FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
3 June 2004
Remarks
by
Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet
to Employees of the
Central Intelligence Agency
and the
US Intelligence Community
For the past nine years, I have been privileged to be part of a great
American familythe family of American Intelligence. I have lived
in the heart of the CIA family. In that long and eventful time, we have
shared moments of success and disappointment, of happiness and sorrow.
Today, I share with you news that I gave the President last evening.
I have decided to step down as Director of Central Intelligence, effective
July 11th, the seventh anniversary of my being sworn in as DCI.
I did not make this decision quickly or easily. But I know in my heart
that the time is right to move on to the next phase of our lives.
In an organization as vital as this one there is never a good time
to leave. There will always be critical work to be done, threats to
be dealt with, and challenges that demand every ounce of energy that
a DCI can muster.
We have thrown our hearts into rebuilding our Intelligence Community
and I have been richly rewarded with the gratification of working with
the finest group of men and women our nation can produce.
I want to say a word of special thanks to President Bush. On entering
office he immediately recognized the importance of rebuilding our intelligence
capabilities. He spends time with us almost every day. He has shown
great care for our officers. He is a great champion for the men and
women of US Intelligence and a constant source of support .
It has been an honor for me to serve as his Director of Central Intelligence.
And I am especially proud of the leadership team that we have assembled
in the Intelligence Community and which will continue fighting the good
fight long after I have taken my leave.
I want to thank Mike Hayden, and Jim Clapper, Jake Jacoby, Pete Teets,
John Russack and Tom Fingar for their friendship and support.
As I look back on how the Intelligence Community has evolved over the
past decade, there is much to be proud of.
First as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, and then as Director,
I have had the chance to be part of a massive transformation of our
intelligence capabilities. That revolution may not make headlines, but
it will continue to benefit our country for years to come.
American Intelligence has, after the drought of the post-Cold War years,
begun to receive the investmentsin people and dollars and attentionthat
we need to meet the security challenges of a new century and a new world.
You, the men and women of American Intelligence, have put those investments
to powerful use. And I believe the American people will continue to
demand that this great community of patriots receive the funding and
support that you so richly deserve.
At CIA, we have made good progress in rebuilding the Clandestine Service.
We have expanded and empowered our corps of analysts. We have restructured
and streamlined our support operations. We have developed and acquired
the technologies on which intelligence and espionage depend. With new
schools and training facilities, we have sharpened instruction for each
of our core professions. We are recruiting the finest men and women
in our history in record numbers.
These initiativesand I can talk of only a fewcomplement
those of other intelligence agencies, and our enduring efforts to build
what we call ourselves, what I believe us to be: a true community, working
more closely than ever with our partners in the military and in law
enforcement, and overseas.
We have done these things togethernot out of some bureaucratic
imperative, but to be better at our mission of protecting American families
and the freedoms that make America worth protecting.
For many years now, we have been at war with a deadly threat to the
United States and its values: the threat of terrorism. Like other wars,
it has been a struggle of battles won and, tragically, battles lost.
You have acted with focus and courage through it all, before and after
9/11.
What you have achieved in this fight against a clever, fanatical enemy,
around the worldthe cells destroyed, the conspiracies defeated,
the innocent lives savedwill for most Americans be forever unknown
and uncounted. But for those privileged to observe these often hidden
successes, they will be an unforgettable testament to your dedication
and your valor.
On other issues, too, you have done magnificent work. Outstanding support
to American forcesnot only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but around
the world. Remarkable successes against weapons proliferators and drug
traffickers. Unique insights into the full range of dangers and opportunities
that face the United States beyond its borders.
In short: each day, here and abroad, from diverse backgrounds, with
varied skills, you come together for a single purpose: to give our country
an essential advantagein its understanding of the conditions in
the world, and in its ability to change those conditions for the better.
To be sure, there is much yet to do. But there is a strong foundation
of talents and resources on which to build.
This I say with exceptional pride: The Central Intelligence Agency
and the American Intelligence Community are stronger now than they were
when I became DCI seven years ago, and they will be stronger tomorrow
than they are today.
That is not my legacy. It is yours.
You have done the hard work, turning new ideas into actions, and new
recruits into seasoned officers. You have taken bold risks analytically,
operationally, and with powerful technology.
As I often tell younger and older officerswe have put this Agency
and our Community on an irreversible course. Directors are stewards
of a great institution for very limited periods of time. You are the
owners of the institution and in your hands we have placed enormous
confidence and trust. I want you to always believe in yourselves and
the power that you have - each and every one of youto ensure that
we stay on courseensure that our families are taken care ofyoung
officers are nourishedand our mission come first always.
Our record is not without flaws. The world of Intelligence is a uniquely
human endeavor and as in all human endeavors we all understand the need
to always do better. We are not perfect but one of our best kept secrets
is that we are very, very, very good.
Whatever our shortcomings, the American people know that we constantly
evaluate our performance, always strive to do better, and always tell
the truth. These are our values as professional intelligence officers.
We get up every day with only one purposeto protect this country
and its families. And I believe to the depth of my soul that Americans
are proud of each and every one of you. They have said thank you to
me in Peoria, Illinois, in Norman, Oklahoma, in College Station, Texas,
in Rochester, New Yorkeverywhere I have ever had a chance to speak
about speak about the wonderful men and women that work here.
When I tell people being Director of Central Intelligence is the best
job in governmentand the best job I will ever haveI say
it because of you. Because of your passion, your creativity, your spirit
and everything you do every day in taking risks and meeting perils around
the world.
Here at CIA, I have had the greatest of colleagues, starting with John
McLaughlina man of magical warmth, wityou know his nickname
is Merlinwisdom, and decency, the finest deputy and friend I could
ever have and he will be a great acting director.
This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. And while
Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decisionit
was a personal decisionand had only one basis in factthe
well being of my wonderful family. Nothing more and nothing less.
Nine years ago when I became the deputy director, a wonderful young
man sitting in the front row was in the second grade. He came right
up to my beltI just saw a picture of the day Judge Freeh swore
me inand he's grown up to be . . .
Anyway, the point is, John Michael is going to be a senior next year.
I'm going to be a senior with him in high school.
We're going to go to class together. We're going to party together.
I'm going to learn how to instant message his friendsthat would
be an achievement!
You've just been a great son, and I'm now going to be a great dad.
Thank God you look like your mother. You're damned good looking.
The most important woman in my life, who I refer to as the home minister
. . . look, if I could tell you the number of times I get an elbow in
the middle of the night about what I've forgot to do for families at
the CIA and our spouses and for our kids . . . honey, you'll be the
best first lady this institution has ever had, and I love you. You are
terrific.
You have all given us so much warmth, so much support and encouragement.
The most difficult part of this decision was knowing that I would not
be here with you every dayin our offices, the cafeteria, conference
rooms or the gymbut I do hope I have earned a lifetime membership.
It is difficult in knowing that I will not be as directly connected
to the thousands of men and women overseas who along with their families
sacrifice so much to protect our country.
But there is also great joy in knowing that I will never be far away
in heart and spirit from all of you. You will have no greater advocate
wherever I may be for you and your families.
So, I wanted to see you all todayto tell you personally about
all of this. Fully recognizing that we will have more time over the
next few weeks to be together in your workspaces so that we can thank
you for what you have done for us.
And so, as I tell you about my plans to departwith sadness, but
with my head held very, very high, as yours should always be because
what you do is critical to everything our nation stands forits
goodness, its decency and its courage.
I want to thank you for the support you have given me and my family.
For being colleagues and friends. You will always be in our thoughts
and prayers. It has been an honor for usfor Stephanie, for John
Michaelto be by your side.
It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be your Director.
May God always bless you and bless your families.
As Dick Helms used to say, let's get on with it and get back to work.
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