Why Tenet Resigned

[troublemaker]

1) He has wanted out since even before 9/11. (I believe Tenet resigned against Bush's wishes, not forced out in any way.)

2) He knows someone will be indicted soon in l'affaire de Plame, an investigation he initiated. Better to be out of the way when that cork pops.

3) His exposure of Chalabi has served its purpose and the pentagon's efforts to challenge CIA for intelligence supremacy are effectively dead.

4) He knows the CIA will be even more politicized going into the election and that's distasteful... easier to skip it.

[bryant69]

1. Makes sense to me

Although the possibility is that someone more pliable may step up to the plate. Negating the need for Rumsfeld to set up his own intelligence agency in the DoD.

"You want proof that Syria caused your bicycle accident Mr. Prsident? Coming right up!"

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[spotbird]

2. My opinion is that he has or will testify before the Plame

grand jury and isn't about to risk perjury. He tell * this, * hires a lawyer and fires Tenent.

[IkeWarnedUs]

29. Bush didn't fire Tenet

I agree with what you say - whether it is testifying about Plame, the drunk who slipped and told Chalabi about breaking the Iranian code,* pre-war intelligence, interrogation techniques used by the CIA, or what ever the next shoe to fall is.

I was watching Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard earlier this morning. They gave a little Rose Garden appearance where Bush bragged about Australia's support in Iraq. Bush even took questions. He can't handle questions very well when he is upset and he did pretty good. He was relaxed and joked around a bit.

Then, maybe an hour later, Bush comes out and announces Tenet's resignation just as he gets ready to go to Europe. Not a good time for Bush to have to make this announcement. Not even time to give it a good spin. My guess is Tenet told Bush, "I'm leaving. You can make the announcement now, or I can do it in an hour. Your choice." Bush was a different person when he came back outside to tell the world Tenet quit. I'm telling you - when he was outside with Howard he had no idea it was about to happen. He may have known there was a vague possibility it would happen someday, but this caught him by surprise.


* I have been wondering - Chalabi denies telling Iran about the code (which doesn't mean he didn't). Maybe Chalabi didn't, but since he is known to have a good relationship with Iran, when it became known that Iran knew the code was broken the Chickenhawks decided to throw him under the bus. After all, Chalabi was pushing for Governing Council to hold its own independent investigation of the Oil for Food program and refused to turn over his paperwork to the US. This would kill two birds with one stone. A believable scapegoat and a chance to raid his office. I don't think the Chickenhawks figured on people asking about how Chalabi would know such a thing and the drunk story getting out. Now this is going to lead down a whole new back alley.

[Trajan]

3. RE: Point # 3 ...

3) His exposure of Chalabi has served its purpose and the pentagon's efforts to challenge CIA for intelligence supremacy are effectively dead.

Perhaps, with Tenet out of the way: OSP can flourish ?

[troublemaker]

12. It's always possible, but assuming Tenent wants out anyway

recent events do look like Tenent was squaring some stuff away first as well as he could without staying on forever. (Among other factors, it's hard to imagine anyone tarred by the whole WMD/Chalabi thing getting appointed director in this climate)

When people leave government the biggest reason of all is money. Tenet will go from 175,000/year (guessing) to millions/year overnight just by sitting on corporate boards, etc.. These guys really do plan their careers with the assumption they'll have a fat private sector decade before retiring.

[skip fox]

24. No, I take troublemaker's point. OSP has been discredited

once and for all. Even as stupid as W. is, he'll rely on a more balanced assessment of the world situation instead of basing policy on the directions of a half dozen neo-cons again.

[wtmusic]

4. 5) He's had enough of covering for Junior

Duty be damned. He knows Junior's an asshole.

[dryan]

7. Chalabi affair and Plame Affair

I think that the animus against Tenet and Chalabi goes back a long way. According to what I read in Time and Newsweek, Chalbi's group wanted funding during the Clinton administration and Clarke and Tenet both advised President Clinton against it. Chalabi inferred when he was interviewed on Meet the Press that Tenet was behind the plan to discredit him (paraphrasing him). The issue with Plame is very serious.

[blm]

10. I think that's it in a nutshell.

He couldn't deal with the constantness of covering up for the dictatortot and his cronies.

[Don_G]

5. # 5

With Dimbo in Europe, the big league White House reporters will NOT be in Washington to report on what else may be coming down the pike this weekend.

Read Wonkette's take: http://www.wonkette.com/archives/tenet-resigns-has-rove-risen-again-015622.php

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Could it be he knows he's going to have to testify in the Plame ...

case against Bush and he doesn't want to prejudice his testimony by being privy to meetings and conversations between Bush and his lawyer?

[H2O Man]

8. Good list!

#1 is very important to understanding the significance of this news. Bush looked like he had the wind knocked out of him.

[Jack_Dawson]

9. Book Deal?

Ot does more time have to elapse?

[Doctor Pedantic]

11. Timing is everything

This happens the day after the WH announces that Bush has hired a private lawyer to represent him in connection with the Plame investigation? Coincidence? I think not.

It seems to me the noose is tightening. The only question is whose neck(s) ultimately will be in it.

[BabsSong]

13. HOLD the PHONES----memory is coming back

after reading and posting all morning on this. I swear that around the beginning of the year there were reports that Tenent did want to resign but would hold on and probably leave mid-summer. It had something to do with not wanting things to look bad during all the 9/11 Commission hearings, etc. Honest to God, I do believe that was the talk and thus, makes all of this moot point. It will have a certain effect of people "guessing"; but I have a feeling that within a few days reports will start coming out about this having been planned for months.

[troublemaker]

15. You're right

There have been similar stories going back three years, but every time he would contemplate retiring something new would blow up.

[wiggs]

14. interesting revelations from Tenet coming

For Tenet to resign and NOT speak out in defense of his and CIA performance would be tantamount to admission of mistakes. I think we will be hearing from Tenet in defense of his beloved CIA and in order to do this he has to resign. Anticipate comments on:

1) Plame outing. CIA must despise that this happened

2) White House circumvention of CIA in constructing its own intelligence arm through Pentagon

3) Allegations of faulty intelligence. I don't believe that intelligence regarding WMD and threats came to the WH without huge disclaimers and warnings. Suskinds O'Neill book says that Paul O'Neill saw all the intelligence and it always carried disclaimers about inaccuracy

4) Claims that Tenet said "slam dunk" in reference to WMD case, putting him at center of war decision. Doubtful.

5) By Clark's accounts (which has credibility), Tenet was actually very effective in rescuing the CIA from Bush I downsizing, and did a good job. Why would Tenet, who may be proud of this service, let his 10 year stint be tarnished?

Unless we hear soon that Tenet's places fault at his own feet, get ready for some interesting summer revelations.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

32. "Ten year stint"? Try closer to 26 years...

<http://www.cnn.com/interactive/profiles/tenet/tenet.bio.html>

"Graduated from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University with a bachelor's degree, 1976, and from the School of International Affairs at Columbia University with a master's degree in 1978."

Tenet's educational background speaks volumes. Those degrees are basically prerequisites to get into the CIA. Note that he graduated in 1978.

Tenet's first two positions were used as a cover for espionage purposes. Both positions required extensive travel overseas.

"Research director, American Hellenic Institute, a Greek-American lobbying organization, 1978-79.

Worked for the Solar Energy Industries Association, 1979-82."

From 1982 to 1993, it is VERY clear that Tenet was the CIA's man in Congress. From 1993 to 1995, he served the Clinton White House in a National Security role. He then PUBLICLY assumed a prominent management role in the CIA in 1995.

[displacedtexan]

16. You don't crap where you eat.

You also don't testify against the boss and expect to be invited to his Christmas party.

http://ascrivenerslament.blogspot.com/

[Gin]

17. with a new person in charge...can they stop all investigations now in

progress? this could be a rove ploy.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

33. No. And it's only going to get worse for the NeoCons.

[PATRICK]

18. Failure meltdown

The agency workers are in revolt and out of the control of their heads, like Tenet. Though Bush maynot have wanted the resignation, the meltdown just overwhelmed Tenet into utter helplessness, uselessness, even as a scapegoat or shield.

On its simplest face- disintegration not decision by a water-carrying administrator. The rift between Bush and a chunk of the CIA is now total.

Time to get out before any real hits land on him for the sole, doomed interest of Bushco.

[robbedvoter]

19. Tenet tried to reign the BFEE in all along - see Fiore

http://www.markfiore.com/animation/dissent.html
Now that W hired a criminal lawyer and thr CIA will finish him, maybe it's time for THE BOOK. Anyway, this has to be related:


http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/printer_4629.shtml
Bush Leagues
Bush Knew About Leak of CIA Operative's Name
By Staff and Wire Reports
Jun 3, 2004, 05:28

[kentuck]

20. And put the nation in danger just months before an election...?

Where some may perceive the nation as at a weak moment...not very patriotic, if that was HIS decision.

[chookie]

23. What a great opportunity!

The Bushistas are rubbing their hands together and drooling. Tenet was never enough of a team player for them -- otherwise they never would have to have set up an "alternative" intelligence agency.

Citing the risk to national security that the CIA being leaderless will entail, especially when the nation is said to be at high risk for attack -- they will use it as an opportunity to ram one of their worst thugs down our throats. Someone who "doesn't waffle" about intelligence reports....Someone who is "loyal" to the President....

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. One more thing w/ 9/11 commission

He may have a heads up on their decision to propose another agency linking CIA and FBI to coordinate intelligence. I could be wrong, but I recall both he and the FBI director strongly warned against that during their public testimonies.

[troublemaker]

22. The more coverage I see

the worse this looks for Bush. There's a heavy funereal feel to it, like Tenent had just died.

Stansfield Turner had some good points about the difficultly of getting someone of quality to accept a job he may only hold for a few months.

If they appoint Guliani they're smarter than they look, but Guliani knows Bush is going to lose... would accepting CIA help him or hurt him for 2008? Tough to say.

[The empressof all]

35. It won't be Gulliani

Call it a hunch on my part-but my feeling is that he's too high profile for Bushies taste. I also think Gulliani is jonesing for NY Governor when Pataki goes and he won't take the risk of sulling his name with connections to the Bushes given NY's liberal leanings.

[Ernesto]

25. Perhaps he like Dick Clarke has

enough time in & is just sick & tired of it all.

[Old and In the Way]

26. This is bad news for Bush.

The fact that Tenet did not wait until the end of year is quite telling, I think.

I've said it before, there is a mini-MAD arrangement between Bush and Tenet. Each has the goods on the other. Bush should have shit- canned Tenet after 9/11....but didn't. Tenet was a Clinton nominee and it could have been an easy way to indirectly blame Clinton for 9/11....but they didn't do it. Same on the "bad" CIA intel on the run-up to the war. Bush could have fired Tenet for bad intel, but didn't. Hmmmmm.

But what I think interesting is the timing of the resigination. The recent burning of the intel channel might be more relevant to his decision to resign. It appears that someone in the WH passed the info to Chalabi that we had Iran's secret codes. This effectively kills an important source of independent information for the CIA. Could it be that this administration didn't want the CIA to know what info was being passed between Chalabi and Iran?

[Zinfandel]

41. Very insightful post!

[TexasSissy]

27. He's in big trouble.

1. Word is out that the 9/11 Commission Report skewers Tenet.

2. CIA leaked info to Chalabi, which is, in effect, yet another bad thing that must be attributed to the leader of the CIA. The buck stops at the top (except at the Pentagon and in the W.H., apparently).

I don't think he left against Bush's wishes. I think they asked him to resign, so that the Tenet scandal, which will get stronger as the summer months come along, will not rub off too much on Bush. Tenet was nice enough to oblige, since he knew he had to go, anyway, because of the blame that will come down on him in the 9/11 Commission Report. I think he and Bush really are buddy-buddies. It is clear that he and Rumsfeld really like and respect each other, as well.

Tenet doesn't want to adversely affect Bush's chances of re-election. And that's the name of that tune. We won't be seeing a tell-all book by Tenet (in this decade, anyway).

[kentuck]

30. Bingo !

I think you are real close to the truth...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

38. Not even remotely close....

...but you probably know that, don't you?

[troublemaker]

31. I don't buy #2

There's a lot of reason to think Tenet has been leaking to the press ABOUT Chalabi, but not of CIA leaking intel TO Chalabi. Until proven otherwise the presumptive culprit in passing intel TO Chalabi is the Pentagon civilians.

Anyway, we will know soon.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

37. Yes, the GOP-dominated committee "skewered" Tenet. Did anyone...

...really expect anything else? There is no one else to blame without getting a fellow NeoCon, is there? You do understand that Tenet was appointed to be DCI by Clinton, don't you?

And no, it was the NeoCon, Pentagon-based, OSP that leaked information to Chalabi, not the CIA. And, it was the DIA that blew the whistle.

And please...this is about two continents away from being the "Tenet scandal". This is the NeoCon scandal, and rotten through and through.

[troublemaker]

28. PS (from original poster)

I really respect what Josh Marshall says and Josh Marshall says that chatter and logic suggest Tenent was fired, but I'm breaking with Marshall on this one... I don't believe it. If evidence comes out I'll be happy to change my tune, but I think he really resigned.

Best evidence so far; nobody knows yet. Tenent could resign in surprising fashion but he couldn't be fired without a lot of people in the WH knowing it in advance, and I don't see much advance PR work here. And this WH leaks like a sieve these days.

The whole thing is a PR fuck-up. Bush seemed to have no idea the news would come out now and his announcement was utterly disorganized. Didn't feel like the 'time and place of his choosing.'

Anyway, Marshall's doubtless better informed take here:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[Beetwasher]

34. I Agree, This Is More Evidence of an Admin In Total Dissaray

Every man for himself...

[The empressof all]

36. I thought I heard on MSNBC

I thought I heard that he was called to the White House last night. With Powell and Cheney in attendance I think he was in fact pressured to go.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

39. Yes, indeed. MSNBC is a wonderfully credible source.

[KittyWampus]

40. May I Repost Another DU'ers Thoughts?

Hopefully chiburb won't mind, but I thought it sounded plausible.

chiburb (1000+ posts)
47. My humble opinion...



BushCo will try to spin it that Tenet was "asked" to leave. However...

I think Tenet knows that he no longer has the support of The Company, because of Plame, Chalabi, lord
knows what else. The Company is hell-bent on revenge, and Tenet can no longer run interference or protect
BushCo from some very pissed off spooks. Hence the resignation...