A Dodge Behind Secretary Supertanker as the Iceberg Looms

...before leaving the sinking ship.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- National Intelligence Director John Negroponte will resign to become deputy secretary of state, a government official said Wednesday night.

Negroponte took over in 2005 as the nation's first intelligence chief, responsible for overseeing all 16 U.S. spy agencies. He will return to his roots as a career diplomat to become the No. 2 to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the official said.

The official said that the timing of Negroponte's departure was uncertain but that it was expected soon. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because there has been no announcement of the move.

Negroponte, 67, is stepping down as President Bush develops a new strategy on Iraq...

Robert Zoellick resigned as Rice's deputy in July to take a position with Goldman Sachs. She is said to have approached several candidates for the plum assignment, going for months without any takers...

It was not immediately clear who would fill Negroponte's position. The job of his No. 2 has been vacant since Gen. Michael Hayden became the CIA director in May.

NBC News, which first reported Negroponte's resignation, said his likely successor is retired Adm. Mike McConnell, the director of the National Security Agency from 1992 to 1996. McConnell is now a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, a government contractor and consulting agency.

They're outsourcing the job of National Intelligence Director to a private contractor from the Clinton Era! Mike McConnell got his start under the Reagan/ Poppy Bush administration, but remained on through the first Clinton term as head of the NSA. Once again, the Company ranks have closed.

But anyone who thinks Negroponte has any less clout or remains any less than head spook of the Cheneyburton administration is fooling themselves. Negroponte simply doesn't like the front desk- you make a good target there. That, and it probably irks the hell out him to have to talk to a C average cheerleader from Yale who's too stupid to know who's really in charge for 2 hours every morning.