Talk:George Tenet

Tenet is Greek and not Albanian

his parents were from North-epirus this is nowadays Albania but to these days part of the Ottoman Empire - His family is entirely is of Greek origin - never Albanian Citizens - Albania exists from 1912 because Greece and Serbia defeated the turkish ottoman troops in the Macedonian Wars of 1912 so that the Turks withdraw from the Balkan penninsula with exception of the surrounding area of former Constantinople, which is still nowadays under turkish control. Albania which never proclaimed independence from Turkey or the Ottoman Empire got its own independency in 1912 under British and Greek supervision, the last which took their troops from South-Albania or North-Epirus thus giving Albania this territory without fight or war. In this territory lived and still lives a great greek minority since the ancient times. As said Albania exists since 1912 due to a agreement between Greece and the United Kingdom, with the idea to weaken influence of Turkey on the Balkanies. Citizenships in the fully underdeveloped and rural Albania were given at least after the second world war in the early 1950s. So the family of Tenet were never Albanian citizens - he himself declares as a Greek (Interwiew with Tenet) - but immigrated to the USA over Greece as Greeks. --YUGO (talk) 22:03, 21 December 2008 (UTC)

Ethnic identity of Tenet's parents

OK we've seen a ping-pong battle going on over whether Tenet's parents were Greek or Albanian. Or Greek Albanians. Or what. Could we please have some DISCUSSION of this issue? That is what this page is for. There seems little point just changing it back and forth. Has anyone got any references to base their edits on?

I'm not grinding any axes here, honestly, I don't know anything about his parents. I just want it to be right.

Here are a couple of web references. I am not saying any of them is correct, to determine that would be the point of a discussion. One report - here from the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3774157.stm - calls them "Greek immigrants", but that could mean they were Greek by nationality. Another - http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/usa/george-tenet/ - only says they were Greek orthodox, which is a religious designation not an ethnic one.

Please, please discuss this here, don't just scrap in an (anonymous) edit war. --FrankP 15:37, 20 Nov 2004 (UTC)

There was a Greek population living in what is modern day Albania. The Albanians took advantage of the Greek civil war and occupied the Epirus region encompassing a large Greek population. Most of these individuals fled as refugees just like Tenet's parents. Albanians aren't exactly pro-Greek. So why would Tenet work for the "American-Hellenic Institute" as an Albanian. This is simple and I have no idea why people here are trying to take away his identity as a Greek-American, a diaspora he is proud to be part of.

94.1.19.79 (talk) 12:30, 31 October 2009 (UTC)

There is a large Greek minority in Albania, ranging between 1% and 12%; the CIA estimates that 105,000 Greeks live today in Albania, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation estimates 280,000. I have heard him myself saying he is Greek, on the TV. Also, the Albanians who are Orthodox are Albanian Orthodox, not Greek Orthodox. Please check these few hundred links: http://www.google.com/search?q=greek+immigrants+%22george+tenet

He is Albanian-Greek: Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-10-09-tenet_x.htm

he's greek - albanian but his parents were from the Albanian city of Saranda....so i guess he's more albanian...----> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tenet

Case closed

Please sign your posts! Back to topic: according to this article from the Washington Post Tenet's mother was "an ethnic Greek, escaped from Albania during World War II." And in a PBS NewsHour interview, Tenet says his father came from Greece. Case closed, unless someone can provide definitive information that his father was from Albania. I will make edits and attribute accordingly. Alcarillo 15:25, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Found several more sources (inteviews and speeches) where Tenet says that his father came from Greece. Alcarillo 16:02, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

George Tenet is Greek

As George Tenet defines himself as Greek-American he is Greek and not Albanian. There are also many Greeks in the USA who are from Turkey but they define themselves as Greeks, because there are big differences between the two nations. Many of the Turkish Greeks came to Greece. Are they Turks? We in Europe would never say they are Turks. In Germany, where I live, we know George Tenet as Greek-American. He is a member of of the Greek-American Church and the Greek-American Community. His wife is of Greek descent. That are enough proofs for his origin. A discussion is not necessary.

Agreed, and let's move one, shall we>

And I'm not usually one for an 'he belongs to this or that ethnic group' shouting match that is typical of articles pertaining to people with ancestry from southeastern Europe (I'd even say "the Balkans" but even that sets a certain type of people off...) Anyway, I identify Tenet as Greek-American in the article because that's exactly what he is. Alcarillo 21:47, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Before Greek independece, the Greek diaspora were scattered throughout Asia-Minor and other modern-day Eastern European nations. His parents were Greek, through and through. In 2004, George Bush inivted prominent Greek-Americans to celebrate Greek Independence Day at the White House, and guess who was there? George Tenet. Who identified himself as Greek. You can even find a copy of it on the White House website. The man indetifies himself as a Greek and is still alive so please stop this pointless nonsense. I do not understand what is gained by calling the man by an ethnicity he himself does not indentify with! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.208.134.182 (talk) 18:08, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

Headline text

Mr. Tenet has confirmed his Greek origin. I know this is old and the case has been closed but here is some interesting information. Firstly, I want to inform you that your decision was an accurate one. Mr. George has confirmed during the end of a 60 Minute interview on CBS with Harry Smith. In his own words, Mr. Tenet said, "I am Greek" link title. Additionally, he has a twin brother Dr. Tenet, one of the best Cardiologists in USA. If anyone has any information as to create an article for Dr. Tenet. --Afelis 21:03, 4 July 2007 (UTC)Afelis

WMDs in Iraq

"With over 8900 known munitions caches in Iraq" If they're undiscovered, how can we know how many there are? This article is biased.

Read more carefully: "With over 8900 known munitions caches in Iraq, the possibility remains that WMDs may lie undiscovered." The caches are full of conventional weapons. Some of these munitions sites are huge. Krupo 14:09, Jun 5, 2004 (UTC)

"However, field reports have claimed the use of mustard gas and sarin against coalition forces since the end of major combat operations."

Are there any references for this? I don't recall having seen any such reports. More generally, perhaps this whole paragraph about WMDs in Iraq is either out of place in Tenet's bio page or needs improvement. I'm willing to have a go. --FrankP 09:52, 20 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Needs verification

Given that this article deals with political issues, it can easily be tainted with POV if we are not carefull. We really need to verify some of this stuff, especially the WMD comments. --Alister 02:52, 7 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Remove NPOV tag?

In the two years since the above comment was made I believe the article has been sufficiently edited for POV. I think the nPOV tag can be removed. Alcarillo 21:33, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Revised the WMD paragraphs

I have revised the WMD mentions, no response to my post (above) to justify the "mustard gas and sarin" claim so I took it out. This whole episode is important to get right, as it is critical to Tenet's resignation, of course, and also part of the larger question of the legality of the Iraq invasion. Any other references anyone can come up with? I'd welcome further discussion. I agree with Alister, we need references. --FrankP 19:36, 15 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I think it is also very important to understand whether or not the statement attributed to Tenet in Woodwards book about a "slam dunk" is actually a statment that Tenet in fact made himself by his own admission or is a statement that was attributed to him by some within the administration. There is no mention here of the clear fact that Cheney and Rumsfeld brought into this administration a "civil war" with the CIA that they had engaged in during the Nixon and Ford administrations. Further it should be noted that there is no mention here either of the fact that the administration relied on intelligence from the Office of Special Plans which Rumsfeld set up and that the director of the OSP reported directly to Cheney which is an extrodinary event as it has never been done historically and completely by passes the standard operating procedure requiring information to be vetted by the CIA or NSA. It has been established that the administration relied on most of their information from the OSP instead of the CIA. It should also be understood that much of the information coming into the OSP was from Chabali who had already been discredited as unreliable by the Bush Sr. administration as well as the CIA.

It should also not be ignored here that Tenet advised Bush not to use the yellow cake uranium story in his address to the nation and that Bush ignored that advice despite three seperate CIA investigations that all concluded the story was false. Tenet certainly authorized the disclosure of Wilsons report to the press, in fact likely encouraged it to protect the CIA from being falsely accused of providing the administration with bad information.

I therefore find the accusation in the Woodward book about the suggestion that Tenet called finding wmds in Iraq a "slam dunk" highly suspect as a continutation of the Cheney / Rumsfeld civil war with the CIA. 206.54.99.109 05:29, 6 December 2005 (UTC)Em Keli

Other edits

Could somebody cut down the size of this photo? Also, was Tenet born in Greece? RickK 05:33, Aug 19, 2004 (UTC)

• • What about Tenet's impact on history? If there were any man in history I could talk to it would be him......

(Don't know how to make a new heading....)

Just thought ppl might like to read:

http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/MainPages/dsp_ConflictTimeline.asp?ConflictID=169&YearID=936&DisplayYear=2004

the 2004, 21st January entry (you'll need an athens login but here's what it says:

2004 21 January The Peruvian anti-corruption tribunal calls for the interrogation of CIA’s head George Tenet, to clarify his relationship with Vladimiro Montesinos and the alleged sale of 10000 AKM riffles to FARC in 1999.

Thought some one might have more time to research this allegation.

Resignation

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_4636.shtml

This is very interesting, not only in context of the Administration but with regards to Mr Tenet. Should it be added?

"Tenet wanted to quit last year but the President got his back up and wouldn't hear of it," says an aide. "That would have been the opportune time to make a change, not in the middle of an election campaign but when the director challenged the President during the meeting Wednesday, the President cut him off by saying 'that's it George. I cannot abide disloyalty. I want your resignation and I want it now."

Tenet was allowed to resign "voluntarily" and Bush informed his shocked staff of the decision Thursday morning. One aide says the President actually described the decision as "God's will."

Article redacted by author

Again please sign your posts. I checked out this link and the article has been pulled for reasons that the information was unverifiable. Alcarillo 16:14, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

The article says that incoming administrations normally replace the CIA Director. I don't think this is true. The CIA and FBI directors serve 10 year terms and can only be removed by impeachment or resignation.--Chris5977 20:53, 27 April 2007 (UTC)Chris Young

_{=="Curveball" Relevations== "Curveball" National Security info archives indicate that the info to start the Iraq war was faked and Tenet followed that up in 2003 with fake "White Paper" to claim WMDs were found in Iraq - a fabrication.}

Recent clips of Sec Powell presenting the concocted WMD fake info to the UN show George Tenet sitting behind Powell with smirk on his face.

Medal of Freedom awarded by GW Bush for Tenet's CIA service.

Tenet denies knowing anything at all about "Curveball"; Nation Security Archives 2 feet thick pile of documents indicate Tenet did know about "Curveball"; and knew that the UN presentation of Powell, etc was primarily based upon Curveball lies (e.g. "Curveball" claims he personally saw 12 people die from accidentally released bio / chem toxic materials when he never worked in any such facility in Iraq as no such facility ever existed, and his fabraciations were clear and warned v. by his German interrogators , all brushed aside by CIA to brief USA & UN to start Iraq war).

Note: "Curveball" was an Iraqi engineer who graduated with very low grades and who was fired from a beginning job and then migrated to Germany to get a job. He made up the lies to get a work permit in Germany. The Germans did not believe him.

George Tenent joins the Board of Viisage (Nasdaq: VISGD and VISG)

NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Identity firm Viisage Technology Inc. on Tuesday said it confirmed Robert LaPenta as the chairman of its board and named former director of the Central Intelligence Agency George Tenet to its board.

Rueters link: http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh91590_2005-12-20_16-24-49_wen6622_newsml

link no longer available, however I found this one.[1] I'm all for mentioning this in the article if it's presented in a non-POV way. But since the above poster didn't sign their name, I'll leave it for someone else to add this info about Tenet's link to Viisage. Alcarillo 16:17, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Plame Affair involvement

Tenet says CIA erred in letting Bush make Iraq nuclear deal allegations

CIA Director George Tenet is trying to put to rest a burgeoning credibility problem by taking full blame for allowing President Bush to make allegations about Iraq's nuclear weapons program later found false.

In a carefully scripted mea culpa, the White House on Friday blamed the CIA for its January misstep and Tenet finished the job hours later with a dramatic statement accepting responsibility.

Bush's assertion in his State of the Union address in January that Iraq had sought nuclear materials from Africa "did not rise to the level of certainty which should be required for presidential speeches, and CIA should have ensured that it was removed," Tenet said.

"It was a mistake," he added.

The current controversy evolves around Bush's assertion in his State of the Union address that Iraq had tried to buy uranium from the African country of Niger. A month later, the administration retracted the allegation after learning that the British intelligence it was based upon had been forged.

Tenet acknowledged Friday that the CIA had tried unsuccessfully for months to substantiate the British allegation and that State Department intelligence analysts believed the claim was "highly dubious," yet neither stopped Bush from making the claim in a single sentence of his annual address to the nation.

"These 16 words should never have been included in the text written for the president," Tenet conceded in a statement. [2]

Why does this article have a Plame Affair category tag? There is no reference to Plame in the article.--Mr j galt 06:13, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

Someone probably hasn't written the Plame-related material yet. That does not change the reality of the situation, however. Do you have any ideas for how you'd like it written up? -- User:RyanFreisling @ 06:16, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

I don't think Tenet has any involvement at all in the Plame Affair. There are plenty of other people involved with the Plame Affair, including the VP of the United States. We do not need to create connections to un-involved people. It is inappropriate to steer readers to articles that have nothing to do with the category tag.--Mr j galt 20:23, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

You are simply incorrect. Tenet's involvement has been demonstrated amply. For example, from the same statement by Tenet, here's Tenet on the Wilson trip:

A former diplomat was sent by the CIA to the region to check on the allegations and reported back that one of the Nigerien officials he met "stated that he was unaware of any contract being signed between Niger and rogue states for the sale of uranium during his tenure in office," Tenet said.

"The same former official also said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him and insisted that the former official meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss 'expanding commercial relations' between Iraq and Niger. The former official interpreted the overture as an attempt to discuss uranium sales," Tenet said. -- User:RyanFreisling @ 21:08, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

RfC opened for Mr j galt

An RfC has been opened here.-- User:RyanFreisling @ 22:36, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Albanian?

What's up with the person who keeps making George an "Ablanian"? I know the guy personally, his niece is married to my cousin and my younger niece is good friends with Kristi Lauren Glakas, niece of Stephanie(George's wife), I can vouche on a personal note that George has never-ever considered himself "Ablanian", not in public and never in private with his family and close friends. Infact he talks openly about how is mother, Evangelia, managed to escape Northern Epirus. His said many times his an American, Greek-American, an Epiroti and "the son of Greek immigrants". Tenet has refered to the Himara area as Northern Epirus, and has always lobbied for Greek-Americans. Before his appointment as CIA Director he served as the chief lobbyist for worked for the AHI, American Hellenic Institute, the largest Greek-American ethnic lobby"; lobbying the US Congress on Greek issues during his tenure on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

And before anyone says that his "Albanian" on his mother's side, they better read what George said in his own words.

Vorioipirotes understand Cypriots, believe me, they understand pain and suffering". [3]

First off, in the article above Tenet is talking about the occupied Greek Cypriot issue comparing it to Vorioipirotes. Vorioipirotes is the Greek term for Epirotis from Northern Epirus, that's the term used by Greeks when they talk about Southern Albanian, i.e. an "occupied" area in their view. George would not be refering to Southern Albania as "Vorioipiros" if he was "Albanian". Another quote from Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient George John Tenet; Director of Central Intelligence Agency:

When President Clinton honored me with his nomination to be Director of Central Intelligence, a New York newspaper interviewed my Greek mother, who barely speaks English. Unfortunately, she could not be with us today. But one of her answers was remarkably eloquent when it came to the opportunities we have here. She, in broken English, said something like: "One son a cardiologist…the other Director of CIA…not bad, huh?" And what was unspoken was: It could only happen in the United States of America.[4]

To George his family originates from Northern Epirus not Albania. Further down he says his mother escaped "Southern Albanian", the only ones escaping "Souther Albanian"/Northern Epirus at that time were the Greek Epirotes who lived there. Albanians were escaping TO "Southern Albanian" not from it like Tenets mom. ~Mallaccaos, 13 March 2006

This issue has been resolved. See the article. Alcarillo 16:12, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Many facts differs from Frontline: "The Dark Side"

While I am not sure if all the facts mentioned in Frontline are accurate or unbiased, many facts in Frontline are not mentioned at all. In fact, this article presents a very different view. In order for this article to be neutral, I believe it should at least mention the many of the contrary views in Frontline. Chris0804 04:09, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

This article FAILS! Countchoc

Hiamara is NOT Nothern Epirus but Albania. Same as Çameria or Sul are not South Albania. Gerorge Tenet's first cousin whom I met this year, claimed that he had registered as a Greek just to be able to get 300 Euros pension instead of the 60 Euros from the Albanian State. In fact this is what most of the Albanians in the South do. He also told me the Tentet was his Albanian first cousin (their fathers were brothers) but also that he was nothing to Tenet, since Tenet never calls or visits. As far as I am concerned Tenet does not deserve to be named Albanian. He can remain whatever he wants to be but not Albanian.

To the anonymous poster above who posted from 80.80.160.32, first of all if Tenet and his family were "Albanian" they would have claimed themsleves as such. Second of all Tenets' niece is married to my cousin and I have met the guy, his parents and family on numerious. Not one them claim to be of Albanian descent and not one them even want anything to do with Albania. Infact most of the time they get upset thinking about the ill treatment that Greeks had in Northern Epirus such as Tenet's mother which he talks about openly, and yes that is what most Greeks refugees who fled Northern Epirus, including Tenet and his family, call the region of Epirus which is currently in modern Albania. Tenet has refered to the Himara area as Northern Epirus, and has always lobbied for Greek-Americans. Before his appointment as CIA Director he served as a chief lobbyist for the AHI, American Hellenic Institute, the largest Greek-American ethnic lobby"; lobbying the US Congress on Greek issues during his tenure on the Senate Intelligence Committee. I suggest you stop trying to claim people who are not ethnic Albanian as your own, especially when they openly claim they are not as Tenet does in quotes such as this: "Vorioipirotes understand Cypriots, believe me, they understand pain and suffering". [5] Oh yes lets notice the word Tenet uses to describe the region his family is from Vorioipirotes translation, Northern Epirus, a term only used by Greeks. Oh and notice one other thing which Tenet is comparing the Northern Epirus situation with that of Cyprus, both which have on going unresolved issues for Greeks from those regions. Ta-ta. ;p Mallaccaos, 29 September 2006

Since this issue has been solved, why dont you change the "Albanian immigrant parents" with "Greek immigrants from Northern Epirus". I am from Himara, we knew George quite well, and it an insult for all of us to call us albanians, can you change this or not? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 195.74.251.110 (talk) 07:20, August 22, 2007 (UTC)

The man is born of parents of Greek genes, he is a Greek. His parents, even if they were born in what is now Albania, are not Albanians. atty1chgo 13:20 June 8, 2009

Verification of early career

Regarding information about Tenet's position at the American Hellenic Institute, I felt that the original source, taken from a message forum was inadequate. I was able to verify this information from what I believe to be a more credible source. Alcarillo 15:49, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Removed verify tag

I believe there are sufficient sources for the content of the article as it stands, which is why I removed it. Comments? Alcarillo 14:32, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Slam dunk

Just because the Director of the CIA says something is a slam dunk, is that supposed to be justification for deploying combat troops overseas. No, I don't think so. Only if you're looking for an excuse to do it. It might be considered evidence by Dick Cheney. Can the phrase something is a "slam dunk" even stand up in a court of law? --Jagz 02:15, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

• He addressed the circumstances of "slam dunk" on 60 Minutes tonight.Gregohio 02:17, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Which was that his use of the term "slam dunk" was in reference to how EZ it would be for CIA to spice up the intelligence data for public consumption in support of a pre-emptive attack on Iraq and not an official CIA assertion that Saddam had nukes or bio weapons..--151.200.241.96 04:42, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

See above paragraph on German lying source "curveball", who, though all understand he was lying, was used as the ONLY info to support war with Iraq ... the whole of it being fabrication... and so , the slam dunk can only mean it is / was easy to lie , to fake enough info to satisfy the Congress and White House to go to war.

So also see above where Tenet is bragging that his mom could say as a greek immigrant that its not too bad to have one son a cardiologist and the other the Director of the CIA ... which should be revised, to say the son who is the director of the CIA is the worst liar in US government history (the "curveball" episode proving entirely that all the info about WMDs was faked by the CIA, UNDER Tenet's authorship, to fake a reason for war with Iraq in which 4,000 US Soliders have died & 50,000 have been wounded - many severerly; and an estimated 50,000-200,000 Iraq civilians mostly women and children, have been blown to bits by bombs , entirely disproving his deserving a Medal of Freedom etc etc... and this son has the morals of a monkey). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.58.178.135 (talk) 09:36, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Black Sites

I don't understand how an article on Tenet can fail to include the terms "black site," "torture," "interrogation," etc. Tenet was head of the CIA when the CIA became an organization that does these things, and the Wikipedia article on him should say so. See The New Yorker issue of August 13, 2007 for more. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Priceyeah (talk • contribs) 17:34, August 22, 2007 (UTC).

See also in main article the video of the 60 minutes interview with Tenet, where he repeatedly asserts the USA does not torture people, a nice asertion, but proven an entire lie by the recent wide spread torture by the CIA set up by Tenet.

And in that interview you quickly see a rabid person, quickly antagonistic and hyper, and also with very weak judgment...from what he did.

This rhymes with the fact that Tenet was close pals with Arafat and would spend hours closeted with him ... perhaps understood on reflection.

/s/Blackwater/BlackOcean-GreyTreadstone,cinc —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.58.178.135 (talk) 09:43, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Torture

I have added a subsection about use of torture. The issue is one of fact: water boarding is seen as torture by a general consensus throughout the world, and the CIA used it against some specific persons under Tenet's directorship period. Please discuss if you have problems with this edit. I realize it may be felt as controversial. Fremte (talk) 18:35, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

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Patrick Tyler book

Someone included remarks in this article from Patrick Tyler's book as mentioned on Jeffrey Goldberg's blog at The Atlantic. I undid the edit because the comments are substantially disputed within the blog and the edit was severely unfair to a living person and utterly unsubstantiated. The book and/or blog could be included in the See also section, but these ugly allegations don't really seem encyclopedic. People should read Tyler's book if they want sensational commentary. --Pat (talk) 01:59, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

Notability of Medal of Freedom award?

More than 20,000 of these have been awarded since the end of WWII (almost one a day), according to the medal's Wiki entry. Did the award merit TV or newspaper reportage at the time? I suggest merging this section with the preceding 'resignation' section or with the section on his post-CIA career. Please comment pro/anti with reasoning in an effort to achieve consensus.Dduff442 (talk) 04:22, 23 October 2009 (UTC)