How is that for a patriot?

A lot of talk everywhere about Kerik and embarrassing withdrawal of his candidacy - mafia ties, arrest warrant, bribes/gifts, extramarital affairs, illegal nanny, tax evasions, you name it.  Not so perfect candidate for Homeland security department, even by Repub's low standards...
But something caught my eye in current Newsweek issue  

After the invasion in the spring of 2003, Kerik was sent to Baghdad to organize the Iraqi police. But Kerik didn't seem to show much interest in Iraqis, said a senior U.S. official who worked with him.

(More below the fold)

On his screen saver, Kerik had a photo of a big house he had just bought in New Jersey that he said was across the street from former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms's. Kerik told his colleagues he planned to be in Baghdad for three months while the house was undergoing renovations. "So," the official says he told Kerik, "you're here because you needed a place to go while they're doing renovations on your house." Kerik grinned and cocked a finger as if to say, "You got it." A spokesman for Kerik said that story was "absurd" and that Kerik was a patriot.

There is very little information on what happened in Iraq and why Kerik left as soon as he did (initial plan was to stay in Iraq for at least 18 months), but this looks like a good explanation, isn't it?  House renovation was finished, no point to stay longer than necessary...Too bad our solders have no such option...