Fixing the Intelligence Again

Iran:

A key House committee issued a stinging critique of U.S. intelligence on Iran yesterday, charging that the CIA and other agencies lack "the ability to acquire essential information necessary to make judgments" on Tehran's nuclear program, its intentions or even its ties to terrorism.

The 29-page report, principally written by a Republican staff member on the House intelligence committee who holds a hard-line view on Iran, fully backs the White House position that the Islamic republic is moving forward with a nuclear weapons program and that it poses a significant danger to the United States. But it chides the intelligence community for not providing enough direct evidence to support that assertion.

Note that last sentence. Intelligence agencies aren't providing an excuse to attack Iran.

The report suggests seven areas in which the intelligence community can improve its analysis and collection of information, and it specifically criticizes the office of the director of national intelligence, John D. Negroponte. The report says Negroponte needs to "clearly identify his goals for improving Iran-related collection and analysis so members of the Community know what they are supposed to achieve."

John Callahan, a spokesman for Negroponte, said the office is already "taking steps along the lines the committee has recommended and looks forward to working with members and staff to continue to make progress as we address the challenges Iran poses."

Note that last sentence. Negroponte is willing to fix the intelligence to reach the desired result.

We've been here before. No doubt President Vice President DeFib Dick will trundle on down to the CIA and do some convincing.


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