Global Security Newsire has a nice summary of the fallout from Colin Powell’s clumsy use of poorly sourced intelligence about the Iranian missile program.
- Adam Ereli put on a brave face, adding that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage “saw the same information.” [Though apparently had the good sense to keep his fat trap shut.]
- Other administration officials express surprise to the Los Angeles Times, saying the information was “weak” and “not supposed to be used.” Of course, as we know from his remarks to the UN, Powell has his own standards.
- David Kay wonders just how dumb Powell might be, adding that “if there was anyone in the administration that had been sufficiently burned by such sources, it would be Powell.”
- Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Chris Shays (R-CT) wrote to Powell requesting 1) an assessment of Iran’s nuclear program and delivery systems and 2) “full access [for the IAEA] to the intelligence that forms the basis for any conclusion that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons program.”
As I said, “Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out, Colin.”
The Washington Times’ coverage of the issue is from an alternate universe. Apparently, all this single source gossip is very worrying.
I suppose others must have noted this elsewhere, but just because I’m helpful, I would like to ask the following question: I wonder if past experience with ‘intelligence’ reports about WMD that come from exiled dissident groups with the stated goal of overthrowing the governments of Middle Eastern countries that start with the letter ‘I’ might have anything to teach us about how we should evaluate the NCRI?