President Bush has announced that Porter Goss, the director of the CIA, has resigned. The reason for the resignation was not disclosed.
Bush had kind words for Goss. 'He has led ably,' Bush said before adding that Goss 'helped make this country a safer place. Mr. Bush then added, 'We've got to win the war on terror.'
The CIA has come under a lot of criticism in recent years from the failure to prevent the September 11 attacks, questionable intelligence prior to the war in Iraq and the failure to capture al-Qaeda leaders like Osama bin Laden. Most of that criticism was begun under the reign of Goss's predecessor, George Tenant.
Goss believes he helped improve the situation while he was running the agency. Goss said, 'I would like to report to you that the agency (CIA) is back on a very even keel and sailing well.'
Another major problem the CIA is having has been its failure to coordinate its intelligence information with other intelligence gathering agencies in the war on terror.
Goss also saw many experienced members resign over his leadership style which critics say was too political.
President Bush has yet to name a successor to Goss. His resignation is yet another turnover in the Bush cabinet. Thus far, the changes appear to be largely cosmetic.
