The CIA's deputy director for operations is to announce his retirement today a day after agency director Mr George Tenet quit.
Mr James Pavitt, a 31-year CIA veteran, says he made the decision several weeks ago - before he knew of Mr Tenet's decision
Mr Tenet and his agency were strongly criticised for failing to predict and prevent the September 11th attacks, for failing to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and for failling to capture al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
In May, a congressional panel investigating 9/11 criticised the CIA for failing to fully appreciate the threat posed by al-Qaeda before the terrorist hijackings.
Mr Tenet said he was quitting for "personal reasons".
