Don't Pity George Tenet

National Review Online: Uproar Over Misquote Is Misguided; Tenet Deserves Blame For CIA Failures

(National Review Online)  This column was written by the Editors of National Review.

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Poor George Tenet. Everyone has been quoting his infamous comment in the Oval Office that the intelligence on Iraq's weapons-of-mass-destruction programs was a "slam dunk." As he has made clear in his book, "At the Center of the Storm," and Sunday night's 60 Minutes segment, Tenet considers this very unfair — "despicable," even — since his comment supposedly wasn't about the intelligence itself but about the ease with which the public presentation of the intelligence could be strengthened.

This is a distinction without a difference. If the underlying intelligence wasn't reliable, why was Tenet so slam-dunk certain that the presentation of it could be improved? Tenet's words became so widely cited not because Bush officials wanted to pin the war on him, as Tenet believes, but because it is the easiest way to make a thumbnail argument that there was a broad consensus behind the judgment that Saddam had WMDs. This is what Vice President Cheney was getting at when he quoted Tenet's "slam dunk" remark during the Meet the Press appearance that Tenet angrily invoked last night.

Tenet shouldn't be so offended when people quote his words, since they reflect an essential truth — that he indeed had no doubt that Saddam had WMDs. But Tenet is now engaged in a classic instance of self-serving Beltway memoir-writing, settling scores against Dick Cheney and the "neocons" who were allegedly impervious to the facts so diligently assembled by the CIA.

Tenet says that the war wasn't really about weapons of mass destruction. It's true that the case for war wasn't built entirely on Saddam's possessing WMDs — as the war's supporters have long pointed out. But this was certainly the most important element in the case. The alarming 2002 National Intelligence Estimate about Iraq's weapons capabilities was a key part of the debate prior to the war. When Secretary of State Colin Powell went to the United Nations — with Tenet sitting behind him — there was a reason he devoted so much time to talking about Saddam's weapons programs. George Tenet might not like to be reminded that his CIA thought it was a slam dunk that Saddam had dangerous weapons, and that this played a decisive role in going to war, but there's no getting around it.

Sunday night, Tenet gave the impression that any thought of Saddam and al Qaeda's cooperating was pure fantasy. You never would have known that in October 2002, Tenet wrote a letter to Sen. Bob Graham that said: "We have solid reporting of senior-level contacts between Iraq and al-Qa'ida going back a decade"; "Credible information indicates that Iraq and al-Qa'ida have discussed safe haven and reciprocal non-aggression"; "We have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of al-Qa'ida members, including some that have been in Baghdad"; "We have credible reporting that al-Qa'ida leaders sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire WMD capabilities"; and so on.

That was then. Now that the war has proved difficult and unpopular, Tenet feels safe in attacking its advocates. In a widely quoted anecdote, he says he saw Richard Perle exiting the White House on September 12, when Perle told him Iraq should be punished for the attack since it bore responsibility. Perle says this couldn't have happened because he was in France at the time, as Bill Kristol has noted. (Tenet apparently has a problem getting the facts straight even in his post-CIA life).

Tenet is especially harsh on Dick Cheney's supposed tendency to go beyond the intelligence. But when he warned that a Cheney speech about links between Iraq and al Qaeda went too far, it wasn't delivered. As for President Bush's controversial 16 words about the British learning that Saddam sought uranium from Niger, Tenet didn't bother to read the State of the Union speech before it was delivered, and so didn't advise the White House to keep them out.

The fundamental problem wasn't that the administration wanted to go beyond the intelligence, but that the intelligence itself was flawed. George Tenet bears a large measure of responsibility for this, as he headed an agency that had no clandestine service to speak of and was unimaginative and plodding in its analysis. But some of his explanations for getting it wrong are sound, even if self-serving.

As he explained on 60 Minutes, intelligence is inherently uncertain, or it wouldn't be intelligence. No one was attempting to lie about the intelligence; as he said, it would have been crazy to send Colin Powell with to the U.N. if the claims Powell made weren't thought to be true. And in a line from his book that will be neglected, Tenet writes, "Intelligence professionals did not try to tell policy makers what they wanted to hear, nor did the policy makers lean on us to influence outcomes."

Given the limits of our intelligence capabilities to this day, interrogations of terror leaders are crucial. Tenet says they have been more important than the information gathered by the FBI, the National Security Agency, and the CIA put together, and have saved American lives. He is adamant that the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques don't amount to torture, and he is correct to note the difficulty of getting information from hardened thugs trained not to talk (but ready to ask for legal representation, as Khalid Sheik Mohammed did upon capture).

In the end, it was a mistake for President Bush to keep George Tenet on as CIA director after he took office in 2001, let alone award him a Medal of Freedom. Tenet was primarily a political player who didn't understand what it took to revive the CIA. He presided over two debacles — 9/11 and the flawed intelligence about Iraq — and contributed to the administration's dysfunction with his internal bureaucratic warfare. If he seemed defensive in his 60 Minutes interview, it was because he has a lot to be defensive about.

[sjc_1]

Tenant suffers from the problem lots of people in the corporate world face, wanting to be a moral and ethical person within a group that does not understand nor care what those terms mean.

You are told to be a team player, on a corrupt team and you face some decisions about what to do. When you can not make the organization see that they need to change, then you have to leave or face the conversion to corruption yourself.

[lastdance2]

You will be suprised, at the number of former CIA operatives.
Who are now carrying credentials.
Identifying them-selves as : FBI Investigators.

All of this - approved of, and supported by : The Director of The FBI.
The FBI - Isn't that a part of the : Justice Department

So - - When the : Justice Department does an investigation.
Who ?? Within the Justice Department, is doing the investigation !!!


Lastdance

[processor2]

Bill Clinton December 17, 1998

"Earlier today, I ORDERED America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq.... Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors."
POSTED BY HILARY08...Seig Heil MCVet
.
.
.
.
George Tenet was a Clinton appointee and was kept by Bush. Seig Heil, MCVet

That would explain why BOTH PRESIDENTS Clinton & Bush went on TV explaining Hussein was "developing Weapons of Mass Destruction"

Maybe neither Clinton nor Bush lied about WMD, maybe they were both misled by this idiot. Seig Heil, MCVet

...

[processor2]

Bill Clinton December 17, 1998

"Earlier today, I ORDERED America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq.... Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors."
POSTED BY HILARY08...Seig Heil MCVet
.
.
.
.
George Tenet was a Clinton appointee and was kept by Bush. Seig Heil, MCVet

That would explain why BOTH PRESIDENTS Clinton & Bush went on TV explaining Hussein was "developing Weapons of Mass Destruction"

Maybe neither Clinton nor Bush lied about WMD, maybe they were both misled by this idiot. Seig Heil, MCVet

...

[neoconrcrazy]

tenent is a traitor, a profiteer, and swindler for taking that medal -

his 1st duty was to the American people, not to Washington DC beltway society - the guy failed big time -

don't go back to NYC ***

[rwnb2]

Many other people may have believed in Iraq's WMD -- one man pulled the trigger. That man had a responsibility to know for sure.

[johnshaft4]

This "article" is proof positive that Republicans are insane losers.

[dallison7]

The United States Military Oath of Allegiance is a solemn oath taken by members of the United States Armed Services on commissioning. It differs slightly from that of the oath of enlistment that enlisted members recite when they enter the service.


Text of the Oath
I, {insert name here}, do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

"FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC"!!

The United States Military has an obligation to stop this administration!!

[sculler1956]

Once again the National Review tries to prove that if you say something enough times, the saying of it makes it true. Which way is it? When Tenet was in the process of selling the war, along with all the other Neocon's, the NRO proudly pointed to these very same arguments as proof positve that Saddam had WMD's. This not so subtle attempt to again invoke that same argument falls flat in face of the facts... not to be confused with the fictionalized truth (think the movie is in the works already?) presented be Tenet. Give back your Medal Mr. Tenet!

[mcvet]

Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."

Posted by hillaryin08 at 03:59 AM : May 01, 2007

What is your point? You keep repeating Talking Points of every politician who was attempting to bring attention to the WMD question. THEY did NOT start a war based on their Beliefs you pathetic Swastika Hugging Mental Midget!! THEY did NOT LIE to the WORLD to stop the Inspectors! One man did all that, your fuehrer. Sieg Heil!!

[mcvet]

Aparently other people had no doubt there were WMD's in Iraq also.
Posted by hillaryin08 at 04:10 AM : May 01, 2007
+ report abuse

Really? Now could that be because YOU lack the basic knowledge to LISTEN to those who you do not agree with? YES there were a LOT of KNOWLEDGABLE people out there shouting to the top of their lungs that there was serious doubt. Go back to the DEBATE about the INSPECTORS you pathetic Nazi! BUSH lied to us and to the world in order to stop those inspectors. Why? IF, as you Nazi's say, EVERYONE knew he had them, why not wait for the Inspectors to find them? BUSH said he had the Smoking Gun and we COULD NOT wait. That was a LIE and BUSH knew it... why would he LIE about it? Sieg Heil Y'all. ROFLMAO Dumb as a Box of Rocks!!

[bluestardad]

? I know that President Bush gave Paul Bremer a medal for his handling of Iraq and Promoted General Casey but should not someone be disciplined or jailed for this mismanagement?


According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted in June, 52 percent of Americans now believe the President deliberately distorted intelligence to make a case for war. In an Ipsos Public Affairs poll, commissioned by AfterDowningStreet.org and completed October 9, 50 percent said that if Bush lied about his reasons for going to war Congress should consider impeaching him. The President's deceit is not only an abuse of power; it is a federal crime. Specifically, it is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, which prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States.

http://www.democrats.com/node/12313

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051114/delavega

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[e-mail] Here is the Republican Party email address too!

[e-mail] Here is the Democratic Party email address also!


AIPAC and PNAC are the Weekly Standard Support Israeli Groups who William Kristol is hooked up with. All are Neocon Chicken Hawks who gladly sell American Lives for the Interest of Israel!

[ramos937]

Tenent writes, enet writes, "Intelligence professionals did not try to tell policy makers what they wanted to hear, nor did the policy makers lean on us to influence outcomes." The actual truth which came out long ago, was that Cheney made many trips to the CIA to browbeat CIA analysts into rewriting reports to bolster the administration's decision to invade Iraq. In one case, the head of one CIA office complained to her boss who took ordered her to not let Cheney influence her work. In another case, when an analyst complained about Cheney, his boss told him to write the report Cheney wanted because the administration had already decided to invade no matter what the facts were. In one TV interview in 2003, Cheney admitted visiting the CIA to make sure the people there got the facts right. During all of this Tenent kept his mouth shut and did not complain to the President.

Tenent failed his President; failed himself; failed his country and failed his family by not speaking out when it really counted. He can make amends by testifying before congress fully and truthfully.

[hillaryin08]

Aparently other people had no doubt there were WMD's in Iraq also.

[hillaryin08]

Aperently other people had no doubt there were WMD's in Iraq also.

[hillaryin08]

Tom Daschle February 11, 1998

"The (Clinton) administration has said, 'Look, we have exhausted virtually our diplomatic effort to get the Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given that, what other option is there but to force them to do so?' That's what they're saying. This is the key question. And the answer is we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we are doing so militarily."

Bill Richardson May 29, 1998

"The threat of nuclear proliferation is one of the big challenges that we have now, especially by states that have nuclear weapons, outlaw states like Iraq."

John Kerry February 23, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East."

Al Gore December 16, 1998

"[I]f you allow someone like Saddam Hussein to get nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, chemical weapons, biological weapons, how many people is he going to kill with such weapons? He has already demonstrated a willingness to use such weapons..."

[hillaryin08]

Madeleine Albright February 1, 1998

"We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and the security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction."

Madeleine Albright November 10, 1999

"Hussein has chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."

Bill Clinton December 17, 1998

"Earlier today, I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq.... Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors."

*** Durbin September 30, 1999

"One of the most compelling threats we in this country face today is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Threat assessments regularly warn us of the possibility that North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or some other nation may acquire or develop nuclear weapons."

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998

"We have to defend our future from these predators of the 21st Century.... They will be all the more lethal if we allow them to build arsenals of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. We simply cannot allow that to happen. There is no more clear example of this threat than Saddam Hussein."

[hillaryin08]

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace, and we have to use force, our purpose is clear: We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."

Nancy Pelosi December 16, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."

[hillaryin08]

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace, and we have to use force, our purpose is clear: We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."

Nancy Pelosi December 16, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."

[hillaryin08]

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace, and we have to use force, our purpose is clear: We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."

Nancy Pelosi December 16, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."