More About The NIE

From Jules Crittenden at the Boston Herald, a detailed breakdown of what the NIE says, or does not say.

 1.In time of war, the nation’s classified intelligence analysis of the enemy’s capabilities is none of our, the public’s, business. It is not the New York Times’ business. It is the business of those who are prosecuting this war. They use it to determine strategy and tactics for defeating that enemy.
 
2. It is, however, the business of a select few in Congress. For the purpose of oversight. Not for the purpose of scoring cheap political points.
 
Thanks to the New York Times and its politically-tainted abuse of our nation’s classified intelligence, the NIE’s key judgments are no longer classified, and are very much the subject of political opportunism. Subsequent news reports continue to be distorted, omitting or burying key elements while seizing on sensational aspects such as the description of the Iraq war as a "cause celebre" among terrorists. Those news reports would have you believe that President Bush lied when he said the United States is winning the War on Terrorism. They have characterized the NIE’s assessment as "bleak."

Please go read the whole thing. It is a good analysis, and it exposes the terribly distorted coverage the media have given of this report to date. Unfortunately, they are continuing to try to distort the NIE.