DoubleEdgeSword
Feb 2nd, 2007, 05:22 AM
Report: Corruption, extremism imperil Iraq stability
POSTED: 7:03 a.m. EST, February 2, 2007
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq describes an increasingly perilous situation in which the U.S. has little control and further deterioration is possible, The Washington Post reported Friday.
While optimistic at times about improvement in Iraq, the study casts uncertainty over whether Iraqi leaders will be effective in fighting sectarian interests and extremists, establishing effective national institutions and stopping corruption, the Post reported.
No conclusion is reached over the question of whether civil war has engulfed Iraq, unidentified sources familiar with the document told the newspaper.
The report says that al Qaeda activities remain a problem but cites Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence as the primary source of conflict and the most immediate threat to U.S. goals, the Post said.
The 90-page classified report, written by the National Intelligence Council with assistance from the intelligence community, was delivered to the White House on Thursday.
A two-page declassified summary was scheduled to be released publicly on Friday after Congress received the classified version.
National Intelligence Director John D. Negroponte, who briefed President Bush on the report Thursday, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this week that Iraq was "at a precarious juncture."
"That means the situation could deteriorate, but there are prospects for increasing stability," said Negroponte, who is stepping down as the nation's top intelligence official to join the State Department as its No. 2 official.
However, he cautioned that stability depended on bringing an end to sectarian violence and fighting all extremist elements.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/02/iraq.estimate.ap/index.html
POSTED: 7:03 a.m. EST, February 2, 2007
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq describes an increasingly perilous situation in which the U.S. has little control and further deterioration is possible, The Washington Post reported Friday.
While optimistic at times about improvement in Iraq, the study casts uncertainty over whether Iraqi leaders will be effective in fighting sectarian interests and extremists, establishing effective national institutions and stopping corruption, the Post reported.
No conclusion is reached over the question of whether civil war has engulfed Iraq, unidentified sources familiar with the document told the newspaper.
The report says that al Qaeda activities remain a problem but cites Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence as the primary source of conflict and the most immediate threat to U.S. goals, the Post said.
The 90-page classified report, written by the National Intelligence Council with assistance from the intelligence community, was delivered to the White House on Thursday.
A two-page declassified summary was scheduled to be released publicly on Friday after Congress received the classified version.
National Intelligence Director John D. Negroponte, who briefed President Bush on the report Thursday, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this week that Iraq was "at a precarious juncture."
"That means the situation could deteriorate, but there are prospects for increasing stability," said Negroponte, who is stepping down as the nation's top intelligence official to join the State Department as its No. 2 official.
However, he cautioned that stability depended on bringing an end to sectarian violence and fighting all extremist elements.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/02/iraq.estimate.ap/index.html