We have our first sacrifice: George Tenet

[Az]

Condi served up George Tenet today as the first sacrifice to save the unelected fraud. Claiming Tenet and the CIA approved the SOTU it is clear that they are going to jettison Tenet to save Bush.

"If the CIA -- the director of central intelligence -- had said, 'Take this out of the speech,' it would have been gone," Rice said.

"The president did not knowingly say anything that we knew to be false. ... We wouldn't put anything ... knowingly in the speech that was false."

Apparently Condi likes to serve her sacrifices raw.

[Jacobin]

1. I think you are on to something

Will he go down like a good soldier sent into the breach to save his lord and master or will he fight back?

[Az]

2. Bingo

It all depends on Tenet now. If he is simply an OP for BFEE then he will take one for the chimp. If he has any selfrespect he will speak up. My guess is that Condi would not have pointed her finger so strongly if they did not already know how its going to play out. I hope I am wrong.

[Allah Akbar]

34. hahaha, that is a good one

That ought to be a new saying, "...take one for the chimp!"

[Walt Starr]

3. I seriously doubt that

Sacrificing him over the Bush Lied scandal will mean he also has to take the rap for the Bush Knew scandal about to be released in the 9/11 report.

[Az]

4. It may act as chaffe for 9/11

If they can point to the CIA being doofuses on the Niger issue its not too difficult to market the idea that their 9/11 handling was flawed too.

[Walt Starr]

6. See, I think Tenet is willing to take the rap for Bush Lied

I do not believe he is willing to take the rap for Bush Knew as well, though, because that is tanamount to treason and could get him a death penalty.

What's worse is I don't think they realize Tenet knows they're setting him up for the fall on Bush Knew. These are incompetent nincompoops, after all. I think Tenet is going to drop a bomb of a smoking gun on this entire things, such as secret CIA recordings proving that both Bush Lied and Bush Knew, saving his ass from a traitor's fate.

[Az]

8. Timing

If the get Tenet to fall on the sword for Niger he will take down the credibility of the CIA. Then when the 9/11 info starts swirling they can merely lean on the rumors and inuendo and avoid it going to an official level. They merely have to ramp up restructuring the CIA rhetoric and the problem is addressed.

[Walt Starr]

10. Here's the way I see the timing

Right now, Bushco* is pushing "the CIA did it" for Bush Lied. Tenet won't come out with a statement yet, but I sincerely believe he has told Bushco*, "I'll take the fall."

Meanwhile, they have the proof that Bushco* both lied and knew they were lying AND that they knew Osama was going to attack, how he was going to attack, and when he was going to attack.

Right before the 9/11 report comes out, there will be a leak of some of the evidence to show that Bush knew he was lying, not much, just enough to whet the appetite of the media. Then, the 9/11 report comes out and it looks horrible for the CIA. The report shows them to be a group of completely inept idiots.

Now, Tenet releases all of his evidence, showing that the CIA informed Bushco* of the danger posed by bin LAden, the attack plans, EVERYTHING, as well as a recording of Tenet telling Bush, "you're using blatantly false information in your SOTU."

Tenet answers to a higher power and that higher power wants Bushco* out.

That's my take, anyway.

[Az]

12. Tactics of the controllers

I don't think the people behind Bushco want him to go down this way. The prefered way to take out someone without collateral damage is through personal failings, not policy. That is you get them in a sex scandal or a conflict of interest issue. It isolates the damage to just the target.

This issue if it blows will be to wide. Its going to take out the entire cabinet and may even expose some of the control mechanisms. Too risky for shadow controlers. Their number one goal will be to remain behind the scenes and in control. Too many implicated this way. The more people you sink the more likely someone is going to talk.

[donsu]

40. you got it

the smell of Rove is in the air

[calimary]

33. That's what is speculated in From the Wilderness -

that bush had a chance to fire Tenet in September 2001 but didn't because he feared Tenet knew too much - about having warned bush on the 9/11 threat. FTW alleges that Tenet left a paper trail behind to cover his ass.

[djg21]

39. He'll go down kicking and fighting.

You can bet the CYA memos to file will be aired, and the fingers will be pointed back at ShrubCo. This is just the beginning of the end.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. The neocons have been trying to set up Tenet

for over a year. It is their little way of connecting the whole thing to Clinton. Clinton appointed him, so it's Clinton's fault. Get it? It will be interesting to see how the CIA responds. I doubt if everyone in the whole agency will be willing to fall on their swords for Dim Son.

[molly]

7. Yep - I think that is why they kept him

[bfusco]

9. Will that fly?

They are obviously trying to pin this on Tennet but will that fly. If they scape goat him the dam may be ready to burst. Unlike Congress, the intelligence agencies are designed to beyond partisan manipulation and that action may light a fire under the orginization to speak out about how the intelligence is cooked.

[Az]

11. They are taking their stand

Take a look at the wording. They are out of weasle holes. Condi directly pitted the pResident's word against the head of the CIA. It has become an either/or situation. They are up against the wall and have to start tossing people to keep from being crushed. Tenet is the sacrifice they saved from the Clinton era. He is fullfilling his purpose. The only real question is if he knew it was his purpose and if he is going to fade away.

On the other hand. Since they have taken a stand. If Tenet or someone else in the intel community does come forward.... well lets just say it could be a bumpy ride. We may have convictible material here.

[NicoleM]

13. What I think will happen

They'll offer Tenet a cushy private-sector job in exchange for his resignation and his silence about what else he knows. I don't know enough about Tenet to know if he'll take it.

[molly]

14. Too many others are privy to that info

one of them is working for John Kerry.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. That's what it looks like

My take is Condi is pointing fingers. For now, she is probably more concerned about the Frat Boy's ass than her own.

One way or another we know this:

• The Niger document was a crude forgery that was detected within hours by the IAEA;
• We should assume the CIA had no trouble detecting that it was a forgery and that Tenet knew or should have known this;
• Information from the document found its way into British dossiers and the SOTU;

As director of the CIA, if Tenet knew that information in the SOTU was based on bad intelligence, he would not have been able to say so publicly. That makes him a convenient scapegoat.

Let's see how Tenet and the CIA respond.

[Gman]

16. With all the leaks coming out of the intelligence community...

I don't think they will allow this to stand. It already came out this week that Bush sat in on a briefing about the Niger affair and was present when it was discussed that the memos were fake. The intelligence community appears to be prepared to not be the scapegoat.

---on edit---
And, BTW, a REAL president would take full responsibility.

[Az]

17. That was the Wilkenson story

That one fell apart. Turns out the supposed source present at the meeting was a boogieman. The story was retracted by the initial reporter.

[blondeatlast]

20. Not that I doubt your word, but link please.

Dates are important here:

It already came out this week that Bush sat in on a briefing about the Niger affair and was present when it was discussed that the memos were fake.

I'm trying to set up a timeline (May God have mercy on my soul) and as a librarian and researcher, I need citations.

[Az]

22. The only source we have had so far

Was the www.capitalhillblue.com story that was retracted. Doug Thompson reported he had a source willing to come out that was present when Bush was told. Wilkenson was his source and soon after he published the story Wilkenson disappeared. Thompsondid some fast checking and found out that there was no such CIA rep named Wilkenson. He was a boogieman and known for claiming to be a host of different things. Thompson retracted his story and sank the source. The entire mess stinks but it is a dead source due to Thompson's efforts.

[charlie]

24. Like Az said, that one's debunked

It was asserted in an article by the publisher of capitolhillblue.com, who now says he was scammed. He's also pulled all the pieces with scoops from the bogus source from his website.

Edit: Oops, slow on the post, nemmind. Hi, Az.

[seemslikeadream]

42. There is another person

Theilman? Who just spoke out.

[Az]

43. Conjecture

His info places knowledge of the documents in the CIA but it is only his conjecture that Bush and Co knew about it. Its good stuff but its not the hammer to drive the nail into the coffin. This Condi statement is far more damaging as it is going to split the Bushies off from the intel community completely. Tenet may take the shot for the chimp but the rest of the intel community is not going to sit still for it.

[seemslikeadream]

46. Just typing before I think but

could the CIA (Tenent) having known the Niger stuff was bogus let bush use it on purpose so Tenent could play his ace and expose bush later. It may be bush was set up. Tenet may have seen this as the only way to expose bush on 911. He knew bush had the plan on his desk 9-10. It sure got people talking!

[Az]

47. Tenet has to be on the Bush team

He let Cheney in the CIA HQ to direct strategy. You do not mix policy and investigation. It breaks the impartiality that intel requires. I think Tenet may be a wary player for Shrubco but it remains to be seen if he is going to take the bullet for the chimp.

[seemslikeadream]

49. Do you really think Tenet was calling the shots?

Cheney was going anywhere he pleased.

[charlie]

44. That's right

Greg Thielmann, Ambassador Wilson, and ex-CIA Ray McGovern have corroborated the fishiness of Bush's tales. Will Pitt has the details here:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/071103A.shtml

[Az]

45. These are interesting times, accuracy and understanding are vital

Read exactly what Thielmann says

Borrowing from Will:------------------------
"I believe the Bush administration did not provide an accurate picture to the American people of the military threat posed by Iraq," said Thielmann on Wednesday. During his press conference, Mr. Thielmann said that, as of the commencement of military operations in March of 2003, "Iraq posed no imminent threat to either its neighbors or to the United States". Mr. Thielmann also dismissed the oft-repeated claims of a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda. "This administration has had a faith-based intelligence attitude," he said.

------------------------------

Thielmann is stating what he knew about the matter and what he believes Bush and Co knew. There enough to hang the CIA but not enough to hang Bush. If Tenet does not stand up and state that George was told it stops at Tenet's desk. The CIA has enough munitions here to take the BFEE out of the picture. They alone can finger the BFEE. The game is afoot.

[charlie]

48. True, you're right of course

A couple of fuller quotes than the cites from Will are interesting. Thielmann's criticisms come off a shade more pointed, and he's oh-so-close to calling Bush a liar:

"I believe the Bush administration did not provide an accurate picture to the American people of the military threat posed by Iraq. Some of the fault lies with the performance of the intelligence community, but most of it lies with the way senior officials misused the information they were provided."

...

Thielmann highlighted the administration's characterization of the Iraqi nuclear threat as being the most misleading. "Going down the list of administration deficiencies, or distortions, one has to talk about, first and foremost, the nuclear threat being hyped," he said. In particular, Thielmann said he believed "something was seriously amiss" about President George W. Bush's reference in his State of the Union speech to a report that Iraq was trying to procure uranium from Africa. Thielmann's office had concluded previously that this was "bad information." This assessment was delivered to Secretary of State Colin Powell in March 2002.

...

"This administration has had a faith-based intelligence attitude. It's top-down use of intelligence; 'we know the answers, give us the intelligence to support those answers.'"

http://www.jesusjournal.com/articles/publish/printer_478.html

[RobinA]

36. Agree Here

If I'm with the CIA and my guy Tenet (and by implication my agency) gets scapegoated for either one of these gigantic disasters, I and/or a significant number of my collegues am/are going to start leaking like a sieve. No way is the CIA going to dive for this halfwit.

[Az]

38. Any chance

Of pointing your fellow CIA guys to this site. Maybe some voices from out of the cold will help us to find a way to bring this tyrant down.

[donsu]

41. But, doesn't Poppy own the CIA?

nt

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

18. Does anyone remember Tenet's expressions at Colin's UN presentation?

I always assume that my own skepticism may be making me read too much into expressions and body lanquage, so I am curious if anyone noticed the same thing about Tenet at that presentation.

Colin didn't seem terribly forceful about the evidence, as if he had the attitude, "They're sending me out to do this." And sitting behind him, Tenet kind of looked like, "I'm not investing a lot into this." He wasn't looking at Colin like a staunch supporter of the facts, but was more like a person who is sighing and looking kind of like, "I'm not really here" with his eyes wandering about.

Of course, it's always obvious Condi is a stooge, the way her voice shakes like Laura Petrie. From those expressions of Tenet's and also from Condi and Colin, I get the feeeling all three have known for awhile that they were going to get tossed out at some point. With a guy like George Bush, there is always somebody that's got to take his falls.

It makes me think, well, wouldn't Tenent, Colin and Condi play their roles better if they were willing stooges?

[Bandit]

19. Hey one down a bunch more to go

Tenet going down ~ Good but it ain't gunna stop there. Bush* Lied and pretty soon the whole world is going to know that as fact. This whole cabal is going down.

[blondeatlast]

21. I'm not entierly convinced that Tenet going down is a good thing . . .

After all, he (personally and as director of the CIA) would not give credence to the LIE.

The only good that can come of Tenet's leaving is if he is willing to talk. A lot.

[carolinayellowdog]

28. Or someone else will, if Tenet falls on his sword

Hey--

I think folks are framing this in terms of an excluded middle: either Tenet takes the fall or he spills the beans, and thus either the scandal is contained or mushrooms. But Tenet is not the entire intelligence community, and even if he personally decides to take the fall, thousands of others will be pissed and some will speak out. They are already weighing their options in light of the Rice scapegoating strategy.

My take,

CYD

[Az]

30. The intel community is pissed

Never get into an argument with someone that buys ink by the barrel. Bush and Co have been relying too heavily on blame the intel. There are important people already leaving due to their integrity. They are going to talk. I am convinced it is a matter of time and that the Bushies are floundering. Condi's statement was uncharacteristiclly direct. It leaves no wiggle room. She created a showdown. The only way to get out of that position would have been to sacrifice Condi but then George went and repeated the concept soon after. They are caught.

[charlie]

32. Complicating things even more...

There might even be a faction looking after Bush interests in intelligence. Poppy's an ex-director, he may still have some pull in the agency.

[DrGonzoLives]

23. Yeah, sacrifice those pawns

Make sure the King & Queen don't get hurt.

I can only hope that one of these upcoming sacrifices will be pissed enough to sing like a canary.

[revcarol]

25. We have to keep the pressure on...

remember ENRON. We KNEW that the administration was intimately involved in the California rape, and in the selling of democracy to the highest bidder. Nothing happened.

Even if Tenet goes, we have to keep the pressure on. Cheney MUST GO!!Rumsfeld MUST GO!! Ditto Condi,Powell, Wolfowitz...you name 'em.

And distmantle that damn "intelligence" organization of Rumsfeld, along with that damn Defense Advisory Council or whatever the 'feed us contracts' organization is called.

[Az]

27. The more they talk

The more likely they are to make a mistake. In reality they should have let this one go by. Silence would have served them better. But pressure forces them to talk. When they talk they may lose their bearings. They drew a line today. They took a stand and offered Tenet up as the sacrifice. Big mistake. It gives the story legs. It means it won't go away. Keep shaking the tree and more nuts will fall out.

[Cocoa]

29. I think it's probably their least-bad choice

I agree it's a risk. They're losing some control over things. Bush still hasn't called for Tenet to resign, in fact Condi said they still have confidence in him.

But, the dems can put some pressure now, asking why Bush is ok with the CIA screwing up so bad, maybe tie it to the Sept.11 failures.

I'd like a dem to ask why Bush is ok with Sept. 11, why no one got fired, and why Bush is so intent on NOT finding out what happened. I think Dean brought that up this morning according to something I read here.

[enough]

26. Will Pitt's interview with Ray McGovern is enlightening

on the relationship between Tenet and the Bushites since 911.

snip >
McGovern:
So here is September 11, the first time since Pearl Harbor that this system failed. It was worse than Pearl Harbor. More people were killed on September 11 than were killed at Pearl Harbor, and where were the pieces? They were scattered all around the government, just like they were before Pearl Harbor. For George Bush to go out to CIA headquarters and put his arm around George Tenet and tell the world that we have the best intelligence services in the world, this really called for some analysis, if you will.

  My analysis is that George Bush had no option but to keep George Tenet on as Director, because George Tenet had warned Bush repeatedly, for months and months before September 11, that something very bad was about to happen.

  PITT: There was the August 6 2001 briefing…

  McG: On August 6, the title of the briefing was, “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the US,” and that briefing had the word “Hijacking” in it. That’s all I know about it, but that’s quite enough. In September, Bush had to make a decision. Is it feasible to let go of Tenet, whose agency flubbed the dub on this one? And the answer was no, because Tenet knows too much about what Bush knew, and Bush didn’t know what to do about it. That’s the bottom line for me.

There is MUCH MORE in this interview, covering the uranium forgeries and many other topics. If you haven't read it yet, this is a good time.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/062603B.shtml

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

31. Is Tenet a whimp?

I wouldn't think he'd allow them to frame him, considering it was already public knowledge that they were faking intelligence, before the war.

[The Backlash Cometh]

35. Why didn't Janet Reno think of this?

Just a few weeks in her position, she made a decision based on FBI information regarding Waco, and when it went badly, she took responsibility for it. Her political career might have been better off, if she had allowed the FBI to take the fall.

[blondeatlast]

37. Sooooooooooo true--

How quickly I have forgotten.