Did anyone watch Frontline's amazing special last night, outlining with personal interviews how Cheney went after George Tenet's CIA.
Most remarkable! Tenet and Bush seemed to have a special bond, being men's men. Cheney on the other hand, despised George Tenet. Cheney viewed the CIA as a total failure. Rumsfeld views the CIA as a threat to his power. They clearly wanted to make 9/11 about Iraq. This is the story of how they made it happen.
Tenet traded integrity for access to the President, with his "Slam Dunk.". Many in the CIA were appalled and disbelieving at Cheney's out and out undercutting of the CIA.
Watching this special, we see, why Joe Wilson, wrote his op-ed "What I didn't Find In Niger". He was standing up for the CIA, the same way he stood up to Saddam Hussein.
One of the most disturbing pieces, was the lack of support that Rumfeld, showed for the CIA's effort to hunt down bin Laden in Afghanistan. Tenet had a plan at the ready for how to deal with Afganistan on 9/12. The CIA did an incredible job in those early days weakening, the Taliban in Afghanistan. An operation to be proud of. The shocking piece, was waiting for military back up.
Waiting for Rumsfeld to deploy military troops to back up the CIA's efforts, took more than a month. They waited and the military never showed. Rumsfeld had his nose bent out of shape insisting that he, not George Tenet by in charge of military operations. And we know what happened in Tora Bora. That was because Rumsfeld refused to support the operation, until the very last minute.
And then, Rumsfeld, early on started diverting troops from Afganistan to Iraq...... and well we know how that came out.
Please take the time to check out this well put together and amazing anthology of how Rumsfeld, and Cheney took over the White House.
The Dark Side