At the Center of the Storm

My Years at the CIA

By: George Tenet

Narrated by: Eric Conger

In the whirlwind of accusations and recriminations that emerged in the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq war, one man's vital testimony has been conspicuously absent. Candid and gripping, At the Center of the Storm recounts George Tenet's time at the Central Intelligence Agency, a revealing look at the inner workings of the most important intelligence organization in the world during the most challenging times in recent history. With unparalleled access to both the highest echelons of government and raw intelligence from the field, Tenet illuminates the CIA's painstaking attempts to prepare the country against new and deadly threats, disentangles the interlocking events that led to 9/11, and offers explosive new information on the deliberations and strategies that culminated in the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Beginning with his appointment as Director of Central Intelligence in 1997, Tenet unfolds the momentous events that led to 9/11 as he saw and experienced them: his declaration of war on al-Qa'ida; the CIA's covert operations inside Afghanistan; the worldwide operational plan to fight terrorists; his warnings of imminent attacks against American interests to White House officials in the summer of 2001; and the plan for a coordinated and devastating counterattack against al-Qa'ida laid down just six days after the attacks.

Tenet's compelling narrative then turns to the war in Iraq as he provides dramatic insight and background on the run-up to the invasion, including a firsthand account of the fallout from the inclusion of ""sixteen words"" in the president's 2003 State of the Union address, which claimed that Saddam Hussein had sought to purchase uranium from Africa; the true context of Tenet's own now-famous ""slam dunk"" comment regarding Saddam's WMD program; and the CIA's critical role in an administration predisposed to take the country to war. In doing so, he sets the record straight about CIA operations and shows readers that the truth is more complex than suggested in other versions of recent history offered thus far.

Through it all, Tenet paints an unflinching self-portrait of a man caught between the warring forces of the administration's decision-making process, the reams of frightening intelligence pouring in from around the world, and his own conscience. In At the Center of the Storm, George Tenet draws on his unmatched experience within the opaque mirrors of intelligence and provides crucial information previously undisclosed to offer a moving, revelatory profile of both a man and a nation in times of crisis.

Worth the Time

CYA or not, the perspective of the CIA during this time is a valuable read.

Impressive

I looked at this book for a few months before picking it up. I am glad I did. I follow politics pretty closely and was fairly unimpressed with what I saw coming from Tenet and the CIA, but he puts up a pretty good defense of himself in this book while doing something few big names like to do...admit they made a mistake or did something wrong. This book gives great insight and has shifted some of my opinions of the government, though my views on the political administration is still firmly affixed. If you want a political diatribe this book will leave you jilted. If you want a pretty fair assessment this is a good start.

I never heard anything bad about George Tenet...

...except from journalists who never met him and neocons looking for a fall guy. He's quick to accept blame for the Iraq WMD scandal and slow, in the extreme, to fall back on the now-commonplace historical consensus that Bush 43's administration was determined to go to war in Iraq within days of 9/11 and almost certainly would've found an excuse even if CIA hadn't vouched for Saddam's ongoing CBW programs. His story is competently told and engaging (though it's obvious from the monotonous fore- and afterwords why Tenet didn't narrate the audiobook himself) and does an important historical service in setting the record straight: the real responsibility for the Iraq debacle lies with men who, unlike Tenet, are happy to point the finger at somebody else.

Must Read

When I buy a book written by the director of the CIA, I, of course want to know their side of what goes on in the CIA. Thank you for not burdening the book with ego and HR problems. I feel from beginning to end it is worth reading a few times. Thank you for all of your work ...there are many people out here listening to what the people in the hot seat have to say.

Good reading about 9/11 Intelligence History

Any additional comments?

This was a well done and balanced historical review of the intelligence communities processes and information before, after and during the 9/11 attack.