Bush Tells Israelis He Doesn't Believe Iran NIE Report

Newsweek:

In public, President Bush has been careful to reassure Israel and other allies that he still sees Iran as a threat, while not disavowing his administration's recent National Intelligence Estimate. That NIE, made public Dec. 3, embarrassed the administration by concluding that Tehran had halted its weapons program in 2003, which seemed to undermine years of bellicose rhetoric from Bush and other senior officials about Iran's nuclear ambitions. But in private conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week, the president all but disowned the document, said a senior administration official who accompanied Bush on his six-nation trip to the Mideast. "He told the Israelis that he can't control what the intelligence community says, but that [the NIE's] conclusions don't reflect his own views" about Iran's nuclear-weapons program, said the official, who would discuss intelligence matters only on the condition of anonymity.

Bush's behind-the-scenes assurances may help to quiet a rising chorus of voices inside Israel's defense community that are calling for unilateral military action against Iran. Olmert, asked by NEWSWEEK after Bush's departure on Friday whether he felt reassured, replied: "I am very happy." A source close to the Israeli leader said Bush first briefed Olmert about the intelligence estimate a week before it was published, during talks in Washington that preceded the Annapolis peace conference in November. According to the source, who also refused to be named discussing the issue, Bush told Olmert he was uncomfortable with the findings and seemed almost apologetic.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[emerywood]

This is a U.S. President who is unbelievably chummy and cozy to the Saudi royalties notwithstanding 19 out of the 21 assasins in 9/11 were Saudis. And yet, he was unbelievably hostile to Saddam and finally had him executed and his country destroyed for the only "crime" of defying the UN and the US. I wondered what historians have to say about his inexplicable behavior and actions ?

[BillN]

"Bush Tells Israelis He Doesn't Believe Iran NIE Report"

...then he picked up his coloring book and crayons, and went back to his room.

[DMcD]

Ya' , we can't have "reality" getting in the way of "single-mindedness".

What a blithering moron we have for a President. I think he may actually be one of those people that , in one way or another , has to be mad at somebody , anybody --- all the time. Evil people are like that you know.

[DontSpin]

Bush is a tool for Israel.

[Gary47]

In the encyclopedia, under the entry for "ostrich" is a picture of George.

[Dogger]

"Bush Tells Israelis He Doesn't Believe Iran NIE Report"

. . . thus confirming its accuracy.

[texastornado]

Duel citizenship Isrealies (neocon Zionists) have taken over our government.
http://www.viewzone.com/dualcitizen.html

[fourex]

The last time GW Bush trashed an NIE report the twin towers came down.

[alted1663]

Thats because he's drunk most of the time.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Bush and Cheney know all. We are all idiots. They're incredibly dangerous to our safety and welfare, for 11.5 more months.

[degjack]

Bush has no reflective views to speak of.

[Irons]

I just hope Bush doesn't start drinkin' and snortin' again in his last year in office.

[TLV]

Feds set to tap all phones, email, monitor websites. We have been completely taken over by this. Our freedoms end here.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/US_drafting_plan_to_allow_government_0114.html

[boomer1949]

Well of course not -- after all he is the Decider -- and tomorrow he'll bomb the hell out of Iran. Why? Because it's there.

[peterg76]

George W. Bush: No truth too inconvenient.

(Really, no truth at all....)