President Bush continues to insist Iran threatens the United States despite the new National Intelligence Estimate refuting most of his key claims. This week’s consensus report from all sixteen US intelligence agencies concludes Iran shut down its nuclear weapons program more than four years ago. In his first public comments, President Bush said his position is unchanged.

President Bush: “I believed before the NIE that Iran was dangerous, and I believe after the NIE that Iran is dangerous. And I believe now is the time for the world to do the hard work necessary to convince the Iranians there is a better way forward.”

President Bush was also asked if he was aware of the assessment when he warned of a “World War Three” less than two months ago. Bush admitted he was first informed of new information in August, but says he didn’t find out the specifics — until last week. Democratic Senator Joseph Biden responded, “If that’s true he has the most incompetent staff in modern American history.”