[pollyannaish]

If you read on in that article you will find that he has issues with lower level people at the CIA that let the administration down. He is standing up for himself and for the President. He just does it in an odd, almost naive way.

I don't care for the guy, honestly, but I really do not think he is out to get the President. The two families got together recently. They understand each other.

I think the President asked him to go because he had not done a good job cleaning up State. This President expects results. He didn't get them and asked him to go. Powell was ready as well, I think.

[Kath]

I read that Powell was upset the President did not ask him back. He might have turned him down but he was upset he was not asked.