THE LIKUDNIKS ARE PRESSING HARD FOR WAR

Israel and its wingnut supporters in the U.S. are trying to change "hearts and minds" about the conclusions of the Iran NIE. A delegation from Israel has been sent to the U.S. and I suppose they will try to rally the neo-cons.

Israel Officials in US to Discuss Iran
By AMY TEIBEL – 12 hours ago

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli intelligence officials are in the U.S. trying to convince the Bush administration that Iran is still trying to develop nuclear weapons — contrary to the findings of a recent U.S. intelligence report, security officials said.

The Israeli delegation set off for the U.S. last week and will wind up its visit this week, the officials said.

The U.S. and Israel will hold additional formal meetings on the matter in coming weeks, the Israeli officials said. Israel will use these forums to try to persuade the Americans that Iran is trying to development nuclear weapons, and to present top secret Israeli intelligence material, the officials said.

Here's a smattering of the agit-prop that's already out there -

FROM THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTE:
Executive Director's Blog: "Intelligence? Or Lack Thereof?"
“Intelligence? Or Lack Thereof?”
David A. Harris
Jerusalem Post blog, December 16, 2007

Don't trust nuke sneaks
U.S. report says Iran isn't building a bomb, but don't put stock in that assessment
Victor Davis Hanson, Tribune Media Services
December 14, 2007

Sunday December 16, 2007
Koch: What real experts make of the Iran NIE

We should look elsewhere for guidance. Four experts whom I trust have come to a different conclusion than the latest NIE report. Former Secretary of State George Shultz; former CIA Director James Woolsey; Senator John Kyl (R-AZ) and Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) issued their own response to the NIE report in their capacity as leaders of the Committee on the Present Danger - Fighting Terrorism and The Ideologies that Drive It."