Posted on 06/05/2004 8:19:32 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Tenet Resignation Rocks Washington
By Jeff Gannon
Talon News
June 4, 2004
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- President George W. Bush announced the resignation of CIA Director George Tenet Thursday before departing on a trip to Europe. In a statement to reporters following a Rose Garden appearance with Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, Bush praised Tenet as "a strong leader in the war on terror."
President Bush said that Tenet came to the White House Wednesday night to deliver his letter of resignation that he regretfully accepted. He indicated that Tenet was leaving for "personal reasons."
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan denied that the president asked for Tenet's resignation. He related the sequence of events that led to Thursday's surprise announcement.
According to McClellan, Tenet called White House Chief of Staff Andy Card on Wednesday to request the meeting that took place upon the president's return from the Air Force Academy commencement ceremony. Tenet informed the president of his resignation in a 45-minute meeting in the private residence.
The press secretary said that there had been no advance warning of Tenet's decision to leave. He directed further questions about motivation for the resignation to the CIA Director.
McClellan also said that there was no connection between the resignation and President Bush's decision to consult a lawyer in the CIA leak probe. McClellan dismissed a similar suggestion that the fallout from the investigation of Ahmed Chalabi of the former Iraqi Governing Council, had anything to do with Tenet's departure.
Tenet informed CIA employees of his plans on Thursday afternoon. He said that he regarded the CIA as a "great American family."
Tenet noted that in his seven years as DCI, "We have shared moments of success and disappointment, of happiness and sorrow."
Tenet reiterated that leaving was his idea, and the reasons were personal.
He further explained, "And while Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decision -- it was a personal decision -- and had only one basis in fact the well being of my wonderful family. Nothing more and nothing less."
He particularly mentioned that he would like to spend more time with his son, who is about to enter his senior year in high school. He expressed reluctance that he was unable to be more involved in his son's life during his career with the agency.
Tenet thanked President Bush for his support of the CIA.
He said, "Upon entering office he immediately recognized the importance of rebuilding our intelligence capabilities. He spends time with us almost every day."
This is in contrast to Bush's predecessor who appointed Tenet in 1997. The agency was decimated under President Clinton, himself rarely meeting with the DCI. The CIA's counter-terrorism efforts were seriously hampered by the "Gorelick Wall, constructed by the Clinton justice department to limit information sharing between the FBI and CIA.
Speculation raged inside the Beltway immediately after the Bush's announcement. While there is widespread disagreement as to the circumstances that led to Tenet's resignation, there is a consensus that Tenet faced a difficult summer. Several investigations will release their reports within the next few months. Both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the 9/11 Commission reports are expected to be harshly critical of Tenet.
Tenet will remain at the CIA until July 11 after which Deputy Director John McLaughlin will become the acting director.
Your resignation has been accepted.
Tenets resignation rocks washington media elites.
Since Tenet resigned for "personal reasons" does that mean he relinquished his pension?
Only three days later -- a post on FR! I'm not sure what that means.
This is going to be another circumstance which will allow Bush to be the President and for Kerry to be the weenie. The selection and confirmation of the new director will be great fun to watch. And not good for Kerry.
| Tenet Submits Resignation |
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| Posted by cyncooper On News/Activism 06/03/2004 7:30:15 AM PDT with 1,027 comments June 3, 2004 |
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| the tenet resignation |
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| Posted by jerrydavenport On Bloggers & Personal 06/03/2004 5:36:48 PM PDT with 1 comment the tenet resignation. 1- Is tenet a good man? obviously. He always put his country before his personal interests. He could stand up for justice and take the fall to defend his sub ordinates. He was a rare species, in a world that is increasingly being characterized by selfishness. 2- Did he do a good job? Well tenet was tasked with making an army of muslims work against their religion and country. it wasn't an easy job. Nevertheless he did a splendid job, the relative calm since 911 is a testament to it. till we replace the majority of our... |
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| Tenet and us |
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| Posted by kattracks On News/Activism 06/03/2004 10:30:53 PM PDT with 3 comments townhall.com ^ | 6/04/04 | Rich Lowry CIA Director George Tenet has resigned. Good. Can Congress and the media resign next? Tenet stacked up an impressive number of failures during his tenure, but pinning America's atrophied intelligence capabilities on him is a little like blaming Danish Defense Minister Soeren Gade for Denmark's weak defense. The problem is the national material with which both have had to work. Led by Congress and the media, the United States has hobbled its ability to conduct intelligence operations throughout the past three decades with its squeamishness and its gotcha political culture. Intelligence is a dirty business -- "a lout's game," in... |
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| Why Tenet Quit |
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| Posted by swilhelm73 On News/Activism 06/04/2004 3:28:02 PM PDT with 22 comments TAS ^ | 6/4/2004 | The Prowler BREAKING AWAY CIA head George Tenet's surprise resignation was in fact motivated by family reasons, but the political realities of the past six months and the next month and a half helped make his decision a little bit easier. Tenet started getting calls last week from several Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee who had been reading the committee's report on intelligence failures leading up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to a Senate Intelligence staffer, the Democrats told Tenet that their support of him probably could not be sustained given what the draft report had to say about the CIA's... |
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| THOUGHT RE TENET |
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| Posted by swilhelm73 On News/Activism 06/04/2004 3:58:42 PM PDT with 5 comments NRO - The Corner ^ | 6/3/04 | KJL THOUGHT RE TENET [KJL] Last week, Al Gore near-tearfully asked for his resignation. I can picture it all now. The Tenet press conference with Howard Dean's group and MoveOn were he announces that Bush is a failed leader. The October surprise book where he blames everything wrong with intel on W., Condi & the Pentagon. In truth, I really can't imagine he could (except if he was asked to leave, which is very possible--probably likely?--though it is very belated). President Bush has been ridiculously (and ill-advisedly) loyal to him. But, if he did, it probably couldn't hurt the Anybody But... |
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There ... now I feel better.
He said, "Upon entering office he immediately recognized the importance of rebuilding our intelligence capabilities. He spends time with us almost every day."
The inference is clear: Clinton let the place go to pot.
After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured 1,000; President Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
Maybe if Clinton had kept his promise, an estimated 3,000 people in New York and Washington, D.C. that are now dead would be alive today.
He never inhaled during this period.
Actually there was a 5-minute applause for Tenet at Langley when he spoke, also some folks there were crying...
Actually, Tenet probably did as good as anyone could have under the regime he was subject to.
Tenent came on following John Duetsch known for his having been responsible for the CIA and introducing crack cocaine (just joking Maxime Waters)to the US not to mention scandal. Then Tenent comes in whilst Clintigula began his Monica and Impeachment defense.
Thanks for your service and I hope you enjoy your family and your future Mr. Tenent.
Maybe Tenet can write a book now, huh?
How utterly indignant the Media were when this happened. How dare a secret (from the CIA, no less!) be held! How dare there be a lack of leaks! Priceless.
Perhaps my questions are a bit too naieve, but would someone tell me how, after a near total gutting the CIA in the 70's, a further reduction in the 90's, the Senate Intelligence Committee, the 9/11 Committee or any other Committee of Congress Critters seriously issue reports critical of the CIA? Does anyone know if those directly responsible for "failures" on 9/11 haven't been reassigned, fired, disciplined, etc? It has been said there have been countless successes thanks to the CIA, ones that we will never know about. Will any credit be given to those who deserve it? It is sheer arrogance for Congress to criticize that which they have decimated.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
The ayes have it!
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