Although no longer the head of one of the world’s strongest intelligence agencies, former CIA director George Tenet still remains among the best experts in his field. Director Tenet, who held his post at the CIA for seven years until his resignation in June 2004, is the second longest-serving head of the Central Intelligence Agency in the history of the United States after Allen Dulles. Mr. Tenet worked under two Presidential Administrations of different political ideologies, Democratic and Republican. Having good relationships with the commanders-in-chief, Director Tenet frequently delivered the President’s morning brief to the White House in person. Apart from everything else, Director Tenet holds the record of kissing Yasser Arafat more times than any other U.S. government official.

When George Tenet became the CIA director in 1997, the Cold War was long over. The USSR was not menacing the United States any more. Many were celebrating the end of history. All seemed to be well. However, over the early part of the 1990’s, the elated peaceful mood of the international community reflected negatively on America’s intelligence. The CIA experienced significant budget constraints and had less and less qualified operatives. Some doubted the future of the agency altogether.            

Firmly believing in the importance of intelligence services to America’s development and security, Director Tenet promptly set out to change the neglectful attitude towards the CIA. He requested increased funding for the agency from Congress. George Tenet elevated the overall prestige of the intelligence community: by the end of his work as CIA’s director, the agency was graduating twice as many operatives as it had been in recent history.      

The cornerstone of George Tenet’s career was, of course, the War on Terror, precipitated by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Today, assessing the security improvements since that time, Director Tenet is convinced that “the country has become a thousand times safer.” Even with everything that had been accomplished, however, Director Tenet is worried that the coming generation will be much affected by global terror. “The terrorists,” in George Tenet’s view “cannot be tied to a single country or even to an organization.” “It is not al-Qaeda, but an ideology that we are against.” The ubiquity of electronic means of communication is also a major concern to the CIA. “The Internet has evened out the playing field. The information, to which only the government was privy some fifteen years ago, is now out there in the open.”

According to Director Tenet, apart from the world terrorist threat, the economic and military rise of China and India is of much interest to the Central Intelligence Agency. The increase of energy consumption of the two countries, as well as their population growth, is bound to tip over the balance of power in Asia.

Mr. Tenet’s discourse makes it clear that he took his professional endeavors seriously. The former CIA director feels pride for securing the world: in the past four years, over three thousand terrorists have been stopped. One of the most memorable career moments for George Tenet is the capture of the 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

- Director Tenet, was it difficult for you to head America’s intelligence?

- What is difficult about the CIA director’s job is that you do not actually get to make decisions. At the meeting of the Security Council, for example, I only reported the facts and then listened how the President, the Defense Secretary, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs discussed the appropriate course of action. I did not share my opinions unless I was asked.

- Since you left the CIA, what has become your occupation?

- I now teach International Relations at Georgetown University.

- A popular stereotype holds that there is a great degree of antagonism between the CIA and the FBI. Is it really so?

- No, it is completely false. Although the relationship between the two agencies is not perfect, it is not hostile at all. 

- For many years, the USSR was the most important focus of the CIA. KGB vs. CIA is a typical headline for many articles and books… You headed the CIA already after the Cold War was over. In what way did the agency’s approach towards Russia change?

- The U.S. approach towards Russia changed considerably. Everything is open now. Our leaders freely meet Russian politicians and diplomats. Today, the CIA simply does not have the luxury to focus on one single country. In terms of overall security issues, I would say that Russia is not even in the top five today.

- Russian intelligence agencies have offered assistance to their American colleagues after September 11 terrorist acts. How do Russian and U.S. intelligence agencies work together in combating the terrorist threat, which is common to both countries? 

- There is exchange of some intelligence information between Russian and the U.S. security agencies. We are grateful for that. In recent years, the relationship between Russian and American intelligence agencies has really become more polite. We do have a common goal of safeguarding the world against terrorism.