HELP: Why doesn't it matter who wrote the NIE report?

[wurzel]

As I understand it. There were CIA analyst reports which expressed doubts and warnings about the information contained in these reports. These doubts either disappeared or were weakened when the NIE report summarised these analyst reports. Senators did not read the CIA analyst reports. They read the NIE report. It was on this they based their vote to support Bush. Someone must have removed the doubts expressed in the analyst reports when the NIE report was written. Why doesn't it matter who did that?.

[shockingelk]

1. It's the report's cover sheet vs report

The two page NIE summary (that was made public) vs the NIE itself.

Whoever summarized it removed qualifiers ("It is possible that Baghdad has procured ..." becomes "Baghdad procured ...") and even in one instance did something like turn "could reach Saudi Arabia or elsewhere" into "...elsewhere, including the US homeland."

So not only did the NIE not reflect the actual intelligence, whoever wrote the summary for the NIE also made it have different meanings than were contained in the NIE itself.

[wurzel]

2. True. But why don't we know or care who wrote it?

[hang a left]

3. It really doesn't matter does it? In light of the fact that the entire

report was available to any congressperson who cared to look. But I repeat myself.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=artic...

Congressional Oversight of Intelligence Criticized
Committee Members, Others Cite Lack of Attention to Reports on Iraqi Arms, Al Qaeda Threat
By Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 27, 2004; Page A01

In the fall of 2002, as Congress debated waging war in Iraq, copies of a 92-page assessment of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction sat in two vaults on Capitol Hill, each protected by armed security guards and available to any member who showed up in person, without staff.

But only a few ever did. No more than six senators and a handful of House members read beyond the five-page National Intelligence Estimate executive summary, according to several congressional aides responsible for safeguarding the classified material.

The lack of congressional attention to the nitty-gritty details of Iraq's weapons programs is symptomatic of Congress's approach to a range of intelligence matters, according to current and former intelligence committee members and a broad swath of intelligence experts.

(snip)

edit for copywrite rules

[wurzel]

4. Are you serious?

Congressmen from BOTH PARTIES were willing to vote war powers to Bush without ever looking at the evidence that was available? 5 or 28 pages is "too dense"? It was "hard work"? Crossing the Capital grounds is a "trek"? But they vote to send guys "trekking" through Baghdad under a hail of gunfire? I certainly thank you for the effort you have made to educate me on this. But I'm very sorry I asked. Now I see why no one wants to talk about it. This is incredibly depressing. No wonder both parties are hiding behind the report blaming the CIA. A plague on both their houses.

[hang a left]

5. I didn't mean to be so hard on you.

And you won't get anyone to respond to this now posted for the second time. Lots of folks WANT TO BELIEVE our sweet innocent dems were duped along with the American public. They refuse to accept that they KNEW, just like BUSH KNEW.

The two party system is an illusion. There is one party, the American Corporate Party. Welcome to it.

[wurzel]

6. The truth is always hard. But I thank you for it.

Little wonder the Republicans treat our "right to know" with such contempt.

[screembloodymurder]

7. Half-a-trillion dollars for war

and they can't read the report? Maybe Nader is right.

[Moderator]

8. liberalnproud

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.

Thank you.

DU Moderator

[wurzel]

11. Well, Liberalnproud broke them in a good cause.

It took that much to get it into my reluctant mind to accept what he was saying. I'm not criticizing your admonition. Just pointing out he was trying to get something over to me, because I asked.

[troublemaker]

9. Who has said it doesn't matter?

[wurzel]

10. Since no one asked the question I assume everyone does.

It seemed to me to be the OBVIOUS question, but no one asked it. No pundit. No politician. No one on DU. Liberalnproud was the only one who responded. And now he (or she) has, I can see why.