WASHINGTON (June 16) - Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke has resigned, effective Friday, the Defense Department announced Monday.

For personal reasons, Clarke is leaving the position of assistant secretary for public affairs, the department said in a press release. She has held the job for two years, arriving the summer before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

''I depart sadly because this has been the best professional experience of my life,'' she said in a press release. ''It has been a true honor working for the men and women of the U.S. military.''

Lawrence DiRita, special assistant to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, will do her job until a permanent replacement is confirmed.

In the press release, Rumsfeld called Clarke ''a gifted communicator,'' praising her office for its efforts ''to tell the story of our fighting force and bring their courage, dedication and professionalism into sharp focus for all Americans.''

AP-NY-06-16-03 0924EDT

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Why all these people bailing?

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Why all these people bailing?

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Here's a hint:

[url]http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=usa&q=wmd+lies[/url]

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Perhaps, they just can't come out and lie to us anymore....OR, rats fleeing the ship, they know something big is gonna break.

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They are finding out Bush lied about the WMD thing, they have to much integrity to stay.