Looks like inviting the world to place bets on terrorist attacks did to John Poindexter what selling arms to terrorists in Iran to pay for supporting terrorists in Nicaragua and telling Congress it was his duty to lie to America about it couldn't: John M. Poindexter, a retired rear admiral who was President Ronald Reagan's national security adviser, is stepping down "in the next few weeks," the official said, following disclosure of a proposal that outraged lawmakers and embarrassed senior Pentagon officials. The plan was to create in essence an online betting parlor that would have rewarded investors who forecast terrorist attacks, assassinations and coups. While Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld did not personally dismiss Admiral Poindexter, the defense official said, Mr. Rumsfeld agreed that the admiral's credibility was shot and it was time for him to go. This has echoes of Henry Kissinger, international terrorist extraordinaire, being tapped to head a comission to study terrorism without any objection from the Beltway but losing the post because continuing to advise the Chinese government through Kissinger Associates was more important to him. Know who the only person to serve jail time because of the Iran-Contra scandal was? Not Oliver North. Not Elliot Abrams. Not John Poindexter. The retired minister who took hostage the sign put up on his street when his town decided the way to honor John Poindexter for lying to America was naming a street after him. This guy announced that he was holding the sign hostage for the few million dollars in question. He was arrested and sent to jail. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, John.