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?

[quebecois]

The analysis of this situation is simple: The neocons had ulterior motives in pushing for the invasion of Iraq. They slanted all of the intelligence data that made its way to Bush in order to get him to come to the desired conclusion. Now that the spotlight is on the neocons and their distortions, they are trying to cover their tracks by having Tenet and the CIA fall on their swords and take the blame.

As to what they have offered Tenet (or threatened him with), I have no idea...that is one of those back-door sleazy things that we peasants never actually find out.

[Sparta]

I would have nuked Saddam on 9/12/01.

So would have I.

[Dog]

And in this investigative column you could write you might ask other members of the DC press corp about that talking point memo you all recieved from the DNC asking you to help bring down this President..

[optimistically_conservative]

Yes I am. Often even when I'm not trying to be.

[huck von finn]

PhiKapMom, I don't think there's anything to be worried about. Crawford sounds very reasonable in her initial post. And the topic is interesting. Her comment about the press was used figuratively.

[Sparta]

And in this investigative column you could write you might ask other members of the DC press corp about that talking point memo you all recieved from the DNC asking you to help bring down this President..

Question: Have you ever read her columns?

[PhiKapMom]

You are my hero! So true!

[Cathryn Crawford]

The neocons had ulterior motives in pushing for the invasion of Iraq. They slanted all of the intelligence data that made its way to Bush in order to get him to come to the desired conclusion. Now that the spotlight is on the neocons and their distortions, they are trying to cover their tracks by having Tenet and the CIA fall on their swords and take the blame.

So, you think that Bush is just a pawn, hopelessly manipulated by the neoconservatives?

[Mo1]

We have a member of the press saying "Press smells blood" about the Niger deal!

Yes, I was aware, but I don't recall reading any articles, I'll try later when I have time

As for the "Press smells blood" it's because the rats want it. Read any rat site and it's obvious they will do anything to get it.

As for this Niger thing, IMO it's a bogus argument that commies like Pitt and Moveon and I wouldn't be surprised to hear A.N.S.W.E.R is pushing

[ApesForEvolution]

The WMDs went to (through?) Syria with the Iraqis being aided with French passports. When this will be revealed is the only question I have.

[LS]

Tenet should NEVER have said anything because Bush's claim was, and is, true. The Brits RE-CONFIRM that they had a second source for the uranium claim. It was true, they truthfully passed it on to Bush, he honestly used it. END OF STORY. Why can't anyone get this right?

[ApesForEvolution]

You obviously have never read any of her columns, let alone her posts here at FR. Yet you still have an opinion wedged into a smear post. Go figure.

[RJCogburn]

Congrats, mom. You have been able to dilute discussion of the original subject of this thread by your 'press' references.

Good job

[Peach]

Good catch about just who the journalist is around here smelling blood.

[Scenic Sounds]

To say that Bush, as top man, is responsible for all the government does is also unrealistic.

Well, that's true, but it would not serve the President for him to suggest that he's not responsible for the content of the State of the Union address that he delivers to Congress. If there was a mistake in the address, if there is something in there that he now wishes he had omitted, he should just acknowledge that fact and explain how it happened. Period.

[Dog]

It's all the (insert scary music here) NEOCONS fault..

Oooooooo!

[Mr. Mojo]

The analysis of this situation is simple: The neocons had ulterior motives in pushing for the invasion of Iraq. They slanted all of the intelligence data that made its way to Bush in order to get him to come to the desired conclusion

I was wondering when a "neocons" conspiracy theorist would show up on this thread. So it's all the fault of Perle, Wolfowitz, and Kristol. ...correct? What enormous power they must wield! (Just like their banking friends).

[huck von finn]

What good is a President if he cannot take responsibility, for if he cannot take responsibility, how can he take credit?

Well we're not exactly to that point yet. There's still a lot that's unknown. But the President will have to take responsibility either way.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

b. you're too loopy to view as a threatening.

Threatening to whom? Our "kind" has the liberals and libertarians on the run - according to the polls and the other real polls, the conservative talk radio audiences and the conservative book buyers. I don't know where you classify yourself but if you are one of "them", as you say, then you are in the threatened minority. "Us" is doing just fine.

[swheats]

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?

This is a bit of a stretch. At what point was it found that the intelligence was flawed? As of the writing of the address and Tenet's authorizing, all info appeared relevant.

I would still believe that with the uncovering of the buried centrifuge the information is and was relevant. Saddam had planned to restart his nuclear buildup once the heat was off the UN. The only factor was he didn't think Bush 43 would persue it to this degree.

Another question would be who forged the documents and how did they end up where they did? I'm still waiting for the translations of the thousands of documents to come forward of who sold out their countries.