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| Visa chief asked to resign... |
| 2002-07-14 |
| The most senior U.S. career diplomat has been asked to resign amid an investigation that State Department staffers sold visas to Middle East nationals, including those connected to the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mary Ryan was asked to resign by Secretary of State Colin Powell. She was the most senior U.S. career diplomat and served in the post for eight years. "Time for you to move on, Mary. There are opportunities just waiting for you in the food service industry..." Deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said Ms. Ryan agreed to Powell's request to resign. Reeker said the dismissal was not connected to the visa scandal or criticism of the rapid processing of applications by Saudi nationals to enter the Untied States. No, no. Of course not. Certainly not. The thought never occurred to us... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |