N.I.E.s are always political documents

Just to revisit an argument this author made (albeit elsewhere) about the late 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, specifically regarding its nuclear program:

What was in the declassified summary left out the important parts.

The “key judgments” of the National Intelligence Estimate, which were publicly released, emphasized the suspension of the weapons work.

The public version made only glancing reference to evidence described at great length in the 140-page classified version of the assessment: the suspicion that Iran had 10 or 15 other nuclear-related facilities, never opened to international inspectors, where enrichment activity, weapons work or the manufacturing of centrifuges might be taking place.

That would be part of the problem with the N.I.E., yes.

The other part would be the motivation of the team that presented the document, and the timing of said presentation.