CIA boss in surprise resignation ~ Mr Goss said: "I believe the agency is on a very even keel,....

BBC ^ | Friday, 5 May 2006, 18:45 GMT 19:45 UK | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

CIA boss in surprise resignation

Porter Goss's resignation surprised friends and pundits alike

US President George Bush has unexpectedly announced that the head of the CIA, Porter Goss, is stepping down.

No reason was given for the move. Mr Goss has served in the role for less than two years, since being chosen by Mr Bush to replace George Tenet.

He was given the job of reforming the agency after a series of intelligence failures, particularly in relation to the 11 September attacks.

Mr Bush said Mr Goss had "a tough job and he led ably".

Mr Goss said: "I believe the agency is on a very even keel, sailing well, and I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically."

He praised the president for giving him the "latitude" to reform the intelligence service.

"I honestly can report to you, sir, that we are safer for your efforts," he said.

Discontent

The BBC's correspondent in Washington, Justin Webb, says the announcement came as a bolt from the blue.

While there have been several changes at the top of the Bush administration recently, and more are expected, Mr Goss's name was never mentioned.

Friends of the former Republican congressman said they were hugely surprised.

There has been speculation that Mr Goss was not happy with the reduced access to the president he was afforded after the appointment of John Negroponte to oversee the work of all the intelligence agencies, our correspondent adds.

When he took the job he used to present the president with a daily intelligence briefing, but that task has since been taken away.

However there have also been rumblings of discontent at the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

Several high-level CIA staff have resigned recently.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds like he chose to leave....

[mozarky2]

Just DAMN! Now who's gonna root out the traitors?

[Kenny Bunkport]

I can't believe Goss has been able to lance every festering pussbag at the CIA. Leaving with the job half done?

[Jim Verdolini]

"Just DAMN! Now who's gonna root out the traitors?"

I understand Tom Delay is looking for work

[Hildy]

Apparently, he's going to be implicated in the new Duke Cunningham HOOKERGATE scandal...can we get ONE good man in Washington?

[Perdogg]

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjdhMWMwODY4YjFmYTIwYTIyZGI1ZjZiMzM2YjY4NWM=

[Sacajaweau]

The guy was ready to retire before he took the job. My guess is that he was specifically picked as the one person who wasn't afraid to sting Dem Operatives like Mary McCarthy. I think that was their agreement...Find the leak and then resign. I wish Goss all good things.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More detail:

Transcript: Bush and Goss on Resignation

********************************************************

Today: May 05, 2006 at 11:55:54 PDT

Transcript: Bush and Goss on Resignation

By The Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS

0505dv-porter-goss Remarks of President Bush and CIA Director Porter Goss Friday on Goss' resignation, as transcribed by the White House:

Bush: This morning, Director Porter Goss offered his resignation as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I've accepted it. During the course of his tenure, I've established a very close, personal relationship with Porter, which is very important for the director of the CIA. He's spent a lot of time here in the Oval Office. He's told me - he's given me his candid advice. I appreciate his integrity. I appreciate the honor that he brought to the job.

Porter's tenure at the CIA was one of transition. He's helped this agency become integrated into the intelligence community, and that was a tough job. He's led ably. He's got a five-year plan to increase the number of analysts and operatives, which is going to help make this country a safer place and help us win the war on terror. He's instilled a sense of professionalism. He honors the proud history of the CIA, an organization that is known for its secrecy and accountability. I am confident that his successor will continue the reforms that he's put in place, and as a result, this country will be more secure.

We've got to win the war on terror, and the Central Intelligence Agency is a vital part of that war. So I want to thank you for your service.

Goss: Mr. President, thank you very much. It has been a very distinct honor and privilege to serve you, and, of course, the people of the country, and the employees of the Central Intelligence Agency. I can tell you the trust and confidence you've placed in me and given me the latitude to work is something I could never have imagined and I am most grateful for it.

I would like to report back to you that I believe the agency is on a very even keel, sailing well. I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically your goals for our nation's intelligence capabilities, which are, in fact, the things that I think are keeping us very safe. And I honestly would report to you, sir, that we are safer for your efforts, your leadership and for the men and women in the community that are working so hard and doing so well.

Thank you for the support, the encouragement and the understanding of how tough the work is and how important it is.

Bush: God bless.

--

[dixie sass]

Just got the Breaking News email from the tv station. What is going on in DC?

[Mr. Jeeves]

...can we get ONE good man in Washington?

Only marginalized outsiders like Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul, and Tom Coburn. Once they get sucked into the playing Great Appropriations and Committee Chairmanship Game, they all become compromised at some level, and find themselves forced to answer to offstage puppet masters.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See #10 for transcript....

[Kenny Bunkport]

Good grief.

[Prost1]

Commentary from Larry Johnson on the CNN evening news...

[NutCrackerBoy]

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjdhMWMwODY4YjFmYTIwYTIyZGI1ZjZiMzM2YjY4NWM=

Here's the content of that NRO Corner link:

Goss Toss [John Podhoretz]

I doubt there's a big scandal here, if only because the president chose to appear with Goss to announce the resignation. If Goss were somehow implicated in matters relating to Duke Cunningham, say, there's no way on earth Bush would have made such a friendly show of his departure. Seems more likely to me that there was some kind of showdown between Goss and Negroponte and Negroponte said, "Either he goes or I go," and there Goss went.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

CIA needs to be dismantled....

[Marine_Uncle]

"Sounds like he chose to leave...."
That is my current view. He may have busted a lot of b@lls and laid down a new standard. And we don't know what the original arrangments where. He may have been simply a head chopper.

[Kenny Bunkport]

I believe there's something in the water in DC. Seems like every good person who gets to Washington in time either gets involved in some scandal, or loses their backbone in order to play the Inside-the-Beltway-Game. The simple politics of Washington seem to have a corrupting influence on good people.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Saw some of that at Big Blue....