The Tenet Fiasco - Discussion Thread

self

[Cathryn Crawford]

George Tenet's admission last night that it was his mistake that caused President Bush to use faulty intelligence in his State of The Union address is interesting at the same time as it is convienent. In the statement itself, which is lengthy and filled with reasons as to the intelligence failure, Tenet wholeheartedly takes responsility for his agency.

"Let me be clear about several things right up front. First, CIA approved the President's State of the Union address before it was delivered. Second, I am responsible for the approval process in my Agency. And third, the President had every reason to believe that the text presented to him was sound. These 16 words should never have been included in the text written for the President. "

On the face of it, this admission seems like the perfect solution to the growing problems for both the Bush and Blair administration. It's all CIA's fault, they can claim. But is that really viable?

On the face of it, perhaps. But Bush is the President. He has to take final responsibility, doesn't he?

If Bush can truly claim to know absolutely nothing, then don't we have a serious problem - wouldn't that imply that Bush is either incompetent or is simply not paying attention?

For discussion purposes - has Bush been conned by Tenet? And if he has, isn't that rather serious?

And if he wasn't conned by Tenet, what is the alternative?

[cyncooper]

I guess you and I (after 100+ postings) are the only ones that find that interesting. Did Cheney send him over there? Did he go on his own accord? Did he meet with anyone? Is he making this up?

Well, at post #30 I link to a very on point thread about Jack Straw standing by their intelligence and he actually includes Wilson---as buttressing their report! It seems Wilson left out a few details in his op-ed that got published in the NY Times.

Yes, it's true he went. There is zero indication (except for his now trashed word) that Vice President Cheney's office sent him. One look at the man's resume shows that the VP's office would not be handpicking the likes of Joseph Wilson to "confirm" squat.

[ValenB4]

I initially thought that was your article for the week. Are they cutting back at TWD? :)

You brought up some good questions. The fix was in. The administration wanted a war and they were willing to use any piece of information, good or bad, to get the public on board. The big assumption was that they would find WMD.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Spot-on, Amelia - as usual. If I didn't know better, I would believe some conservatives would actually prefer having a Democrat in the White House.

This political death wish is getting very old.

[huck von finn]

Oh man...! That was terrible!!

[Scenic Sounds]

The big assumption was that they would find WMD.

I still think they will. ;-)

[Cathryn Crawford]

Yes, but the real story on this thread, don't you know, is my journalistic integrity.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You never ping your buddies? Really?

[William McKinley]

As I said, not far left. Alternet is pretty far left.

[Mo1]

Tenet refers to this in his statement when he says Powell refused to use the Niger uranium bit in his speech before the U.N.!

Powell didn't refuse and Tenet didn't say Powell refused .. he choose not to because there were questions about it.

There is a difference

And if I recall Powell stated he didn't need this information to present his case to the U.N.

[Lauratealeaf]

Yes, but the real story on this thread, don't you know, is my journalistic integrity.

Or the lack thereof.

[William McKinley]

Actually, every place this guy's story is being pushed is far left: Source. And I notice that William Rivers Pitt is doing some of the pushing. Experience has shown that is an indication that it is propaganda.

Show me Mr. McGovern. Show me his background.

[William McKinley]

Actually, every place this guy's story is being pushed is far left: Source. And I notice that William Rivers Pitt is doing some of the pushing. Experience has shown that is an indication that it is propaganda.

Show me Mr. McGovern. Show me his background.

[Scenic Sounds]

I would believe some conservatives would actually prefer having a Democrat in the White House.

That's true. It's always true.

I believe the President will be reelected, but if he isn't, it certainly isn't going to be because of this story.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I believe the President will be reelected, but if he isn't, it certainly isn't going to be because of this story.

Well, no, it won't be. It will be because he can't roll over in bed at night without someone bitching about the way he did it.

[Can you tell I'm frustrated? : )]

[deport]

Yes, but the real story on this thread, don't you know, is my journalistic integrity.

---

Well are you learning anything about it? If not this has been a wasted effort on your part.....

Those 16 words...... were they inaccurate at the time spoken?

[William McKinley]

I notice that the alleged "Mr. McGovern" was writing articles for the far-far-left/anarchist "Counterpunch" back in April.

I also notice that at the time, the Cheney story that he finds so significant now, which he claims to have intimate knowledge of, he was not even mentioning.

I find that very curious, don't you?

Cathryn, are you starting to see what is going on here? I know you are. Anyone with half a brain would.

[huck von finn]

Not for some of us. ;)

[Dog]

Hey William add another one to the Wilson and Thielmann list.....look at what Ray McGovern said.

McGovern

[Diverdogz]

Appears Ray appears to be a leftist - but we'll have to wait to see if he is pushing false propaganda, or facts that are being used as propaganda.

[huck von finn]

Powell chose not to use it because he doubted its veracity. He knew about it. Cathryn mentioned that he must have, and from Tenet's statement, he did. That's all I was trying to point out.