By Ben Feller

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gen. James Jones, President Barack Obama's national security adviser, is stepping down and will be replaced by his top deputy Tom Donilon, two senior administration officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

Jones, who retired from active duty in February 2007 after more than 40 years of uniformed service, had planned all along to leave the national security adviser's post within two years, said one official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the president had not yet announced the decisions.

Jones served as the 32nd Marine Corps Commandant from July 1999 to January 2003. After leaving the post, he became the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and Commander of the United States European Command, holding the positions until December 2006. Besides his combat experience in Vietnam, Jones served tours of duty during Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq and Turkey as well as during operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia.

Marines everywhere were surprised and disgusted when General Jones, after such a distinguished career, set aside his honor and dignity to assume a high position in the obuma regime.

Jones' departure and his assistant Donilon's promotion has a significant spillover effect on the rest of the White House. Donilon had emerged as a top candidate to replace Emanuel as the permanent chief of staff. Now that job appears even more likely to go to Pete Rose, the newly installed interim chief of staff and a longtime adviser to Obama.

Pete Rose, as you may remember is the disgraced former baseball player and manager and player who admitted to betting on baseball games. Despite an outstanding career, he is permanently banned from consideration for the Hall of Fame, so the obuma White House is probably the only place he could find a job.

Correction: never mind. obuma's new chief of staff is some slime ball name Pete Rouse. We regret the error.