CIA director falls on sword over Ames spy scandal

for personal reasons, and the president praised him as he went out of

the door.

In fact, he fell on his sword rather than face severe criticism from

the new Congress. Word had spread from the White House that the

president would accept his resignation if it were offered, and Mr

Woolsey obliged.

He had the misfortune to preside over the CIA during the worst scandal

ever to afflict it, the Aldrich Ames affair. It was not his fault: Mr

Ames started spying for the Soviets in the mid-80s, and by the time Mr

Woolsey got the job in January last year, the counter-intelligence

people had finally detected him and were preparing to arrest him.

However, the director handled it badly. He defended the manifestly

incompetent people who had allowed Ames to spy at the heart of the CIA

for six years. A few of them have received token punishments.

He was equally understanding when a woman agent sued for sexual

discrimination: she claimed that she was being traduced, and punished

for offences she did not commit, by vindictive and dishonest male

superiors who systematically held back women from promotion.

Mr Woolsey defended his colleagues' position until the last moment,

when the agency capitulated and conceded its guilt. None of those thus

admitted to be incompetent, drunken, sexist liars has been punished.

Inside the agency, Mr Woolsey was criticised for not defending it and

its way strenuously enough. Outside, he was said to be part of the

problem, not the solution. The CIA needs a new broom to sweep away the

last relics of the Cold War institution that has outlived its

usefulness.

Mr Woolsey is the fifth Cabinet-level official to leave the Clinton

administration, and the third this month. The others were Les Aspin,

Secretary of Defence, who lasted barely six months; chief of staff Mac

McLarty, who lasted a year; and the Secretaries of agriculture and the

treasury, who resigned this month.

The No 2 officials at the state, justice, and treasury departments

have also lost their jobs. The man being mentioned to succeed Mr Woolsey

is John Deutch, deputy Secretary of Defence.

In accepting Mr Woolsey's resignation, President Clinton made no

mention of the Ames affair but praised his handling of the spy agency.

''Jim Woolsey has been a staunch advocate of maintaining an

intelligence capability that is second to none,'' his statement said.

''Jim Woolsey deserves the gratitude of all Americans.''

''He has taken initiatives to streamline and improve costly collection

systems, improve the quality of both analysis and intelligence, and

correct security and management lapses in the critical area of

counter-intelligence.

''The men and women of US intelligence must know how grateful I am for

their dedicated and often unheralded service.''

The President reiterated the importance that intelligence played in

protecting American interests around the world.

''I remain committed to ensuring that (CIA employees) have the

support, resources, and leadership needed to continue their outstanding

service to their country,'' he said.