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Home Front: Politix
BREAKING: David Petraeus resigns from CIA
2012-11-09
Update: 3:30 CST
Petraeus WonÂ’t Testify About Benghazi Attacks Now

CBS’ Mark Knoller tweets that “Senate Intelligence Committee says Petraeus will not testify at next week’s closed hearing on the events in Benghazi.”

Perhaps there is some protocol IÂ’m unaware of, but I donÂ’t see why resigning should affect whether Petraeus testifies or not. He was in charge of the CIA when the Benghazi attack occurred, and the CIA has been under plenty of fire for how the attack was handled.

Will update as more comes in
NBC reported Friday that CIA director David Petraeus has resigned from the CIA, citing an extramarital affair.

NBC's Andrea Mitchell said the resignation was submitted in a letter dated Friday and was accepted by the White House.

In a letter, Petraeus noted that he had been married for 37 years and had exercised "extremely poor judgment' in conducting an extramarital affair.

Petraues took over as head of the CIA in September of 2011 following his tour as head of allied forces in Afghanistan.
Added
The move comes amid the unfolding controversy surrounding the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya. Scrutiny has fallen on a range of agencies including the CIA. But Petraeus, in his resignation message, cited strictly "personal reasons" surrounding his affair which until now had not been disclosed.
NBC has the resignation letter and this, for those who follow such things:
Mike Morrell, the deputy CIA director and a long time CIA officer, will likely be offered the job as acting director, multiple sources told NBC News.

The letter in full:

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
Posted by:Beavis

#40  Sigh, they don't make Zippers or Gold Belt Buckles like they used to.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2012-11-09 22:26  

#39  I had heard rumors about a female reporter who pumped a military official in Iraq for information in exchange for sexual favors. Now I know the parties involved.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2012-11-09 22:02  

#38  FWIW this is what a 'Military Insider' said on the Ulsterman blog on 11/7.

'Voters failed to do right thing.

Up to us now. We intend to try another option.

Watergate him. Not waterboard him. Watergate him.

DonÂ’t contact me again.

-MI'

Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2012-11-09 21:03  

#37  Paula Broadwell author of "all In"
Get Smart "The old "All IN' trick.
Posted by: tipper   2012-11-09 20:58  

#36  He resigned at CIA Director. He did not resign his commission as an Army Officer. That would be insane - he would lose his retirement pay. He will presumably be filing military retirement papers - and they take a while to process.
Posted by: Lone Ranger   2012-11-09 20:53  

#35  His biographer wanted all the data, and who knows, she was probably a honey pot. Oldest play in the book.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2012-11-09 20:40  

#34  This shouldn't help him dodge testifying, it just means Issa has to ask a civilian to testify instead of a General. Otherwise Holder would have pulled that one. Being a non-General might relieve him of some difficulties (or shield some friends or something).
Posted by: rjschwarz   2012-11-09 20:00  

#33  "just the Chicago Way"

Don't we just love that ???!!! :-(
Posted by: Raider   2012-11-09 19:13  

#32  The CEO-in-waiting of the defense contractor who declined to issue WARN Act layoff notices on the urging of the Obama administration — sequestration-related notices mandated by law that would have gone out just before the election — has resigned, citing an affair.

Two in one day -- third day after the election -- Nothing to see here -- just the Chicago Way
Posted by: Sherry   2012-11-09 19:06  

#31  Before I repeat the comment below - let me say that it took David Petraeus a lot of personal courage to jcome right out with this public admission. That's a tough one to live thru. He deserves some respect for that - although the pain in his relationships will be considerable.

And now I will repeat a comment from a Yahoo reader on this topic ...

Well, if he couldn't even keep a secret from his wife - does he really belong at the top of the CIA???

:-)
Posted by: Raider   2012-11-09 19:05  

#30  Honey Pot Eruption....?:

Lockheed Martin Exec Who Followed Admin Lead on WARN Act Resigns Due to Affair

Posted by: Uncle Phester   2012-11-09 18:58  

#29  Ms. Broadwell isn't too hard on the eyes, now that you mention it.
Posted by: Secret Master   2012-11-09 18:48  

#28  Paula Broadwell.

Petraeus' biographer Paula Broadwell under FBI investigation over access to his email, law enforcement officials say
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2012-11-09 18:33  

#27  The "Write Three Letters" joke, only real.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2012-11-09 18:25  

#26  The long knives coming out already?
cough*benghazi*cough
Posted by: SteveS   2012-11-09 18:16  

#25  NBC's Andrea Mitchell said the resignation was submitted in a letter dated Friday and was accepted by the White House.
I understood cabinet level personnel filed resignation letters upon their appointment.
Posted by: Skidmark   2012-11-09 17:49  

#24  Shocker but what I feared most about a second term! Petraeus was the one expected to stay, one of the few capable in the admin, with Geithner (good riddance), Hillary, Panetta, and several others expected to go, leaving only Commies and Islamists and NBPs in control. With globalist leftards gutting the Constitution and signing UN treaties, surrendering our sovereignty as a nation, we're all screwed by King Obama, an impotent Congress, and ignorant populace. We won't survive four more years and any hope I had has been snuffed out. Petraeus was honorable and competent and now we are stuck with an incompetent amateur that can't do 7th grade math, Jarrett, Holder, Reid and Pelosi. Yep, I'm still pouting over the election and gonna go out and eat worms.
Posted by: Kojo Wholuse5660   2012-11-09 17:38  

#23  Petraeus was doing closed door meeting with both branches on Thur -- Issa's committee in the morning, Senate Intelligence in the afternoon.

Heard only from the Senate. Issa hasn't spoken yet.
Posted by: Sherry   2012-11-09 17:22  

#22  Uhop -- real trouble coming -- Charlie Rangel on Fox just said that we have got to get to the bottom of Benghazi

The same Charlie Rangel we all know?

Now stuff will really start to happen. /sarc
Posted by: Sherry   2012-11-09 17:18  

#21  So this qualifies him to run in 2016 on the Donk ticket right?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-11-09 17:13  

#20  All that having been said, the majority of the electorate doesn't give a damn about Benghazi-gate.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2012-11-09 17:10  

#19  I have difficulty believing this one. This man has been in a glass house for decades. Someone would have said something.

Posted by: Besoeker   2012-11-09 17:00  

#18  Perhaps there is some protocol I'm unaware of Look up that protocol under the headings of 'cover-up' &/or 'stonewalling.'
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2012-11-09 16:57  

#17  Well this bums me out. I considered Petraeus a great American. I was hoping for him to help provide sanity to the government.

The big question is was he threatened with political blackmail. And his FU! was to resign instead?

I'm hoping he starts hitting the talk shows so we can really know what's going on.

It's probably true he probably did commit adultery. My bet it's either a woman he has worked very closely with or some manipulative sociopath (who is probably pretty hot)

I just hope we don't see pictures in the U.K. Daily Mail.
Posted by: Penguin   2012-11-09 16:47  

#16  At least he wasn't found in Fort Marcy Park...
Posted by: Pappy   2012-11-09 16:44  

#15  He was going to spill the beans about Ogabe's criminal incompetence, so Ogabe dug up dirt and used it to blackmail and neutralize him?
Posted by: RandomJD   2012-11-09 16:42  

#14  Petraeus WonÂ’t Testify About Benghazi Attacks Now

CBS’ Mark Knoller tweets that “Senate Intelligence Committee says Petraeus will not testify at next week’s closed hearing on the events in Benghazi.”

Perhaps there is some protocol IÂ’m unaware of, but I donÂ’t see why resigning should affect whether Petraeus testifies or not. He was in charge of the CIA when the Benghazi attack occurred, and the CIA has been under plenty of fire for how the attack was handled.
Posted by: Sherry   2012-11-09 16:36  

#13  #7: exactly my thought. I presume an affair is a trivial blip compared to whatever is really going on.
Posted by: RandomJD   2012-11-09 16:23  

#12  Totally wild speculation follows.

He was caught in a honey pot operation designed to keep him in line. He was a weak link, had some vestiges of morality. Resignation may be his escape route.

Wilder speculation; Obama's buddy Vlad helping out so he gets what he wants.

Have fun with this idea.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2012-11-09 16:18  

#11  My condolences to Mrs. Petraeus. A military wife has a career almost as hard as her husband. It is a shame to have it end thus. And my deepest enmity for whoever made it so.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2012-11-09 16:16  

#10  Ann Althouse suspects Benghazi as well.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-11-09 16:15  

#9  Who was the woman in this affair? What's her story?
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-09 16:10  

#8  Why would the Democrats care about an extra-marital affair? Clinton had many extra-marital affairs and is well-liked by Democrats. The Kennedy's actively pursued their libidos and more than a few women.

So what's this all about?
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-09 16:09  

#7   He is supposed to testify before Congress about Benghazi. Does this mean he will be able to speak more freely?
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2012-11-09 16:08  

#6  Wondered why he wasn't saying anything over Bengazi.
Posted by: DarthVader   2012-11-09 15:52  

#5  He had discovered he was sleeping with a woman more lethal and deadly than any other. His affair was with the Obama lie. He could no longer deceive his family and his country and in an effort to clense his soul he stepped up and did the honorable thing. Now he is home with the truth...
Posted by: 49 Pan   2012-11-09 15:51  

#4  Why would his boss care about an extramarital affair?

Because it was with a woman?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2012-11-09 15:47  

#3  Equally serious question: how is it that General Petraeus happened to get caught in an affair at this moment? affairs are not the kind of thing senior executives suddenly decide they must make a clean breast of to the entire world, though they may confess to their wives.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-11-09 15:44  

#2  Why would his boss care about an extramarital affair?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2012-11-09 15:42  

#1  Serious question -- would he really lie to cover for Obama?
Posted by: Sherry   2012-11-09 15:33  

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