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Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.
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There is much hue and cry from politicians and pundits that David Petraeus has done the “honorable” thing by resigning. That characterization flies in the face of the concept of honor.
Even Petraeus taught subordinates that honor and integrity are characterized by what one does when no one is looking. He failed to walk his walk. When no one was looking, he cheated on his wife and owned up to it only when it was destined to become public.
He did the right thing by resigning. However, doing the right thing is not equivalent to doing the honorable thing.
The honorable thing would have been to not have an affair in the first place. It would have been to resign when he started the affair. Certainly he is a smart, capable, outstanding commander and should continue to get credit and our appreciation for that. But honor? No. The affair is without honor.
James Clapper fired David Petraeus
The Obama government is in free fall due to Jill Kelley who runs a Tampa party house for entertainment of high level government employees.
-- No surprise that while all of this is happening Obama says that he knows nothing.
The heads of the CIA, FBI, STATE DEPARTMENT, DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, and JUSTICE DEPARTMENT are in meltdown over national security breakdowns.
-- No surprise that while all of this is happening Obama says that he knows nothing.
David Petraeus was trying to salvage his jobs when he was forced to lie to Congress about the Benghazi terrorist attack - trying to say it was a spontaneous mob because of the Hollywood video.
-- No surprise that while all of this is happening Obama says that he knows nothing.
Paula Boardwell has indicated that the CIA Benghazi Annex was a secret terrorist Detention center for black ops interrogations. Obama issued an order to stop the EITs.
-- No surprise that while all of this is happening Obama says that he knows nothing.
American commander in Afghanistan Gen. John Allen under investigation for over 20,000 pages "inappropriate communications" with a woman. When does he have time to fight the war?
-- No surprise that while all of this is happening Obama says that he knows nothing.
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WHO IS IN CHARGE. We are in a meltdown and nobody is in charge
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We like to think of our heros as perfect people incapable of errors in judgement or disappointing us in any way. Alas, even our heros are human and we may just have to abandon the belief that there are comic book superheros living amongst us.
SOMETIMES SCANDALS ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY
There is no doubt, there are women who love men of power, and there are many men who cannot resist the women who love the power that they have.
Without question, women can well be a man's greatest weakness. History surely proves this.
As both a former United States Marine and retired prison guard, the sex scandals that have unfolded have been aplenty. Civilians tend to believe that the greatest obstacle to surviving and reaching retirement for these men of power is the inherent dangers of their chancy job functions. Ironically, not even close. By far, I've lost many more quality leaders due to sex scandals than all other reasons combined.
But, here are the firsthand facts on this subject. Somehow the troops always know when the powers to be are involved in "sex games" with women who solicit association with a particular government branch. Women, who play this, are not very good at keeping this secret. They may not say anything, but the way they "prance around their newfound power sphere" gives it all away.
Believe me when I say, the troops don't like it. There is dissention, rebellion, and conflicts that rage through the ranks of an effected government agency or branch. Most times the public is unaware of all this until the absolute explosion point takes place.
America, don't worry about Petraeus, he is easily replaceable as are all the other leaders involved in this sex scandal. The country will be better off without these government sex crazed leaders. The result will be, under new leadership, the rank and file subordinates will "cool their jets", and the business at hand that needs to be attended to will be done.
Honorable or not, certainly imperfect, Petraeus did take the correct action in what seems to be a timely fashion. I find no fault in that, especially when we consider all the similar incidents in recent memory.
Petraeus betrayed us. Plain and simple. If, and it may have been, he conducted the affair while in the military he should be reduced in rank and pay, permanently. He compromised himself and his position, perosnally, professionally and militarily. Shame on him. And the Obama minnows who kept the information about Petraeus from the President, if they did.
Let's not forget 4 real American heroes were murdered in Benghazi Libya on 9-11. Why? What happened? Who was asleep at the helm? State Dept? CIA? Defense? President? Some/all? Americans deserve the truth. Now.
CarmineD
It's a damn shame General Petraeus allowed himself to be seduced. He is and will go down in history as one of the great military minds but tainted by an affair.
CarmineD - "And the Obama minnows who kept the information about Petraeus from the President, if they did."
The rant by Future and Carmine is typical of the right wing flipping out again. The evidence isn't complete and laying this at Obama's feet in pure BS. Eric Cantor knew a month before the President found out, why aren't you condemning Cantor?
Don't your brains hurt after being sucked into your paranoid and delusional theories?
VernosB,
An argument can be made that the Republicans could have used the information about Patreaus for political gain before the election. If in fact Cantor knew about this as early as it seems, then he should be commended for respecting the supposed national security interests (presumably that is what the FBI was saying) instead of using the information as a political club.
You can't have it both ways.
Comment removed by moderator. Personal Attack
BTW, Eric Cantor contacted the FBI with the info when he learned about it. Cantor said so and so did the FBI.
CarmineD
"The rant by Future and Carmine is typical of the right wing flipping out again. The evidence isn't complete and laying this at Obama's feet in pure BS." @VernosB
Obama said he was responsible - don't you believe Obama?
Either Obama has no knowledge of what is going on in his administration and no control over its operation.
Or he does run and control his administration.
Does VB actually believe that Eric Holder one of his inner circle did not tell Obama or any one else of this national Security Risk. Really
@Vernos: It is truly unbelieveable that you would defend anything that this administration did in this affair. THEY knew this BEFORE the election. Try explaining why Rice went on 5 shows and said that Libya was about a film and was told to by the White House. Obama says he knew it was an act of terror the very next day. You remember during the debate when he begged the moderator for clarification. If you can't see this administration is not only incompetent but liars you're blind. If Petreaus is any kind of a leader and loyal he will speak up and tell the WHOLE truth not the story the confused white house gives him.
Oh good grief!
Just come right out and say that the White House knew all about Patreaus' problems but promised him not to do anything if he would keep his mouth shut until after the election about how the White House knew in advance about the Libya attack plans but did nothing.
Remind me to buy more Alcoa stock.
"Just come right out and say that the White House knew all about Petreaus'"
First rule: Always keep your boss informed. Always. BTW, did I say always. FBI works for the Justice Department. Justice Department works for the President.
CarmineD
I guess when you rub elbows day in and day out with beltway cheaters and liars it's easy become one.
When you lay down with dogs you're gonna get fleas.
I agree with what you said in your letter, Mr. Daniel. But I carry it even further.
Since Petreaus, and now subsequently another General, both with ties to our current war in Afghanistan, have been involved in shenanigans, I contend unbelievable harm has been done to our military and its effectiveness.
I can guarantee you that right now, our American troops at the tip of the spear fighting on the frontlines in Afghanistan, the ones in the trenches, the ones trying to do their best to wage war in that country, the ones representing America the best they can....are all shaking their heads in utter confusion...and absolute disgust.
You have a disgraceful General who seems to have sent 30,000 e-mails to a woman, all while he is supposed to be conducting war in Afghanistan.
The troops see this.
They basically are saying right now to themselves, why are we fighting this thing when our General could care less if we live or die...because his interests are more directed elsewhere than what we're supposed to be doing over here?
Those troops right now are only over there fighting to protect other troops. They are only interested in protecting themselves and their buddies.
Why? Because their Generals do not give a flying crap about them. They have proven it in word and deed.
I guess what I'm saying is these so called honorable Generals and their stupidity have just caused damage to our fighting troops.
We are now in a situation over there that is much akin to what happened to our troops in Vietnam.
Way to go, Generals. You just blew it.
Get us out of Afghanistan, Mr. President. Faster than 2014. It's a total waste now. The morale of our troops over there has been busted apart and cannot be fixed. Don't matter if a new battalion of Generals is sent over there. It's over with. Time to go, Mr. President. To stay there is not serving American interests anymore. And it's only spilling blood unnecessarily.
With these recent infidelities and inappropriateness from the people supposedly in charge revealed to the full light of day, it really don't set an example for the enlisted men. I can guarantee you they don't care about anything other than their own survival on the front lines right now. These Generals have let them down. And they know it.
Romney and his maggots are still grumbling over his recent loss to the only real man in the race for the White House. They have blamed so many different things and somehow some think Petreaus is part of the reason. Thinking that you are crazy is a sign of your sanity.
It's obvious, at least to me, that the minnows in and around the President's inner circle are denying telling him about Petraeus until after the election. This gives President Obama the excuse of plausible deniability. Don't think for an instant Obama didn't know about Petraeus in the beginning of October if not sooner.
CarmineD
"Romney and his maggots are still grumbling over his recent loss to the only real man in the race for the White House." antigov
What kind of a man/let alone president puts a naive woman [who by his own admission didn't know anything about Bengahzi] in front of all the Sunday talk shows to take the heat for the lies and scandal surrounding Benghazi, Libya and 4 murders?
CarmineD
I have to agree with Mr. Daniel, there is nothing honorable about cheating on your spouse. However, I would call General Petreaus honorable for coming clean and facing the consequences. He could have responded like former President Clinton and lied and denied.
Carmine,
Where do your facts come from? If you paid any attention to the real press conference yesterday, Obama asked the republicans to come after him and not Rice. I am sure the Faux News facts had a different take on it though. While the Obama administration continues the investigation the republican party is still trying to win an election that is over and the maggots keep squirming.
David Petreaus had a long and storied career that most likely had a few brushed with death and injury.
His sin has had undetermined consequences to many families.
He now has a lot of time on his hands to fix what is fixable.
Here is his statement:
"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.
As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.
Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.
Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.
With admiration and appreciation,
David H. Petraeus"
What is most disquieting in his statement is the lack of sorrow and his NOT asking for forgiveness. He let a lot of people down.
His statement tells me a lot about his character.
Not much going on.
Did I mention he is a republican?
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-plank/petrae...
You people claiming that the White House knew of Petraeus's affair forget the FBI has a long history of keeping information to themselves, and not dealing fairly with the CIA. And yes boftx, it is a fact Cantor knew in October about the affair because he was alerted by another congressman who got inside info from an FBI agent.
CarmineD - "What kind of a man/let alone president puts a naive woman [who by his own admission didn't know anything about Bengahzi] in front of all the Sunday talk shows to take the heat for the lies and scandal surrounding Benghazi, Libya and 4 murders?"
Have you forgotten Condoleeza and Powell who were used as frontmen to misinform the public? As a matter of fact when a CIA agent, Valerie Plame, tried to correct their errors she was outed by the NeoCon slime operating behind the White House.
You hypocrites with short term memory crack me up. Throughout our history the FBI or CIA had intentionally or not, misinformed politicians who openly based statements on what information they were given. Condoleeza, Powell, and Susan Rice are all examples of those failures not of their own choosing. It didn't take long for Colin Powell to quit when he found he was lied to.
When the President said to go after him and not Rice does that mean that he doesn't think Rice can handle the job?
Wonder what the Dems would have said if Cantor came out before the election and told what he knew. Of course we all know what would have happened. And as for Fox, at least they cover the whole story not just what they've been told to report by the white house.
And if you call that a news conference you're lost. Alls I heard was, here we go again......"Its under investigation"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honor? I hear they pulled Paula's security clearance. Will she resign or be drummed out of the Reserves? We're paying taxes so socialites can "rub elbows" with Generals? We're paying taxes so Paula can write a book on company time?
Vernos 11:27 you have a point about misinforming, but outright denial when he knew all about it? And if he didn't know, we're in more trouble. Malfeasance, criminal negligence, incapable and unacceptable as Commander in Chief. And to your point about misinformation, that's one of the reasons President GWB was not always popular. Obama prides himself that he is popular. Think that's gonna last?
The sexual affair only has a tertiary significance in that the head of the CIA made himself vulnerable to someone accessing security information on the US.
If not this woman, he is still clearly vulnerable to other individuals, and therefore he is not able to hold the office.
I can imagine the struggle he went through with his conscience on many levels.
The top security positions in our government are of utmost importance to the nation's security.
The only issue is one of National security interests.
If David Petraeus recognized a potential threat through his actions, and decided to resign, he made the right decision, and a responsible one.
"Carmine,
Where do your facts come from?" @antigov
"Have you forgotten Condoleeza and Powell who were used as frontmen to misinform the public?" @VBrancos
Rice is the UN AMB and supposedly in line for Secretary of State. Obama's charade of chivalry on her behalf is a farce. A poor attempt to detract from Obama's incompetance, malfeasance, and ineptitude of putting her out to dry on the Sunday shows to lie for him.
Never heard Bush2 use the race/gender card for Condolezza Rice when she was Sec of State. Why?
Should we just appoint old white men to government positions so then it's okay to pick them apart when they screw up? That's what Obama's fake outrage and defense of Susan Rice suggests. And BTW, the GOP are going after Obama. He's the President and he's accountable for Benghazi and the murders of 4 American heroes.
CarmineD