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.
..... and appear on cable news shows to pay for his up front payment? Don't know but doubt it.
Nothing is worse than seeing Bill O'Reilly bring on Pat Boone for his opinions and then at the end of the segment show pictures and mini shill Boone's CD's ( actual pictures of them shown on TV).
Then Greta on Fox with OJ the killer. Wonder what it is like to sit across from a butcher.
Its all too much. Think there may be a pattern?
he shouldve resigned 4 years ago
What I'm saying is now Tenet can tell what Clinton really did.
I'm with you now. That would be really nice sorta like an antidote to Dick Clark .
I went off the the quid pro quo book and author appearances on the cable networks.
Clinton looked pretty bad on CSpan the other day. His eyes looked very very baggy- Dorian Gray lite.
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