# Was she plain incompetent?

Yes. Can you name a Bushie you would call competent? But incompetence is not a reason for a fall by Bush Admin standards. Also, remember who was NSA Chief on and before 9/11/2001? Enough said yet?

# Was she liked by the Bush inner circle but undermined after policy disagreements?

Unlikely. She's long been a Dub supporter and knows not to disagree. Not too long ago she went around vomitting the same lies and deceptions that Dub did.

# Was she placed for PR reasons but set up to fail?

Of course she was going to fail. This administration, in its entirety, is the gang that can't shoot straight. This is the Class of "D" students.

# Has the US lost so much goodwill, success was impossible in the first place?

Yep. We're toast.