corrente

(via WaPo)

...Tenet had been under fire for months in connection with intelligence failures related to the U.S.-led war against Iraq, specifically assertions the United States made about Saddam Hussein's purported possession of weapons of mass destruction, and with respect to the threat from the al Qaeda terrorist network.

During his seven years at the CIA, speculation at times has swirled around whether Tenet would retire or be forced out, peaking after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and surging again after the flawed intelligence estimates about Iraq's fighting capability.

Even when his political capital appeared to be tanking, Tenet managed to hang on with what some say was a fierce loyalty to Bush and the CIA personnel. A likable, chummy personality, also helped keep him above water.

Dang those ol' "personal reasons" anyway. Replacement is CIA Deputy Director John McLaughlin, which sends us scurrying to Clarke and Woodward for background (updates later).
So what's the Real Deal here? One of the many investigations getting too close for comfort? Book deal? Don't tell me HE was Chalabi's drinking buddy....although that "chummy personality" line makes one wonder.

Go for it, esteemed readers. Keep in mind Occam's Razor and Holmes' Law, but have fun.

UPDATE Admiral Stanfield Turner puts his tinfoil hat on:

Retired Adm. Stansfield Turner said he thought Tenet was pushed out.

"I think the president feels he's in enough trouble that he's got to begin to cast some of the blame for the morass that we are in in Iraq to somebody else, and this was one subtle way to do it," said Turner, himself a former CIA director.

Tenet spoke to CIA personnel at a late-morning gathering at the CIA auditorium. "It was a personal decision, and had only one basis in fact: the well being of my wonderful family, nothing more and nothing less," he said.
(via AP)

- Lambert

UPDATE Was it Chalabi's who gave Tenet the push? Or is Chalabi only kicking Tenet now that he's down?

Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi launched a bitter attack on George Tenet Thursday, saying the outgoing CIA chief was to blame for false information on Saddam Hussein's alleged arsenal of banned weapons.
(via Reuters)

UPDATE And tonight's Tinfoil Hat Trophy goes to alert reader Anonymous:

"This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. And while Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decision ? it was a personal decision ? and had only one basis in fact the well being of my wonderful family. Nothing more and nothing less."

so was the administration threatening his family?

Maybe Bush was threading to put food on them....