Pentagon bosses condemned for bets on terror and deaths.

02 August 2003
Birmingham Post
7

Retired US admiral John Poindexter is to resign his position at the Pentagon 
following the uproar over a research project he was overseeing that included 
a futures-style market on political violence in the Middle East.

A senior defence official said that Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (left) 
and Poindexter realised it would be difficult for Poindexter to continue in 
his job after the controversy.

The Pentagon plan would have allowed traders to profit by correctly 
predicting assassinations and terrorist strikes in the Middle East.

The defence official said Rumsfeld did not ask for Poindexter's resignation.

But the former admiral expected to offer it within a few weeks.

'I think his decision was probably a wise one,' said Senate Intelligence 
Committee Chairman Pat Roberts.

In the 1980s Poindexter was national security adviser to President Ronald 
Reagan. He was a key figure in the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal.

The project was disclosed on Monday by Democratic Senators Ron Wyden of 
Oregon and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.

Criticism increased on Tuesday from politicians of both parties, and Senate 
Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner announced he had an agreement 
from defence officials to end the project.