Senior military and defense officials who refuse to provide details because the information is classified tell NBC News that officials at United States Central Command possibly "manipulated" intelligence regarding ISIS in Iraq.
The allegations, which were first reported by the New York Times, involve possible manipulation or outright dismissal of some intelligence analysis that determined ISIS posed a more serious threat in Iraq than had been previously reported. The accusation is that senior military or civilians officials at CENTCOM in Florida altered or ignored the analysis and downplayed the threat from ISIS.
Several defense officials who stress they personally have seen no evidence they say "it is possible" CENTCOM could have manipulated the data, NBC News reported.
At the same time, the officials say CENTCOM would not be the only source of intelligence regarding ISIS in Iraq — that the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), CIA, and Director of Intelligence, would normally provide input or review much of the intelligence passed on to the White House.
