Frances Townsend has resigned as the President’s advisor on Homeland Security.

One of President Bush’s top White House advisors on terrorism and
homeland security – Fran Townsend – has resigned. The announcement was
made Monday morning.

President Bush said in a statement that Townsend "has ably guided
the Homeland Security Council. She has played an integral role in the
formation of the key strategies and policies my administration has used
to combat terror and protect Americans."

Excellent news, of course:

Another top official in the Bush White House is stepping down.

The
latest to go is Fran Townsend, the president’s top White House-based
adviser on terrorism and homeland security. There is no immediate word
on a successor.

Townsend has been a familiar face in the
administration, often appearing on TV news shows to argue the White
House position on policy matters.

President George W. Bush issued
a statement today praising Townsend for having playing an integral role
in the formation of key anti-terror strategies and policies of his
administration.

Her departure after 4 1/2 years continues an
exodus of key Bush aides and confidants as his two-term presidency
approaches its final year.

Frances Townsend’s biography:

Ms. Frances Fragos Townsend was appointed Homeland Security Advisor by
the President on May 28th, 2004. Ms. Townsend chairs the Homeland
Security Council and reports to the President on United States Homeland
Security policy and Combating Terrorism matters. She previously served
as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security
Advisor for Combating Terrorism.

Ms. Townsend came to the White House from the U. S. Coast
Guard, where she had served as Assistant Commandant for Intelligence.
Prior to that, Ms. Townsend spent 13 years at the U. S. Department of
Justice in a variety of senior positions, her last assignment as
Counsel to the Attorney General for Intelligence Policy. Ms. Townsend
began her prosecutorial career in 1985, serving as an Assistant
District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York.

Now that she’s gone could we perhaps hope that someone who actually knows something about security is appointed? Possibly even someone who understands Ben Franklin’s point about those who give up liberty to gain security end up with neither?