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BEN VENISTE: Let me pick up on, since my colleague, Senator Kerrey, raised the question -- with respect to the PDD of August 8, 2001, Dr. Rice has made some statements to us and, to some extent, publicly with respect to the origin of that document. Is it fair to say that the recollection of CIA, which we have received in a written document from your office, contains a different recollection -- that that August 8th PDD was initiated by individuals within the CIA and not as a direct request from the national security adviser? TENET: I simply don't know. I don't know what we've responded or what the origin is. I just don't know. BEN-VENISTE: You might ask Mr. Bonk (ph) who is sitting behind you. It is correct that we had received a document from you dated March 19th, 2004, in which that correction is noted? TENET: Would you like Mr. Bonk (ph) to respond? BEN-VENISTE: Well, he can whisper in your ear. So that the record is correct on this point, since it was raised by Senator Kerrey, I think it's appropriate that we have been advised that the August 6th PDD was the product of individuals within CIA without prompting from national security... (CROSSTALK) TENET: Commissioner Ben-Veniste, Ben only has a recollection. Let me come back for the record. I'll go back and look at this. I just don't... BEN-VENISTE: Well, I'll read into the record. The author of this piece and others familiar with it say they have no information to suggest that this piece was written in response to a question from the president. And indeed, it goes on to say that it was prompted by an idea from the CIA. So we have these clarifications and it's appropriate that the record be as accurate as possible.
(sorry don't have weblink)
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