Sad end to Petraeus' brilliant career
The resignation of David Petraeus as head of the CIA is not just a significant loss for the nation but a tragic finale for a brilliant career.
Petraeus devoted his adult life to serving his country, something all should keep in mind as the scandal vortex kicks into high gear. Wise heads know to reserve judgment until the facts are known.
Petraeus’ decision to resign over an extramarital affair was entirely correct. Such behavior is a classic blackmail target, and the CIA’s top leader has an example to set.
The most obvious question is why the FBI didn’t inform key lawmakers earlier.
Published reports say the case began when Jill Kelley, who arranged social events at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, told the FBI she was receiving harassing emails. The investigation led to the affair between Petraeus and Paula Broadwell, author of a biography of Petraeus — and the person who had sent the emails to Kelley.
Broadwell surrendered her computer, on which classified documents were found. Petraeus was also interviewed and denied being a source of the documents — an assertion backed by Broadwell.
The FBI says it didn’t determine until the evening of the election there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges. That explanation may not satisfy congressional overseers.
It is also not clear why Petraeus, despite his resignation, won’t testify in this week’s congressional hearings on the Benghazi attack. He was in charge of the CIA at the time and the casualties included CIA contractors. Allowing Petraeus to testify could put many of the Benghazi questions to rest.
Petraeus’ record must be viewed as a whole. While he is revealed as all too human, he was one of the nation’s greatest generals.
During his time as commander at Fort Leavenworth, Petraeus rewrote the Army’s counterinsurgency manual and then put those concepts to work in Iraq. His success in turning the tide in that war is a feat young officers will study for generations.
Mark Hastert
7 months, 1 week agoI understand that the military has different rules but so long as laws were not broken this ought to be a private matter.
Regarding Akin, AW. He was trying to legislate his religious convictions thus making it a public concern.
Phil Cardarella
7 months, 1 week agoHere is the problem in a nutshell:
A system that deprives the United States of the services of this brilliant man over such triviality is itself flawed.
His adultery should be a matter between him and his wife, not the FBI, CIA, Congress and FOX. “Susceptibility to blackmail” was the excuse used to blackball homosexuals for decades. Do we really think a guy like Petreus was going to give the Ruskies our launch codes to keep a tawdry affair secret? Allen Drury would blush at that plot!
The whole “military crime of adultery” thing — which does not apply here at all? It is left over from when adultery was a crime in all 50 states — and makes no more sense in 21st Century American forces than drills on musket-loading.
Guys like sex. I doubt we would want an army of guys who didn’t. And, it is our warped national attitude that turns a farce into a tragedy.
Mark Hastert
7 months, 1 week ago“A private matter? Hardly. You need to read more. There is a huge can of worms ready to explode from Benghazi to Afghanistan.”
OMG!!! you mean that if he hadn’t boinked out of wedlock Bengazi would not have happened? There is nothing more entertaining than a excusifying loser.