I still lie awake at night thinking about everything that could have been, that wasn't done to stop 9/11. To the 9/11 families, I said, you deserve better from your entire government. All of us.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the deep regret and reflection on the failures that led to a tragic event, highlighting the need for accountability and support for those affected.
George Tenet's quote expresses a profound sense of personal accountability for the September 11 attacks, emphasizing the sleepless nights spent reflecting on the actions that could have prevented such a tragedy. By acknowledging the pain of the families affected, he advocates for a government that owes them better protection and vigilance, underscoring the responsibility of leadership during crises.
In practice
A speech about government responsibility during a remembrance ceremony for the victims of 9/11.
Here's the teaching point, if you're teaching kids about intelligence and policy: Intelligence does not absolve policymakers of responsibility to ask tough questions, and it doesn't absolve them of having curiosity about the consequences of their actions.
One mushroom cloud would change history. My deepest fear is that this is exactly what they [Al Qaeda] intend.
You may chain my hands, you may shackle my feet; you may even throw me into a dark prison; but you shall not enslave my thinking, because it is free!
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! – but there is no peace.
To a contrarian like me, constant advice not to do something almost always starts me quickly down the risky, unpopular path.
How can one be compelled to accept slavery? I simply refuse to do the master's bidding. He may torture me, break my bones to atoms and even kill me. He will then have my dead body, not my obedience. Ultimately, therefore, it is I who am the victor and not he, for he has failed in getting me to do what he wanted done.
Our people have made the mistake of confusing the methods with the objectives. As long as we agree on objectives, we should never fall out with each other just because we believe in different methods, or tactics, or strategy. We have to keep in mind at all times that we are not fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as free humans in this society.
Fear isn't so difficult to understand. After all, weren't we all frightened as children? Nothing has changed since Little Red Riding Hood faced the big bad wolf. What frightens us today is exactly the same sort of thing that frightened us yesterday. It's just a different wolf. This fright complex is rooted in every individual.
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