Porter Goss resigns

[tag]Bush[/tag] announced this afternoon that [tag]CIA[/tag] Director [tag]Porter Goss[/tag] has resigned. More soon.

Update: If you’ll consider some speculation, it’s worth remembering that Goss’ name has been bandied about little lately for his possible ties to an unfortunate controversy some have started to call “[tag]hookergate[/tag].”

The same defense contractors who bribed Duke [tag]Cunningham[/tag] also allegedly provided Cunningham, and possibly others, with “free limousine service, free stays at hotel suites at the [tag]Watergate[/tag] and the Westin Grand, and free prostitutes.”

Ken Silverstein at Harper’s blog reported last week that he had learned “from a well-connected source that those under intense scrutiny by the FBI are current and former lawmakers on Defense and Intelligence committees — including one person who now holds a powerful intelligence post.” Given the description, questions were immediately raised about Goss, though a spokesperson for the CIA vehemently denied the possibility.

Also noteworthy was that Goss tapped Kyle “Dusty” [tag]Foggo[/tag], Cunningham briber Brent [tag]Wilkes[/tag]’ life-long best friend, to be the Executive Director of the CIA, despite questions about his qualifications and background. In fact, Foggo is now under [tag]investigation[/tag] by the CIA’s inspector general to determine whether he helped Wilkes gain CIA contracts.

And today, out of the blue and with no rumors about his tenure, Goss resigned from the CIA. Hmm.

Update Two: Oh yeah, you’ll notice that the resignation was announced on a Friday afternoon.

Update Three: Also, no reference to Goss is complete without mentioning that in July 2003, when reports first surfaced that the White House leaked classified information to reporters, then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Porter Goss said, “If somebody sends me a [tag]blue dress[/tag] and some [tag]DNA[/tag], I will have an investigation.” Something to keep in mind.

Well, well, well–that was sudden. Was he at an embarrassing party, perhaps? Is that the sound of spooks chuckling and cheering?

  • Was he at an embarrassing party, perhaps?-Frak
    An excellent question. Let’s hope the FBI gives us a definitive answer soon.

  • The embarassing party reason for the resignation is just too good to be true… unless someone was attempting to blackmail him or otherwise force his resignation [/tinfoilhat]

  • “CIA Director Porter Goss has resigned, President Bush said Friday. Bush called Goss’ tenure one of transition. “He has led ably,” Bush said from the Oval Office. “He has a five-year plan to increase the analysts and operatives.””

    Guess we will see him as a fry cook at Hooters soon.

  • Great. After dismantling the CIA, replacing key positions with outside cronies, letting talent walk in frustration and disgust…after saying six months before being appointed that he was not the person for the job, NOW he leaves. The War on Terror is so important and almighty, but not so important that your major intelligence organization can’t be gutted and mismanaged.

    Medal of Freedom, on to a couple of boards, cush speaking engagements and he’s all set. Sweet.

  • It’s going to be hard for the White House Typing Corps to ignore Hookergate now!!!

    Happy days are here again
    The skies above are clear again
    So let’s sing a song of cheer again
    Happy days are here again!!

    There’s nothing like coming on the body of a Republican, face down and bleeding out from a large-caliber exit wound, to put a real shine on the day.

  • Of course, this means that there will be senate hearings on a new nominee, right?

  • Wow!

    That just came so damn fast! Apparantly, a drunk Kennedy in a car crash is not enough distraction from Republicanite congressmen at poker and prostitute parties.

    Sadly, the real reason he should have gone, creating a witch hunt at the CIA and firing Mary McCarthy ten days before her retirement date and after she stopped coming into work (using her leave time).

    I’m not sure the morale of the intelligence community will recover, but let’s hope so.

  • Josh Marshall just wrote “…But the CIA Director doesn’t march over to the White House and resign, effective immediately, unless something very big is up.”

    I missed the “effective immediately” part of the announcement. Maybe something big really is up.

  • Oh, something big is surely up…but if you are watching the TV news, youll either be mislead that it was part of the Bolten shakeup, or because he was unhappy at being 2nd in command and passed over bleh bleh… It’s amazing, they keep asking, “do you think there is somethign more to it?” and they totally ignore the fact that he has connections to this growing scandal. All the guests as well, ignoring it completely. I wonder how long they will just spin it like this instead of mentioning the obvious. What is wrong with these people? Do they LIKE sucking at their jobs???

  • Someone FINALLY mentioned it on CNN….although of course they swore that it couldnt be that Goss was involved, just that he was managing some people who were implicated. Whatever…

  • I have a feeling that Whoregate or Hookergate, whichever you call it, may prove to be the Gift that Keeps on Giving…truly an Energizer Bunny of scandals.

  • It has to be the hookers because nobody ever gets fired for incomptence. Firing top agents because of party affiliation does not cause a problem with this bunch.

  • Maybe he’s resigning to run for Senate in Florida after they pitch Katherine Harris over the side?

  • Smiley sez:

    Josh Marshall just wrote “…But the CIA Director doesn’t march over to the White House and resign, effective immediately, unless something very big is up.”

    I missed the “effective immediately” part of the announcement. Maybe something big really is up.

    The fact that it’s effective immediately and with no successor in sight, tells me this isn’t a more time with family retirement. When hookergate broke, it was reported that the FBI was aggressively seeking pictures taken at the parties. Now, wouldn’t that be sweet?

  • In the spirt of poetic justice, I’m starting a pool on the color of the dress with Porter’s DNA on it. I’m taking red.

  • I assume that someone with a clean record and impeccable intelligence credentials will replace Goss.

    Get ready for Pat Roberts…

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