News CIA Director David Petraeus submitted his resignation Friday

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Retired General David Petraeus resigned as CIA Director due to an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The affair came to light during an FBI investigation into Broadwell's emails, which revealed their intimate exchanges. Petraeus's resignation, just days after the presidential election and before his congressional testimony on the Benghazi attack, surprised many, as he was respected for his leadership and service. Discussions highlight the implications of his affair on national security, with concerns that it could be used for blackmail, a common tactic in espionage. The affair raises questions about the ethical standards expected of military leaders, particularly regarding their personal conduct and its potential impact on their professional responsibilities. Broadwell, who had security clearance, is also under investigation for allegedly mishandling classified documents, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The incident has sparked debates about the intersection of personal and professional conduct in high-stakes roles, emphasizing the high standards to which military officers are held.
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http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/0...ubmits-resignation-over-extra-marital-affair/

Editor's note: Retired Gen. David Petraeus stepped down Friday as head of the Central Intelligence Agency - 14 months after taking the job, days after the presidential election and days before he was set to testify before Congress about an attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya that left four Americans dead.
 
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This really surprised me.

Well, he can always go into politics :biggrin:.
 
Conspiracy theories have been deleted. They are not allowed on this forum.
 
Her Name Is Paula Broadwell. They allegedly had an affair. She was his biographer and they used to run together during interviews. The name of her book is "All In":blushing: She was embedded with him in Afghanistan.

Here she is on the Daily Show.

http://www.businessinsider.com/paul...raeus-biographer-daily-show-interview-2012-11

OK so the books sub title is: The Education of General David Petraeus

It looks like his education is complete now.
 
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He of all people should have known the danger. Old saying: "In god we trust, All others we monitor"
A Justice Department official tells CBS News that Petraeus' name surfaced while the FBI was undertaking a separate investigation into whether Petraeus' computer might have been compromised.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57547958/cia-director-david-petraeus-resigns/

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50134871n
 
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This is unfortunuate. I had the honor to meet him while in Iraq and then again in Afghanistan. He came off as one of the few generals who took time to actual consider the poor ground pounders in the mud. I have a lot of respect for the guy. As far as I can tell, he was doing a pretty darn good job at the CIA.
 
lisab said:
This really surprised me.

Well, he can always go into politics :biggrin:.

He and Bill Clinton would make a great President-VP pair!
 
If he leaked classified evidence, he should resign. But not because had some extra-marital affair. That has nothing to do with him being able to conduct his job. Stay out of this man's sex life!
 
General Petraeus did the right thing to resign. As CIA director, this could have been held over his head by a master spy as this is one of the common methods of causing someone to betray his country (honeypot).

Other methods include disgruntled employees or money or jailing a close relative in another country.

As the story unfolds it implies the FBI was tracking some strange email activity meaning spylike activity that lead to exposing the affair.

I hope he, his wife and his family recover from this and that he returns to service. He's done many great things for our soldiers and for resolving the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The great Irish politician Parnell was brought down by a similar scandal and the end result was that Ireland waited a few more decades before it became free of English rule.
 
  • #10
edward said:
She was embedded with him in Afghanistan.
Well put.
 
  • #11
Mentalist said:
If he leaked classified evidence, he should resign. But not because had some extra-marital affair. That has nothing to do with him being able to conduct his job. Stay out of this man's sex life!
It speaks negatively of his character and due to the nature of the job, the military (particularly officers) are held to high standards of character than civilians are used to.

Since he has only been out of the military for a year and presumably had this affair while still in active duty status, I could see the military going after his retirement pay.
 
  • #12
edward said:
Her Name Is Paula Broadwell. They allegedly had an affair. She was his biographer and they used to run together during interviews. The name of her book is "All In":blushing: She was embedded with him in Afghanistan.


That was either a very good or very poor choice of word. :devil:

And the biographer's name ("Broadwell") in this context sounds like a character made up by the Onion "News" Network. :smile:
 
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  • #13
Jimmy Snyder said:
Well put.

I'm sure she agreed (vociferously, multiple times). Since he was "all in" and all.
 
  • #14
It is an unfortunate disappointment. General Petraeus took personal responsibililty and did the right thing in resigning. As CIA director, an affair could potentially adversely affect national security.

As Russ indicated, miltary officers are held to a high standard of conduct. And when one gets involved in national security, one's life comes under close scrutiny.

The FBI counter-intelligence was investigating the relationship between Petraeus and Broadwell. It is not so much about the affair as it is about the disclosure of national security information.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/us/citing-affair-petraeus-resigns-as-cia-director.htm

I hope General Petraeus can reconcile with his family.
 
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  • #15
russ_watters said:
It speaks negatively of his character and due to the nature of the job, the military (particularly officers) are held to high standards of character than civilians are used to.

Since he has only been out of the military for a year and presumably had this affair while still in active duty status, I could see the military going after his retirement pay.

There's a (formal) difference between US military rules for enlisted men and officers?

Also, I've heard that the US President commands the armed forces, but is he technically considered civilian or uniformed?

(Sorry, I know this is common knowledge to US citizens, but I'm not one.)
 
  • #16
atyy said:
There's a (formal) difference between US military rules for enlisted men and officers?
In some cases, yes: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/fraternization.-ukn.htm
Also, I've heard that the US President commands the armed forces, but is he technically considered civilian or uniformed?
He is a civilian and that's a very important distinction in the US that doesn't exist in some countries. Eisenhower, for example, had to resign from the army before becoming President.
 
  • #17
In all seriousness they spent a lot of time toghether in Afghanistan. She was't just some low life. They actually had a lot in common including the fact that they both are runners, and both military.

Broadwell grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota and attended Century High School, where she was homecoming queen and valedictorian for the class of 1991.[5] Broadwell graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1995. She earned a master's degree from the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies in 2006.[6][7] She earned a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.[8] She has served as Director of the Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She later entered the Ph.D. program at Department of War Studies at King's College London.[9] She served in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserve. She was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Reserves in summer 2012.[1]

Broadwell has written for the New York Times and the Boston Globe.[10][11] Her biography of Petraeus, All In, was published in January 2012.[12] In November 2012, law enforcement officials said Broadwell was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for improperly trying to access Petraeus' email.[13][14]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Broadwell

http://www.businessinsider.com/paul...raeus-biographer-daily-show-interview-2012-11

This may have been an old fashioned love affair, it happens.
 
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  • #18
Like most people I don't really care about her or his love life. I do care about the nation security of the country. The man was open to compromise before he ever took the CIA job and either lied about it during his background investigation or told the truth and a determination was made at the executive level it didn't warrant disqualification. Either way it was a ticking time-bomb that the woman could trigger at anytime. The proper thing should have been to not take the job in the first place.
 
  • #19
I didn't realize that she was in the military. That makes it worse. I expect she will be dishonorably discharged because of this.
 
  • #20
Not sure where this fits into the picture either - see "Current Research" at the bottom of the web page. Looks like what the French call "l'ecole horizontale"...
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/people/phd/broadwell.aspx
 
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  • #21
russ_watters said:
In some cases, yes: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/fraternization.-ukn.htm He is a civilian and that's a very important distinction in the US that doesn't exist in some countries. Eisenhower, for example, had to resign from the army before becoming President.

The link you provided applies equally to enlisted and officers. Any difference in treatment between enlisted and officers is often to the benefit of the officer. Lastly the notation the military would go after his retirement is absorb.

The guy served beyond measure for over 30 years. He took personal responsibility. What more could be ask?
 
  • #22
MarneMath said:
The link you provided applies equally to enlisted and officers.
No, it doesn't. The very first criteria is:
(1) That the accused was a commissioned or warrant officer;
Any difference in treatment between enlisted and officers is often to the benefit of the officer.
Nonsense.
Lastly the notation the military would go after his retirement is absorb.
Maybe they will, maybe they won't. It wouldn't surprise me either way. We'll have to see.
The guy served beyond measure for over 30 years. He took personal responsibility. What more could be ask?
I agree that he generally did a good job, but he only took responsibility because he got caught. What more could I ask? That senior military officers act ethically.
 
  • #23
You obviously need to read each branches regulation on this. Or trust the guy who used to give this brief your choice!

The guy is human, I can forgive that. As far as I can tell the journalist is the one accused of the crime.
 
  • #24
MarneMath said:
You obviously need to read each branches regulation on this.
? The link I posted was clear. It directly contradicted what you said. Did you read it?
Or trust the guy who used to give this brief your choice!
What are you talking about?

I don't understand why you are getting so upset about this.
As far as I can tell the journalist is the one accused of the crime.
I haven't seen suggestion that she is being accused of a crime. Could you provide a source?
 
  • #25
We are talking about article 134. The policy is the officer policy that does only apply to officers; however, you failed to overlook the fact that there exist policy within each branch that approach this issue for the enlisted side. While yes, an enlisted cannot be given an article 134, an article 92 is often given in stead. Thus there exist consequences for a SSGT having improper relations with a PVT. Often times the punishment is worse.

My last reference was, you can rely on your internet knowledge or the guy who spent his last three years of his military career giving the brief regarding this. Your choice. No one is upset here. Just be rational. Your alternative would be to read the actual regulations.
 
  • #26
To get back more on topic. I don't like speculative remarks. THis issue is new and we obviously do not have all the facts. My personal belief is if this ends up only being an affrair, while it's unfortunate for the man's family, I can stil have respect for the service he provided his country for over 35 years. I found 5 years to be hard enough.

IF this turns out a case of leaking national sercrets, then that is something that cannot be forgiven. From what I understand though, it was the journalist trying to unlawfully access his emais, not so much about him willfully handing them to her.
 
  • #27
MarneMath said:
You obviously need to read each branches regulation on this. Or trust the guy who used to give this brief your choice!

The guy is human, I can forgive that. As far as I can tell the journalist is the one accused of the crime.

Actually there is an ongoing investigation, but no one has been accused of a crime.
 
  • #29
When F.B.I. agents following up on the complaint began to examine Ms. Broadwell’s e-mails, they discovered exchanges between her and Mr. Petraeus that revealed that they were having an affair, said the official, who spoke of the investigation on the condition of anonymity.

. . .
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/u...mbled-into-news-of-david-petraeus-affair.html

Apparently, the FBI was investigating Broadwell based on a harrasment complaint of another person. The FBI stumbled across emails between Broadwell and Petraeus.
 
  • #30
Poor guy was getting harassing emails from his mistress. I only get them from my wife.
 
  • #31
On the lighter side perhaps she wanted to be a trophy bride.

 
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  • #32
The plot thickens:

A disturbing email sent to a woman associated with Gen. David Petraeus spurred an FBI investigation that ultimately traced the message back to the inbox of Petraeus' biographer, Paula Broadwell, where authorities discovered intimate emails she had exchanged with the CIA director, who has since resigned.

(Bold mine)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS...-probe-uncovers-human-drama/story?id=17689348
 
  • #33
MarneMath said:
My last reference was, you can rely on your internet knowledge or the guy who spent his last three years of his military career giving the brief regarding this. Your choice. No one is upset here. Just be rational. Your alternative would be to read the actual regulations.
I still don't know what you are talking about. Are you talking about yourself?

By the way; The idea that my knowledge comes from the internet only is an assumption on your part -- and a wrong one.
 
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  • #34
Jimmy Snyder said:
Poor guy was getting harassing emails from his mistress. I only get them from my wife.
You misread: his mistress was harassing other women who looked at him funny.
 
  • #36
Sigh. Yes, I gave the frat briefs. I like to think I ended up knowing the policies pretty well after three years. But you don't have to take my word for it, you can just read every branches regulation and see how every member is equally effected by the frat policy. Focusing on simply the UCMJ is naive.

Also, if you are prior service , and thus have more than internet knowledge. I'm willing to bet you were an officer and served before 1998. In which case, congratulations you have iinternet knowledge. SInce from 1995 to 1998 every branch wrote ths aspect of the policy due to massive unfairness in the UCMJ.

The thing is none of this matters in this current discussion. I brought it up t point out an error on your point. He is held to such a high standard because he was a leader of such a great amount of men and commanded a great deal of respect. I personally would hold any General officer or Senior NCO to the same standard. Yet, we're all human, which is the point I wish to drive home. He obiously made a huge mistake regarding his personal life, but o expect anybody to live flawlessly is expecting far too much from anyone. Thus, I wish him wel recovering from this affrai, I wish his family well, and hopefully, no secrets were given away.

We obviously have to wait for more details.
 
  • #37
MarneMath said:
I brought it up t point out an error on your point. He is held to such a high standard because he was a leader of such a great amount of men and commanded a great deal of respect. I personally would hold any General officer or Senior NCO to the same standard.
Actually, it sounds like you are agreeing with me there. :rolleyes:

And that is a reflection of the deeper issue that is behind the concept of fraternization: The idea of fraternization applies to the civilian world as well. The reason why fraternization is more serious the higher the rank (or, rather, the larger the difference in rank) is that rank is a reflection of power. The higher the rank of the higher ranking person, the more power he/she has and, implicitly, the more power over the underling. The underlying concept is actually the same as statutory rape.

Now make sure you understand this: I'm not saying this applies to General Petraeus. That wasn't the question I was asked. And my point was actually more general, I just gave a specific example that happened to be a legal one. Higher ranking persons are held to higher standards by virtue of their position, both in the military and outside the military. And that reality goes beyond the legal system.
 
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  • #38
I would appreciate it if when you talked to me you would limit your condescending tone. Thank you. Secondly, again I fail to see how this little discourse of ours truly relates to the discussion at hand. I really do not want to distract from the topic at hand with a discussion of what fraternization means in the military and in the civilian world, thus my efforts to keep refocusing back to the main issue. However, if you feel incline to have a discussion about this, I would encourage a new thread topic somewhere.
 
  • #39
  • #40
lisab said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20301476

Yikes, another general is involved. Bad things happen when generals take orders from their privates.

:-p

Bad puns aside, this is really a terrible mess, and I hope this is as far as it goes.

:smile:

I can't believe how this has turned into a really bad soap opera.

The official said 20,000 to 30,000 documents from Allen's communications with Kelley between 2010 and 2012 are under review. He would not say whether they involved sexual matters or whether they are thought to include unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57548783/u.s-afghan-commander-link-to-petraeus-scandal/

That sounds like cyber sex, not that there is anything wrong with that unless you're married, oops they are all married with children.


But the FBI became concerned when the agent who initiated the investigation was discovered to have sent shirtless photos of himself to Kelly previously.


http://www.americanthinker.com/blog...of_petreaus_under_scrutiny.html#ixzz2C8S6Xh57

I think the FBI should have searched Jill Kelly's computer.
 
  • #41
It all started with Broadwell's letter saying "stay away from my guy". Had she been more specific which guy, Jill Kelley would be less confused and might not have approached FBI :)
 
  • #42
jobyts said:
It all started with Broadwell's letter saying "stay away from my guy". Had she been more specific which guy, Jill Kelley would be less confused and might not have approached FBI :)

There is a lot more to it than that. Why wasn't anyone suspicious when one woman, a volunteer social liaison, had access to so many Central Command Alliance officers at Mac Dill AFB.

Before long, the Kelley mansion became the place to be seen for coalition officers. Gen. David Petraeus, leader of U.S. Central Command at MacDill, marked his first celebration of the Gasparilla pirate parade on the Kelleys' lawn.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/milita...-found-place-hosting-military-parties/1261272

Holy cr@p a person has to have a background check just to drive a bus these days.
 
  • #43
Some technical information about the email trail here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20310799

Apparently there was a deliberate strategy to conceal the information transfer, by two people both accessing the "draft emails" folder of the same anonymous account, instead of actually sending emails to each other which would have been easy to trace.
 
  • #44
Petraeus Scandal: Paula Broadwell in Classified Document Probe
http://gma.yahoo.com/broadwell-classified-document-probe-114054139.html

Paula Broadwell, the author who allegedly had an affair with former CIA Director David Petraeus, is suspected of storing significant amounts of military documents, including classified material, at her home, potentially in violation of federal law.

A source familiar with case told ABC News that Broadwell admitted to the FBI she took the documents from secure government buildings. The government demanded that they all be given back, and when federal agents descended on her North Carolina home on Monday night it was a pre-arranged meeting.

. . . .
That is a serious matter. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

One should not remove classified documents from secure facilities, nor store them in one's home, without authorization and proper security.
 
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  • #45
Now the chairman of Waffle House is in the same fix.

LA Times

As in the Petraeus case, the problem is not the sex, it's the security breach. The question is whether any secret recipes were leaked to Huddle House, IHOP, and Denny's.
 
  • #46
lisab said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20301476

Yikes, another general is involved. Bad things happen when generals take orders from their privates.

:-p

Bad puns aside, this is really a terrible mess, and I hope this is as far as it goes.
:smile::smile: That is a great quote lisab!
 
  • #47
It seems Paula Broadwell was in this for herself and a bit emotionally unhinged.

Jill Kelley seems to be another flake
The official described Kelley as a "nice, bored rich socialite who drops the honorary from her title... and tells people she is an ambassador.

http://gma.yahoo.com/broadwell-classified-document-probe-114054139.html
 
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  • #48
Astronuc said:
Petraeus Scandal: Paula Broadwell in Classified Document Probe
http://gma.yahoo.com/broadwell-classified-document-probe-114054139.html

That is a serious matter. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

One should not remove classified documents from secure facilities, nor store them in one's home, without authorization and proper security.

Apparently she did have proper security clearance or she wouldn't have had access to the documents in the first place. Both she and the general must not have planned on ever being caught. Committing adultery voids a security clearance.

Under federal law, if Broadwell has classified material in her home she must show she has authority to have it, that it relates to her work in military intelligence and that she is following all security and safety measures to safeguard the material, military officials told CNN.


"I had to follow very clear lines of non-disclosure and sign non-disclosure agreements, like my colleagues. I felt like I was almost held to a higher level of accountability because I could lose my clearance," Broadwell said in a speech last year. "I think it was important to inform my writing, but I knew there was a clear line that I couldn't cross when I was writing it out."

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/14/the-relevance-of-paula-broadwells-classified-clearance/

The thing that disturbs me the most is that the "flake" lady in Florida had so much access to the top brass of the Central Command Coalition and to the AFB itself. She could have turned out to be a modern day Mata Hari.

More than likely she just liked to play touchy feely with guys who have shiny objects and ribbons on their jackets. She even knew the FBI agent she contacted, before reporting the e-mails, to the point that he had sent her a shirtless picture of himself.

If it wasn't so tragic it would be total soap opera stuff.
 
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  • #50
Behind every successful man there is a women but there is also one, behind his resignation.
 

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