Officers: Ex-CIA chief Tenet a 'failed' leader

[jmc247]

Source: CNN

In a letter written Saturday to former CIA Director George Tenet, six former CIA officers described their former boss as "the Alberto Gonzales of the intelligence community," and called his book "an admission of failed leadership."

They also called on him to give more than half the royalties he gets from book, "At the Center of the Storm," to U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq and families of the dead.

The letter, signed by Phil Giraldi, Ray McGovern, Larry Johnson, Jim Marcinkowski, Vince Cannistraro and David MacMichael, said Tenet should have resigned in protest rather than take part in the administration's buildup to the war.

The writers accused Tenet of having helped send "very mixed signals" to Americans and their legislators prior to the war.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/29/tenet.letter/

[DURHAM D]

1. Good for them. Noticed the letter is to the book publisher.

I hope they send a copy to everyone and get a lot of tv face time.

[Double T]

2. bushco used Tenet to justify their illegitimate 'war'..............

then kicked him to the curb; would not trust anything said by ANY members of the 'intelligence' side of the government.

[UpInArms]

3. Tenet sat behind Powell as he lied to the UNSC on Feb 6 2003

[Octafish]

4. Tenet's on 60 Minutes...

Not surprised the apparatchik avoided talking too much about anything he was asked.

Surprised he didn't hold Condescenda and the other Bush cronies responsible for brushing him off regarding his imminent Al Qaeda attack warnings.

Thanks for the heads-up on the CNN info, jmc247. Those are some brave agents, indeed.



"Alberto Gonzalez of the CIA," indeed.

[Demeter]

8. "Condescenda" Is SO True, and Precious

although Kindasleazy is also apt. Thank goodness I don't have to choose!

[earthside]

5. 60 Minutes on Now in Denver

Calling Tenet the "Alberto Gonzales of the intelligence community" is an insult to Gonzales ... if you can believe that!

Tenet is ten times the jerk that Gonzales is ... just saw the part about "We don't do torture." What a transparent LIAR.

Man, Tenet is defensive, arrogant, obnoxious, self-serving.

I really don't like this guy.

While I like that he blames Cheney so much, he is such a liar that I wonder how much you can believe what he says. I personally think Bush was much more a prime motivator for the invasion of Iraq that many believe.

[tridim]

6. He's one of those "Major league assholes" Cheney always talks about. nt

[orleans]

16. that business he talked about, that someone leaked the "slam dunk"

remark--there were 5 people in that office
george
bush
cheney
condi
andy card

hummm...let's guess who might have leaked something about a cia official....hummm.....who has done this in the past???

[LuckyLib]

20. Tenet is loud, arrogant, overbearing, cocky and a verbal bully.

Gonzo is polite, mealy-mouthed, evasive, and slick. They both have worked for the same idiot.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Tenet's "team player" above all values may make him a multi-millionaire,

but he'll always be considered "a traitor" to our beloved Constitution by myself and many other former intelligence officers. :grr:

[Demeter]

9. There's Enough Blame and Responsibility To Go Around, Actually

I am suspicious of anyone appointed during BushCo's Reign of Terror, and also of anyone who stayed over from Clinton and didn't run away in disgust or blow a whistle (other than the career flunkies, with no power and needing that paycheck...).

[rurallib]

10. Time to give back that effing medai too, Tenant!

Burns my ass every time I think of it. What an insult to true heros.

[jeff30997]

11. "the Alberto Gonzales of the intelligence community,"

Does it mean that Gonzo will receive a medal too ?:shrug: :)

[Baron Harkonen]

13. maybe Tenet could give his medal to Gonzo

and a kick in the ass --sucker

[moondust]

12. No question.

Stunning to hear him say that in 2002/2003 he STILL thought Saddam had tons of WMD. After Gulf War I the dozen or so U.S. intelligence agencies that reported to Tenet had a free reign on intelligence gathering in Iraq--what there was left of it to gather, probably not much. Of course that's the kind of unbelievable incompetence that would fit right in with the Bush/Cheney/PNAC cabal.

Did Tenet never think to go back and dig up some of the raw data for a final reality check before they cost so many thousands of people their lives and limbs?

[Baron Harkonen]

14. so, we went to war on an estimate

let the finger pointing begin. I want to hear what Rice, Cheney and frat boy have for a response.

[JamesA1102]

15. Wanna bet that by this time tomorrow

Sean Hannity, O' Reilly, Rush and all the other Con talking heads will be refering to Tenant as a "Clinton Appointee".

[Baron Harkonen]

19. won't work

that why Tenet accepted the medal of freedom, so the Bush admin couldn't distance itself from him. But yeah, the ditto-heads and the brain-stem Repubs will buy it.

[Canuckistanian]

21. "brain-stem Repubs", Haha!

Welcome to DU!
:toast:
:hi:

[OHdem10]

17. Six out of thousands of employees at CIA

I am not an aplogist for Tenet. No one has read the
entire book yet. They just got it.

I am curious to see if these six are those regularly
made TV appearances and supported the WH Positions.
ONly curious.

Wolf Blitzer made a significant comment, I thought.

"This is a very long book and there is serious political
fallout in this book. There is fall out for Tenant also.

I do not see anyone explaining the politcal fallout for
the WH. Only see Lets Bash Tenet.

The book had to be Vetted and approved by CIA before
it could be published.

As the former CIA Deputy (Assist.Director, reminded
the audience on Charlie Rose. The Director of CIA
by law cannot become involved in Policy. He can
give advice but policy is off limits to CIA.

Most of us had figured out early on that the
Neocons were pushing and the President was
going to war. PNAC

Tobe fair, go back to that time, the News Channels
had their Military Music Anchors had their
flag pins in lapels --Every Station had some
kind of Military Logo or Patriotic Symbol.

If anyone slightly hinted at questioning the
prsident, the Anchor would literally scream
at the poor soul. "You are questioning the
most popular President???"" yes scream.
It was nothing for people to be accused of
being unpatriotic daily. No one was
allowed to disagree. Phil Donohue was
fired bcause he carried anti-war stories
and featured persons who were anti war.

I am not making the case for Tenet. I an
saying these Reporters who Cheerleaded for
Bush and the War (All TV, MSM and Cable)
and now attack Tenet--make me wonder.
Back then in all that Patriotic Fervor, suppose
Tent had spoken out. I lay odds thoae
same journalists would have called him
a disgruntled unpatriotic CIA Diretor
who should resign immediately. At that
time they marched to Bush's tune and
megaphoned his message.

Did Tenet make mistakes? Yes
His resignation alone would have had no
impact on that Raucous Patriotism in Press.

When you have time check out the book for
politcal fallout, ok

[ShortnFiery]

18. Oh stop! There's countless other Intelligence Officers who despise this man's treason ...

but are unable to say so in public. :thumbsdown:

BTW I'll check out the book from my Public Library because I don't want to give this arrogant man one cent of my money. :grr:

[autorank]

23. The TV press is loathsome, beyond redemption.

Cheerleaders recognized a fellow cheerleader in * and fell in love.

They should all resign, immediately.

[autorank]

22. Great post...that's the TRUTH if McGovern is involved. Failed is too kind K&R.

He lacks the courage to stand up and say the truth. That is was a scam, a fraud, a war crime.

He should have resigned.

Instead, he weasels around and makes excuses for torture.

With Reagan we had the budget chief David Stockman saying catchup was a vegetable.

With * we have the CIA director saying water boarding is not torture.

"the horror"

[faithnotgreed]

24. totally agree autorank - if mcgovern says it you know its the truth