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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Thursday 26 November 2015
Showtime documetary collects all of the former CIA chiefs
DAVID BAUDER others discussed signature Each of the directors is at In this image released by Showtime, former CIA director Leon
AP Television Writer strikes. the center of the constant
NEW YORK (AP) — After “These are grown-ups,” tension between protect- Panetta poses for a photo for the Showtime documentary “The
making a documentary said Chris Whipple, who ing the nation’s liberties
about presidential chiefs interviews each of the di- and ideals while also trying Spymasters - CIA in the Crosshairs,” premiering Saturday at 9
of staff two years ago, film- rectors on camera. “No to protect the nation from
maker Jules Naudet joked one tells Bob Gates and harm. p.m. Associated Press
about focusing on another Leon Panetta what they To a person, all the wives
important government job can say, which is not to say of the former directors say Naudet, Jules’ brother and what they say won’t mat-
where it would seem next that they are going to be they could see the toll filmmaker partner. “It is ex- ter.”
to impossible to get in- cavalier.” that the job took on their tremely dangerous to their Don’t dismiss ego as a mo-
terview subjects to speak Former President George husbands, who every day psyches, to a point where tivation for participating in
candidly, if at all. H.W. Bush, a CIA director learn about horrible things they even believe that the film, either.q
His new subject? Former di- in the Ford administration, that people want to do to
rectors of the Central Intel- was the first interview, and the country. Senior coun-
ligence Agency. his participation seemed terterrorism official Gina
Much to the surprise of to encourage others. Bennett talks about how
Naudet and fellow pro- George Tenet was the last the work negatively affect-
ducers, former CIA chiefs to agree. He’s arguably ed her home life.
and other key officials the most important, since “They feel that they are the
agreed to participate. At his tenure (1997-2004) en- soldiers on the front lines
a time the agency’s work compassed the Sept. 11, and everyone in the coun-
seems more important 2001 terrorist strikes, claims try hates them or mistrusts
than ever, they talk bluntly that Saddam Hussein had them or thinks that they
about terror threats, drone weapons of mass destruc- are out to do the most hor-
strikes, secret interrogation tion and opening of secret rible things,” said Gedeon
sites and torture for a doc- sites to interrogate sus-
umentary that premieres pected terrorists.
on Showtime on Saturday “I think he came for histo-
at 9 p.m. ET. ry,” Whipple said.
The opening of “The Spy- Tenet tells of being so
masters: CIA in the Cross- alarmed about intelli-
hairs” illustrates the stakes gence indicating an immi-
involved. Former Obama nent al-Qaida attack that
administration director he called the White House
Leon Panetta describes on July 10, 2001, and in-
wrestling with decision to sisted upon coming over
order a drone strike on a immediately for a meet-
man suspected of plan- ing. “Viewers can judge
ning the deaths of two whether the White House
CIA agents in an attack ignored those warnings or
dramatized in the movie not,” Whipple said.
“Zero Dark Thirty.” He knew Former agency official
that women and children Cofer Black said in the film
would also die if the drone that he gets angry when
hit its mark. The segment people describe those at-
humanizes the job from the tacks as an intelligence
start. failure. “We knew this was
“People don’t appreciate coming,” he said.
the responsibilities that the Interrogation techniques
CIA directors have had, es- that some judged as tor-
pecially now,” said Susan ture — the subject of a
Zirinsky, CBS News veteran scathing Senate Intelli-
and executive producer. gence Committee report
“These are life and death a year ago — was a de-
decisions that they have bate topic within the CIA,
on their hands. I think that too. Current director John
gets lost in what people Brennan expresses regret
think the CIA is.” over not being more vo-
Panetta freely acknowl- cal about his objections
edges a drone program and said he would refuse
that the CIA doesn’t of- to waterboard a detain-
ficially talk about. During ee even if ordered by the
the film, some former CIA president.
officials debate the mo- Tenet, for his part, said,
rality and effectiveness of “we didn’t have time to
drone killings, while others become their best friends.”
won’t touch the subject. “I still look at the ceiling at
Former acting director Mi- night about a lot of things,”
chael Morell, now a CBS Tenet says in the documen-
analyst, expresses surprise tary, “and I’ll keep them to
on camera to learn that myself forever.”
