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Rumsfeld Explains Role of Defense Group Analyzing Intel
Thursday, October 24, 2002
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service

"What comes out of intelligence are not fixed, firm conclusions. What comes out are speculation, analysis, probabilities, possibilities, estimates, assessments."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld clarified today the role of a small group that's "poring over" intelligence reports in DoD's policy wing.

Shortly after Sept. 11, "a small group -- I think two to start with and maybe four now -- of people in the policy shop were asked to begin poring over this mountain of information that we were receiving of intelligence-type things," Rumsfeld said during a Pentagon media briefing.

The secretary was clarifying an account in a New York Times article today that suggested the DoD group is looking for ties between Iraq and al Qaeda that traditional intelligence assets had missed. The article also suggested Rumsfeld is unhappy with the intelligence information he is receiving from those traditional sources, such as the CIA.

Not so, Rumsfeld said.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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