HARMAN HAILS IRAN NIE

Says good policy is to talk to Iran and "sheath the sabers.”

Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice), Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Terrorism Risk Assessment, issued the following statement today in response to Monday’s release of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran:

“I plan to read the classified annex shortly but understand that about 85 percent of its content is in the declassified summary which I have read carefully.  The summary is a stunning document--clear, concise, and unambiguous about Iran's present intentions and capabilities.  Iran is a tough target--made tougher because of the White House's implacable refusal to talk to its government. 

In this regard, I strongly support a bipartisan Congressional effort to engage in an inter-parliamentary exchange with Iran.  But even without obvious channels of access, our intelligence community has done careful work, and those who prepared this document and their superiors are to be commended for speaking "truth to power." 

Good policy based on this assessment is to sheath the sabers and continue to pursue and aggressive economic and diplomatic strategy with Iran.  Now is also the time to engage all the participants in the recent Annapolis conference to support resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and to embrace a democratic Palestinian state led by Mahmoud Abbas which can provide security for its people.

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