I guess this comes under the heading of death of a thousand and one cuts.

I think it was Larry Johnson last week who wrote about this, and he nailed it. Tenet is too late to excuse his complicity in this war. He lied, too.

I agree with "Punchy." If Tenet is serious, he'll give his Medal of Freedom back. Toss it over the White House fence, with reporters in tow. There's your slam dunk.

even with nothing startling revealed for anyone with half a brain, the House Oversight Govt Reform Committee should use this to argue in favor of her testifying - she keeps saying she's answered all the questions about the lead up to the war but she hasn't in light of this insider account. Let Rice and Tenet go at it like a couple of fighting roosters....

Why'd Tenet even bother to write it? To absolve himself? Sure doesn't sound like he managed the trick of it.

The corruption (including the collaboration from enablers like Tenet) that stems from the Bush administration is ubiquitous, and some days I wonder how we're going to ever find our way past it.

Another facilitator of the debacle peddles his half-baked mea culpa while the debacle continues and accountability remains a "quaint" and archaic notion.....

I don't think it is too early to begin considering some sort of permanent tracking of the facilitators, engineers, cheerleaders, and principals of this tragedy of democracy. I know that impeachment proceedings haven't even been laid in the nest, let alone approached hatching, but I am tired of the responsible parites in American scandals escaping broad and lasting scrutiny. We track sex-offenders with the zeal of badgers--so should we track the enemies of democratic process.

Had we done so thirty-five years ago (Watergate, COINTELPRO, Vietnam) Donald Rumsfeld and Henry Kissinger and Dick Cheney might not have advanced their careers. Except for Robert Bork, whose career was truly halted by their acts in those cases?

Had we done so twenty years ago (Iran-Contra, Savings and Loan bailouts), many others would have faded into obscurity--including (again) Dick Cheney.

If we don't do so this time with such names as Rice, Wolfowitz, Perle, Goodling, Samson, Hadley, Powell, Tenet, Jennings, and a host of others; then we are dooming ourselves and our children to another round of attacks on the most vibrant political systems in world history.

It has survived attacks on our soil by foreign powers, Civil War of the most atrocious breed, Teapot Dome, Robber Barrons, Tamany Hall, The scandals mentioned above, two Red Scares, Jim Crow, and a long-overdue cultural revolution. But we should not knowingly subject it to even more threats.

These acts must be investigated, and where appropriate, the perpetrators must be held to a full accounting. Mr Tenet, this includes you. Five years after the the march to War began is too little, too late to exculpate you or any other person holding responsibility for the deaths of upwards of one million of the world's citizenry.

We must never forget.

"Slam dunk." What those words convey is that the presentation was more important that the foundation. "We can do better" conveys the very same message. All of these people were more concerned with the facade than the substance, and Tenet was right there with them. The it's-easier-to-get-forgiveness-than-permission type of facade. Maybe he has had an genuine lightbulb moment of realization of the Lee Atwater variety, but I don't think I'll be buying his book to find out.

"Dick Cheney is an a--hole."

Tell us something we didn't know already.

HOW CAN TENET LIVE WITH HIMSELF? If what he says is true, he is - through his silence - one of the PRIME ENABLERS of the worst foreign policy disasters (if not outright humanitarian disasters) in this nation's history! Tenet has blood on his hands that will never wash off.

That Tenet feels now is the time to 'tell all' - after untold thousands have been killed in furtherance of the policy he supported by negative consent - makes me physically ill.

THINK ABOUT WHAT HE IS ADMITTING: HE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO WAR BASED ON LIES - AND DID NOTHING TO STOP IT!

In my book, you don't get to have it both ways, to wit: you don't get to (a) participate in a cover-up, then (b) get credit for coming clean about it after you have an attack of conscience.

It's ... just ... appalling.

He just admitted to the crime, and he apologises for his *etiquette*? Nice.

Over 650,000 civilians and US servicepersons killed since the White House PR blitz to promote the bogus justifications for the war. But since that group does not include "have-mores," they don't count.

Man, I bet Tenet's soul suffers every night for his complicity in this demonstrable disaster for his country. So, he thinks that writing a book 4 years after the fact will absolve him of the guilt he carries and ths sins he has committed. Well, George, you didn't have the courage to stand up to the liars and incompetents in the Bush Administration when it really mattered; as a result you have potentially irreperably injured your country for years to come.

You were the head of the CIA, Mr. Tenet. You had the responsibility at the time to protect this country. Instead you bowed to the administration; helped them make their case before the world; kept your head down while you sat behind Colin Powell at the UN, and allowed him to make the U.S. a liar; and you accepted the Medal of Freedom from the president like a good little lap dog.

You said nothing when it counted. You did nothing when it counted. This war is partially on your head and no book you schill in 2007 will ever change that.

code: "memory," as in ours is very clear as to your complicity.

I know its been said before, but for Tenet to make a guaranteed $3 million on this book is about as obscene as things get in this world.

I can't wait to see how WingNut Nation spins their dizzy diatribes. One commenter said; "Did he mean
the evidence for WMD's, or selling the evidence of WMD's to the public?"

Just remember, Tenet sat right behind Colin Powell in the well of the UN when they gave lie after lie to justify war with Iraq. This book shows that Tenet knew they were lies at the time. (As did anyone with the courage to look at the evidence.)

He's just another rat scurrying away from the sinking ship that is the Bush admin.

Sounds like the inner circle of bushco was just as good at "playing" the players (on the inside) as at "playing" the press. So I can just imagine how they maneuvered Tenet into his "slam-dunk" statement and then simply amplified that.

cheney managed to get the Times to print certain articles and then he amplified them. And I'm viewing Tenet as in the same league with Miller.

How convenient.

"Shame" is the word.

Slam-dunk was an inside joke. A reference to waterboarding.

After all the lower level people who tried to speak up and were forced out of federal service, in some cases heart breaking close to the 30 year retirement mark, for Tenet to come out now with his expose after all the deaths, all the lies, is simply shameful.

People who could afford it far less had courage of their conviction when it had a chance of mattering. This guy belongs in the McNamara hall of failed men who failed to save their nation when they had the chance.

Let's assume for a moment that this WH needed Tenet advice on how to sell the war to the American public. How does this make Tenet look better? The WH thought his advice on PR matters and he advised on such matters? This makes him look not just like an idiot, but like a political hack and an idiot.

Americans can rightly ask, regarding the lead-up and selling of the Iraq war, why isn't Tenent hauled before the Congress as not only a witness to events within the White House, but as a war criminal as well?

The answer is, Congress really doesn't want to know.

You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

Someone who calls himself “Avenging Angel” wrote this in dailykos:
” There are many factors explaining why this scandal-ridden presidency with a 28% approval rating even has a pulse at all. One is simply the "crowding out" effect. That is, the sheer number of scandals, probes, inquiries and convictions prevents the media - and the American people - from focusing on any given one.”

I, for one, am throughly crowded out -- numb, really. Bring on impeachment. Even if it fails, it will dominate the news for months and might -- just might -- serve to drive Cheney and Bush from office by resignation as the charges and evidence are discussed and debated.

some questions for Mr Tenet:
1) are you saying that bob woodward took your quote out of context? that he, god forbid, lied?
2) as one of the commenters above rather bluntly asked: why did you wait so long to come forward? doesn't your failure to tell the American people the truth make you just as guilty of sedition as those you criticize?
3) knowing what you cliam to have known, how could you, with good conscience, have accepted the freedom medal? since you have, by your own admission, digraced yourself and damaged your country, shouldn't you give it back?
4) why shouldn't you be held accountable for crimes against the American people?

Shocking for some. But J.H. Christ, for those of us who saw this from day one -- why has it taken so long? Because the press let us down. The press let this happen. As Glenn Greenwald and others have pointed out, six months after the invasion began, 70% of the U.S. population still thought Saddam engineered -- or was at least heavily involved in -- the 9/11 attack. The media let it happen, they should all be sent to Iraq to ride around with dummy bullets and down-armored Humvees.

Paul O'Neill reported that at the first National Security Council meeting, 10 days after Bush's inauguration in January 2001, the ousting of Hussein was 'Topic A' on Bush's agenda.

"From the start, we were building the case against Hussein and looking at how we could take him out and change Iraq into a new country... It was about finding a way to do it. That was the tone of it. The president saying, "Fine. Go find me a way to do this", O'Neill told the January 10 Time magazine.
"Fuck Saddam," Bush fumed at a meeting of the National Security Council in March of 2002. "We're taking him out."
This was a year before Bush said that Saddam and his WMDs had left him no choice but to invade. Bush sold the war on the WMD scare. It fit the 9/11 connection. Bringing democracy to Iraq was an afterthought and not though through. In the 2000 campaign candidate Bush disdained "nation building". Being greeted as liberators would be all that Bush needed to "win" in Iraq. Everything else would fall in place. All those political hires (hacks) at the CPA would ensure the healthy new nation of Iraq would have American values. Loyalty, not experience necessary.

It was about finding a way to do it. Tenet was only one of the officials Bush called on to make his case for war. Having the CIA director concur would help Bush's credibility.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/04/23/daily47.html

Renzi might resign today.

Yay.

U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., could soon step down in the wake of a federal investigation into his involvement in a federal land swap deal and FBI raids of an insurance agency owned by his wife.

His resignation could come as early as Friday or soon after, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Top Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, have been meeting to discuss what they will do if Renzi resigns and his rural congressional seat opens up.

Republican leaders also are starting to encourage Renzi to resign, saying a prolonged investigation will hurt the party's chances of holding onto his Arizona seat, according to knowledgeable sources.

Democrats also are preparing for a Renzi exit. Cottonwood attorney Jim Ledbetter is among those being recruited by party leadership to run for Renzi's seat in a possible special election.

The federal investigation is looking at Renzi's involvement in a land swap deal including a possible payment by a former business partner, according to The Hill newspaper. The Wall Street Journal reports that a grand jury has been convened in Tucson to investigate Renzi.

The congressman has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. His office did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Democrats are keeping the pressure on Renzi and are looking to link the investigation to the resignation of Paul Charlton as U.S. attorney for Arizona. Charlton was pushed out of that post after the November elections, along with several other federal prosecutors.

Ledbetter is a conservative Democrat, favoring gun rights and a federal ban on some late-term abortions. He said it would be best for the district if Renzi stepped down soon.

Ledbetter said Thursday he is traveling to Washington to meet with Democratic congressional and campaign leaders. He said he already has spoken with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and U.S. Reps. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Adam Schiff of California about a possible run for Renzi's seat.

Renzi's district has a slight Democratic voter registration edge, but it is rural and socially conservative and has gone for the GOP in recent years. It includes Casa Grande, Flagstaff, Sedona, Payson and Prescott.

Other possible Democratic candidates include former Casa Grande Mayor Bob Mitchell, Arizona Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick and Pete Rios, Arizona Sen. Rebecca Rios, state Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens, former Phoenix TV reporter Mary Kim Titla, consultant Fred DuVal and shopping center developer Jim Pederson.

Possible GOP successors to Renzi include former Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett, Arizona Rep. Bill Konopnicki, and rancher and Republican booster Steve Pierce.

Tenet carried their water for years. He diddled with darkness knowing about the lies and what those lies would bring about and now, having lain with them, he is pissed off to be covered with fleas. Now, however, it's safe (and fashionable) to come forward.

Thanks so much! Mail your Medal of Honor back or be forever seen as a craven lacky henchman. Your book is too little and too late for exoneration.

Isn't this just similar to what DiUlio said and what Paul Oneil said, etc. We knew this stuff back in 2002. But of course they were disgruntled employees. Tenet, another disgruntled former employee. So we should just disregard everything he says. Guess that Medal of Freedom didn't do the trick for good ole W.

so this means Tenet is returning the Medal of Freedom...right?

"the book portrays the president as slow to accept the reality in Iraq."

This is an aspect about this President that I just don't understand how those who support him can not see. The lastest version of this lack of reality is his reaction to the universally panned testimony of Mr Gonzales. It is one thing for politician to put the best face on a situation but I truly believe the President is delusional at times and the country is paying a dear price for it. I echo those however who say shame on the likes of Mr. Tenet who have enabled this President! Shame Shame Shame.

See drowning ship. See rat sailing away, but gnawing another hole in the wood before leaving.

(BTW, could we all agree never to make references to the code words ever again? It's not half as clever for the reader as the writer thinks. I'm not trying to single out the people in this thread, but it is something that I see in thread after thread, and it never does anything for me. Thanks in advance.)

why is everyone ignoring the reason Bush used to go into Iraq..forget the Slam Dunk...Tenet knows exactly what Bush was told prior to 9/11 and that is what is important. Will Tenet tell us that info, or is he still carrying Bush's water on it?