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
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:31 pm
0311
What was your earlier point to me about reading comprehension? You indicated a singular reg, I asked for it, now you answer with a plural? But still no specifics.
““So I’m given to understand there was no regulation?”
Of course there are. “
Musical Interlude
November 9th, 2012
7:32 pm
They showed a photo of the woman who the CIA director had an affair with. Now I feel the need to resign. What a babe, what a babe…..what a babe.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:33 pm
“Don’t pee in the potted plants while I’m out please. ”
ooohhhh, hadn’t thought of that one.
RW – is anybody looking?
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:34 pm
0311
Music thread’s the one just before this thread.
Doggone/GA
November 9th, 2012
7:35 pm
“Snce there’s no music thread tonight ”
Didn’t look very hard, did you?
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/11/09/time-to-set-politics-aside-and-rock/
detritusUSA
November 9th, 2012
7:35 pm
Silly me! I have always thought that conservatives biggest problem was that they had no heart. Wrong! This shows me that in addition to their heartless problem, they are absolutely STUPID.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
7:40 pm
“0311
Music thread’s the one just before this thread.”
Why thank you.
Now feel free to check out the Federal Code of Regulations (known as USC5cfr) at your leisure.
I won’t do it for you.
I’ll give you a hint though …………… a sexual relationship with a subordinate under your direct chain of command is considered “quid pro quo” to be unwanted.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
7:40 pm
I have to go get more lamb.
There’s a joke there, Fred, but I just can’t nail it. Good luck with the lamb. Mary had one. A little one.
Jay
November 9th, 2012
7:42 pm
“. Good luck with the lamb. Mary had one. A little one.
Not any more. Fred has it now.
Musical Interlude
November 9th, 2012
7:52 pm
Newsweek’s cover depicts Obama as Napoleon. I wonder where they got THAT idea. Lou Dobbs is obnoxious. Didn’t Napoleon have an affair?
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
7:56 pm
7:31, the funkiest, most badass song of its kind.
What did you think, the Gen. wasn’t gonna boink a woman who was a hottie? In this day and age??!! That’s why you cons ragged on Slick Willy so much! (grin)
Paul
November 9th, 2012
7:56 pm
0311 at 7:40
Don’t you think most here have been around long enough to follow this style of blogging?
1. Make an assertion like “Clinton was a federal manager. There is a regulation that all federal managers are subject to. Clinton violated the reg. He kept his job. Every other federal manager would have been fired.”
2. Person asks “what regulation is that?”
3. Claimant responds with personal experience, anecdotes and how he thinks life should be.
4. Person asks, ’so it’s just your opinion, no regulation that applies to all?”
5. Claimant responds “of course there is. Look it up. I won’t give you a citation. I’ll just tell you to go through all the regulations published.”
See, 0311, you do that, and all anyone sees is a white flag.
Because you are so set on being ‘right’ rather than finding out what ‘right’ is.
Patty
November 9th, 2012
7:56 pm
Oh my gosh, I thought you Libs were the conspiracy experts–voter fraud, bigots, you know, stuff like that. But this guy resigning a week before he’s suppose to testify on Benghazi makes all the sense in the world.
Why don’t you take some of that government money and buy yourself a clue?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
7:58 pm
Fred tossed the lamb in the egg.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:01 pm
0311
Another rabbit hole?
You are now contending that Monica Lewinsky was under Pres Clinton’s DIRECT chain of command? Unpaid interns working for the Chief of Staff are under the president’s DIRECT chain of command? How are you defining DIRECT chain of command? Anybody in the Executive? People he signs performance reports for? People whose time cards he signs?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
8:02 pm
cons attack Clinton to make themselves feel better about their hero’s resignation.
Deflectabation.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:02 pm
JamVet
He was in his sixties.
She was in her thirties.
Stop dreaming, you perv!!!!!
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:03 pm
JamVet
My mistake. He was in his fifties.
Nevermind.
William J. Clinton
November 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
Hell I was impeached but got to stay on as President! However I did not have sexual relations with that woman & Hillary knows it!
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:07 pm
Okay, I’m not getting anything productive done other than having fun.
Pleasant weekend, all -
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
8:15 pm
Paul: Every other federal manager would have been fired
With all due respect, I read it as every _other_ federal manager.
You are trying to make biscuits out of sawdust. But I know winning a blog argument of your own creation is extremely important. Are you related to JHM or Adam?
Old Goober
November 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
They showed a photo of the woman who the CIA director had an affair with. Now I feel the need to resign. What a babe, what a babe…..what a babe
A married babe, apparently. In the video clip someone posted, she mentions that her husband wanted her to include a juicy tidbit in the book, but she declined.
Recon 0311 2533
November 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
The legitimate question is there any linkage to Petraeus tendering his resignation today and his appointment to testify before congress next week. It has been reported that he won’t be testifying and that’s troubling.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
godless
I don’t see how you’re reading it differently than I did.
“Clinton is a federal manager. Every other manager would have been fired according to the regulation that applies to all federal managers.”
When one uses the term ‘every other’ in reference to an employee group, it means the person under discussion is part of the group.
As you will see from the subsequent posts, I was just trying to get 0311, as I have on previous occasions, to provide a reference when he makes a specific claim alleging something as fact.
Jm
November 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
Sfd 7:01
very funny
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
Recon
Was any justification given as to why he wouldn’t?
weetamoe
November 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
If he testifies as planned, conspiracy theorists will have no basis for their speculation. If he does not…..
Recon 0311 2533
November 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
“Was any justification given as to why he wouldn’t?”
Paul, none that I’ve seen.
Jm
November 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
“They showed a photo of the woman who the CIA director had an affair with. Now I feel the need to resign. What a babe, what a babe…..what a babe.”
Petraeus must be a Republican.
If you doubt me, 2 words: Monica Lewinsky
Dekalb comments
November 9th, 2012
8:29 pm
Has anyone heard from Mighty Righty on Bookman’s blog since Tuesday? He was so very sure of a Romney landslide I was curious about his thoughts on how this all turned out.
Jm
November 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
Patricia Broadwell
Is she in a Bond movie also?
Va va voom.
Petraeus is definitely a con.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:31 pm
Recon
I just don’t see Gen Petraeus as the kind of man to hide and not come forth and say ‘okay, Congressmen, this is what happened in my organization.”
weetamoe
November 9th, 2012
8:34 pm
There was no controlling legal authority (as Gore was wont to say) relative to what Clinton did with Monica. Clinton was impeached and disbarred for perjury–perjury which violated Paula Jones’s equal protection under the law. The entire episode was not about sex, as Clinton apologists maintain, but about a young woman’s civil rights.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
8:34 pm
Paul:
“every other” is an odd phrase that can be inclusive or exclusive
Recon 0311 2533
November 9th, 2012
8:37 pm
Paul,
He’s been a man of integrity throughout his military career. The temptations of flesh is temptation everyone is vulnerable to. Lets hope he recognized that in his position he couldn’t allow himself to be vulnerable to compromise and did the honorable thing by resigning.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:38 pm
weetamoe
“There was no controlling legal authority (as Gore was wont to say) relative to what Clinton did with Monica. Clinton ”
I double-dog dare you to say that to 0311 next time he shows up!
godless heather
How do you get it as exclusive?
“My car isn’t registered and I drive it on the roads. I got stopped and didn’t get a ticket. Every other car on the road has to be registered.”
I really don’t have a car?
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:39 pm
Recon
That’s exactly how I see him and the situation.
I do feel badly for him and for his family. It’s truly a sad situation.
guy
November 9th, 2012
8:41 pm
getalife,obama is your president,not mine or a lot of others. Don’t brag so much at this point!
deegee
November 9th, 2012
8:44 pm
I know that this is totally inappropriate but google Paula Broadwell and then google Holly Petraeus.
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:45 pm
godless
I’d specifically asked 0311 if his point was Clinton was excluded from the group of ‘federal managers’. He did not address it so I took it he was in fact making that case, but that Clinton did not suffer the same penalties as every other federal manager would suffer.
But every other federal manager would not have been fired, as I pointed out, so it was just one more in a string of assertive statements with no evidence of fact to support them.
Sometimes I just like to see how long it takes him to directly support or address that which he’s alleged. The record is somewhere around three or five pages, which began with his comments on when life begins and abortion. THAT was a doozy! Rabbit holes galore!
Paul
November 9th, 2012
8:47 pm
deegee
I think after decades together some things should transcend the physical appearance. Not meant as a criticism, just an observation.
_________________________________________________
“getalife,obama is your president,not mine or a lot of others.”
guy and his buddies are what, French? Illegal aliens?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
8:49 pm
guy,
He is our President and leader of the free world.
A republican disgraced our country again.
All in in his biographer like Edwards.
Sex tape and love child next?
He was head of the CIA.
Have you no shame guy?
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
8:57 pm
Paul:
EVERY other manager sounds to me to be inclusive
Every OTHER manager sounds to me to be exclusive.
So do Federal regulations allow the boss to diddle the help?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
8:57 pm
He will go to rehab and blame the booze and the pills.
He will not testify.
Tin foil hats are in high demand.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
8:59 pm
godless,
She did not work for him.
She is a writer.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:00 pm
get: Subject was Ms. Lewinski
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:02 pm
He will go to rehab and blame the booze an
Think so? Why would our President appoint such as head of the CIA?
barking frog
November 9th, 2012
9:07 pm
Hilary is no longer a contender in 2016. Petraeus is no longer a contender in 2016.The Prez is playing chess with a bunch of checkers players. I
wonder who he has in mind.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:09 pm
If you work for the CIA or Secret Service, nothing. (Sgt Shultz voice) Nuth-ing about your personal life is secret. It will be interesting to learn the details of the good General’s behavior and “who knew and when did they know it.”
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:10 pm
Why do you say that?
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:11 pm
Sorry, Frog. About Hillary no longer being a contender? Other than being old with a lot of baggage?
willie lynch
November 9th, 2012
9:15 pm
In the end we are all just men. No perfection no infallibility just men.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 9th, 2012
9:18 pm
Ssssssshhhhhh, be bery bery quiet…. we’re hunting for conspiracies. Don’t need no evidence. Just wild speculation.
Why yesterday the sun rose and now this resignation…. it may be aliens who control sunspots and cause climate change.
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
getalife,obama is your president,not mine
Far right wing patriotism.
And guy with the pathetic new name, one electoral beat down and you’re just phoning it in now?
What a trooper!
Jm
November 9th, 2012
9:22 pm
Willie
Yes men are dumb
Sarsah Fulbusch
November 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
The general’s girlfriend is stunningly attractive, and smart. He never thought anyone would know
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
I swear, this stuff just writes itself…
Paula Broadwell discusses her time spent with General David Petraeus in war-torn Afghanistan while researching her book “All In.”
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-25-2012/paula-broadwell
Jm
November 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
Keep
All evidence presented suffices
Patricia broadwell
whacked
November 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
You mean Blooper Blurdock, the same guy whose company hacked the Queen’s answering machine, is suspicious about possible CIA/Obama conspiracies? What might he do next? Order his most beloved, Fox News, to investigate?
Paul
November 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
godless
Thanks.
But as far as the conversation I had with 0311, it’s pretty evident he considered Clinton as covered by one singular reg that applies to all federal employees who are managers that says they’ll get fired if the have an affair.
As far as what regs permit as far as the top guy, you’ll have to ask 0311. He will say “NO!’
Just don’t ask him for a cite.
Anyhow, I’m offline for quite a while. Have a good one -
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 9th, 2012
9:27 pm
JamVet, you see the CEO clown that is building the largest house in the country is backing down from his little rant about firing people if Obama was reelected and is actually giving out raises. http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=28d96853-6c80-444a-9c6e-b0b52173855b
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
9:28 pm
According to the interview with Stewart, she was embedded with the General while in Afghanistan.
Which BTW I learned at Mellow Mushroom Trivia this week is not only the biggest producer of opium in the Middle east , it also leads the way in marijuana.
So it’s got that going for it…
Jm
November 9th, 2012
9:30 pm
Jamvet 9:24
bob
November 9th, 2012
9:32 pm
Jay, found this for you “Obama administration officials have told reporters that Petraeus’s resignation means he will not testify before congressional oversight committees next week, as planned”
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:33 pm
godless heathen @ 8:15
“Paul: Every other federal manager would have been fired
With all due respect, I read it as every _other_ federal manager.
You are trying to make biscuits out of sawdust. But I know winning a blog argument of your own creation is extremely important. Are you related to JHM or Adam?”
Thank you ……….. you hit the nail on the head and (don’t waste the time but) if you went back and re-read my posts you would find I clearly identified Clinton as an “elected official” vs. a federal manager per se ………. impeachment vs. firing.
That said:
1) The President should be held to a “higher” not a lower standard.
2) He should have resigned.
3) He should have been convicted of the impeachment.
Paul can’t see the forest for the trees ……………… and yes please spend the weekend looking up that regulation. It will do you good.
Banderson
November 9th, 2012
9:35 pm
So when this guy Paul leaves, 0311 comes back?
getalife
November 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
It is not about Clinton.
It is about Petraeus.
Deflectabation might make you feel better for supporting the gop but reality has a liberal bias.
Be a lib and live in the real world.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
So when this guy Paul leaves, 0311 comes back?
Yep…..
getalife
November 9th, 2012
9:38 pm
bob,
He can’t testify if he is under FBI investigation.
I have tin foil hats for sale.
All the cons want them.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:39 pm
1) Colonel – Unites States Army :
“HEIDELBERG, Germany — Taking command of the lauded 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in 2008 seemed like the latest stop in Col. James H. Johnson III’s rise to the top. The son of a retired lieutenant general, Johnson was expected by many to someday wear stars himself.
But now, in a spectacular fall from grace, the honor graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is headed to court-martial next week in Kaiserslautern. He is charged with six violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and 27 specifications or counts, including bigamy, adultery, fraud, forgery and making false statements, all in connection with an illicit affair he conducted with an Iraqi woman.
He is also charged with wrongful cohabitation, failure to obey an order and conduct unbecoming an officer, according to the charge sheet.”
http://www.stripes.com/army-colonel-to-face-charges-including-bigamy-adultery-fraud-forgery-at-court-martial-1.179823
2) Bill Clinton, Commander in Chief – United States Armed Forces
Free Pass
Banderson
November 9th, 2012
9:40 pm
I have tin foil hats for sale
==============
will they stop the voices?
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
The general’s girlfriend is stunningly attractive, and smart. He never thought anyone would know
Then he didn’t know much about the agency he was the head of.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
Good Fight:
Football is on you know. I don’t live on this blog.
Paul will read this later or tomorrow. He always does as he can’t stand it when I show him the fallacy of some of his moral/political positions.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:42 pm
Banderson:
Football is on you know. I don’t live on this blog.
Paul will read this later or tomorrow. He always does as he can’t stand it when I show him the fallacy of some of his moral/political positions.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
9:42 pm
scout,
Stop that deflectabation in public.
It is about Petraeus scout.
Live in the real world scout.
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
9:45 pm
Back in October, Westgate Resorts CEO David Siegel sent out an e-mail to the 7,000 employees of the privately held company, many of them in the battleground state of Florida, warning them their jobs were at risk if the president was re-elected.
People with all sortza dough and a few brains sure do like steppin’ in and trackin’ around their own ____, huh?
It must smell good to them.
No, I hate the man who sent our jobs away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbWRfBZY-ng
getalife
November 9th, 2012
9:45 pm
“will they stop the voices?”
No but they help tune in conspiracies
Voices and batteries are not included.
No refunds.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:46 pm
Paula Broadwell wrote his biography?
Or do you mean his erotobiography?
One surge too many.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 9th, 2012
9:47 pm
Sure thing.
I hear your clucking Senior Digits. How you do that and whine about Clinton, (or Obama inthe past) at the same time, I don’t know. Besides I have seen some of you posts about your wink, wink, nudge, nudge treatment of people in your custody in violation of any number of regulations. So I don’t think you have standing to whine.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
9:49 pm
There ya go scout.
Does deflecting to Clinton make you feel better?
Bob
November 9th, 2012
9:50 pm
Jay, regarding your comment ‘I think a guy got caught with his pants down, and in a job that sensitive, it’s a firing/quitting offense. Pretty simple stuff, happens all the time. Haven’t you heard?’ and I’m not sure if this has been asked but do you believe Bill Clinton should have resigned? I don’t mean this as some sort of ‘gotcha’. I’m just curious.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
9:52 pm
bob,
Does deflecting blame to Clinton make you feel better because this republican disgraced his office?
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:53 pm
Bob:
I understand that Jay stated that Clinton should have resigned.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 9th, 2012
9:54 pm
Clever of Petraeus to have started that affair some time ago knowing it would eventually get him out of testifying about Benghazi
Heh, heh, heh.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:54 pm
Good fight:
There are gray areas …………. a wise man knows when not to cross the line.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:55 pm
Does deflecting blame to Clinton make you feel better because this Obama appointee disgraced his office?
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:56 pm
godless heaten:
“I understand that Jay stated that Clinton should have resigned.”
I believe you are correct.
However, Jay has also made this statement:
“The premise of the entire debate is false, because the attack on our consulate in Benghazi was not an act of terror.”
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/10/17/on-benghazi-the-debate-and-acts-of-terror/
Go figure !
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 9th, 2012
9:56 pm
Good Fight:
Have you read “A Bridge Too Far” or seen the movie ?
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
9:57 pm
So Kam, What does Drudge have up on it? (He appreciates your every contribution to his hit count.”
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 9th, 2012
9:59 pm
So Kam, What does Drudge have up on it?
So, your google broken?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 9th, 2012
10:00 pm
Senior Digits, nope. You’re not that wise and they are not that gray. Good thing your rubber hose is retired.
Bob
November 9th, 2012
10:00 pm
getalife, I’m really not ‘deflecting’. I agree that Petreaus should have resigned. I agree that he disgraced his office. I was just wanting Jay’s comments. I don’t know why you are so angry but please leave me out of your comments.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 9th, 2012
10:02 pm
I don’t know why you are so angry but please leave me out of your comments.
You really don’t know how this blogging thingie works, do you?
Jm
November 9th, 2012
10:04 pm
Petraeus would’ve made a great prez
Better judgement
In women
Bob
November 9th, 2012
10:04 pm
Kamchak, I’m used to blogging with adults. I hardly ever read Bookmans columns. I thought I’d ask him a question.
getalife
November 9th, 2012
10:05 pm
godless,
I guess he should not hire any republicans.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 9th, 2012
10:06 pm
Kamchak, I’m used to blogging with adults.
All available evidence suggests otherwise.
godless heathen
November 9th, 2012
10:06 pm
So, your google broken?
Can usually count on you to keep us posted on Drudge. Saves the keystroke effort. And I sleep better knowing that I haven’t added to his hit count. That’s how he makes money, you know.
JamVet
November 9th, 2012
10:07 pm
Keep, more from that great article…
…Makovsky Wall Street Reputation Study of financial industry marketing execs in which 81% believe Wall Street pay will continue to batter the industry reputation.
…the Gallup survey in May that discovered that fewer than one in five Americans trusted big business nor the poll of high school students by the University of Arizona in August that found that 75% agreed with the following statement: “The stock market is rigged mostly to benefit greedy Wall Street bankers.”
But for gawdsakes, let’s not have any agitators protesting against our “monied corporations”.
I hope we shall crush in it’s birth, the aristocracy of our monied corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength; and to bid defiance to the laws of their country.” First published in Ford’s Writings of Thomas Jefferson in 1892
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 9th, 2012
10:08 pm
Jm, really?