NIE Declassified

Portions of the National Intelligence Estimate that has made news can now be read as they are now declassified. It appears the entire document is not declassified, however. So, while the President says that the leaking of the NIE was political- and, quite frankly, that is almost certainly true- we also have to consider the fact that releasing some but not all of the NIE is also likely political. Whatever is held back is very possibly kept from public eyes to protect that Administration. Sure some things would remain classified to protect 'sources and methods', but it's hard to know for sure what else may have been withheld.

In the document (it's only 4 pages, so you can read the whole document easily here) sections that relate to Iraq and the news of the past couple of days:

United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the leadership of al-Qa’ida and disrupted its operations; however... [w]e also assess that the global jihadist movement—which includes al-Qa’ida, affiliated and independent terrorist groups, and emerging networks and cells—isspreading and adapting to counterterrorism efforts.

We assess that the Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives; perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere.
• The Iraq conflict has become the .cause celebre. for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.

Al-Qa’ida, now merged with Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi’s network, is exploiting the situation in Iraq to attract new recruits and donors and to maintain its leadership role.

The President denies that Iraq has made the world more dangerous. It's pretty clear his intelligence leaders don't agree.

GP