Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer to resign

US President George W Bush's spokesman Ari Fleischer on Monday announced that he is resigning this summer "after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics".

"My heart tells me it's time to go," he said.

"This is a wonderful job. I love this job, I love President Bush, I believe deeply in President Bush, policies and the man. But there comes a time in public service when you have to know when it is time to go to pursue other endeavors," Mr Fleischer said.

He notified Mr Bush of his decision on Friday. The president ended the conversation "by kissing me on the head," the spokesman said.

Mr Fleischer said his immediate future plans are to help Mr Bush get re-elected, give speeches, do some writing, and eventually head into the private sector.

The Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Fleischer and Goebbels Consultancy will be hanging out its shingle early in 2004. "The Japanese Whale Research and Sushi Bar Institute", "The Harp Seal Baseball Bat Corporation", "The Amazon Basin Clear Felling and Woodchip Company", "The Tony Blair Fan Club" and "The Royal Society of Fox Hunters and Chinless Wonders" have already signed up with MSaSFGC.


No charitable, humanitarian or benevolent organisation refused ... 3 chairs no waiting.