I assume that many of our readers are wondering about this. Why Tenet? Why now? My answer: beats me. It's so out of left field that his stated reason re: his family may in fact be true. A Washington Post reporter who has spoken with Tenet's close friends seemed to lend to credence to that view on TV last night.
Instapundit draws a blogosphere parallel that resonates with me, and also has a full set of coverage offering various points of view. I certainly hope that the dark scenario isn't what's really going on here.
I think he's tired of being a punching bag, and hopes that his resignation will take some heat off of the agency.
June is the end of the schol year and that may have something to do with timing. In this article Tenet says this about his son:
"I'm going to be a senior with him in high school," Tenet said. "We're going to go to class together. We're going to party together. I'm going to learn how to instant message his friends -- that would be an achievement."
HIs only child. Last year at home. Never get another year at home with the kid. With credentials in both parties now, he can move back to the power scene in DC later. But this is his last shot to be dad. I just hope he doesn't try to cram 17 years of penance for workaholism into one year. Give the kid some space.
It's undeniably plausible.
And lets face it, director of the CIA is one of those jobs where you really do have the fate of the nation resting on you. 7 years of that will burn out anyone.
I'm inclined to take him at his word. I heard several folks interviewed (Fox, NPR) who were agency insiders, and they indicated that personal reasons were it. Apparently his family has wanted him to leave the job for a year or two now. I didn't realize that he made only 150k a year. Once he gets out he'll have his pick of consulting jobs, and he'll be able to bank some serious coin, just in time to pay for college etc...
Bush's dismay and disarray at his announcement was probably due to being unable to convince Tenet to stay...
Well, it could be personal reasons, but it's my impression that most of the time it's not just personal reasons unless there's a crisis in the family. Typically a person will be wanting to leave for a while for personal reasons, but it's something else that becomes the last straw.
But that's just my impression.
Most of the media coverage I've seen suggests that Tenet might have left because he knows the upcoming 9/11 commission report will be especially hard on him. Kinda surprised not to see this view represented much in any of the roundups.
I prefer Andrew Sullivan's anaylsis, although I think he's a bit overly critical of Tenent.
Funding and enough warm bodies has been a problem at the CIA since it was founded.....off and on.
In times of obvious need to the public (and even the politicans) some increase in budget has occurred. But as a free and open nation we are continually shooting ourselves in the foot in terms of consistent funding and doing the nasty things that spies are SUPPOSED to do. Make a mistake in the smallest detail and the press goes beserk whe the real issue too often has been inadequate fund, a major point on which I disagree with the Sullvian article mentioned.