Serious excerpt from yesterday's NY Times:


Bush Considers Replacing C.I.A. Chief More Quickly

WASHINGTON, June 21 — The White House is actively debating whether to act this summer to select a permanent successor to George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence, who is scheduled to step down on July 11, Congressional officials and others involved in the discussions said Monday.

John McLaughlin, Mr. Tenet's top deputy, was chosen earlier this month by President Bush to take over as acting director. But Mr. Bush is now reconsidering an earlier plan to leave Mr. McLaughlin in place through the November election, the Congressional officials and others said..........

And the Assorted Press (TAP) picks up on the story;

Maxwell Smart Considered As New CIA Chief

By The ASSORTED PRESS

June 22, 2004 (TAP) -- In an effort to restore credibility to the CIA, President George Bush today named Maxwell Smart for consideration by Congress as chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

As many old-timers may recall, Mr. Smart was best known for his work as a CONTROL agent in the 1960s, Mr. Smart said he is ready to jump right into the job and go to work and root out the bad guys.

The eager Mr. Smart held an impromptu news conference outside the White House main gate and journalists immediately launched into a series of questions related to the war on terrorism..

Here's a partial transcript from the brief news conference...

Reporter: "Mr. Smart how about your assessment of George Tenet's claim that he was closing in on Osama Bin Laden?

Mr. Smart: "He missed it by that much."

Reporter: "Anti-war groups are claiming that there was no good reason to invade Iraq, is this true"

Mr. Smart: "You think you've got me, but I happen to know that Saddam had a plan to dry up the all the world's oceans."

Reporter: "I don't believe you. That's from an episode of Underdog, and it was Simon Barsinister, not Saddam."

Mr. Smart: "Damn, how do you guys remember that. Would you believe, Saddam had developed portable manhole technology and was ready to sell it to Wyle E. Coyote?"

Reporter: "No."

Mr. Smart: "Sorry about that chief. Next question."

Reporter: "You're stepping into this job as some in Congress are calling for the previous CIA Director's head. Do you realize you're facing every kind of danger imaginable?"

Mr. Smart: "And loving it! But please don't tell me I'll have to answer to that Internet forum poster named Issodhos."

Reporter: "You may have to respond to Issodhos' questions or complaints in the Right Minds Forum."

Mr. Smart: "I asked you not to tell me that."


Copied Right 2004, The Assorted Press and Machts Nichts Inc