Why isn't anyone debunking this meme??? ("CIA intelligence failures")

[Mugsy]

Can someone PLEASE tell me why I have not heard a single news source defending the CIA this past week on the suggestion it needs a new head because of "massive intelligence failures"?

Every newscast I've heard so far (all of the Sunday shows plus the Evening network news) are all repeating the GOP Talking Point... without dispute... that "the appointment of General Hayden to head up the CIA is necessary because the CIA needs to be rebuilt/restructured/fixed/etc following the massive intelligence failures of 9/11 and WMD's."

Uh, excuse me? But wasn't it the CIA that provided the intelligence for President Bush's infamous Aug 6, 2001 Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB) entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S."? And wasn't it the CIA that debunked the Niger/Uranium claim, calling it "highly dubious" in the NIE?

It was not the CIA guilty of "massive intelligence failure". It was CIA director Tenent and his "too close" relationship with the Bush White House that chose to ignore intelligence that didn't support their agenda, and cherry-pick those few facts that did. And their solution is to appoint yet another person with a "too close" relationship with the White House???

I'm more than a little annoyed that I'm not hearing ANYONE in the MSM pointing these crucial facts out and instead are helping perpetuate the myth that the CIA is a colossal failure and Bush's latest move to militarize a crucial civilian organization is perfectly understandable.

WHERE IN THE HELL IS EVERYBODY ON THIS???

[rman]

1. MSM is not debunking it because it is a tool of the powers that be

But i suspect you already knew that.

[Jim__]

2. I've wondered the same thing.

It's amazing how media "pundits" just all repeat what the other "pundits" are saying. You'd think they could go out and ask for a comment from someone who's had an original thought in his life.

[SOS]

3. It should properly be referred to as

"White House policy failure".

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Why do you defend the CIA on one hand, but blast Tenet on....

...the other? While I agree with your assessment of the CIA, I don't understand the slamming of Tenet. If you'll recall, Tenet is the guy that demanded that the Department of JUstice launch a criminal investigation into the outing of Valerie Plame.

As far as the "too close" comment is concerned, where did that particular descriptive phrase originate? Isn't it coming from the NeoCon Junta as reported by the captive MSM? Doesn't that date back to the "slam dunk" quote attributed to Tenet by Bob Woodward allegedly using sources limited solely to NeoCons present at a meeting at the "ranch" in Crawford, TX? I seem to recall that when Tenet was questioned by a Congressional committee about that quote coming out of Crawford, Tenet initially denied that he was at that meeting, but was apparently was "reminded" of his presence after he returned to his office at the CIA.

Tenet was a long-term CIA employee...it's extremely doubtful to me that he would have gotten "too close" the the NeoCon Junta at the expense of anyone at the CIA.

[seabeyond]

6. bush got the guy on something. tenet was not the enemy but

a hard worker from what i read until the bushcos got a hold of the story and changed history again

[Mugsy]

8. Blaming Tenet but not Agency is not inconsistent.

There is no inconsistency in attacking a bureaucrat that defended this Administration and defending the agents he strong armed into producing the intelligence findings Cheney demanded he produce.

Agents stood up to Tenet. Tenet did not stand up to the WH. And it was only to avoid a wholesale revolt of agents within the department that forced Tenet to launch an investigation into the outing of one of their own... an investigation that I might remind you he did not publicly support and has gone so badly that Fitz is now picking up the reins.

[seabeyond]

5. wasnt even really tenet. from what i remember, tenet, clark

and oneil from fbi were all workign together on the terrorist thing, hair on fire bullshit and bush and bush alone ignored what was being given to him and didnt think it important and would call in the meetings. clinton was having weekly meeting with the three, bringing in the heads to work together. clark adn tenet were wanting hte same from bush and after a couple times being told to back off tenet did. the shift in the story and pinning the blame on tenet came after iraq war. even prior to war tenet was still doing his job telling bush no to war, it was the un speech with powell and tenet walking behind that he rolled over and powell rolled over. and from there tenet allowed the cia to take blame and he went away quietly

[ComerPerro]

7. Here's your debunking, right here

if the CIA screwed up so badly and Bush isn't at all to blame, then why on earth did he give Tenet a medal, after the truth about WMD came to light and well after 9/11....

[rustydog]

9. That is because the CIA did fail...DUH! They failed to tow the line

with bush, leading to the huge "intelligence failure" (I.E. didn't kiss Bush's ass and allow the 16 words) that lead to Bush deciding to lie about WMD's and Niger.

[Zenlitened]

10. K&R. Excellent point.

:kick:

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. I've said it from the beginning, it was not intelligence failure

but intelligence fraud.

With all the intelligence from all over the map, the only intelligence that was listened to was that created by Chalabi and fed directly to the OSP. Tenet signed off on it, over the objections of a number of his subordinates. The FBI was ordered not to follow up on terrorism investigations. Tenet and Whatsisname, from the FBI, got their Presidential Medals for carrying the administration's water. Had there been real intelligence failure, and the administration concerned about it, both men would have been fired at the very least.

Goss was brought in to purge the CIA of anti-Bush elements. He's done his thing, so now they bring in somebody else in preparation for the attack on Iran. Of course, there will be intelligence lapses over the next month because of the change in CIA leadership - an unfortunate inevitability. Just in time for 6/6/6.

[alfredo]

12. tony auth

[Mugsy]

14. Excellent cartoon.

It applies to so much of what this Administration has done that it could be redrawn with the American public in the "CIA" role and still apply.

Where did you find it?

[alfredo]

15. Yahoo comics

Scroll down the page for the editorial cartoons.

http://tinyurl.com/l46ut
Edited to fix URL
My other post states that the poor mechanic blames his tools. The CIA is but one tool at the president's hand. He made improper use of it and now puts the blame on his tools.

[alfredo]

13. Here's the answer:

A bad mechanic blames his tools.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Well put. nt

[alfredo]

17. That's an old saying.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Yes, but I never thought of applying it to * and the CIA.

:)

[alfredo]

19. You don't drink enough

;-)