U.S. Iran report is no "slam dunk" (Reuters analysis)

U.S. Iran report is no "slam dunk"
Tue Dec 4, 2007 5:52am EST

By Randall Mikkelsen - Analysis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence agencies have showed independence from the Bush administration with a skeptical assessment of Iran's nuclear capabilities that is far from the "slam dunk" case against Iraq before the war.

In a new National Intelligence Estimate, the agencies backed down from a 2005 assertion that Iran was "determined" to develop a nuclear weapon -- a conclusion cited by administration supporters of a hard-line policy against Iran.

Instead, the new estimate said Iran had a nuclear weapons program but froze it in 2003. It said "we do not know" whether Tehran currently intended to develop such weapons, and that at a minimum Iran was keeping its options open.

Senior intelligence officials said the report reflected lessons learned since an erroneous assessment on Iraq's weapons capabilities, and they said there was no political input.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0319194520071204

It'll be double slam dunk!
Funny that reuters doesn't remember the intelligence skepticism on Iraq - pre Cheney doctoring