I haven't been sure what to think of George Tenet. He seems like a smart fellow, not politically in one camp or another. More of a career professional who, is his last appearance in front of the 9/11 Commission seemed to walk a fine line trying to promote his agency's current priorities rather than indicting the performance of past and current administrations.
Today I thought he dropped a small bombshell. When asked whether Bush had communicated with him between receipt of the now infamous Aug 6. memo and Sept 11th, he said "No." Not once.
Strange that Condi Rice had left us with the impression that he briefed the President daily and that they were good buddies. Imagine the Commission's surprise (followed microseconds later by that of the television viewing audience) when we learned that they had not talked.
I think that the lies and deception are getting pretty thick. It's not such much that we blame him for the failure to stop 9/11. That appears to have required much more understanding than anyone had. It's the constant attempt to refuse any responsibility that bugs me.
Just as President Clinton wasn't indicted for Whitewater but rather for trying to cover up his sexual indiscretions, President Bush may well lose this election because of his administration's attempts to stonewall investigations and its allied attempts to refuse to acknowledge the validity of any criticisms.
Posted by artandscience at April 14, 2004 11:08 PM