Post by Moses on Apr 28, 2005 15:22:33 GMT -5
However, notice that CNN highlighted the "slam dunk" admission:
Tenet Says He Regrets 'Slam Dunk' Comment
CNN.com
Thursday 28 April 2005
Kutztown, Pennsylvania - Former CIA Director George Tenet said he regretted assuring President Bush in 2002 that he had "slam dunk" evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
"Those were the two dumbest words I ever said," Tenet told about 1,300 people at a Kutztown University forum Wednesday.
The theory was a leading justification for the war in Iraq.
Such weapons were never found.
Tenet, who left the CIA in July after seven years as director, also said apathy toward terrorism -- including congressional restrictions and budget and personnel cuts -- had sapped U.S. intelligence efforts for most of the last decade.
"The atrophy was tremendous," said Tenet, 52. "We were nearly bankrupt."
The CIA's assessment of Iraq's capabilities was not developed "for political reasons or a craven desire to lead the country to war," he said.
Tenet, a trusted Bush adviser, made the weapons remark in December 2002, during one of his frequent intelligence briefings with the president.
Unsure that Americans would find a CIA listing of evidence compelling, Bush turned to Tenet. "It's a slam-dunk case," Tenet said.
Tenet Says He Regrets 'Slam Dunk' Comment
CNN.com
Thursday 28 April 2005
Kutztown, Pennsylvania - Former CIA Director George Tenet said he regretted assuring President Bush in 2002 that he had "slam dunk" evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
"Those were the two dumbest words I ever said," Tenet told about 1,300 people at a Kutztown University forum Wednesday.
The theory was a leading justification for the war in Iraq.
Such weapons were never found.
Tenet, who left the CIA in July after seven years as director, also said apathy toward terrorism -- including congressional restrictions and budget and personnel cuts -- had sapped U.S. intelligence efforts for most of the last decade.
"The atrophy was tremendous," said Tenet, 52. "We were nearly bankrupt."
The CIA's assessment of Iraq's capabilities was not developed "for political reasons or a craven desire to lead the country to war," he said.
Tenet, a trusted Bush adviser, made the weapons remark in December 2002, during one of his frequent intelligence briefings with the president.
Unsure that Americans would find a CIA listing of evidence compelling, Bush turned to Tenet. "It's a slam-dunk case," Tenet said.