With Resignation, Tenet Becomes Latest Iraq Casualty

U.S. President George W. Bush announced Tenet’s resignation and said: "I will miss him. He did a superb job for the American people. I accepted his resignation."

Meanwhile, the CIA released video of Tenet announcing his resignation to personnel. The video shows various staff of the CIA giving Tenet a drawn out ovation before he begins his speech. The CIA Director could not hold back his tears as he defended that he made his decision purely ‘for the sake of his family’.

Tenet, who was Director for seven years, had been under constant fire for the CIA’s failure in the Iraq war. He became the target of much criticism, primarily from Americans, for failing to confirm intelligence information about Iraq until nearly a year after the War had begun.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, a close friend of Tenet, was among those who criticized Tenet and called for his resignation. Gore emphasized that the CIA Director is a proud man but added, "He should resign because of the misinformation about the intelligence on Iraq."

Tenet was appointed as the CIA Director during former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s time in office. He had been the sole important official who was able to retain his post when the Republic Party came to power. Tenet will reportedly stay on until mid July and his Deputy Director, John McLauhglin, will be the acting CIA Director.

The speculation in Washington is that Florida Congressman Porter Goss, Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee and a former CIA agent, will most likely to be the new CIA Director.

While the resignation shook Washington, Stansfield Turner, the CIA Director during former President Jimmy Carter’s term of office, claims that the reason for Tenet’s resignation is not ‘convincing’. "I think Tenet was thrown out. President Bush felt the urge to accuse someone. To me, loyal Tenet, in this critical election period, would not resign and leave President Bush in a difficult spot."

On the other hand, the Whit House denied that Bush wanted Tenet’s resignation.