December 21, 2008:

    "The claims of inappropriate comments and
    behavior by then-CIA Director George Tenet
    during a visit to Saudi Arabia in 2004, as
    alleged in Patrick Tyler's forthcoming book, are
    inaccurate and untrue.  

    In my then-capacity as Chief of the Near East
    Division of CIA's Directorate of Operations, I
    was one of a handful of senior officers who
    accompanied the Director on the visit cited in
    Mr. Tyler's book.  

    I was present at the venue described
    inaccurately by Mr. Tyler.  At no time did then-
    Director Tenet make the comments claimed by
    Mr. Tyler nor did the Director behave
    inappropriately.  

    In the summer of 2007, when Mr. Tyler first
    surfaced these allegations, I spoke with him
    directly and told him that these allegations were
    untrue.  It is disappointing that my assurances,
    along with similar denials from other senior CIA
    officials present on the evening in question were
    disregarded by Mr. Tyler."

                                                                          ###
GEORGE J. TENET
Statement by Former CIA Official Rob Richer