Sources: U.S. delays report on Iranian role in Iraq over issue of manipulation of intelligence

Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which has been accused by the U.S. of sponsoring attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has postponed plans to offer public details of its charges of Iranian meddling inside Iraq amid internal divisions over the strength of the evidence, U.S. officials said.

U.S. officials promised last week to provide evidence of Iranian activities that led President Bush to announce Jan. 10 that U.S. forces would begin taking the offensive against Iranian agents who threatened Americans.

But some officials in Washington are concerned that some of the material may be inconclusive and that other data cannot be released without jeopardizing intelligence sources and methods. They want to avoid repeating the embarrassment that followed the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, when it became clear that information the administration cited to justify the war was incorrect, said the officials, who described the internal discussions on condition of anonymity.

"We don't want a repeat of the situation we had when [then-Secretary of State] Colin L. Powell went before the United Nations," said one U.S. official, referring to Powell's 2003 presentation on then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's unconventional weapons program that relied on evidence later found to be false. "People are going to be skeptical."

Read the rest at the LA Times

Related Link:
Analysis: U.S. and Iran on the precipice

Related Link:
Maliki: 'I assure you' Iran behind some attacks on U.S. forces, but tells both to ' solve your problems outside Iraq'

Related Link:
U.S.-Iraqi Sources: Iran suspected in abduction, execution of soldiers at Karbala; hint Sadr forces also involved

Related Link:
'Senior Pentagon Officials': Air force preparing for aggressive tactics against Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Bush warns Iran against action in Iraq

Related Link:
Ambassador: Iran to expand economic, military ties in Iraq

Related Link:
Source: Baghdad death squad leaders have fled to Iran with Maliki encouragement

Related Link:
Bush defends targetting Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Report:Bush 'authorizes' troops to kill Iranians in Iraq as part of wider Mideast offensive

Related Link:
Ambassador: U.S. seeks to break Iraq's ties to Iran

Related Link:
Analysis: Surging towards Iran

Related Link:
Analysis: Scant evidence found of Iran-Iraq arms link

Related Link:
Iraqi Police Detain 3 Iranians in Mosul

Related Link:
Sources: U.S. launches CIA-Seal-Delta armed task force against Iranians in Iraq