GOP Senators Call For Inquiry Into Iran National Intelligence Estimate

Washington Post:

Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran as well as the specific intelligence that went into it, according to congressional sources.

The move is the first official challenge, but it comes amid growing backlash from conservatives and neoconservatives unhappy about the assessment that Iran halted a clandestine nuclear weapons program four years ago. It reflects how quickly the NIE has become politicized, with critics even going after the analysts who wrote it, and shows a split among Republicans.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Khy]

Has it occurred to anyone else that the Bush Administration's reaction to this NIE seems to be so over-the-top moronic that a paranoid observer might conclude that Bush/Cheney (et al) are purposefully trying to tank the Republican's '08 hopes?

It might seem odd to some that this administration's extreme and public stupidity regarding the NIE came immediately on the heels of some apparently good news (in a very narrow context, but the American people have short memories and are endlessly forgiving) about the reduction in violence in Iraq and the launching of a renewed Palestinian/Israeli peace process. Theoretically, if the Republicans found themselves the beneficiaries of warm fuzzies about the war in Iraq sometime around the summer of '08, that would be a good thing for them, right? One might ask the question: Why would an incumbent (but terminal) administration be taking a dive and actively attempting to torpedo their own party's hopes for a follow-on White House administration and/or a return to a congressional majority?

Just curious if anyone else is smelling what might be coming down the pipe...

[godlessclif]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/29/iran.us/index.html?iref=newssearch

CNN reports a Swiss diplomat tried to broker a peace agreement between the USA and Iran.
The USA wants the Swiss guy fired.

If you're not with us you are against us!
I say bomb the neutralist Swiss bastards unless they send troops to Iraq to help us kill Arabs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piu61KjP9LE
I'm afraid of americans...Resnor+Bowie

[StillAmused]

This is a hallmark moment for the GOP caucus... the first fucking time they've questioned ANYTHING since 2003. Sort of like one of those miraculous, unanticipated emergences from a coma after several years.

Okay -- it's for all the wrong reasons, but, still...

[frappe]

I read the article in full and I find it ludicrous that the Republicans want to launch an investigation of the new NIE report. Sure, anything that runs counter to their perspective must be wrong is the apparent logic from which they derive cause for this effort...And this happening after America and the world have been subjected to their gross politicization of intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraqi war. It's farcical.

In the article it mentions that Sen. Ensign wants the special Senate panel to be comprised of equal numbers from both sides of the aisle. If the Democrats yield to this request, then they deserve whatever they get. The bottom line is that the Democrats hold the majority and they should not relinquish their authority in this regard. The bottom line is that Ensign and his fellow Republicans were marching in lockstep with Pres. Bush in his march to attack Iran, and with the revelations provided with this new NIE, it lays bare the falseness of their efforts which we've all become so accustomed to dealing with.

No, Democrats. Do not yield to Sen. Ensign. His only desire is to provide political cover for Congressional Republicans who have been rubber-stamping the efforts of the Bush administration since DAY ONE.

[ROBOT8]

ten steps that "fascist, totalitarian, and other repressive leaders [employ to] seize and maintain power, especially in what were once democracies.” The ten steps are:
1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law
naomi wolfe

[loki]

Nope, no reason to question them. But Bush and Cheney have many personal and financial reasons to ignore them.

[lm945]

Not really surprising. They've finally come up for air (having lived for seven years with their faces puckered up to Bush's ass), only to discover they don't like the taste. Now they're trying desperately to cover their own.

[Libertysconscience]

WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT? THE SMART ONES ARE RESIGNING BY DEC 31ST WHILE THE SLOW ONES ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR BLIND SUPPORT GOOSE STEPPING RUBBER STAMPING OF THE EVENTS AND ANALYSIS.

SO, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO?

ATTACK THE MESSENGER.

PROBLEM IS THEY HAVE DESTROYED AND PERVERTED OUR INTELIGENCE AGENCIES BY SEEDING THESE AGENCIES WITH BUSHIES WHOSE ONLY JOB CRITERIA WAS THEIR ANTI ROE STANCE,

THUS POLITICIZING THE SINGLE VITALLY CRITICAL

ARM OF AMERICA'S FIRST LINE OF OFFENSE AND

DEFENSE.

THIS WAS THE GROUP WHO SUPPORTED AND DEFENDED

THE OUTTING OF PLAME IN A MANNER THAT ONLY

RIVALS WHAT WAS DONE TO ANITA HILL BEFORE

CONGRESS BUT WITH FAR MORE DEADLIER

CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR NATION DUE TO HER

EXPERTISE AND CONTACTS PERTAINING TO WMD A

FACT THAT NEITHER THE PRESIDENT OR HIS CABINET INCLUDING THE GOP MAJORITY CONGRESS CONCERNED ITSELF ABOUT REGARDING THE CONSEQUENTIAL ENDURING AFFECTS TO SUCH AGENCIES AND AGENTS.

IT'S IRONIC SINCE THEY ACCUSED ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENCY AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION INCLUDING THE STATE DEPT SEC THAT OUR MILITARY COULDN'T HAVE THE CONGRESS ACTING LIKE GENERAL IN FIGHTING THE WAR, [sillies it by their own Mission Accomplished banner means for 3.5 yrs we have been unsuccessfully engaged in a PACIFICATION - it worked 3/4 of Iraqis have fled their own nation].

BUT GET THIS NOW THESE SAME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOW WANT TO PLAY INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS WITH AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.

FACTOID RHETORICAL STATEMENT: WASN'T THAT MEDDLING AND CHERRY PICKING WAS HOW AMERICA'S MOB RULE BUSH'S PRE-EMPTION DOCTRINE DIVERTED THE MILITARY FROM THE CORRECT FRONT TO IRAQ?

[getoffmedz]

Why is MSM not reporting this very important item?

Today, Iran stopped selling it's oil and natural gas in U.S. dollars.

This move has been threatened for years and is a major bone of contention between the U.S. and Iran.

Attack is near?

[MetalCanuck]

This is NOT the real Republican Party folks I hope you know that. Its funny to see how people shit on Republican...Jefferson was a Republican. THis party that calls themselves Republican are nothing more than Neo-Cons. Ron Paul is a REAL Republican. Barry Goldwater was a REAL republican. These are GOOD people regardless if you agree with everything they want. The Dems today are nothing but AIPAC stooges who will CONTINUE the wars. The 3 so called Dem front runners will NOT promise to end the war by 2013..RON PAUL WILL end it immediately.

[scooperss]

What is cheney up to I wonder?

[FogBelter]

The GOP are nothing if not consistent.

It doesn't matter what the Right claims to be the Truth or what the Left claims to be the Truth, both groups are so polarized and calcified in their positions they won't Trust or accept the other sides position anyway.

Right or Wrong, why give ground to the other side anymore? Trying to see eye to eye is pointless.

We might as well be the Union and the Confederates.

[GenXer]

They didn't seem to care that much about the itel before the Iraq war. Why do we spend 50 billion on the CIA?

[JSquercia]

These gus DO relaize that THEY are NOT the majority now DON'T they . I remember the their reactions to the Democrats wanting an Inquiy into the Downing Street Memo ( Still a GOOD idea) . They refused and would not even give the Democratic Minority a Meeting Room . To qoute the VP F U Rethuglicans

[MsEngineer]

Pakistan - nuclear weapons - no oil

North Korea - possible nukes - no oil

Iran - no nukes - lots of oil