The Washington Times reports that former CIA Director George Tenent (right) is ready to fight an Inspector General report blaming him for much of the failures leading to the 9/11 attacks.The IG report put the blame on Mr Tenent and other top ranking CIA officials for failing to come up with a strategy to deal with al Qaeda -- after identifying them as a serious threat in 1998.
The Times quotes an unnamed source saying Mr Tenent cut a deal with the Bush White House. Mr Tenet would turn down a publisher's $4.5 million book offer. The book would have been embarassing to the White House for details about the 9/11 failures and flawed intel on Iraq's non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
In exchanged, the Bush White House would protect Mr Tenent's reputation:
"Mr. Tenet, according to a knowledgeable source, had a 'wink and a nod' understanding with the White House that he wouldn't be scapegoated for intelligence failings. The deal, one source says, was sealed with the award of the Presidential Freedom Medal."
With the IG report out, it looks like Mr Tenent might be ready to shop around his book proposal again. (WashTimes)
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