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

[Ihaveadream]

Erica Jong's stated it correctly today, and look what we got.

[floydSmoot]

"The intelligence community no longer pleases me," said the king.

"Off with their heads!"

[ProfessorDuh]

Nothing new here. History doesn't reflect Bush's views, Biology doesn't reflect Bush's views. Environmental science doesn't reflect Bush's views. Economics doesn't reflect Bush's views. Bush's views are "gut-instinct" whims that he pulls straight out of his chimpanzee ass. They're what a lazy moron uses in place of thinking. But the whims are placed there by God, so they are always correct.

[teacake]

Bush has brought an immense shame to his parents, his country, his family, and his religion. It'd be tough for the evangelicals to spread the Good News, when the very person who claims to be a born-again turns out to be a devil (a very stupid one) himself.

Bush must be packaged in a container and thrown into the same pit where nuclear wastes are dumped.

[FlaExRepub]

"He told the Israelis that he can't control what the intelligence community says,"

Do we need to remind the Idiot that he invaded Iraq with the intelligence that he and his gang controlled? Is every word out of his mouth a lie?
Maybe he meant that he can't control it (anymore) because some have learned their lessons when it comes to manufacturing evidence on his behalf.

[teacake]

After nearly 1 trillion of tax payers' dollars spent on the so-called 'fight against terror', as claimed by the international terrorist himself, George W. Bush, the Taleban is still going strong - if not stronger. Today a Kabul's hotel was attacked by the Taleban. The American people are being juiced both by Bush and his buddies like the dictator of Pakistan (Musharraf). The war against terror has become a lucrative business for countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, which play the double-face game: they secretly provide safe haven for the Talebans to extort the corrupt American politicians for cash - lots of it.

Bush is not only the most incompetent president on this planet, he's bankrupted the nation as he helps his cronies like Halliburton and Blackwater looting national treasures.

The only appropriate and effective solution to the fight against 'terror' is to execute the key terrorists: Dick Cheney and George W. Bush - TODAY!

[geobushono]

good let's fire em.
jeezus will show us the way.

[brushfinch]

That's just too bad...he 'd better abide by what the NIE says and by the law...we know where his views lead this country to: wars of choice, economic disaster, etc...to hell in a basket!!!!

[editor]

Doesn't a rational person base their views on things like The National Intelligence Estimate? You know; "the facts". Or does bush see things the experts don't? Does he work with his "gut"? His "anus"? Does Jesus tell him what the facts are?????

[gonnuts]

Come Hell or high-water bush will attack Iran before he leaves office - and when he does the chaos it will create may well lead to a suspension of the elections, then we can look for Marshal Law to be declared and the FEMA camps to be put to use.

If they can get away with 9/11 - they can do anything.

[MajorKong]

We need to start a war with Iran that will destabilize the region because we're afraid Iran will destabilize the region.

[urbanrevolt]

Bush is consulting Karl Rove's numbers on this.

It's a slam dunk, man.

[StillAmused]

"Mr. President, sir -- on the Red Phone... it's Jeebus with today's instructions. Oh, and don't forget to take your meds, sir. They're right next to the phone."

[BWonka]

But your views are screwed up, Geogie... remember "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"? You were wrong then, you are wrong now, and your legacy will show you were the wrong man for the job.

But, hey, thanks for neutering the elephant!

[dantanna]

so i guess to the righties it is okay for a president to go overseas and second guess our national agencies pronunciations; but if anyone does that overseas about the president, he will be labeled or given the status of a traitor by the idiots in the right. but this is not a surprise anyway; when has this idiot that we have as president ever based his point of view on facts and in-depth analisys on anything???