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NIGHTLINE: ON THE RECORD: The C.I.A. Defends the Intel on Iraq
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Terry L Parker
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Jan 06, 2004 12:46 PST
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Nightline
TONIGHT'S FOCUS: In the wake of questions about whether the Administration exaggerated and hyped the evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, the CIA responds. For the first time, the Central Intelligence Agency gives an extensive, on the record interview regarding the intelligence it provided the White House and Congress in the months before the war with Iraq.
Last year, in the run up to the war with Iraq, the major players in the Bush administration, from the President on down, repeatedly made the argument that the war was necessary because the U.S. had reliable intelligence that Saddam Hussein had extensive weapons of mass destruction. When Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations' Security Council, the Director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet sat next to him, an unspoken assurance that the CIA was firmly supportive of the administration's case.
"WMD's" quickly became a household phrase. And when U.S. forces marched into Baghdad, it was only a matter of days before people started to ask: so, where are those WMD's? And now, as the weeks and months have dragged on with no clear evidence of WMD's in Iraq, the questions are focusing on whether the Administration or the intelligence community exaggerated or hyped the case.
Tonight for the first time, a key intelligence official will give an extensive, on-the-record interview on this matter. Ted Koppel will speak with Stuart Cohen, vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council. A career intelligence officer, Mr. Cohen has served in many key roles in the intelligence community relating to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
In October of 2002, the National Intelligence Council, under Cohen's leadership, produced a National Intelligence Estimate, an official document requested by a number of senators in the midst of the national and congressional debate about the war against Iraq. At least one senator said the 90-page document convinced her to vote for the war in Iraq.
The Senate and House Intelligence Committees are now reviewing the NIE report, its raw evidence and subsequent analysis. Their reports are scheduled for release later this month, but have already been described in at least one press account as extremely critical of the CIA.
Tonight, in a rare on-camera, on the record interview, a CIA official gets a chance to explain.
We hope you'll join us.
Sara Just and the Nightline Staff
ABCNEWS Washington bureau
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<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial>TONIGHT'S FOCUS: In the wake of questions about
whether the Administration exaggerated and hyped the evidence of Iraq's weapons
of mass destruction, the CIA responds. For the first time, the Central
Intelligence Agency gives an extensive, on the record interview regarding the
intelligence it provided the White House and Congress in the months before the
war with Iraq. <BR><BR>Last year, in the run up to the war with Iraq, the major
players in the Bush administration, from the President on down, repeatedly made
the argument that the war was necessary because the U.S. had reliable
intelligence that Saddam Hussein had extensive weapons of mass destruction. When
Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations' Security Council,
the Director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet sat next to him, an unspoken
assurance that the CIA was firmly supportive of the administration's case.
<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>"WMD's" quickly became a household phrase. And when U.S.
forces marched into Baghdad, it was only a matter of days before people started
to ask: so, where are those WMD's? And now, as the weeks and months have dragged
on with no clear evidence of WMD's in Iraq, the questions are focusing on
whether the Administration or the intelligence community exaggerated or hyped
the case. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Tonight for the first time, a key intelligence official
will give an extensive, on-the-record interview on this matter. Ted Koppel will
speak with Stuart Cohen, vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council. A
career intelligence officer, Mr. Cohen has served in many key roles in the
intelligence community relating to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass
destruction. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>In October of 2002, the National Intelligence Council,
under Cohen's leadership, produced a National Intelligence Estimate, an official
document requested by a number of senators in the midst of the national and
congressional debate about the war against Iraq. At least one senator said the
90-page document convinced her to vote for the war in Iraq. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The Senate and House Intelligence Committees are now
reviewing the NIE report, its raw evidence and subsequent analysis. Their
reports are scheduled for release later this month, but have already been
described in at least one press account as extremely critical of the CIA.
<BR>Tonight, in a rare on-camera, on the record interview, a CIA official gets a
chance to explain. <BR>We hope you'll join us. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Sara Just and the Nightline Staff<BR>ABCNEWS Washington
bureau <BR><BR>----------- <BR>If you have questions or comments regarding this
message or a recent "Nightline" broadcast, please do not hit reply; simply click
on this link to send your message directly to the "Nightline" staff: <BR>Or log
on to the new "Nightline" Message Board: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><A
href="http://boards.go.com/cgi/abcnews/request.dll?LIST&;room=nightline">http://boards.go.com/cgi/abcnews/request.dll?LIST&room=nightline</A>
<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Chat with "Nightline" guests and find articles,
transcripts and video excerpts on our Web site at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Sections/Nightline/ <BR><BR>Ask your friends to sign up!
Send them this link:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/nightline/DailyNews/nightline_login.html <BR>Did
you know that ABCNEWS.com can also send you a daily email from ABCNEWS Political
Unit? Get the daily political scoop from our insider sources. Click here to sign
up! <BR><BR><BR>Copyright © 2004 ABC News Internet Ventures. Click here for
Terms of Use & Updated Privacy Policy & Internet Safety Information
applicable to the site.<BR> </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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