U.S. briefer overstates Iran's meddling in Iraq

[journalist3072]

Straying From the Script
A U.S. briefer overstates Iran's meddling in Iraq, setting off a Washington tempest.

Web exclusive
By Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
Newsweek
Updated: 5:21 p.m. ET Feb 21, 2007

Feb. 21, 2007 - An anonymous U.S. official, assigned to provide a recent “background” briefing to the news media in Baghdad, strayed from his script and overstated evidence linking Iranian leaders to weapons found in Iraq, according to four U.S. intelligence officials familiar with the matter.

The White House is still trying to recover from the stumble, which happened during a much- anticipated Feb. 11 briefing. U.S. officials had hoped to use the event to ratchet up pressure on the Tehran regime. But instead of focusing public and congressional attention on the role of Iranian government agents in stoking violence in Iraq, the briefing wound up raising new questions about whether the Bush administration is hyping intelligence about Iran in much the same way it did about Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq four years ago.

The briefing has also inadvertently called attention to what may be an even more serious problem: the limits of U.S. intelligence in deciphering Iranian government actions. Unable to recruit enough reliable spies or collect sufficient hard technical intelligence about the country’s military and nuclear programs, U.S. intelligence agencies are being forced once again to fall back on “deductions” and “inferences.” In many ways, this is the same “guesswork” process that a White House review panel later concluded was governed by “groupthink” conclusions—which ultimately led to wrong calls about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Entire article at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17265231/site/newsweek/

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Anonymous, shananonymous!

Live in fear! Do not give up your identity to the media when speaking BS for * and gang. :eyes:

[ixion]

2. 'strayed' my a**

it was on purpose. they only stay 'strayed' now because they were caught lying. :grr:

[Spazito]

3. It is telling, imo, that there is never any mention of the outing

of a CIA agent AND the front company "Brewster Jennings" as part of the reason for:

"...the limits of U.S. intelligence in deciphering Iranian government actions. Unable to recruit enough reliable spies or collect sufficient hard technical intelligence about the country’s military and nuclear programs, U.S. intelligence agencies are being forced once again to fall back on “deductions” and “inferences.”

It seems to me, especially given the ongoing Libby trial, the media would tie in the two issues IF they were actually reporting FULLY on the subject.

[donkeyotay]

5. Good point nt

[maddezmom]

4. propaganda gone wrong again

:eyes: