A National Intelligence Estimate has just been released and it concludes that Iran quit building a nuclear weapon in 2003 but continues to enrich uranium, a key component of nuclear weapons. Here is a brief summary:

The United States released a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Dec. 3. It said, "We judge with high
confidence that in the fall of 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program." It went on to say, "Tehran's decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005." It further said, "Our assessment that Iran halted the program in 2003 primarily in response to international pressure
indicates Tehran's decisions are guided by a cost-benefit approach rather than a rush to a weapon irrespective of the political, economic and military costs."

A number of questions arise, such as why has recent rhetoric from the US officials continued to emphasize the danger of an Iranian nuclear program. Another is why release it now when this information must have been known for some time.

Can this estimate be trusted? After all, it was another intelligence estimate before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. None were found in Iraq after the invasion. The track record of the CIA and other agencies has been spotty. The language of this report does leave room for error. The Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, seems to question the conclusion. Here, according to AP (via Breitbart News), is Israel's view of whether Iran's nuclear weapons program is proceeding:

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said "it's apparently true" that Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear program in 2003. "But in our opinion, since then it has apparently continued that program," Barak told Army Radio. "There are differences in the assessments of different organizations in the world about this, and only time will tell who is right." Asked if the new U.S. assessment reduced chances that the U.S. will launch a military strike on Iran, Barak said that was "possible." However, he said, "We cannot allow ourselves to rest just because of an intelligence report from the other side of the earth, even if it is from our greatest friend."
 

This intelligence report contradicts recent statements by the President and Vice-President. It certainly seems to put to rest the idea that America might bomb Iran before the Bush term concludes.