George Tenet

George Tenet

George John Tenet (born January 5, 1953) is Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University and was previously the Director of Central Intelligence for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Tenet held that position from July 1997 to July 2004, making him the second-longest serving director in the agency's history — behind Allen Dulles — as well as one of the few CIA directors to serve under two US presidents of opposing political parties.

Background

Tenet, a Greek-American, was born in Flushing, Queens to immigrant parents. His mother, Evangelina, is an ethnic Greek from southern Albania who fled the country during World War II, [1] while his father was from Greece.[2][3][4]. Tenet was raised in Little Neck, Queens where he worked as a busboy in his family's diner (later renamed the Scobee Diner). He attended Public School 94, Middle School 67, and Cardozo High School (he was a classmate of porn superstar Ron Jeremy). Tenet holds a bachelor's degree (1976) from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a master's degree from the School of International Affairs at Columbia University (1978). He has no military service.

Tenet is married to Stephanie Glakas-Tenet. They have one son, John Michael.[5]

Early career

After he received his M.A., Tenet became research director of the American Hellenic Institute from 1978 to 1979.[6] He then began working for the U.S. Senate, first as a legislative assistant and later as Legislative Director to former Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania (1982-85). He was a staff member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) from 1985-88, then Staff Director of the SSCI from 1988-93. It was at this time that Tenet joined President-elect Bill Clinton's national security transition team. Clinton appointed Tenet Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the National Security Council (1993-95).[7][8]

CIA career

Tenet was appointed the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence in July 1995 and served in that capacity until he became Director on July 11, 1997, after a unanimous confirmation vote in the United States Senate. This followed the withdrawal of Anthony Lake, whose nomination had been blocked by Republicans in Congress. While the Director of Central Intelligence has typically been replaced by an incoming administration ever since Jimmy Carter replaced DCI George H.W. Bush, Tenet served through the end of the Clinton administration and well into the term of George W. Bush.

Tenet (left, in pink tie) briefs George W. Bush in the Oval Office.

Long before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Tenet focused on the growing threat of terrorism, particularly from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist group, and the nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran. On September 15, 2001, at Camp David, he presented the Worldwide Attack Matrix, an outline of an anti-terrorism campaign in 80 countries. However, after the September 11 attacks, many observers criticized the intelligence community for numerous "intelligence failures" as one of the major reasons why the attacks were not prevented.[9]

Tenet and Iraq WMD controversy

According to a report by veteran investigative journalist Bob Woodward in his book Plan of Attack, Tenet privately lent his personal authority to the intelligence reports about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq. At a meeting on December 12, 2002, he is said to have assured the President that the evidence against Saddam Hussein amounted to a "slam dunk case," although Tenet has refused to confirm or deny that he said this. The search following the 2003 invasion of Iraq by U.S., British and international forces has proved unproductive and no stockpiles of WMD were found following the occupation of the country. The case of the invading governments for a legitimate war against Iraq had been based largely on the threat of WMDs in the hands of Saddam Hussein, supposedly on the strength of reliable intelligence assessments, including evidence that could not itself be made public. Thus a failure subsequently to find any banned weapons or programs became a considerable embarrassment for Tenet and the CIA.

Resignation from the CIA

Citing "personal reasons," Tenet submitted his resignation to the President on June 3, 2004. James Pavitt, his Deputy Director for Operations at the CIA announced his resignation the following day, leading to speculation that the exit of both senior intelligence officials was related to the controversy over alleged Iraqi WMDs and the decision to go to war. Admiral Stansfield Turner (retired), director of the CIA under President Carter, said, "I think the president feels he's in enough trouble that he's got to begin to cast some of the blame for the morass that we are in Iraq on to somebody else and this was one subtle way to do it." (Boston Herald, June 4, 2004) However, President George W. Bush voiced support for Tenet's efforts, stating, "George Tenet did a superb job for America. It was a high honor to work with him, and I'm sorry he left." (Reuters, June 5, 2004)

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Bush awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tenet on 14 December 2004.

Tenet's seven-year long term as CIA director was the second-longest in US history. On December 14, 2004, President Bush awarded Tenet the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This was a decision that some senior Democrats questioned, citing perceived intelligence failures to find WMDs in Iraq. A spokesperson for Senator and 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry said that "George Bush wasn't using the same standard when honoring Tenet and [Coalition Provisional Authority head L. Paul] Bremer that was applied to previous honorees." Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, in response to the award said that he "would have reached a different conclusion" on Tenet. "I don't think [he] served the president or the nation well."[10]

QinetiQ

In October 2006 he joined QinetiQ as an independent non-executive director. [11]

"Tenet's Tenets"

The following is a list of beliefs that Tenet refers to as his "eight secrets to success", also known as "Tenet's Tenets":

1. Know who you are.
2. Honor the service and the sacrifice of the men and women who protect this country and our values.
3. Follow your heart and dare to take risks.
4. Fight hatred and prejudice wherever you see it.
5. Laugh as much as you can.
6. Take care of the people around you.
7. Pray.
8. Love and serve your country.

See also

• Bin Laden Issue Station (the CIA's bin Laden tracking unit, 1996 - 2003)

External links

• Frontline: The Dark Side
• SourceWatch entry for George Tenet
• James Gordon Prather, When intelligence is disinformation, WorldNetDaily, May 1, 2004.
• CNN: Tenet told Bush WMD case a 'slam dunk'
• Tenet and Richard Cohen - Washington Report talk about their mothers