George “Slam Dunk” Tenet, on the tour circuit for his new book, is busy trying to sell a new dubious claim: that he was somehow the victim of circumstance, that all of the bad decisions about pre-war intelligence were made by somebody else.

Pause and admire that for a moment. The head of the CIA, the original black-bag outfit, a dupe, a pawn, a patsy. Savor it.

Various quarters, however, are noting that his protests and disavowals ring slightly hollow for as long as he keeps the Medal of Freedom George Bush hung around his neck, or profits — to the tune of $4 million — from the contract with his publisher.

Not to put to fine a point on it, a group of former CIA officials have penned an open letter basically pointing out that he’s full of shit.

For some reason it puts me in mind of a They Might Be Giants lyric: “Can’t shake the Devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding.”