I just read the PDF linked to by spynverzyon. How anyone can read that document and come away concluding the NYT assessment was wrong is beyond my comprehension.

The best case is that we’ve seriously damaged Al Queda’s operations and structure. But we now have many more terrorist and jihadist groups to contend with, and the document emphasizes that these are both homegrown and foreign cells.

Though it’s certainly true that success of our democratization agenda in Iraq would undermine jihadist sentiments and reduce the recruitment lure, it’s not looking like the Iraq situation is playing as a “success” on the Middle Eastern street right now (though the document doesn’t delve into that question). It is certain that it serves as probably THE focal point in the jihadis’ campaign for hearts and minds in the area.

I’m quite amazed that, if this is the entirety of the declassified portion of the NIE, the White House could possibly think of this as a defense of its position. It clearly states that terrorism is a more broadly-based and widespread issue now, clearly states that Iraq is a keystone in this spread, and does nothing to suggest the Iraq war has had any but a negative impact on our goals to quell the terrorist trend worldwide or domestically. While it does offer hope in the form of statements to the effect that “if everything goes right for us from now on, we could see some progress,” it importantly does not offer judgements on the current or future prospects for that success.

I can only imagine that they’re assuming the mere release of the document will seem sufficient defense for their supporters, who in turn will not read the document, or who will only focus on the hopeful possibilities it mentions and ignore the rest. It’s truly remarkable to me. And if this is the best they could come up with, what then is contained in the 90% of the NIE that remains classified?