Having it Both Ways...

George, You Blew Your Opportunity; And You Can’t Have it Both Ways!...


It seems that Bush has earned a Teflon reputation like his icon, Ronnie. I say that because Bush seem to transfer the blame for an unnecessary and unwarranted war to the presumed innocent, George Tenet. Tenet, the nice guy--the guy eager to please-- became the hit man for much of the criticism, some deserved, some not.

But the evidence for America’s biggest strategic mistake seems to point elsewhere.

A case was built for going into Iraq before Tenet even got into the picture if you can believe the words of Bush’s chroniclers.

While we may speculate on the motives, Tenet, I believe, was right: It wouldn’t have mattered what George Tenet came up with, they were going into Iraq either way.

George’s mistake was being complicit. Clearly, he had never studied what happened to those who were part of the Nixon Inner Circle.

They all felt that they were above the law; that if the “boss” sanctioned behavior, there was every reason to go ahead—whether or not what they did was legal.

Nixon’s first choice for press secretary saw what was going on and how easy it was for someone to lose their way and resigned immediately to write a book, “Catch a Falling Flag.”

Tenet obviously either didn’t want to study history or felt that going along was the right choice at the time.

Tenet's mistake, it appears, was that he was malleable and let things slide.

He knew things were wrong and he had two choices.

He could either go along and preserve the status quo or rock the boat and lose everything.

Rational pragmatic department chiefs are not inclined to be “whistle-blowers” or see a reason to put their future’s into jeopardy. And with Bush, you are either on the team or you are the “enemy!”

He played the game.

But the real world turned sour and everyone needed a convenient scape-goat.

George Tenet became the focus of all that scrutiny. And the “slam-dunk” got him into the crapper with Cheney when questioned tending to blame Tenet at every opportunity.

Tenet has had time to think about how he will go down in history; and he didn’t like it.

But when you play the game, don’t expect to become the martyr, too.

Tenet’s book is obviously the product of a man who felt that he has become the fall guy. And he is right.

Not original, just the way it works.

Nevertheless, a tell all book told from your own questionably objective perspective is the ultimate way to get even. If Bush were Caesar, which he’s not, Tenet is his Brutus. Only, George Tenet played the game too well. And so the impact of his flashing sword’s impact is muted and the target survives.
Tenet was unable to deliver the mortal wound.

Still, George got a nice advance and now he carries his head high…so maybe the result wasn’t all bad.

I don't mean this to be an indictment of the CIA most of whom's operatives
were playing according to Hoyle.

Typically, the CIA research is better than that which is available via other sources and the CIA research department takes pride in the work it produces. In many cases, they were the gold standard.

Remember, that the CIA took issue with what the Pentagon was turning out through its newly appointed research group that I believe existed to reinforce the president's actions.

It is in the end too bad that George didn't realize that his real obligation was to the presidency and the American people; not the person appointed to fulfill the role of president.

The fall of Nixon and his inner circle provided the lesson. Mr. Tenet should have paid attention.


Les Aaron