Tenet Finally Shows Some Intelligence

Is former CIA director George Tenet finally trying to earn his furtively-awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom?

In his explosive new book, Tenet is exposing the underbelly of the decision to invade Iraq. "White House and Pentagon officials, and particularly Vice President Cheney, were determined to attack Iraq from the first days of the Bush administration, long before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and repeatedly stretched available intelligence to build support for the war." (WaPo)

Yesterday, the White House tried to throw sand on Tenet's hairballs through counselor Dan Bartlett who asserted that "the president did wrestle with those very serious questions."

Oh, that's reassuring. The wrestling probably took the form of...."Saddam tried to kill my Daddy. Iraq has oil, we want oil. Invade. Time for a bike ride."

As with many things The Decider has touched, he has besmirched the honor associated with the Medal of Freedom by awarding it as a form of hush money to some in the administration's Iraq war cabal.

Besides Tenet, The Decider has awarded the Medal to.... Gen. Tommy "Don't Bother Me About Post-War Iraq" Franks.... Paul "Disband the Iraqi Military, I'm In Charge" Bremer.... and Donald "We Can Do More With Less" Rumsfeld.

Perhaps it never occurred to the jaded Bush and Cheney that some, like Tenet, might have a conscience that the Medal couldn't assuage. Tenet recalls in his book, "At the Center of the Storm," one of the "lowest moments of my seven-year tenure" was when a congressman told me in a public hearing in the spring of 2004 that "we depended on you, and you let us down."

Winning back his reputation won't be a "slam dunk" for Tenet, but this book is a big first step toward correcting the record and fulfilling his obligation as director of the CIA.... to protect our country.

Sadly, Tenet's revelations reinforce the growing awareness of the enemy within.... that those who swore to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" never intended to keep that oath.