General Petraeus resigns amid affair scandal

[ecugringo]

I have not posted here in a long time, but I do read through the threads periodicaly. But I think ties into the election thread a bit. Did anyone else notice that before the election none of the major news sources really questioned Bengazi? But now that the election is over and there is nothing to report, the news focus is back on Bengazi and the fiscal cliff? There is not a doubt in my mind that there is a connection between the resigination and Bengazi. Also I heard Hillary Clinton will not be available to testify next week either.

[BB Stacker]

Congress has the power to subpoena any U.S. citizen, anywhere, anytime, provided the subpoena is relevant to whatever Congress is investigating (which it would be in this case). Him resigning isn't this big "get out of testifying" thing that a lot of you seem to think it is. Okay, so he won't testify at the hearings next week because he's no longer the CIA Director...if Congress wants to hear from him they will, and honestly he stands less of a chance of fighting a Congressional subpoena as private citizen David Petraeus as opposed to DCI David Petraeus.

Do you really think that a political animal like Petraeus would get outflanked to the point where he has to resign because of some "made-up" affair that is going to effectively kill his career, both in govt service and politically? He isn't some babe in the woods when it comes to these things, he is very very savvy politically; if someone was trying to "take him down" or whatever and he was fighting it, it would be a lot messier and a lot nosier than him submitting his resignation and the President accepting it a day later. Simple solutions are the best.

And yeah, if you're gonna go down that road, you could do a lot worse than her.

Edited November 10, 2012 by BB Stacker

[BADFNZ]

wood

[Almansur]

https://www.thedailys...paula-broadwell

I'd say, the book was aptly titled.

Embedded with "peaches" to write a books titled "All-In, the Education of Petraeus", you can't make this shit up...

Edited November 10, 2012 by Almansur

[Homestar]

Can't she be charged under the UCMJ since she is in the Reserves?

Was General Petraeus involved with this woman while he was in Afghanistan? Sounds like she was with him during a year of his tour which would have been a violation of GO1B.

Edited November 10, 2012 by Homestar

[Fud]

I say put your tin foil hats away, he got busted with his hand in the cookie jar, and if its her, not bad. I don't advocate what he did, but have you seen the mistresses of Clinton and Arnie.....really?

I prefer to use the simplest solution as being the best on this one. Petraeus is the best known officer during this time, and he did a great job from what I understand.

What I don't understand is when people pass moral judgement on something they truly don't have all the facts on. While his actions are not above board, I think it is hard for any of us to put ourselves in his shoes for a while.

I remember reading Gen Old's bio a while back and how he had an affair with his secretary after his change of command during Vietnam. It seemed it was something he needed at the time, and his marriage was in shambles. Maybe he needed a little strange, but who knows.

Countless powerful men have had mistresses, but we now live in a world where it is incredibly hard to have secrets. I wonder what life would have been like for JFK is youtube was around.

[magnetfreezer]

Was General Petraeus involved with this woman while he was in Afghanistan? Sounds like she was with him during a year of his tour which would have been a violation of GO1B.

Threshold rule is only in the AF version of GO1B I believe.

[Day Man]

vaginal threshold?

[brickhistory]

Seeing reports that the FBI investigation has been going on for some months, but the endgame was deliberately held up until after Nov. 6.

Worker level FBI and others in the IC are pissed.

If true, then I can judge Petreous harshly without a second thought. That story will come out.

If not true, damned if this Administration both blessed with luck and coincidence.

[Champ Kind]

I once googled the phrase "Where have all the great men gone?"

Feeling lonely, are we?

Edited November 10, 2012 by Champ Kind

[Guest one]

I wonder if the FBI might have thought it would be better to look the other way? I understand them investigating because someone was trying to break into his email but couldn't they keep his personal issues private? What he did was wrong but it was something small in the grand scheme of things.

At first I thought the military should throw the book at this woman. I thought she was trying to ruin the man, but it actually seems like she had tremendous respect for the man and the FBI just found them out.

Edited November 10, 2012 by one

[jcj]

This is just suck all around.

https://www.washingto...tional-security

This article from the WP seems to have the most credible explanation so far. According to this account, the woman (Broadwell) threatened another woman by e-mail. The other woman reported it to the FBI as a threat, and upon identifying Gen. Petraeus's involvement they investigated to ensure it wasn't a hacking-in of his e-mail, compromise of classified material or other criminal action given his role as CIA director. They apparently discovered no evidence of a crime by anyone, but came across evidence of the affair - which made it's way to the DNI. Apparently it fell apart after that, with the General choosing to resign (on advice from the DNI). Unfortunately, the article alludes to the possibliity of another woman participant.

I don't buy a conspiracy re: Benghazi or any other skull-duggery. It seems to me like an incredibly accomplished and admired military leader fell victim to a very human weakness with an attractive and (probably) aggressive younger woman.

Edited November 10, 2012 by jcj

[PapaJu]

https://www.washingto...tional-security

This article from the WP seems to have the most credible explanation so far. According to this account, the woman (Broadwell) threatened another woman by e-mail. The other woman reported it to the FBI as a threat, and upon identifying Gen. Petraeus's involvement they investigated to ensure it wasn't a hacking-in of his e-mail, compromise of classified material or other criminal action given his role as CIA director. They apparently discovered no evidence of a crime by anyone, but came across evidence of the affair - which made it's way to the DNI. Apparently it fell apart after that, with the General choosing to resign (on advice from the DNI). Unfortunately, the article alludes to the possibliity of another woman participant.

I don't buy a conspiracy re: Benghazi or any other skull-duggery. It seems to me like an incredibly accomplished and admired military leader fell victim to a very human weakness with an attractive and (probably) aggressive younger woman.

+1, too bad it looks like she might have been a bit nuts, too.

[jcj]

One does wonder...

[BitteEinBit]

I'm willing to bet there are a significant number of senior officers from all services holding these kinds of skeletons in their closets....Very significant number. This doesn't surprise me at....Titties have that same effect on me too...

I'll bet there are a significant number of posters in this very thread with those secrets....E-ticket check!!

[Azimuth]

I wonder how many Soldiers he punshied for the same offense while he was in command throughout his career?

Edited November 11, 2012 by Azimuth

[LJDRVR]

I wonder how many Soldiers he punshied for the same offense while he was in command throughout his career?

Yeah, but he's no longer subject to that part of the UCMJ. I know what you're saying, though.

One does wonder...

It bugs me when people want to derive humor from Lisa Nowak's misfortune. She was an incredibly high-functioning, intelligent and driven professional who's qualifications and accomplishments are way more impressive than just about anybody on this board.

She was also part of a sick and broken culture at NASA that can best be described as 1970's Navy fighter squadron leadership. Like much of aviation, the stigma for speaking up and asking for help associated with her environment prevented her from getting assistance. After she melted down? They threw her away.

[tac airlifter]

Yeah, but he's no longer subject to that part of the UCMJ.

Valid, but he was giving Art 15's to single guys in OEF for GO1 violations while he had his own thing going on. Hypocrisy is an embarrassing trait to be remembered for, especially in light of his numerous impressive accomplishments.

[Danny Noonin]

It bugs me when people want to derive humor from Lisa Nowak's misfortune. She was an incredibly high-functioning, intelligent and driven professional who's qualifications and accomplishments are way more impressive than just about anybody on this board.

She was also part of a sick and broken culture at NASA that can best be described as 1970's Navy fighter squadron leadership. Like much of aviation, the stigma for speaking up and asking for help associated with her environment prevented her from getting assistance. After she melted down? They threw her away.

What choo talkin bout Willis?

Misfortune? NASA leadership and "stigma" caused her to cheat on her husband and pepper spray her little friend's other girlfriend?

Copy, not her fault.

Edited November 11, 2012 by Danny Noonin

[Learjetter]

Valid, but he was giving Art 15's to single guys in OEF for GO1 violations while he had his own thing going on. Hypocrisy is an embarrassing trait to be remembered for, especially in light of his numerous impressive accomplishments.

Doubtful...if he was double-dipping as a four star in Afghanistan (the "affair" timeframe is unknown, at least to me), it's very very unlikely any of the folks he rated were. He would probably not sign ART 15s that could be handled by lower echelons. My opinion only.

[magnetfreezer]

Doubtful...if he was double-dipping as a four star in Afghanistan (the "affair" timeframe is unknown, at least to me), it's very very unlikely any of the folks he rated were. He would probably not sign ART 15s that could be handled by lower echelons. My opinion only.

As CENTCOM commander, he was the one that signed the General Orders enabling said lower echelons to hand out paperwork.

[Azimuth]

Doubtful...if he was double-dipping as a four star in Afghanistan (the "affair" timeframe is unknown, at least to me), it's very very unlikely any of the folks he rated were. He would probably not sign ART 15s that could be handled by lower echelons. My opinion only.

How long has he been retired, 1-2 years? I highly doubt he waited to retire before he started having the affair. And depending on the rank of the military member being punished he could be the convening authority of Art 15/court martial.

[disgruntledemployee]

I'm pissed at the general. The top dog can dip his wick but husbands and wives on the same base got the book thown at them for stepping into the spouse's room. And so on with other examples. He should have stuck with porn, at least that won't get jealous and send hateous e-mails to other women "trying to steal the man."

Broadwell is Al Qaeda.

Out

(PS, "hateous" is mine and original)

[tac airlifter]

Doubtful...if he was double-dipping as a four star in Afghanistan (the "affair" timeframe is unknown, at least to me), it's very very unlikely any of the folks he rated were. He would probably not sign ART 15s that could be handled by lower echelons. My opinion only.

think big picture.

As CENTCOM commander, he was the one that signed the General Orders enabling said lower echelons to hand out paperwork.

Exactly.

[Learjetter]

think big picture.

You wrote he "was giving" ART 15s. I doubt that. No matter. My real issue was with timing: I understand the affair to be a more recent event, like after he retired. If it was, GO1 punishments were valid. If not, you're 100% right.

Just like when the CinC (Clinton) was foolin' around with Lewinski and the military was still court-martialling adulterers.