Pre-War Intelligence on Iraq, Revisited

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/02/14/Intelligence_Reform_and_the_Iran_NIE

National Intelligence Council Chairman Thomas Fingar discusses flaws in intelligence analysis on Iraqi WMD in the run-up to the 2003 invasion.

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Intelligence Reform and The Iran National Intelligence Estimate with Thomas Fingar.

The debate over how to deal with Iran received a jolt late last year when the U.S. government's intelligence report concluded that Iran ended its nuclear weapons program four years ago. Don't miss this chance to hear from the intelligence expert who is the principal author of the report that "rewrote the book" on Iran - The Commonwealth Club of California

Dr. Thomas Fingar was Assistant Secretary of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) from July 2004 until May 2005 when he was named Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis & Chairman, National Intelligence Council. While at the State Department he served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research (2003-2004 and 2000-2001), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (2001-2003), Deputy Assistant Secretary for Analysis (1994-2000), Director of the Office of Analysis for East Asia and the Pacific (1989-1994), and Chief of the China Division (1986-1989).

His intelligence career began in 1970 as the senior German linguist in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, USAREUR & 7th Army in Heidelberg, Germany. Between 1975 and 1986 he held a number of positions at Stanford University, including Senior Research Associate in the Center for International Security and Arms Control, and Director of the University's U.S.-China Relations Program. Other previous positions include assignment to the National Academy of Sciences as Co-Director of the U.S.-China Education Clearinghouse, adviser to the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and consultant to numerous U.S. Government agencies and private sector organizations.

Dr. Fingar is a graduate of Cornell University (B.A. in Government and History, 1968), and Stanford University (M.A., 1969 and Ph.D., 1977 both in Political Science). He is a career member of the Senior Executive Service. His principal foreign languages are Chinese and German. Dr. Fingar has published dozens of books and articles, mostly on aspects of Chinese politics and policymaking.

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[neotoy]

It's pretty obvious that the Bush admin. was set on war from day one.. the intelligence was essentially irrelevant to them, they would have used any excuse available. Additionally if evidence was insufficient I have no doubt that they would have made some up just to justify the war. This debate gives them way too much credit!

[bebop54]

me too....

[Melehete]

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[Ondelendo]

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[bebeheuy]

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[willamricard]

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[imegatrone]

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[bundawartini]

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[Tsnore]

It was all about regime change for various reasons depending on who we are talking about. Scott Ritter was right and 70% of Americans were wrong.

[SuperCreamface]

Iraq is preferable Battlefield than Afghanistan.....flat urban terrain. just a thought

[etsneroj]

because the real threat Sadaam posed to the USA (the threat he posed to our long term access to oil out of the Gulf) was contained and could be dealt with further without the massive loss of life sustained so far. And furthermore, the Gulf region is now less secure than before, making the war both a moral and practical failure.

[etsneroj]

Fingar's analogy to lawyers building their case to reach a predetermined conclusion is very very apt. I have often made this point myself. The Bush administration saw an opportunity after 9/11 to justify the military invasion needed to replace Sadaam. In the absence of an actual 9/11 link, they made the most of the WMD evidence they had, like trial lawyers, to persuade the world that he posed an enormous imminent threat. CIA, the FBI and others were pressured to make the case. It was a sin....