Neoconservatives React To Iran NIE

Yesterday we predicted (an easy forecast, we admitted) that neocons would quickly attack the National Intelligence Estimate saying that Iran has stopped its development of nuclear weapons, at least for the time being.

So here we have Norman Podhoretz, a leading advocate for taking military action against Iran, voicing his "Dark Suspicions About The NIE". Podhoretz says how can you believe this NIE when the last NIE on Iran, in 2005, said with "high confidence" that Iran was going full bore on its weapons program.

Then, just to add to the laugh factor, Podhoretz throws in the 2002 NIE that said Iraq had and was expanding its arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. So, he says, how can you believe these guys.

Here's how: in the past NIE's, the intelligence community was manipulated by Cheney and a bunch of Podhoretz's neo-con friends in the administration. Now, the neo-cons are out and we're getting unvarnished intelligence.

We also have President Bush, out there saying, well, Iran is still dangerous. As we said yesterday, yes, Iran is still a problem. But Iran can be engaged diplomatically. Try it.