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
Hypocrisy
November 10th, 2012
11:16 am
Do those who think Clinton should have resigned for his actions think Reagan, Bush Sr and Jr were good Presidents and should be looked at that way?
Reagan: Iran Contra selling of arms to a declared enemy of the state
Bush Sr: same as above. Should he even ran for President in 88.
Bush Jr deleting of millions of emails from mainframe at time investigation was going on. Use of personal email for official government business, coincidentally, on same issue related to deleted emails.
There is plenty valid reasons to say Clinton should have resigned, if you do not think the same way based on the facts related to the other three, you are nothing more than a petty partisan hypocrite.
Brosephus™
November 10th, 2012
11:16 am
Seriously, how many times have you heard a guy say, “Man!! Look at the big brains on that chick!!!!?”
If we can’t see the boobies, then we have to look at the brains and other things. As long as you put the twins on display, we’re gonna look there first.
bucket
November 10th, 2012
11:22 am
Bookman wrote, “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?” So Petraeus getting caught with his pants down is a “firing/quitting” offense because he is “in a job that sensitive”. So I guess you were calling for President Clinton’s resignation a few years back? I mean who has a more sensitive job that the person who gets to unleash nuclear weapons on the world?
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:23 am
Ahh Fred! You are special!!
Why do I think you mean “special” as in ride the short bus special………….
Jamvet: It’s hard to believe Carol King is now 70. She still looks and sounds great. Here’s an oldie, she had no grey hairs and James Taylor still had hair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urt2cy7AqFs
skipper
November 10th, 2012
11:24 am
That ole’ “booger” done got another one!!!! Many a man has fallen victim……many more will!
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:25 am
Here they are 2 years ago. I really should post it, the sound isn’t that good……. but I can’t find a better one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urt2cy7AqFs
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:26 am
Crap, I posted the same one twice lol. Sorry. Here’s the right one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB8Mu_rnbLc&feature=related
Jay
November 10th, 2012
11:26 am
“Company,” in various posts over the last few weeks you’ve been pretending to be a business owner who was going to fire 100 employees, 120 employees, close your business altogether, etc. The schtick was weak from the get-go, and now it’s just plain boring.
Thulsa Doom
November 10th, 2012
11:27 am
JamVet,
Langham got pressured into signing on a cocktail napkin with an agent and he was thus ineligible and didn’t tell anybody what he did. It was later found out. One guy being pressured into a mistake doesn’t make a program dirty.
In the 2000 probation it all came down to 2 boosters who were alleged to have paid to steer a player to Bama. In this particular case the boosters were certainly in the wrong and once it was found out they were disassociated from the university. Also it was proven in court documents that the NCAA manufactured evidence in the case against Alabama. Furthermore what kind of a credible organization uses a rival coach as a “secret witness” against another program. This all happened when the NCAA began investigating UT and Fulmer offered to rat out the 2 Alabama boosters in exchange for the NCAA looking past UT. There is a reason why the NCAA has such a tawdry reputation. Their judgments are arbitrary and capricious and as Danny Sheridan points out this is a corrupt organization that would not withstand congressional nor public scrutiny. If you ever get a chance read Jerry Tarkanians book on the NCAA. He won a huge judgement against them for the same NCAA investigator Richard Johannigmeir manufacturing evidence against Tark. This same investigator later did the same against Bama and was also sued by Jackie Sherrill for again manufacturing evidence.To show you how despicable the folks are at the NCAA they threatened a Sudanese b-ball player at UNLV with deportation for him and his family back to war torn Sudan where they would surely be killed if the kid didn’t go along with mfging evidence against Tark. Only later when he hired an immigration attorney did all this crap come out.
Still we were wrong to have 2 boosters out of control but the reality is no program- NU included, can keep on eye on thousands of boosters.
The textbook case? Much ado about nothing. Several athletes in several sports were using a loophole in the textbook distribution system to get some free textbooks to help out friends who were having problems affording their books. No competitve advantage was gained, no money changed hands, it was just kids exploiting loopholes to help out a friend. Still wrong of them to do so but this is hardly an NCAA program gaining a competitive advantage.
Cheating through rampant steroid abuse over years and years is gaining a far more competitive advantage on the field is far worse imdo than any of these examples.
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:30 am
bucket
November 10th, 2012
11:22 am
Bookman wrote, “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?” So Petraeus getting caught with his pants down is a “firing/quitting” offense because he is “in a job that sensitive”. So I guess you were calling for President Clinton’s resignation a few years back? I mean who has a more sensitive job that the person who gets to unleash nuclear weapons on the world?
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Holy crap, how many MORE of these crazy sock puppets are going to come out of the wood work with the same tired crap. How does it matter bucket except in your tiny little talk radio/fox news addled little mind?
But the answer is YES he did. I know you aren’t used to thinking for yourself much less doing your own research, but why don’t you scroll back to page 4 of this blog and read Jays answer to another asshat with the same stupid little accusation/question…….
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
11:30 am
Most men that cheat don’t do it because of the looks of the spouse.
Bro, I decided to google, “Why do men cheat?” And this is what I got:
Top 10 Reasons Why Men Cheat:
Number 10 – Your lady doesn’t put out
Or it could just be that the sex has become boring. She doesn’t want to try new things in bed, or won’t perform fellatio. Some men may cheat because they don’t want their girlfriends or wives to perform certain sex acts that would ruin their “good girl” image, so they get a mistress to take care of it. Like Robert de Niro said in Analyze This , “That’s the mouth she kisses my kids good night with!”
Number 9 – She cheated on you
Number 8 – It’s challenging and exciting
If you consider the women you sleep with “sexual trophies,” chances are you have already cheated at least once in your life. Some men simply cannot leave behind the thrill of the hunt, the chase and the conquest. For other men, the excitement is in the variety, like changing ice cream flavors for one day after years of sticking to just one.
Number 7 – You can get away with it
Number 6 – It boosts your ego
Nothing lifts the old self-esteem like discovering that other women still desire you sexually.
What’s a guy to do when his girlfriend’s-a-naggin’ and opportunity comes-a-knockin’?
Number 5 – The opportunity was there
It’s an uncontested fact that most men can’t say “no” to sex. Although guys aren’t constantly bombarded with sexual offers, sometimes an irresistible prospect presents itself. Maybe it’s a frisky ex-girlfriend, maybe it’s a horny hottie on the dance floor. A guy may see it as once-in-a-lifetime occasion that might never be available again. Carpe diem , as they say.
Number 4 – Your girlfriend is a nag
Number 3 – Women let us
Truth be told, women are quick to forgive men for their unfaithful behavior. Just ask Bill Clinton.
Number 2 – She doesn’t turn you on anymore
Number 1 – You don’t love her anymore.
I also googled, “Why Do Women Cheat” and got this:
Because They Want To
Women don’t make up all those silly excuses like men. Its just a waste of time and they can be cheating with some other guy instead of explaining why they’re doing it.
Sad. But true……..
Thulsa Doom
November 10th, 2012
11:31 am
Allright. I’m out for awhile. Gotta get the beer iced and get the barbeque ready. Roll Tide! Lets hope Bama avoids the big upset bug one last time.
R
O
L
L
T
I
D
E
!
Good luck today with the Huskers Jamvet.
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:32 am
Oh man. Midori did a drive by a little while ago and I missed her.
Hi Midori if you are still lurking………….
Grob Hahn
November 10th, 2012
11:32 am
Sounds like he’s getting the boot for fooking up in Libya. It WAS a major fook up after all. He’s leaving for reasons that didn’t drive Clinton out of office, so I’m not inclined to buy this weak cover story. Over the years I’d wager he’s had plenty of fun around the globe, it would have been very easy. I smell a rat.
Grobbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:35 am
DDR: Nice research. I loved your comment at the end. I think Chris Rock had more than a little grain of truth in his statement about cheating:
Men are as faithful as their options………….
Me? I’m old fat and grumpy. No options. I’m faithful like a rock.
Now if I was rich and famous and handsome and young………….. mainly just rich would do……..
Georgia
November 10th, 2012
11:38 am
I just saw a photo of the CIA Director’s paramour. Now I feel an obligation to resign, and I’m not the director of nuthin.
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
11:39 am
That ole’ “booger” done got another one!!!! Many a man has fallen victim……many more will!
Give me that man That is not passion’s slave, — Hamlet Act 3 Scene 2 — by Shakespeare
HAIL THE “V”!!!
JamVet
November 10th, 2012
11:40 am
Yeah, like the Bama players were all roid-free?
No, I don’t think so
That book you turned me onto, said that by the late 80s virtually every program (even minor ones) in the country was using them to some degree or another.
More “dirt” on Bama…
According to Saban, those of us on the outside of the Alabama program can’t criticize him for oversigning because we don’t know the exact number of players he has on scholarship from year to year. Funny thing about that. Why don’t we know? Alabama won’t tell us, even though we ask every year.
Birmingham News colleague Jon Solomon requests a copy of the annual NCAA revenue and expense report from every Division I athletics department in the state. One of the categories on that report is number of student-athletes on scholarship in each varsity sport.
Every Division I public school in this state provides us a copy of those reports. Only Alabama blacks out the scholarship numbers for every sport.
We know from the latest form that Alabama reported spending $3,041,356 on football scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year. We don’t know how many players Alabama reported having on scholarship that year.
The News has asked Alabama several times to explain why it withholds information we believe is a public record. The heart of the explanation, from university spokesperson Deborah Lane: “Federal privacy laws prevent the University from providing the media with personally identifiable information related to its students.”
But the facts are irrefutable, the Southeastern Conference, has a scandal-rich history.
When LSU and Alabama met in last season’s BCS championship game, both teams were on probation for rules violations.
Small Head rules
November 10th, 2012
11:40 am
Fellas, how does it feel to know that a part of your body is absolutely stupid and gets you in trouble all the time!? An illustrious career of a well-decorated and respected soldier taken down by a piece of @$$. Stupid.
Now, the wife’s best revenge would be to get a makeover.
JamVet
November 10th, 2012
11:41 am
Seeya Doom!
And as for today’s home match-up with the Aggies, the Tide will roll.
I’m predicting 38 – 17…
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
11:45 am
“Number 2 – She doesn’t turn you on anymore”
I have a suspicion that on this one…it’s as much, or more, the other way around first.
RW-(the original)
November 10th, 2012
11:45 am
Yeah, it’s a serious question. More than one poster has made comments in reference to the looks of Mrs. Petraeus. I’m just curious as to what looks have to do with Gen. Petraeus boinking his biographer and then resigning.
Brosephus,
If you’ll indulge while I philosophize I don’t think posters making the comments about the looks are actually analyzing the situation as much as they’re just reacting to their own visual stimuli. It’s easy to look at the two pictures and decide which way one would go if they were A) afforded the opportunity and more importantly B) that they had no other prior considerations such as family, relationship, vows, assorted other entanglements etc. Then they’re just projecting that feeling of theirs onto the General.
Tundra Dude
November 10th, 2012
11:46 am
Seriously, how many times have you heard a guy say, “Man!! Look at the big brains on that chick!!
I plead guilty.
I was on this earth quite a few years before being told the brains were up higher, in the head……..
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:48 am
Well Jam, while I’d love to watch the Huskers play, I damn sure am not going to befoul myself by watching the child molesters from Penn State. Oh sweet, I will get W. Virginia and OK State instead, just looked at the coverage map.
I STILL can’t believe how badly Ohio State romped you fellers. I expected Nebraska to win the Little 11 the first year in…….
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
11:48 am
Fred @ 11:35 — you’re quite right! I mean look at Donald Trump’s newest wife:
http://www.starpulse.com/Supermodels/Knauss,_Melania/gallery/PFR-004570/
NOW look at Donald Trump:
http://kingsandcabbages.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/donald-trump-photo1.jpg
Georgia
November 10th, 2012
11:50 am
Rove must have outed the CIA Director. If only Rove would have had a CIA agent to out like he did Valerie Plame, he may have won the election for Romney. What happened to that story? I heard that double agents and triple agents all over the world were keeled when Rove outed Plame.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
11:50 am
“I damn sure am not going to befoul myself by watching the child molesters from Penn State”
I see that you are a proponent of collective punishment. Punish even those who were not involved.
paulo977
November 10th, 2012
11:51 am
Debbie DR
Yeah Yeah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjuP0SWqUR0&playnext=1&list=PLDBF8E3B7979EC979&feature=results_video
Tundra Dude
November 10th, 2012
11:52 am
Don’t see anymore news on this.
Still wanna know why she’s snooping in his email…..?
Could be a spy for a foreign gubmint……have to check her background some more…
Brosephus™
November 10th, 2012
11:52 am
DDR
I won’t argue that at all. I remember hearing something like that after one of those “scandals”. Maybe it was Tiger or who knows. I remember that spousal looks didn’t come up as a reason.
—————————
JamVet
You call it cheating, others call it loopholes in the rules book.
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
11:53 am
Now, the wife’s best revenge would be to get a makeover.
With the money she’ll get from the divorce.
“Ah yes, divorce, from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man’s genitals through his wallet” — Robin Williams (after his second divorce)
Brosephus™
November 10th, 2012
11:55 am
RW
I had not considered that approach. That does make sense. That visual stuff will screw a man up though. A woman can look like Miss America and be completely worthless. Yet, she’ll attract way more attention than a “plain Jane” looking woman that makes Martha Stewart envious.
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
11:55 am
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
11:50 am
“I damn sure am not going to befoul myself by watching the child molesters from Penn State”
I see that you are a proponent of collective punishment. Punish even those who were not involved.
++++++++++++++++++
Not all Germans killed Jews in WW2 but their collective silence and acceptance allowed it to happen.
Penn State received as little or less punishment for covering up the rape of little boys as Ohio State received for a couple of players getting free tattoos. Yes, I’m still outraged.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
11:57 am
“Not all Germans killed Jews in WW2 but their collective silence and acceptance allowed it to happen”
but the PLAYERS on the team now neither knew about nor had the opportunity to either speak OR stay silent. They weren’t even THERE at the time.
Do you blame the children of Germany today for the faults of their grandparents?
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
12:00 pm
I STILL can’t believe how badly Ohio State romped you fellers. I expected Nebraska to win the Little 11 the first year in…….
Fred!! That’s just being MEAN! Ixnay on the OSU beatdownaway!
=================
Paulo — No woman no cry — very funny!
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
12:04 pm
DogGone — it doesn’t matter to the Football Rule Gods — no matter when the infraction took place, the current team has to suffer.
It was the same with USC AFTER Reggie Bush left and had been gone for 3 years; and it’ll be the same until the end of time. PSU doesn’t HAVE to be a part of Division I Football, they can resign and go over to Division II or III or IV.
However, if they choose to be in, they’re gonna have to live by the same rules as every other team.
Also, of note, PSU ACCEPTED the terms given to them by the governing board and decided NOT to fight.
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
12:06 pm
but the PLAYERS on the team now neither knew about nor had the opportunity to either speak OR stay silent. They weren’t even THERE at the time.
Yes they did. They ALL had opportunity to walk away. Some did. This JUST happened, it’s not something that occurred 60 years ago. The parties guilty of the cover up are still being prosecuted. People knew what was going on, they just ignored it. In 5 years? Maybe not. But now? yeah they knew.
JamVet
November 10th, 2012
12:07 pm
Bro, LOL!
Fred, there are several people in my real life just like you.
Aholes. But they are my kind of aholes! Must be that birds of a feather thing, huh?! (LOL at both of us!)
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
12:07 pm
And in IMPORTANT news, Selene Gomez and Justin Beiber have split up.
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
12:09 pm
Do you blame the children of Germany today for the faults of their grandparents?
He’s blaming the PSU SYSTEM that allowed it to happen and continue to happen for years. As he should, as EVERYONE should.
There was a system in place that made Football King and the lives and psyche of little boys meant nothing compared to it.
getalife
November 10th, 2012
12:11 pm
Another reason women are taking over.
Appoint a woman to the CIA to avoid this problem in the future.
Geaux Aggies!
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
12:12 pm
“Also, of note, PSU ACCEPTED the terms given to them by the governing board and decided NOT to fight”
I’m not interested in what the governing body does. I’m interested in a supposed former fan who is still blaming people who weren’t even involved. And sorry Fred, but the punishment might have “just” happened…but the CRIMES did not.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
12:13 pm
“Appoint a woman to the CIA to avoid this problem in the future”
You can’t possibly really believe that women don’t have affairs.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
12:14 pm
“He’s blaming the PSU SYSTEM that allowed it to happen and continue to happen for years. As he should, as EVERYONE should”
Not everyone. You don’t have my permission to choose what I do.
DebbieDoRight - I am Woman...........FEAR ME!!!!
November 10th, 2012
12:16 pm
DogGone — Fred is entitled to feel the way he wants to feel. As you are too.
However trying to diminish or to engage Fred in a reason to why he FEELS a certain way is hopeless.
He is feeling the rage, anger, and hurt and it may take a long time or forever for him to “get over” his feelings. That’s his right.
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
12:16 pm
I’m not a former PSU fan. I’ve always thought Joe Pato was a grumpy a hole. I wasn’t surprised to find out that his “team” was more important to him than little boys being raped. As to when it stopped? Who knows? In a culture where that is acceptable who knows who continued the fine PSU tradition of raping little boys in the shower. McCreary sure as hell didn’t intervene……..
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
12:17 pm
But Hey Doggone, you want to stand up for child rapers go on with your bad self. I stand against you though with every fiber of by being.
Brosephus™
November 10th, 2012
12:18 pm
And in IMPORTANT news, Selene Gomez and Justin Beiber have split up.
I blame those damned Mayans and their doomsday calendar!!!!
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
12:18 pm
“He is feeling the rage, anger, and hurt and it may take a long time or forever for him to “get over” his feelings. That’s his right”
And for that he blames someone ELSE? The players didn’t cause his feelings…HE did.
Jay
November 10th, 2012
12:18 pm
interesting potential twist in the Petraeus story upstairs.
Doggone/GA
November 10th, 2012
12:19 pm
I’m not a former PSU fan”
Oh, I get it. You wouldn’t have watched them anyway…but you’re choosing a more dramatic reason NOT to because it’s there.
Fred ™
November 10th, 2012
12:26 pm
Oh, I get it. You wouldn’t have watched them anyway…but you’re choosing a more dramatic reason NOT to because it’s there.
You do a piss poor job of putting words in someone’s mouth. You should try to avoid it.
I’ve clearly sated WHY I don’t want to watch Penn State. ESPN/ABC/Disney has glorified Penn Sate this year like THEY are the victims instead of the criminals that allowed child rape that they are. They have televised EVERY PSU game this year. A large percentage of them have been on the flag ship stations, ESPN, ABC. They didn’t show Penn State this much when they were WINNING. Now? They are a 6-3 team. If ESPN/ABC were not glorifying them for child rape, these games wouldn’t be on. Period.
This is no different than the way ESPN Demonized Mike Leech because one of the anchors sons got his little fee fees hurt or the way ESPN demonized Elizabeth Lambert. They were wrong in all three instances.
Do I feel strongly against child rape and abuse? You bet your damn life I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpE73PvU9bk
Muslim Obama?
November 10th, 2012
1:04 pm
Its obvious, the administration doesn’t want his brothers and sisters found out in Bengazi!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 10th, 2012
1:07 pm
The problem with many of these appointments is they bring in someone who has absolutely no idea of what they are “really” supposed to do or anything about the agency and of course career employees resent that.
There are pros and cons of course but overall I believe it’s better for heads of agencies to come from within the agency ………………. CIA, FBI, USSS, etc., etc.
Political appointments are not a good trade off for experience.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 10th, 2012
1:18 pm
The difference between a soldier and a politician:
Soldier: “I showed ‘extremely poor judgment’ …”
Politician: “I did not have sex with ‘that woman’ … “
Iconoclast
November 12th, 2012
4:26 am
Murdoch’s no con, he’s an opportunist that would off his own kin if it would sell his papers or buy ratings on his networks. The 007 flick, Tomorrow Never Dies has a plot that could only have been based on a W.R. Hearst or Murdoch-like character.
Pansy Rogers
November 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
Republican always grasping at straws too desperate they are at joke