CIA chief Petraeus quits over admitted affair
Didn’t see this one coming.
CIA Director David Petraeus, who as a four-star general led the “surge” in Iraq that allowed a somewhat graceful American withdrawal from that country, has resigned.
In a letter to CIA employees, Petraeus wrote:
“Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the president to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation.”
I’m sure that in some quarters, this surprising event will be linked to some sort of conspiracy theory. (And sure enough, Rupert Murdoch steps up to make the claim).
I have no trouble believing that Petraeus withheld the news until after the election, out of respect for the process. But the notion that a man as reputation-conscious as Petraeus concocted or agreed to tell a personally shameful story like this as cover just doesn’t make sense.
There’s no indication whether the other party in the affair worked for the CIA. If so, it compounds the seriousness of Petraeus’ error. But either way, you can’t have a person in that job with that kind of personal secret to keep.
It’s a sad way to end an illustrious career, although I doubt this will be the last we’ll see of Petreaus in public service.
– Jay Bookman
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557 comments Add your comment
Look before I leap...
November 9th, 2012
5:50 pm
@Georgia
See my 4:42
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
5:52 pm
P.S.
A couple of points:
1) He was always a politician first …………… he married the West Point Commandant’s daughter.
2) One “surge” too many ?
3) I wonder where that “ribbon” will go ?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
5:53 pm
Unhinged Part II.
Patraeus betrayed us and cons think it is all a Benghazi conspiracy.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
5:54 pm
If you are associated with the CIA, even the head, you don’t have any real personal secrets.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
5:56 pm
“As we used to say, afterburners are for sissies.”
And as Army aviators and USAF SAR and Special Ops pilots say, “If it can’t hover, it sucks.”
Don’t ban me for that, Jay. It’s just a reference to thrust and airflow and lift of wings.
0311 5:50
“Unless you’re Bill Clinton and the other party DOES work for you then it’s o.k. to keep your job
as C.I.C.”
If you’ll read thru a few posts you’ll see why that is.
Beyond The Middle of the Road
November 9th, 2012
5:57 pm
Darn. I generally liked and respected Patraeus. And the position of CIA Director was perfect for him and he loved the job. An affair alone just isn’t sufficient to have caused this resignation. I hate being a conspiracy theorist but there has to be something more to this than we’ve been told.
Get Real
November 9th, 2012
5:57 pm
He betrayed his wife getalife, he resigned hopefully before he potentially betrayed his country…at least I hope so…
Dunwoody Granny
November 9th, 2012
5:59 pm
No, I think he really had the affair and he had reason to think it was going to come out. He had to cop to the affair before it showed up in the New York Times or something.
But as several people have pointed out, having an affair — heck, having a long-time mistress — isn’t usually reason enough by itself for someone to resign. He can be blackmailed as long as it’s secret, but once the secret is out, his job performance is no longer compromised.
However, if there was some deeper problem in addition to the affair, no reason to air ALL the dirty laundry. Blame it all on the affair and keep his personality clash, insubordination, misuse of CIA planes or credit cards to take his mistress to Paris — whatever the personnel reason — out of the light.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
5:59 pm
“If you’ll read thru a few posts you’ll see why that is.”
Nope …………… He was still subject to blackmail and He violated the regulation that every other federal manager would have been fired for. If you think you are above the law you don’t deserve to be president.
Clinton should have “resigned” in disgrace ……………. but if you are incapable of feeling disgrace you don’t.
Fred ™
November 9th, 2012
6:00 pm
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
5:50 pm
“There’s no indication whether the other party in the affair worked for the CIA. If so, it compounds the seriousness of Petraeus’ error. But either way, you can’t have a person in that job with that kind of personal secret to keep.”
Unless you’re Bill Clinton and the other party DOES work for you then it’s o.k. to keep your job
as C.I.C.
+++++++++++++++
Back slowly away from the hatred. It will eat you up and kill you one day. let it go………
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:00 pm
” I hate being a conspiracy theorist but there has to be something more to this than we’ve been told.”
Yeah, w’s intell reforms failed.
Georgia
November 9th, 2012
6:01 pm
Well, maybe now is the time for someone to bring up Custer’s dalliance with squaws.
Jefferson
November 9th, 2012
6:01 pm
He will end up ok.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
6:02 pm
In case you people don’t realize it, this is exactly why many, many politicians (on both sides) don’t run for president.
Back before they ever thought that was possible they screwed up (pun intended) and now they can’t run.
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")
November 9th, 2012
6:03 pm
Got to be some way to blame it on Bush. By the way, will Baracka Claus assume responsibility for anything in his second term, or is the Bush “pass” good for eight years?
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
6:04 pm
“Back slowly away from the hatred. It will eat you up and kill you one day. let it go………”
Stick with fairness and accountability. It will sustain you and just might bring justice.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:04 pm
One less gop candidate for President.scout.
The ole one two punch.
Are you okay?
gogators
November 9th, 2012
6:06 pm
HE WILL NOT TESTIFY
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:08 pm
““If you’ll read thru a few posts you’ll see why that is.”
Nope …”
Typical 0133.
“Don’t confuse me with the facts. I know what I want to believe and I ain’t readin’ nuthin’ that would challenge that.”
But I am interesting in learning something.
“He violated the regulation that every other federal manager would have been fired for. ”
What regulation is that, 0311? And it the President subject to it?
F. Sinkwich
November 9th, 2012
6:08 pm
Too bad, so sad, DP.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the war on fossil fuel continues:
“The Interior Department on Friday issued a final plan to close 1.6 million acres of federal land in the West originally slated for oil shale development. The proposed plan would fence off a majority of the initial blueprint laid out in the final days of the George W. Bush administration.”
The euro-socialist goal of euro-prices for fuel is working! Cartwheel time!!!
Marx on, comrades.
Georgia
November 9th, 2012
6:10 pm
I never liked the CIA Director. He looked too military. Too formal. Too clean. He was born in the Bush years. Now, it turns out that he’s just like Pee Wee Herman? A sexual pervert who probably was having illicit sex all over the desert when we had troops in harm’s way? A cad who not only doesn’t respect his own vows, but who obviously doesn’t respect our electoral process. He withheld this resignation until after the election. That’s voter fraud. I want to know everything before I vote. Now, if he wants to give me the phone number of any older sister of his paramour, then maybe I looks the other way. Capice?
Jefferson
November 9th, 2012
6:10 pm
You gonna cry or fish?
Look before I leap...
November 9th, 2012
6:14 pm
In related news,
Lockheed’s CEO to be was asked to resign for having an affair with a subordinate just prior to becoming the CEO.
On a personal note, I went to HS and college with this guy.
He (and his brother) were the prototypical nerds and Chris was voted most likely to die a virgin.
Guess he made up for lost time.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:14 pm
0311
““He violated the regulation that every other federal manager would have been fired for. ””
Did you find that regulation yet? ’cause I’ve looked and looked and can’t find a one that says a manager at, say, the Dept of Commerce or the FAA or Agriculture who has an affair is gonna get fired.
You weren’t making stuff up again, were you?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:15 pm
Perhaps we need the drones to watch government.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:17 pm
getalife
Just so long as they don’t occupy the same airspace as the black helicopters it should be okay.
Sure, double down on conservative crap
November 9th, 2012
6:19 pm
Listened to NPR interview of David Brooks on this topic. I have to agree with him. I side with the French, a person’s consensual sexual activities are for the spouse and the other “person” to work out. People have sex every day, stop the silly moralistic judgments. This must be with a subordinate, or less likely someone who may compromise security, for him to resign. America lost a very good man.
Jm
November 9th, 2012
6:22 pm
No person is infallible
Right move, to quit
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
“What regulation is that, 0311? And it the President subject to it?”
If you have an affair with a subordinate employee under your direct chain of command it is a violation of the minimum standards of conduct and a firing offense. I have seen it happen and it should have.
Taking place on government property and/or on government time adds to the offense.
Clinton should have voluntarily resigned (as an elected official) but instead he put himself above all the other federal employees he supervised (the president gets a federal check just like everyone else).
The route therefore was impeachment. It failed to carry and that was also was a disgrace.
Fact monger
November 9th, 2012
6:26 pm
DC is crawling with sluts.
Brought to you by fact check.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:27 pm
Clinton fought back.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:27 pm
Sure, Gen Petraeus headed an organization where that issue is specifically held as a standard, violation of which can bring punishment, because of the nature of the organization. As such, for the CIA, it’s not a private, consensual matter. Although it’s not specific to the CIA, the following discusses some of what Brooks addressed in a different light:
http://www.dhra.mil/perserec/adr/sexualbehav/sexualbehavframeset.htm
I think Gen Petraeus acted honorably by resigning.
Jm
November 9th, 2012
6:28 pm
Getalife 6:15
Um. Yeah duh.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:29 pm
0311
Still waiting for that ‘regulation’ ‘every’ federal manager would be fired for violating.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:31 pm
The gop groomed him for a run at President.
First they lose the election to President Obama, then lose their candidate.
Disband the gop.
Look before I leap...
November 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
@0311
Clinton was NOT impeached for boinking Lewinsky.
He was impeached for lying to a federal grand jury about it.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
jm,
Now that mitt is gone, are you going to slobber over the the gop instead of mitt?
jconservative
November 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
FYI
By Richard Engel, NBC News
“The biographer for resigning CIA Director David Petraeus is under FBI investigation for improperly trying to access his email and possibly gaining access to classified information, law enforcement officials told NBC News on Friday.
Paula Broadwell is the author of Petraeus’ biography, “All In.” She had extensive access to Petraeus in Afghanistan and has given numerous television interviews speaking about him.”
Old Goober
November 9th, 2012
6:36 pm
Fran Townsend, who sits on a CIA intelligence committee, is reporting on CNN that the woman involved in the Petraeus affair is NOT in the Petraeus chain of command and never was, according to her sources.
The question I have is whether Petraeus is subject to military discipline and a possible reduction in retirement rank. Military officers, including generals, are subject to court martial for adultery.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:36 pm
0311
If you want to state, as a matter of principle, that Clinton should have resigned, that’s fine.
But to state he’s subject to some regulation ‘every’ federal manager is that would result in firing is just erroneous
RW-(the original)
November 9th, 2012
6:39 pm
Was he really having an affair with a woman that wrote a book about him saying she had lots of inside access? A book named All In? Really???
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:40 pm
Old Goober
I believe it really depends on the circumstance. If it involves someone in the chain of command or is the result of coercion (as is the case with that Army BG undergoing an Article 32 hearing) then he’s likely to face some stiff consequences. If not, they’re usually told “thank you for your service, time to retire.”
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:41 pm
Did he pull a Edwards and do his biographer?
http://comedycentral.mtvnimages.com/images/shows/tds/videos/season_17/guests/paula_broadwell_v6.jpg
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:42 pm
RW,
All in indeed.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:42 pm
RW
I bet it’d be a mood killer if she said the name of her book as a question at the wrong time.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:44 pm
Sex tape?
Mel
November 9th, 2012
6:44 pm
I consider myself of reasonable mind and fairly objective. And there is no doubt to me that this is politics at it’s worst. Even someone in his position wouldn’t have to resign for an affair – I’m pretty sure that’s been put to the test. I believe he was asked to resign. Bottom line, our ambassador and fellow Americans will never be given a thorough hearing.
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
November 9th, 2012
6:44 pm
Make love and war…get the best of both worlds…
Gen. Petraeus and T. Jefferson.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
mel,
That tin foil hat looks silly.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
getalife
Dang. He should have had his guard up. And kept his guards with him1
http://www.taylormarsh.com/blog/2012/11/cia-director-david-petraeus-resigns-cites-extramarital-affair-paula-broadwell-speculated-update-video/
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
A book named All In? Really???
All In
That’s too funny.
RW-(the original)
November 9th, 2012
6:47 pm
Paul,
Let’s just hope he didn’t call it the little general. I bet book sales are spiking though.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
6:47 pm
Did he pull a Edwards and do his biographer?
I would. His, not mine.
Old Goober
November 9th, 2012
6:49 pm
RW
I bet it’d be a mood killer if she said the name of her book as a question at the wrong time.
Paul, you’re a disgusting old man with a filthy mind. Funny too.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
RW-(the original)
We could shut this thread down real fast, you know that?
“The general’s here!”
“Ten-HUT”
“Salute”
gogators
November 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
im sure the families of the 4 dead americans dont share your sense of humor
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:51 pm
Goober
Went thru this earlier in the week.
I’M NOT OLD, DAGNABIT!!”
Look before I leap...
November 9th, 2012
6:52 pm
The conspiracy nuts are just oozing out of the woodwork here.
Resigning under pressure or not will have no effect of whether he is called to testify nor will it have any effect on the content of his testimony.
If anything, with no active position in the government to protect, any lack of candidness (barring divulging TS classified info) is LESS likely.
RW-(the original)
November 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
Paul,
Or in his new line of work, I Spy With My Little Eye could take on a whole new meaning.
Jm
November 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
Getalife 6:35
In short, no silly
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2012
6:54 pm
rw, paul, you are offensive…
to that gogators guy, so good on yuz.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
“im sure the families of the 4 dead americans dont share your sense of humor”
They want justice and our President will give it to them.
You just want to get the President don’t you?
What is wrong with you?
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
Paul:
“If you want to state, as a matter of principle, that Clinton should have resigned, that’s fine.
But to state he’s subject to some regulation ‘every’ federal manager is that would result in firing is just erroneous.”
You need to work on your reading comprehension:
I said he should have “resigned” in disgrace because he was an “elected official”.
Here it is again:
“Clinton should have voluntarily resigned (as an elected official) but instead he put himself above all the other federal employees he supervised (the president gets a federal check just like everyone else).”
By not voluntarily resigning as an elected official he held himself to a standard different from everyone else.
Bottom line: Any president, officer or government manager who does not hold theirself to the same standard as their subordinates is not worthy of respect.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:56 pm
RW
Glad I was sitting down when I read that or I’d have fallen on the floor, laughing.
Mrs. Paul still doesn’t get why I laugh at a political blog.
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
6:56 pm
The Interior Department on Friday issued a final plan to close 1.6 million acres of federal land in the West originally slated for oil shale development.
Damn straight!
That land and everything on it and under belongs to us.
As in we the people.
We’ve either flat out given away or sold at give away prices, so many assets (like the airwaves that the welfare kings like Mr. Limbaugh use for free) it is insane. I’m glad to see a backlash. FINALLY!
No more giveaways, no more handouts, no more trillion dollar subsidies.
Maybe now we can get a couple of Supreme Court Justices with functioning spines and scrotums and get that twisted POS Citizens United overturned.
Corporations are not people. And you are not my friend for saying otherwise, Mr. Romney…
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
November 9th, 2012
6:57 pm
Paul,
Of course you’re not old…just mature for your age…
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:58 pm
I think stands has been namejacked.
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2012
6:59 pm
“Bottom line: Any president, officer or government manager who does not hold theirself to the same standard as their subordinates is not worthy of respect.”
well, something like 60something percent of Americans disagreed, so tuff teaties.
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
November 9th, 2012
6:59 pm
“Bottom line: Any president, officer or government manager who does not hold theirself to the same standard as their subordinates is not worthy of respect.”
Damn straight Scout! And if I were you I’d leave this country in protest!
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
November 9th, 2012
7:00 pm
Stands,
I owe you a coke, and all because I can’t type fast.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:00 pm
What will be interesting is was the affair when he was Director of CIA or when he was still on active duty with the military.
If he was still on active duty and this was someone under his chain of command (vs. a private citizen) it’s possible he could lose a star or two in retirement.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:01 pm
0311
“But to state he’s subject to some regulation ‘every’ federal manager is that would result in firing is just erroneous.”
You need to work on your reading comprehension:”
You may want to work on remembering what you wrote.
Your 5:59″ He violated the regulation that every other federal manager would have been fired for. If you think you are above the law you don’t deserve to be president.”
Unless your contention is the President is not federal and is not a manager, especially as you wrote “every OTHER manager”
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2012
7:01 pm
not namejacked, just trying to post on a tablet. a loathsome input unfriendly tablet whose keyboard interface I hate with the intensity of a thousand suns.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:02 pm
“well, something like 60something percent of Americans disagreed”
True ………. the culture has degraded.
Alter Ego
November 9th, 2012
7:04 pm
Wonders if he got some pointers from the Secret Service…..curious timing tho….
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
stands
Glad it’s you.
Never, ever would have believed I could offend your sensibilities!
“True ………. the culture has degraded.”
Same thing the Romans said when the Christians came on the scene.
What some see as degraded, others see as progressing.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
0311
That “True ………. the culture has degraded.”
Same thing the Romans said when the Christians came on the scene.
What some see as degraded, others see as progressing.”
was for you.
tireofit
November 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
More republican family values
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
And as an elected official he either has to resign or be impeached to be removed from office (even if he committed a felony).
By not resigning he voluntarily held himself to a different standard from every other federal manager.
ad
November 9th, 2012
7:06 pm
To be fair to those who were saying it was more than just an affair, if this author was really trying to get emails and other documents from him, then I guess the resignation would be for more than “just” an affair.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:07 pm
“What some see as degraded, others see as progressing.”
Silly you ………. then there’s no need for any kind of federal ethics regulations.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
November 9th, 2012
7:09 pm
The General is about 65 yrs of age(like me), he has one misjudgement(like me) in his whole life. Give the senior citizen a break, he well may become my hero. Just kiddin Fred, relax man, don’t have a stroke? Remember the old saying, “all work and no play”?
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:09 pm
0311
So I’m given to understand there was no regulation?
See, opinions come across better when one doesn’t attempt to support them with citations that do not exist. Then it’s just a statement of belief and that’s okay.
pete
November 9th, 2012
7:09 pm
“They want justice and our President will give it to them.”
Hahahaha…hahahaha….hahahaha
Good one, that’s funny.
Ohhh, you were serious?
Hahahaha……hahahaha…..hahaha
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:10 pm
Tom
He’s still a great man.
Period.
RW-(the original)
November 9th, 2012
7:11 pm
Paul,
I thought stands was complimenting us on adding a little levity to this stiff subject matter.
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
7:12 pm
These unqualified arbiters of morality crack me up.
Woe is us!!!
Things are better now than they have ever been.
And tomorrow is gonna be even better still.
No wonder so many people are depressed and angry on these forums.
If I was King, I would pass a 20 – 80 Edict.
In which, you nitwits in the congress only get to TALK about the problem 20% of the time.
And guess what you do the other 80%?
But the do-nothing people who elect these do-nothing “leaders” would b*tch about that, I suppose…
Sitelshy
November 9th, 2012
7:14 pm
From D/CIA down to a cheat !
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:15 pm
RW
Thanks much for the clarification.
whew -
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:17 pm
RW
I’m till working and not reading closely, it would seem.
KA-ZING!!! on the stiff subject matter…
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:18 pm
“So I’m given to understand there was no regulation?”
Of course there are.
That’s why those on active duty can still be courtsmartialed for plain adultery. Petraeus ain’t off the hook yet. This may just be the beginning and could get interesting.
Not to mention federal managers who have lost their jobs (I know some) due to stupid affairs involving those under their chain of command.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
7:19 pm
pete,
obl and daffy are dead.
Our President will get them.
Bet on it.
You just want to get our President like some kind of kook that should be watched.
Fred ™
November 9th, 2012
7:22 pm
Paul
November 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
RW-(the original)
We could shut this thread down real fast, you know that?
“The general’s here!”
“Ten-HUT”
“Salute”
++++++++++++++
Geez, I step out for a minute and the inmates just go batsht crazy.
What am I going to do with you boys? I have to go get more lamb. Don’t pee in the potted plants while I’m out please. You’ve already tossed a turd in the fish tank………. it there a full moon?
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
7:24 pm
BTW, RW…
Good to see you back.
Don’t forget to go next door and do some rockin”
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:27 pm
Since there’s no music thread tonight this will have to do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6QQGMcGfIQ
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2012
7:29 pm
I thought stands was complimenting us
Yep. Cheering on the lowering of discourse, I was.
(Got a real keyboard now. much better…)
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:30 pm
0311 at 7:18
There are? There is? So you’re finally going to tell us “The Regulation” you alluded to in your 5:59 with “He violated the regulation that every other federal manager would have been fired for. ”
See, you keep going off on all these tangents, trying to make a case, but you never, ever address your initial contention that Clinton and all other federal managers are subject to “THE” regulation and everyone else would have been fired for what Clinton did.
You’ve backed yourself into a dead end in a rabbit hole, 0311.
stands for decibels
November 9th, 2012
7:30 pm
Since there’s no music thread tonight
Scout, did you not see the thread just below this one?
anyway, gonna run for a bit. Later, maybe…
Atomic Dog
November 9th, 2012
7:31 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngu9yhBpHCI
pete
November 9th, 2012
7:31 pm
Hmmmm…..I wonder if there are any HR folks going through their pay rolls looking for Obama supporters?
Nah….that just wouldn’t be right.