Ray McGovern: Sorry They've Been So Mean To You, George

[demobabe]

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Ray McGovern

"If you can't say something positive about someone, don't say anything." My Irish grandmother drummed this into me and, as was the case with most of her admonishments, it has stood me in good stead. On occasion, though, it has been a real bother - as when I felt called to comment on George Tenet's apologia, In the Center of the Storm, coming soon to a bookstore near you.

On the verge of despair, I ran into an old classmate of Tenet's from PS 94 in Little Neck, Queens. Help at last. He told me that George was more handsome than his twin brother Billy, and that his outgoing nature and consummate political skill got him elected president of the student body.

Positive enough, Grandma? Now let me add this.

George Tenet's book shows that he remains, first and foremost, a politician - with no clue as to the proper role of intelligence work. He is unhappy about going down in history as "Slam Dunk Tenet." George protests that his famous remark to President Bush on Dec. 21, 2002 was not meant to assure the president that available intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was a "slam dunk." Rather he meant that the argument that Saddam Hussein had such weapons could be readily enhanced to slam-dunk status in order to sell war on Iraq. Last night on CBS' "60 Minutes," Tenet explained what he meant when he uttered those words - the words he says have now been distorted to blame him for the war in Iraq. What he says he meant was simply:

"We can put a better case together for a public case." (sic)

Tenet still doesn't get it. Those of us schooled in the craft and ethos of intelligence remain in wide-mouthed disbelief, perhaps best summed up by veteran operations officer Bob Baer's recent quip:

"So, it is better that the 'slam dunk' referred to the ease with which the war could be sold? I guess I missed that part of the National Security Act delineating the functions of the CIA - the part about CIA marketing a war. Guess that's why I never made it into senior management."

Full article here: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/969

[Eurobabe]

1. I watched Tenet this afternoon, and I have to say

I was disappointed in his interview. He acted more like someone who was concerned about his personal rep than anything else, and he made me wonder if there isn't more to this tale that we aren't being told. Just my gut instinct, esp. regarding his comment on Bin Laden re: day of 9-11. And he acts like Chimp & Co. held him hostage, that bullshit about them making him sit behind Colin Powell, and he never read Bush's SOTU address prior to hearing it in Jan. 2003. WTF?

Hogwash.

[demobabe]

2. kick

:kick: