This is the administration's defense on the Iraq/Terror NIE?

The "non-political" Director of National Intelligence seems to be leading the NIE rebuttal thus far.

US intelligence czar John Negroponte admitted the Iraq war was shaping a new generation of terrorists, but denied claims that a secret report said America was in more peril than in 2001.....

"The Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives," Negroponte said, using a previously scheduled dinner speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center to discuss the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE).

"However, should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight," Negroponte, the Director of National Intelligence, said.

The Iraq war did create more terrorists, but we can somewhat dispirit them if we "win" in Iraq? Okay, but are we "winning" Iraq?

Another line of defense coming directly from White House,

"One thing that the reports do not say is that war in Iraq has made terrorism worse," said Snow.

(That's a pretty minimal claim. It wouldn't be surprising if that question is left open in the NIE because of the political implications, but I'm guessing by the White House phrasing, that the NIE clearly doesn't say Iraq has made terrorism better or we'd be hearing that.)

Another minimizing defense that I've seen in several places,

In an interview with Fox New Channel, Bartlett said the war in Iraq was merely "the latest grievance" exploited by extremists to recruit followers.

See, those crazy islamofacists are always mad about something. (US support for Israel. US bases in Saudi Arabia. US support for repressive non-democratic regional governments. They're just irrational.)

Then there's the "context" argument being advanced by Pat Roberts, that this claim that Iraq has spawned more terrorists is just one small bit in a much larger report.

Bottom Line, There has been do direct contradiction of the NYTimes story. Negroponte and Bartlett indirectly confirmed that Iraq has created more terrorists. Tony Snow indirectly confirmed that Iraq has not made America more safe.

This is now the primary narrative on Iraq and terror, and I don't see a good way out for the Republicans. Their "national security" election strategy has been turned around and stuck back in their eye.

The media has their "conflict" for the talking head shows.

Is this a coordinated Democratic Plan?