To understand a difficult topic like Iraq takes patience and care. Unfortunately, you rarely hear a patient, careful or thoughtful discussion of intelligence these days. – George Tenet
You know, at the end of the day, the only thing you have is trust and honor in this world. Thats all you have. All you have is your reputation built on trust and your personal honor. When you dont have that anymore, well, you know, there you go. Trust was broken. – George Tenet
As a nation we have, over the past seven years, been rebuilding our intelligence with powerful capabilities that many thought we would no longer need after the Cold War. We have been rebuilding our clandestine service, our satellite and other technical collection, our analytical depth and expertise. – George Tenet
Heres the teaching point, if youre teaching kids about intelligence and policy: Intelligence does not absolve policymakers of responsibility to ask tough questions, and it doesnt absolve them of having curiosity about the consequences of their actions. – George Tenet