The Times – Leading Article: The National Intelligence Estimate, a consensus view of 16 American agencies, that Iran appears to have halted its drive to acquire nuclear weapons has wrongfooted politicians in both the West and the Middle East. Many of those trying to halt Iran’s efforts to build a bomb have been dismayed by what they see as a judgment that may lessen the pressure on Tehran.
Intelligent intelligence
Rice urges Russia to maintain pressure on Iran
Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged a skeptical Russia on Thursday to help maintain pressure on Iran, despite the release of a U.S. report which found Tehran halted its atomic weapons program in 2003.
China ponders its role amid Iran nuclear quandary
Reuters: Contention over Iran’s nuclear plans has thrown into sharp relief China’s uncertain role in the crisis as a big economic partner of the Middle Eastern power that is nonetheless reluctant to rile the United States.
Bush told in August that Iran nuke program ‘may be suspended’
CNN: President Bush was told in August that Iran’s nuclear weapons program “may be suspended,” the White House said Wednesday, which seemingly contradicts the account of the meeting given by Bush Tuesday.
The flaws in the Iran report
Washington Post – By John R. Bolton: Rarely has a document from the supposedly hidden world of intelligence had such an impact as the National Intelligence Estimate released this week. Rarely has an administration been so unprepared for such an event. And rarely have vehement critics of the “intelligence community” on issues such as Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction reversed themselves so quickly.
Sarkozy: Iran report reinforces concerns
AP: French President Nicolas Sarkozy said a new U.S. intelligence report saying Iran stopped its nuclear weapons development in 2003 reinforces international concerns and should not diminish pressure for new sanctions.
Bush says Iran must explain past nuclear work
New York Times: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said Wednesday that an American intelligence reports conclusion that Iran was not currently developing a nuclear weapons program was a big victory for his country. He said the finding was a result of Irans resistance to international pressure over its nuclear program.
In Iran we trust?
New York Times: On Monday the United States intelligence community issued what everyone agrees was blockbuster news: a report stating that in the autumn of 2003, Iran halted its nuclear weapons program. The National Intelligence Estimate has been heralded as a courageous act of independence by the intelligence agencies, and praised by both parties for showing a higher quality of spy work than earlier assessments.
Details in military notes led to shift on Iran, U.S. says
New York Times: American intelligence agencies reversed their view about the status of Irans nuclear weapons program after they obtained notes last summer from the deliberations of Iranian military officials involved in the weapons development program, senior intelligence and government officials said on Wednesday.
Five hanged in southern Iran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Dec. 05 – Five individuals were executed in the southern Iranian province of Kerman on Wednesday, state media reported.
