Saturday, May 12, 2007

George Tenet and Dr. Strangelove

In Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 black comedy, “Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” an insane military officer starts a nuclear war despite all safeguards to prevent it.

When the President reminds his military chief of staff that he was told the system was foolproof, the General answers, “Well, I don't think it's quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up, sir.”

The scene comes to mind while reading George Tenet’s bizarre pride in looking back at his part in the Colin Powell UN speech that set off the war in Iraq: "It was a great presentation, but unfortunately the substance didn't hold up."

Is it fair to blame him for that single slip-up?



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