All these news stories are carrying the headline Report contradicts Bush on Iran nuclear program. I'm sorry, but I don't see how the report does that.
The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report says that Iran discontinued its program to develop a nuclear weapon in 2003. Yet, according to the Reuter's news story, "the new assessment found Iran was continuing to develop technical means that could be used to build a bomb and it would likely be capable of producing enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon 'sometime during the 2010-2015 time-frame.'" The report also says, "We also assess with moderate-to-high confidence that Tehran at a minimum is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons." So why did Iran discontinue its nuclear weapons program in 2003? According to the NPR story, Bush on Iran Nuclear Report: 'A Warning Signal', the report states that it did so as a result of "diplomatic and financial pressure."
Here are three points:
First, why doesn't the press call the report a sweeping vindication of the Bush Administration? On some level, Iran discontinued its nuclear weapons program because of the foreign policy leadership of the Bush team. In addition, is it a coincidence that Iran discontinued its nuclear weapons program the same year that America invaded Iraq? Maybe our tough foreign policy worked better than we thought!
Second, the report acknowledges that Iran has had ambitions to develop a nuclear weapon and continues even today to enrich uranium. I don't keep track of everything that Iran says, but my impression was always that Iran has repeatedly denied a desire to construct a nuclear weapon, claiming instead that it is enriching uranium for civilian energy purposes. Now we learn that Iran had a covert program to develop a nuclear weapon. So why should we trust that it is developing uranium for non-military purposes?
Third, as President Bush said this morning, we should not assume that the report is telling us to "kick back and relax." Iran discontinued its program because of international pressure, so what we are doing now works. If we stop the pressure, Iran may feel free to resume its ambitions for a nuclear weapon. Some may say that Bush is trying to start another war, but, as far as I know, Bush has not said we should go to war at this moment. Rather, he wants to continue sanctions.
So why do the news media frame the whole situation as Bush being wrong? Liberal bias may be a factor. Or perhaps they want to heighten political drama.