WP: Tenet - For Personal Reasons, Or Is He the Fall Guy?

[DaveSZ]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13986-2004Jun3.html

Analysis
For Personal Reasons, Or Is He the Fall Guy?

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 4, 2004; Page A01


When three hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing thousands, no one took the fall in the Bush administration.


When the nation went to war in Iraq on the basis of intelligence about weapons of mass destruction that turned out to be wildly wrong, no one took the fall, either.

So when George J. Tenet resigned as CIA director yesterday, it was no surprise that his departure was choreographed to demonstrate he was not being blamed for any of the intelligence failures that occurred on his watch. The administration line was that he was leaving on his own accord to spend time with his family.

But in official Washington, where every departure of any senior official is searched for hidden meaning and ulterior motives, the question lingered yesterday in the corridors of power and over expense-account meals: Was Tenet finally being served up as a sacrificial lamb by an administration that loathes to admit a mistake?

-more

[physioex]

1. Tenet is a nice start...

But it doesn't go as nearly as far as it should. What about all those PNAC nuts starting with Wolfie?

[sweettater]

2. Why should the question even be asked?

The answer is plainly obvious. I hope there is much more damaging info to follow in short order.

[TexasProgresive]

3. BBC-Second top official to quit CIA

This has been on the BBC's site since yesterday- I don't know if anyone has posted it yet. Are the rats jumping the sinking ship?

A second top CIA official is to retire from his post, less than a day after the surprise resignation of the agency's director George Tenet.

James Pavitt, deputy director for operations, is said to have made the decision some weeks ago.

The departures come as the agency is braced for reports expected to criticise its conduct in the run-up to the 9/11 attacks and the war in Iraq.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3775423.stm

[Moderator]

4. Analysis/speculation is more appropriate for the Editorial forum

moving...

[izzie]

5. Looks iffy to me either way.

Jumping a sinking ship or the fall guy? What does his base want is the only thing that really counts. See what Pat Roberson wants would be our best bet.