CIA Director George Tenet defended the CIA in his testimony before the 9/11 Commission on March 24, 2004: ” ‘The idea that [the CIA’s clandestine officers] are risk-averse, couldn’t get the job done, weren’t forward-leaning–I’m sorry. I’ve heard those comments, and I just categorically reject them.’ ”
– Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, Without Precedent, Page 164