You think people hated George Tenet before? Wait'll they read the article by Tim Shorrock over at Salon. I'll quote just a little so you can see what the new scandal is…
While the swirl of publicity around his book has focused on his long debated role in allowing flawed intelligence to launch the war in Iraq, nobody is talking about his lucrative connection to that conflict ever since he resigned from the CIA in June 2004. In fact, Tenet has been earning substantial income by working for corporations that provide the U.S. government with technology, equipment and personnel used for the war in Iraq as well as the broader war on terror.
When Tenet hit the talk-show circuit last week to defend his stewardship of the CIA and his role in the run-up to the war, he did not mention that he is a director and advisor to four corporations that earn millions of dollars in revenue from contracts with U.S. intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense. Nor is it ever mentioned in his book. But according to public records, Tenet has received at least $2.3 million from those corporations in stock and other compensation.
In the past week, people who ordinarily can't agree what month of the year it is have been united in their distaste for Mr. Tenet. I'm not sure if all of them can get worked up over the issue of war profiteering. It seems to be the kind of issue that should inspire outrage and doesn't. But this sure won't help Tenet's image.