U.S. Says Iran Ended Atomic Arms Work

oldreliable67 · 12-13-07, 10:29 AM

Recommended reading for those interested in this topic: Henry Kissinger authored a piece in the WP on December 12 that is quite thoughtful and, IMO, informative. In addition to his pointed comments regarding the short sightedness of the declassified portion of the NIE with respect to warhead production versus continued uranium enrichment, Kissinger has some very pointed remarks about the current tendency of the IC to confuse their job description with that of policy makers. Here are a couple of excerpts on that point:

Quote:

Misreading the Iran Report
Why Spying and Policymaking Don't Mix

[...]
I have often defended the dedicated members of the intelligence community. This is why I am extremely concerned about the tendency of the intelligence community to turn itself into a kind of check on, instead of a part of, the executive branch. When intelligence personnel expect their work to become the subject of public debate, they are tempted into the roles of surrogate policymakers and advocates. Thus the deputy director for intelligence estimates explained the release of the NIE as follows: Publication was chosen because the estimate conflicted with public statements by top U.S. officials about Iran, and "we felt it was important to release this information to ensure that an accurate presentation is available." That may explain releasing the facts but not the sources and methods that have been flooding the media. The paradoxical result of the trend toward public advocacy is to draw intelligence personnel more deeply than ever into the public maelstrom.

The executive branch and the intelligence community have gone through a rough period. The White House has been accused of politicizing intelligence; the intelligence community has been charged with promoting institutional policy biases. The Key Judgments document accelerates that controversy, dismaying friends and confusing adversaries.

Intelligence personnel need to return to their traditional anonymity. Policymakers and Congress should once again assume responsibility for their judgments without involving intelligence in their public justifications. To define the proper balance between the user and producer of intelligence is a task that cannot be accomplished at the end of an administration. It is, however, one of the most urgent challenges a newly elected president will face.

donc · 12-13-07, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldreliable67

Recommended reading for those interested in this topic: Henry Kissinger authored a piece in the WP on December 12 that is quite thoughtful and, IMO, informative. In addition to his pointed comments regarding the short sightedness of the declassified portion of the NIE with respect to warhead production versus continued uranium enrichment, Kissinger has some very pointed remarks about the current tendency of the IC to confuse their job description with that of policy makers. Here are a couple of excerpts on that point:

Good read, I have a lot of respect for Mr.Kissenger, he has even at his age more brainpower than the present President or of any past Presidents of the last twenty years.Here is my read on what he said .

Quote Kissenger

<In short, if my analysis is correct, we could be witnessing not a halt of the Iranian weapons program -- as the NIE asserts -- but a subtle, ultimately more dangerous, version of it that will phase in the warhead when fissile material production has matured.>

My interpretation,

Mr.Kissenger thinks that they may have bought some or that they have access to some and may be working on a launch system. Pakistan?? I don’t trust them at all.

Quote Kissenger

<But it must also generate an analysis of the strategy to be pursued should Iran, in the end, choose ideology over reconciliation.>

My interpretation,

Mr.Kissenger thinks that we should be talking to them but keep our nose out of their business.

Quote Kissenger

<Intelligence personnel need to return to their traditional anonymity. Policymakers and Congress should once again assume responsibility for their judgments without involving intelligence in their public justifications. To define the proper balance between the user and producer of intelligence is a task that cannot be accomplished at the end of an administration. It is, however, one of the most urgent challenges a newly elected president will face>

My interpretation,

He is right, keep politics out of intelligence/

.

Simon W. Moon · 12-13-07, 12:28 PM

The Bush Admin made this bed.

oldreliable67 · 12-13-07, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon W. Moon

The Bush Admin made this bed.

It would be very helpful if you would elaborate on that and present some support for your assertion. Given something a bit more specific, perhaps one would know better how to respond.

12-13-07, 12:28 PM	#263
Simon W. Moon Thinkical Criticking Join Date: Apr 2005 Last Seen: 02-22-10 09:51 PM Location: Fayettenam Posts: 6,336 Thanks: 168 Thanked 749 Times in 439 Posts Lean: Conservative Gender: Total Awards: 1	Re: U.S. Says Iran Ended Atomic Arms Work The Bush Admin made this bed.
	__________________ "The barbarous custom of having men beaten who are suspected of having important secrets to reveal must be abolished. It has *always* been recognized that this way of interrogating men, by putting them to torture, produces nothing worthwhile." - Napoleon Bonaparte to Berthier 11 Nov 1798 Napoleon on the Art of War

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