Tenet's "White House Official" To Be Named

[OrdinaryTa]

George Tenet testified yesterday that an unnamed "high ranking White House official" pressured him not to protest the famous 16 words. Now that this much of the story is out, there's no way to keep the name secret. The official is probably not Condoleezza Rice, because she put herself out on a limb in saying that nobody pressured Tenet.

The number of possibilities is limited. I say it's Colin Powell, carrying water for Dick Cheney. Cheney is ultimately responsible, of course, but he's too smooth an operator to be identified with political dynamite. Might it also be Mad Donald? We can't rule him out.

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

1. why not Cheney?

He strikes me as more than arrogant and just greedy enough to think that the uranium-Africa legend had enough legs to slip by unnoticed, which, as DUers know, was basically true till June as far as mainstream coverage of the issue.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

2. When/How will they be named?

Did someone say they would be named?

I'm thinking it's ultimately Cheney, but that's not who Tenet named. Tenet was likely told who to name. No way does he personally go out on a limb and name Cheney.

[OrdinaryTa]

8. Explosive Testimony

Tenet's testimony is said to have been "explosive". The name is too hot a tidbit for it not to leak. Tenet testified for 4 hours yesterday and probably admitted a whole lot more that will also leak.

[dkf]

3. Would it be better or worse for * if it is Rove?

Is he considered a White House Official?

[BurtWorm]

26. His office is in the WH. It could be Rove

And it would be worse for Bush if it were found to be Rove, because then the politics of it would be naked for all to see.

[grytpype]

4. We should start a poll.

Saying it's a "White House" official, as I understand the term, eliminates anyone from State and Defense, as well as retired troublemakers like Gingrich.

I think the likely candidates, in descending order of likelihood:

1. A very, very senior aide to Rice speaking on her behalf
2. Rice herself
3. Cheney

[OrdinaryTa]

11. Who Silenced Tenet?

Good idea for a poll. Call it "Who Told Tenet to Stuff It?"

The nominees so far are

• Cheney
• Libby
• Rice
• Powell
• Rumsfeld

Anybody else?

[TahitiNut]

17. Put Card on that list.

The euphemism "White House official" in lieu of "administration official" points to a non-Cabinet strong-arm, IMHO.

[kentuck]

23. I agree. Andrew Card.

He does the direct bidding of George W Bush.

[TahitiNut]

29. I don't think so.

He's one of Junior's handlers ... and Junior only tells him to do what Junior is told to tell him to do.

[kentuck]

31. Maybe ?

But I would not be surprised if that is the name that Tenet gave...

[ChompySnack]

5. Probably Rice's undersecretary

They will keep this as low level as possible.

[jackstraw45]

6. My guess

Lewis Libby, Cheney's chief of staff

[Terran]

7. I don't think it's Powell

He seems to have slightly more sense than to do something like that.

I'll bet it's Cheney himself. Recall those unusual personal trips to the CIA? What might have been going on there?...

[nostamj]

9. Danziger votes for Cheney...

[TahitiNut]

15. Cheney's watching ...

... Andrew Card stuff a gag in Tenet's mouth.

[Blue_Roses]

10. It doesn't matter

how far up or down the food chain they go to place the blame, it still lands right in the fat lap of Cheney. He is so blatently transparent even though we NEVER see him unless he is trying to push for something he desires.

This man has salivated at the opportunity to take the oil fields and now that our troops are coming forward with what their duties really entail--guarding Brown & Root--slickey dick may have performed his last trick.

But, something tells me he still may have a few more...

[TahitiNut]

12. Card is the most expendible.

I'm skeptical that Cheney would be caught doing his own dirty work. He manipulates everything through avatars, Smirky being the most obvious.

While I'm a bit nonplussed that Tenet would yield to pressure from Card, a non-Cabinet appointee, but I can imagine a 'case' presented by Card that'd portray a lockstep oppositon to Tenet's interference -- and offering the very thin "figleaf" of blaming it on the Brits.

I'll pick the Andrew Card for $800, Alex.

[blm]

21. What about Cheney's right hand man, Lewis Libby?

He's been doing dirty work for Cheney for decades.

[TahitiNut]

30. It's a question of whether Tenet could be imagined

... as yielding to pressure from Libby. I don't think so. Traditionally, the VP's office is unable to dictate to heads of agencies and departments. Even though Cheney is the defacto 'President,' it's only doable through the manipulation and management of the Narcissist in the Offal Orifice. Thus, Card (whose very job it is to 'manage' the access of direct reports to the President) is the most logical candidate. He's both expendible and senior enough.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

13. Is Condi's assistant

considered "high ranking" in the White House?

[AntiCoup2K4]

14. It's not a question of who it really is as much as who they say it is...

...In reality it probably IS Cheney, but they aren't about to let Uncle Dick take the hit on this.

Now Colin, on the other hand, might be considered expendable. He was the last one to jump aboard the PNAC invasion train, and if recent press reports are true, at least partially resistant to the "bullshit" put out by the Fraudministration. I'm sure that some within the BCE would like to see Powell "retire". Of course the credibility of such accusations would be suspect, but after 48 hours of spin on FAUX News and hate radio, every sheep out there will believe that Powell (or whoever their designated lamb for the slaughter turns out to be) fabricated all the lies himself against Our Supreme Royal Idiot's wishes.

[TahitiNut]

18. I doubt it's Powell.

Indeed, Powell elided that very same reference from his UN speech just a little while afterwards. If anything, Powell is aligned with Tenet.

[Catherine Vincent]

16. I'll bet the unnamed source will be Blair.

And Blair will have to admit that Clinton told him to include it. Remember, Clinton had secret meetings with Blair before the war.

[9215]

19. Tenet didnt' cave after all

he merely expedited Congress's participation in the mattter. Hee, hee.

[Peachhead22]

20. My guess...

I think it's Scooter Libby. The reason I say it's not Cheney is Cheney would keep it at arms length. That's not to say it won't lead to Cheney in short order.

[underpants]

22. Asst. National Security Advisor Handley(sp?) will take the fall

I heard his name last week (first time I had heard it) and alarms went off. That is my guess.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

24. Here's hoping

The general public is smart enough to realize that even if Card or Libby are named, this goes right to the top.

As far as * goes, he is either going to have to admit complicity or ignorance. Of course he won't, but I hope people realize that it's one or the other.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

25. Condi or Dickie...

not Powell.

[BurtWorm]

27. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove. Rove.

It could be Rove.

[KayLaw]

28. Condi

In one article Durbin was quoted as saying something like, " Who is the person who insisted on this and why are they still in power?" He made it sound like one person but used the word " they " rather than " he " which could be anyone as there are so many man it could be. Of course, he could just be using bad grammar, but that's my guess. I think he didn't want to say " she."

[UTUSN]

32. Tweety Fingered David HADLEY and Scooter LIBBY

on the Don ANUS show yesterday (7-16), as being the go-fers, acting on behalf of CHEENEE.