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| Bush Says CIA Director’s Job Is Secure |
| 2004-02-08 |
| President Bush said Saturday that CIA Director George Tenet’s job is not in jeopardy despite election-year questions about the accuracy of prewar intelligence on Iraq. "I strongly believe the CIA is ably led by George Tenet," Bush said in an Oval Office interview to be broadcast Sunday on NBC’s "Meet the Press." Asked whether Tenet’s job was in jeopardy, Bush answered: "No, not at all, not at all," according to an excerpt of the interview provided by the network. Tough call: CIA completely punted 9/11 and was bamboozeled (with everyone else) on the WMD issue, but it stepped up well in Afghanistan and has done good work on the nukes issue. Bush pledged to cooperate with the commission he set up last week to examine intelligence on Iraq and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. "I will be glad to visit with them," the president said. "I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some." "I will be glad to get out in front of this issue at last." Bush also responded to concerns the commission was not required to complete its review until after the presidential election in November. He said the panel needs time to do its work. "There is going to be ample time for the American people to assess whether or not I made ... good calls - whether I used good judgment, whether or not I made the right decision in removing Saddam Hussein from power," Bush said. "I look forward to that debate." So do I. I think Bush can whack Kerry in a debate. The interview, Bush’s first appearance on the news show, comes as his approval rating has dipped to 47 percent in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll taken in early February; that compares with 56 percent just a month ago. Bush also has been fending off criticism over the inability of U.S. inspectors to uncover banned weapons in Iraq that intelligence experts said existed when U.S.-led troops invaded in March. Yep. Shoulda just admitted it. "Yeah, we missed it. Too bad. Now then, how many innocent Iraqis have we saved so far?" |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 I don't know that the CIA had a chance against AQ in the condition is was left after years of handcuffing policies. The new commission might be able to look at that effectively. I don't think that they are going to get too far on tracking down what the President knew unless access is given to White House records that has never been available to any investigation with the exception of Watergate. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-2-8 1:26:52 PM |