Does it not seem a bit unusual that the Defense Department issued a full fledged press release announcing Feith's plans to step down, a full six months or so before he intends to leave?

At a breakfast meeting with reporters Wednesday, Mr. Feith gave no hint of his resignation. Nor, however, was he asked.

I thought Washington officials usually deny their departures up until pretty close before they plan to go, as it naturally makes one a lame duck. Here's more:

The announcement of Feith's resignation is sure to spark speculation among many of Washington's chattering class that his departure signals the greater fall of neoconservatives within the administration. Not only is Mr. Feith leaving, but a prominent State Department hawk, Undersecretary of State John Bolton, has so far not been offered a job.

The vice president of foreign and defense policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute, Danielle Pletka, said this is the wrong analysis. "People get confused," she said. "Personnel come and personnel go, and what many refuse to recognize is that the president's views are not shaped by his staff. The staff's views are shaped by the president."

Thursday night update: Apparently Feith genuinely is leaving for personal and family reasons.

Posted by Laura at January 27, 2005 08:05 AM