From last evening’s briefing with Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend:
Q … Jane Harman said today at The National Press Club that the administration is deliberately stalling on another intelligence assessment, this one solely about Iraq, because you don’t want things — you don’t want it out before the election. I wanted your reaction to that….
MS. TOWNSEND: …. Let me talk for a moment about your question on Jane Harman. Look, I’ve had the pleasure of working with her on a number of intelligence reform issues. But I will say to you, we should be clear that the DNI agreed to begin preparing an updated NIE on Iraq. If I recall correctly, I believe that was back in August. Obviously, most NIEs are substantial research and writing projects that can take as much as a year. He agreed to try and have this thing done in — somewhere in — something, four to six months, or so, because it requires grasping and coordination throughout the intelligence community.
My understanding is the planned release date, given the work that must be done to have it be comprehensive and complete, is January of ’07. But I will tell you, that’s still quicker than most NIEs get done. The timing has got nothing to do with the election.
More soon. (via ThinkProgress)
