Hizbullah 'Sanitized' In US Intelligence Report

U.S. intelligence report will characterize Hizbullah as a political entity with terrorist capabilities, David Ignatius of the Washington Post reported on March 18.

The distinction, which will appear this year's National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), removes the focus from Hizbullah's long pedigree as a paramilitary terrorist organization and Iranian proxy in favor of viewing it as a social and political movement despite its ongoing involvement in terror.

“Officials who have read draft versions of the estimate say it assesses Hezbollah in a broad context, as a political and social force in Lebanon in addition to the militia officially designated by the United States as a ‘foreign terrorist organization,’” Ignatius wrote. “Like most NIEs, this one is said to contain a broad array of views, with some analysts stressing Hizbullah’s terrorist capabilities and others noting the organization’s growing political role, including its representation in the Lebanese cabinet.”

Reports of the National Intelligence Estimate are intended to reflect the cumulative knowledge of U.S. intelligence agencies and do not always form policy. Nonetheless, such an assessment is likely to set off alarm bells for many and raise the ire of many in Washington.

Previous intelligence assessments characterizing Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood as a "largely secular political organization" came under fire as Egypt's popular revolution took hold earlier this year. Members of that organization - the spiritual brothers of Hamas - have long pushed an Islamic agenda and have been unabashedly involved in religiously motivated violence against Egypt's Coptic community during the past year.

In addition, White House counterintelligence adviser John Brennan has taken heat from conservatives and congressional Republicans for past statements noting Hizbullah’s evolution from a terrorist group to one with political pre-eminence in Lebanon.

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