CBS will not fire Dan Rather, either out of cowardice or obstinacy.
But if the cries for someone's head get too loud, especially from advertisers, Mary Mapes' head will be the one that rolls.
Advertisers don't want to be anywhere in the middle of this. It's amazing how CBS can't learn their lesson (remember the Reagan movie being shuffled off to Showtime). Rather is close to retirement and this could be the push or the lose of advertising revenues could do it.