The problem with progressive purists is that they prefer to hit allies rather than enemies. To prove the point, consider the current attacks on George Tenet, the last DCI.
Do I like George Tenet? No. Do I think that those criticizing him make good points? Yes. Do I think his memory is self-serving? Hell, I think we are all guilty of self-serving recollection.
But now is not the time to scream at the guy to give back his award and his book advance. Now is not the time to attack the former CIA Director.
Right now, the man is talking. He is of use. He is, like it or not, an ally. Of all the inside players likely to go blabby, he was probably the deepest inside.
So put a clothespin over your nose, if that is the only way you can tolerate the stench, and welcome him into your home. Tell him to sit in the comfy chair. Offer him a drink. You're looking great, George. Have you lost weight, George? We really admire what you're doing here, George. And now...TELL US MORE.
Later on, when he has spilled every bean that he is likely to spill -- later on, when some history has played out -- then we can throw shit at him. Not now.
For chrissakes, progressives -- would it kill you to think in tactical terms for just once in your damned lives?
5 comments:
The man makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. And as much as I hate it, I'll have to concur w/your assessment here. Wise words, wise words indeed. George --"I'm not a voyeur"-- Tenet, must be heard with an objective ear. Signal to noise ratio and all that.
Doesn't mean ya have to like em. But it does mean more will be revealed for good or ill. What it will be is the question.
Having sd that, what is the payoff here, for GT? why now? What does he have to gain here? The damage is done.
I tend to look at it this way; it has been no accident of nature that the system has been corrupted; it is a grand plan.
Now that bushco has fkt-up so badly their time is up and a new crew to be put in place. Whether this new crew is "for the people" I wouldn't want to guess, but I can see Tenet being shined up for a role in the latest coup, if only as a means to unstick the old. Hard to believe he would walk into this mess unbidden...but we know he has secrets he must keep, and so is naturally vulnerable to blkmail.
Well I am not going anywhere near the "bridge" story but I do have a theory about Tenet for what it's worth(noting Joseph's warning but adding a twist).
I read an article by Shirin Saeidi(whom no one knows) on znet.org about an article written about Iran by this British journalist called "A Nation of Nosejobs, Not Nuclear War".
Saeidi analyzes this article and exposes it for the kind of PR tool that it is. Essentialy the article is in a diary format of one journalist's impressions of traveling through Iran and pointing out the pro western tendencies of Iranian youth (particularly Iranian women)and making a case for being anti war toward Iran. But a deeper look exposes the implied meaning which is that the same goals (colonialism, imperialism) can be achieved by diplomatic/soft pressure means and totally rejects any notions of legal rights(under international treaties)or independence from the super power or the right of any nation to pursue their "National Interests"(
she mentions Edward Said'd thesis on "Orientalism" briefly).
So either Tenet is an egomaniac(like Micheal Brown)who is pretty pissed off about being thrown overboard (but he never attacks Bush or Powel or the corruption in the adminstration.....etc)or, his "too little too late" rantings are a PR tool of sorts(let's attack the one's that are or will be irrelevant-Rumsfeld, Cheney,Pearl-and save the Republican party from being totally villinized in 08.
I hear the same sentiment from the likes of Pat Buchanan and isn't that what Gonzalez's shrade in front of the congress was about(I am an idiot and incompetent, but there was no foul play)?
Sacrifising a few big names to keep the Republican party from looking bad (keeping your foot in the door and coming back throught the back doors as lobbyists or special deputies...etc).
Right now the Republican party is in danger of becoming totally irrelevent for the next 30 years or so(according to some pundits) and if mudding the waters(play the injured party) and fixing blame on a few people could keep the party's foot in the door the strategy would make sense.
BTW the best article I read on Tenet is by Ray McGovern "Sorry They've Been So Mean to You George".
I don't see the value of anything Tenet would say, we can't believe that guy anyway.
It's exactly like Ledeen who now claim he was against the invasion of Iraq (because of one paragraph in one his book). It's totally normal that the rats are leaving the ship. But what can the rat tell you that's of importance or is credible ?
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