CIA source of information or propaganda?

Read "Ex-CIA Officers Among Tenet Critics" by Dafna Linzer, The Washington Post, May 1, 2007.

George J. Tenet's book, "At the Center of the Storm," debuted yesterday, including a description of his role as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the run up to the Iraq war. Six former CIA analysts signed a letter chastising Tenet for his performance in that role. "The letter -- written by officers who have been vocal in their opposition to the war -- was widely circulated by e-mail to CIA and military veterans groups and blogs."

W. Patrick Lang, a retired Army colonel and former Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, said he was most bothered by Tenet's explanation of his use of the phrase "slam dunk" in December 2002 during a meeting with Bush about the case for war. Bush administration officials have said Tenet was describing the intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs, but Tenet said he was explaining the ease with which a public case for war could be made.

"An intelligence officer should not be in the business of selling a war to the American people," Lang said.

Comment: I agree with Lang. Indeed, when the CIA sees its role as selectively declassifying information so that the political leaders can make a case to the public for a decision they have already made, the democratic process is weakened. The public needs a fair assessment of the facts provided by a government it can trust. While political leaders, unfortunately, spin and distort the truth, the intelligence community should not do so. Some positions should be above politics! The career intelligence service staff members are right to go public with this complaint. JAD