldiers and iraqi people than the war itself.

You need to wake up...seriously

[booocky]

They are uraniun...Thats a nuke buddy..You inrich uranium you split atoms when heated then combusted.. They are testing long distance missles..These are all facts go look it up. You see the new Iran military artilary shells? Uranium tips, a uranium rod is all thats hitting the target. It vaperizes stuff and its deadly for people to use it in every weapon like they are. If they go to far it will affect the whole world climate and could even fuck up all our water sources. WAKE UP!!