Perle Quits - does it matter?

[samhonk]

Stop me if you've heard this one, but I haven't seen anything about it.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/Investigation/perle_resignation_040225.html

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W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 25— A controversial associate of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned from his seat on a key Pentagon advisory panel, ABCNEWS has learned.

Richard Perle, a lightning rod for critics of the Bush administration's national security policies, informed Rumsfeld more than two weeks ago he was quitting the Defense Policy Board. He confirmed the decision in a letter to the defense chief last Wednesday.

"We are now approaching a long presidential election campaign, in the course of which issues on which I have strong views will be widely discussed and debated," Perle wrote. "I would not wish those views to be attributed to you or the President at any time, and especially not during a presidential campaign."

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It's just hard for me to believe Perle would give up an influential post (and it is that, no matter how ABC tries to downplay it in the article's last paragraph) unless it's to go do the same stuff more sneakily. Anyone know anything about this?

[CaptainClark23]

1. About as significant as

Poindexter being yanked from DARPA.

He too is alive and well and continuing his work.

I'd rather have these bastards, ESPECIALLY Perle, somewhere near the light of day where we can keep some sort of tabs on his activities and pronouncments.

The fact that he's going dark scares the shit outta me.

[drb]

2. Yeah, right, he's quitting.

You think he won't still have as much influence on the panel as ever? You think his henchmen on the panel won't still do what he says? What the hell does it matter if he "quits" anyway? It was an upaid position to start with!

Besides, he's still got those pictures of Bushy Boy with the german shepherd....

[trotsky]

3. You guessed it.

unless it's to go do the same stuff more sneakily

He'll be up to the same evil, only even more behind the curtain than he already was.

[rucky]

4. Hell yeah it matters

they fear PNAC becoming an election issue. what'd they think it would go over well with the public?

sure he'll be doing the same stuff, but There's still Cheney, Rumsfeld & Wolfowitz connected. And our side will shine the light on it in the GE...and maybe the media will finally pick up on it.

[Bandit]

5. He is saying his views would not be tolerated by the majority of Americans

So as to not harm Bush*'s election chances he will step down until after the election. Why doesn't this admission click with someone? His views are political poison because they are wrong wrong wrong and he openly is admitting that fact.

[chiburb]

6. He became a political liability...

And will be making even MORE news/headlines as the Hollinger/Conrad Black scandals heat up. Remember, he's on the board (along with Kissinger and James Thompson, frmr. Gov, R-Il.) that looked the other way as Black stole 100s of millions.
It isn't his views that caused the liability, its his greed.

[Az]

7. Significant

I suspect that they are getting worried about the investigations going on. It is likely that PNAC is going to get pulled out and put before the public and they are trying to distance signatories from George.