Posted on 05/20/2010 10:42:41 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON — The nation's top intelligence officer, director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, announced his resignation Thursday after months of friction and repeated duels with White House officials.
The retired Navy admiral gave no reason for his departure in his public statement, nor did he express thanks to President Obama for the opportunity to serve in his administration.
A U.S. official indicated Obama had asked Blair to resign, saying a job search was well under way.
The administration has "been interviewing several strong candidates to be his (Blair's) replacement," said the U.S. official, who declined to elaborate. The official requested anonymity.
Blair's exit comes as the administration faces thorny decisions about Iran's nuclear program, the future of Afghanistan and the spread of militancy from Pakistan's tribal areas. It also fuels new doubts about the success, and wisdom, of the major intelligence overhaul in 2004 that created the spymaster position.
The departure of Blair, a retired admiral, had been rumored for months, but was made official when Obama called him Thursday and asked him to step down.
Later Thursday, Obama said, "Dennis Blair has a remarkable record of service to the United States, and I am grateful for his leadership as director of National Intelligence."
Among the possible candidates to succeed Blair are retired Air Force Gen. James Clapper, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence; former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who co-chairs the president's Intelligence Advisory Board; and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Blair's resignation follows intelligence lapses over the failed Christmas bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner and .....
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Perhaps he was both honest and reasonably competent....which simply is incompatible with Der Furher’s requirements to be corrupt and incompetent.
Holder being a shining example...dumping on the AZ law w/o having first read & understood it....ala his boss.
There's too darn many of them around.
Hey, perhaps Obama will pick someone from his Muslim Brotherhood 'possibility list' - just for 'change' his ROP constituency can continue to believe in. Or perhaps, someone from his backup Nation of Islam Security detail.
Briefings were 1. Not what Obie was focused on at the time, 2. not crisp and 3. not well presented...
Bottom line, NOT WHAT PRESIDENT OBIE WANTED TO HEAR.
Worse, not just 'dumping' but fanning wild fires of public dissent/anger/protest/; inviting, condoning the violence embedded in such; not just here; but around the Country and beyond. . .throwing Arizona under the bus; any/all good citizens who support this decision, along with it; and culminating in inviting Calderon to give 'world stage' for his condemnation of Arizona - ALL done without EVER having read this law as crafted.
Of course, they had their position, 'First and Foremost'. . .but the truth in the details, at least, cannot be denied. And Obama's determinedly putting the largest target ever, on the back of Arizona's citizens; cannot be denied either.
Unimaginable by any standard of what is even a common decency; but what as well, should be, a President's decency towards those he took an oath to serve; and their country as well.
Yes; loud and clear. . .and would guess; given the Obama levels of 'offense' against those who have been there in 'his' employ; we will not hear much from Blair about his 'life on the job'. . .nor his reasons for retiring from this job.
They do tend to go quietly into the night, don’t they.
Yes, they do. . .
Obama, Inc. has no problem blowing the blame all onto Blair; his being 'Military' probably makes this especially easy for them.
Despite 'Security' dilemma; we can hope that Blair will find voice or a way; to push them back. . .maybe even 'way back'.
Good to see that Obama on the case, as always; looking out for America./s
I think it’s obvious that Blair’s hands were tied. And he had the gall to actually CARE about the security of this country, which cannot STAND in this administration. I heard someone on FOX this morning say that B.O. was hearing things he did not want to hear. It’s a case of an insulated demagogue shooting the messenger.
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