Decius wrote:
] ] CIA Director George J. Tenet has submitted his
] ] resignation and will leave the agency in mid-July,
] ] President Bush announced today.
]
] I didn't comment on Jeremy's earlier posting on this question.
] Tenet is someone who seems to have repeatedly taken "the
] bullet" of responsibility for decisions that seems outside of
] his control. I'm uneasy about this news.

First, I need some quiet time to unpack this story and really think about it. It is simply still too soon to have any semblance of perspective on the matter.

Specifically, what makes you "uneasy"?

I was certainly surprised upon first hearing of this news. Within seconds I was thinking back to the Gore speech. To my mind, the Gore speech opened a door / removed a significant barrier. Tenet's departure represents a significant loss, on several levels, but it is also on opportunity. Unfortunately the timing is such that the DCI post will be in cruise control at least until early 2005. bin Laden must be ecstatic about this -- he must be thinking, finally! Maybe I'll be able to enjoy Ramadan in peace this year.

For whatever reason, the Washington Post seems to think the Chalabi 'leak' story is Important, or at least Big. I disagree with them on that point, but I do think the whole Chalabi affair was likely a contributing factor.

In his remarks today, Tenet talked about the love he has for the job; and although it may continue to offer its quiet rewards, the public infighting must be getting tiresome. Apparently it reached a point where his marriage and his relationship with his son were at risk.

More later, maybe.

Jeremy wrote:
] Decius wrote:
] ] ] CIA Director George J. Tenet has submitted his
] ] ] resignation and will leave the agency in mid-July,
] ] ] President Bush announced today.

] Specifically, what makes you "uneasy"?

You're going to have this position unfilled at a critical time, mostly for political reasons. Thats a weakness. Furthermore, whatever caused this situation to reach this point... clearly there is a lot of pressure there. Threats of attacks this summer. Word of compromised communications monitoring... I'd like to look at the people responsible for managing the most significant problems I face and see that they are getting it done. Instead I'm seeing fissures. Disarray. This makes me uneasy.

I agree that we ought to have flexible management in these positions. But limping along with a temporary manager for months, before delving into what is likely to be a highly politicized confirmation... This isn't flexibility. Its our infighting taking the front seat to our collective priorities.