By Steve Clemons

ArmsControlWonk’s Jeffrey Lewis and nuclear weapons watcher Paul Kerr turn out to be the winners of the what-is-Iran-really-doing prize.

I have received quite a few thoughtful, sensible appeals from regular TWN readers, commenters, and emailers to turn the comments function back on. I will do so — but only after I have time to write and draft a statement of what I believe constitutes fair and worthwhile commentary on this blog.

For the “bomb Iran now hawks”, the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran — just released — has probably ruined their holiday season. (here is the pdf) The report documents the high likelihood that Iran is no where near nuclear weapons capacity — and probably not pointed (at this time) in that direction.

A lot of folks slammed Jimmy Carter for using the word — but when Israel Prime Minister Ehud Ohlmert says the same thing, it just makes the problem in Israel more tangible and real.

Israel Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon Tonight, I’ll be up at the big New York confab of the Israel Policy Forum titled “Two States: A Global Imperative” and hanging out with some interesting folks — including Israel Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon and former Deputy Defense Minister and Knesset Member Ephraim Sneh.

This evening between 6:00 and 6:30 pm EST, Daniel Levy and I will be talking with Air America talk show host Sam Seder on the outcome of the Annapolis Summit and also about the state of the American economy.

The Washington Note is sponsoring a Washington, DC preview screening of Alex Gibney’s powerful new film, Taxi to the Dark Side. The film already has a Gotham Award Nomination as best documentary and won the Best Documentary Prize at the Chicago Film Festival, the Newport International Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival.

Some of my readers are writing and saying, “Hey Steve, where are you?? Senator Hagel spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations and called this administration one of the most incompetent in American history! This is your stuff!” They have written, “Hagel had dinner again with Bloomberg! Is he gonna run?” As regular readers of…

I’ll be moderating a conference focusing on the now and near term of the American economy, the housing bubble, and recession fears today in Washington. Here’s the line up. The entire meeting will be taped by C-Span today — and broadcast later this afternoon and over the weekend.

Praise where praise is due.