George Tenet seems to believe there’s a major distinction between lying and standing by silently while others lie, and then proudly receiving a Medal of Freedom from the liars. He could have simply resigned and freed himself to “tell the truth.” Tenet acts as if resignation were not an option. But it was. And the passion and anger he displays now in the service of book sales could have been used then in the service of his country. So here is a plea to all Bush administration officials: Now is the time to resign.
Passion and righteous indignation…or, “anything to sell a few more books”? Hey, if that’s what it takes, then why not? I watched Scott Pelley’s interview with George Tenet on 60 Minutes, and I left it with some decidedly mixed emotions. To wit:
Where was Tenet’s righteous indignation when it actually might have made a difference? Nothing has changed since he was scapegoated, so are we now to believe that his book tour isn’t the reason for his passion and outrage? Could this really all be just an act designed to sell a few more books? Personally, I don’t think it is, but even I have to admit that the time is suspicious.
He was right when he said that “men of honor” don’t do what was done to him. Then again, “honor” is seldom a word you’ll hear used in the same sentence, or even the same paragraph, with “Bush Administration.”
If Tenet was so offended by the way his tenure as Director of Central Intelligence ended, then why did he agree to accept the Medal of Freedom from King George the Worst © ? Why the smiles, the handshakes, and the “hail fellow well met” demeanor?
Tenet did a good job of defending the intelligence community. Too many people expect absolute certainty from intelligence gatherers. What they fail to realize is that intelligence gathering and analysis is as much art as it is science. Very often, intelligence analysis involves highly intelligent, capable, and experienced people making scientific wild-ass guesses. Sometimes they’re wrong…as happened regarding Iraq’s WMD capabilities. Not to be glib, but sometimes $#!& happens….
Surely, Tenet can’t claim to be surprised that the White House decided that he’d make a GREAT scapegoat? After all, with his “slam dunk” comment, regardless of the context and meaning, who better to hoist on his own petard? Again, it’s not as if we’re discussing men of honor here…we’re talking about neoConserative Chickenhawks.
Regardless of whether or not Tenet has a legitimate beef, the timing of his “come to Jesus” righteous indignation makes him look like an opportunist looking to do what he can to sell more books. Apparently, 60 Minutes was just the first stop on his nationwide book tour. Last night, it was Larry King Live. What’s next…The Daily Show?
Pelley wasn’t exactly blameless in this lovefest, either. For most of the interview, it appeared that he was so caught up in trying to appear the cynical, responsible journalist that he forgot that he and most of his colleagues have spent most of the past six-plus years fellating members of the Bush Administration. Yes, I understand that Pelley was trying to (figuratively, at least) hold Tenet’s feet to the fire, but this interview was really little more than bad political theater under the guise of hard-hitting investigative journalism.
If George Tenet was so all-fired-up and offended by the off-handed manner in which King George the Worst © offered him up as a ritual political sacrifice, his canned outrage should have been voiced long ago. Now that he’s got a book to sell, he’s all about the outrage, the dishonor, and the unfairness of it all…and he might have a valid point. But where was this outrage after he was forced out as DCI? Where was the outrage when American soldiers began coming home in boxes from a war that has NOTHING to do with terrorism? Where was George Tenet when he might have been able to make a difference?
George Tenet has had plenty of time to make what quite likely is a very legitimate argument. It’s just too bad that he’s waited until he has a book to sell in order to go public. Now he just looks like an opportunist and a DUMB@$$. Would that Tenet could have possessed the cojones and the moral courage to speak out when doing so might have managed to save some lives.
