A Tenet of resilience at the CIA

Despite being appointed by Democrat Bill Clinton, CIA Director George Tenet has forged a close relationship with President Bush.

He has run the agency during a period when intelligence-gathering has taken on a dramatically expanded role since 9/11, making him a key member of the White House foreign-policy team, both by necessity and personal chutzpah. Mr. Tenet also does those occasional things that would presumably endear him to his boss: By several accounts, for instance, he has forged a bond with Mr. Bush's father, George H.W. Bush.

All these dynamics may now be crucial in determining Tenet's longevity and effectiveness as head of one of the world's largest intelligence apparatuses. As the CIA director testifies Wednesday before a Senate committee, one of Washington's favorite parlor games is in full force: Will he survive or won't he?

Since Tenet accepted responsibility for those now-infamous 16 words in the president's State of the Union speech, speculation has been rife that he might be pushed aside by the White House, particularly if the intelligence brouhaha continues to grow.

But many in the intelligence community think that if anyone can survive the current tempest - and probably should - it's Tenet, who has become something of an administration insider. "I don't think the president is going to push him to resign," says Fred Hitz, a former CIA inspector general. "But the thing you can't be absolutely sure of is the pressure from Congress and the leverage they can generate."

But the leverage could, of course, come from the White House, too. The charges and countercharges about who is responsible for the hyped or mendacious intelligence on Iraq's weapons programs continue to swirl in Washington.

The media are rife with stories pinning the blame on either administration or intelligence officials. As the 2004 election nears, the White House could decide it wants to clean house at the agency to help still the criticism, particularly if the postwar phase in Iraq continues to deteriorate.

"There is an under-the-surface battle" bubbling, says a former high-level intelligence official with ties to the administration. "The perception on the part of the White House is that Tenet is undercutting the president, and the White House is privately undercutting Tenet."

On Friday, the CIA director issued a (qualified) statement accepting blame for the 16 words about Iraq's procurement of uranium in Niger appearing in the president's speech in January. Since then, the president has backed up his intelligence chief. But he has also said that Tenet's qualifications about the statement - the CIA's criticisms of the claim - came after the speech, not before.

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