GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE – AT 5:59 P.M. ET:  We've been following this.  It appears, based on a number of recent reports, to be accurate, and is good news for the good guys.  From superlative reporter Eli Lake, in The Washington Times:

Israel and the United States recently revised their estimates of when Iran will field a nuclear weapon, reflecting difficulties inside Tehran's program of building large numbers of centrifuges to enrich uranium.

Israel's former civilian intelligence chief, Meir Dagan, told Israeli newspapers last weekend that he thought Iran will not be able to produce an atomic bomb until 2015. The interview is significant in part because Mr. Dagan, who recently left the post, has made Iran a major focus for the Mossad intelligence service since he took over in 2002.

Mr. Dagan's estimates also coincide with recent U.S. intelligence community analysis that states Iran has run into difficulties in acquiring the refined equipment it needs to produce more centrifuges and to run the machines properly.

A new U.S. national intelligence estimate for Iran has been stalled for nearly a year, but U.S. officials familiar with the estimate say they expect a new classified estimate to be released as soon as this month.

Iran's difficulties also are likely to be the result of a covert Israeli program of sabotage and U.S. efforts against the country's nuclear program.

COMMENT:  This doesn't let us out of the woods yet, and Iran can solve these problems faster than intelligence agencies might expect.  But it is becoming clear that some actions against the Iranian program are having an effect. 

But...Iran will eventually have the bomb, and will have it, if he is reelected, during Obama's second term (choke).  So we may have some breathing time, but that's all.

January 10, 2011