On December 3rd, and in direct opposition to the conclusions drawn from Israeli intelligence sources, a National Intelligence Estimate concluded that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 with no evidence to suggest it had re-started it. "Tehran at a minimum is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons," says the summary's second sentence while expressing only "moderate confidence" that Tehran has not re-started the military program. The report says "with high confidence" that Iran did have a secret nuclear weapons program and that it stopped only after it got caught and was threatened with international punishment. On the face of it, the NIE Report appears to be a betrayal of Israel and a humiliation for the U.S. that has maintained for years that Iran is continuing its quest for nuclear weapons. Reviewing the evidence that has been acculmulated against Iran, however, raises questions as to whether the NIE Report is genuine, or part of an elaborate covert plan of deception designed to mislead the mullahs. Only time will tell." FULL STORY
