Petraeus Resigns as CIA Director

[Dalton]

Now on MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell reports that Gen. David Petraeus has submitted a letter of resignation as CIA director, citing an extra-marital affair as the reason.

[Flagg]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I knew this assclown would get himself fucked eventually. I didn't know he'd do it literally, though.

[Dalton]

MSNBC.com

CIA Director David Petraeus resigned Friday, citing an extramarital affair and "extremely poor judgement."
In a letter released to the CIA work force on Friday afternoon, Petraeus disclosed the affair, and wrote: "Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."
President Obama "graciously accepted my resignation," he wrote.
Petraeus was appointed CIA director in April 2011, replacing Leon Panetta, who moved to the Pentagon to become defense secretary.
Petraeus served as commander of the war in Afghanistan in 2010-2011. Because of that role, he was seen as bringing a “customer’s eye” to the intelligence job. Before that, he served as commander of the U.S. Central Command and as the commanding general of U.S. forces in Iraq.
Multiple sources tell NBC News that Mike Morrell, the deputy CIA director and a longtime CIA officer, would likely be offered the job as acting director but with the understanding that he may be elevated to the job permanently at some point.
That's how George Tenet got the job, first as deputy director in July 1995, then acting director following the resignation of John Deutch in December 1996 and finally as director in July 1997, staying on in the Bush Administration.
Morrell is a longtime CIA analyst and was an eyewitness to two of the most momentous events in recent U.S. history. He was traveling with President George W. Bush on Sept. 11, 2001, as the president's briefer, and was in the Situation Room on May 1, 2011, as deputy CIA Director, when Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden.
Here is the full text of Petraeus' letter:
HEADQUARTERS Central Intelligence Agency
9 November 2012
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

[Lolpah]

Wait - so did he actually get caught, or did he just flat-out out himself on it because of the guilt (or more likely, due to someone blackmailing him)?

[UnderAGreySky]

And to add to Lolpah's question, wasn't he suggested by a lot of right-wingers as a presidential candidate during the primaries, perhaps at the time when everyone was looking for a not-Romney as saviour?

[TimothyC]

Wait - so did he actually get caught, or did he just flat-out out himself on it because of the guilt (or more likely, due to someone blackmailing him)?

Looks like he outed it himself - but this doesn't pass my smell test. Were I a betting man (and I'm not), I'd bet that there is something else going on.

Why he did it ranges from "Because it was the right thing to do" to "You can't blackmail me now."

Also, by coming out when he did, it inoculates him against any attacks on marital infidelity later if he wanted to run for office.

[Vaporous]

The current right wing paranoia line is that this has something to do with Benghazi. How exactly this is supposed to help a cover up is beyond me.

[Dalton]

He was supposed to testify on Benghazi next week, but it's not like his successor can't do so, correct?

[Flagg]

It stinks to high heaven to me, too. Though I'm betting on it being coincidence.

[TimothyC]

The current right wing paranoia line is that this has something to do with Benghazi. How exactly this is supposed to help a cover up is beyond me.

We know the CIA forces on the ground called for support. We know that they got turned down by someone in DC. We know that the AFRICOM* head is on the way out.

We also know that Petraeus was going to testify to congress next week. Right now it looks like his acting replacement will be going instead.

As I said in my earlier post, there is something about this that doesn't pass the smell test.

*AFRIcan COMmand.

[Aaron MkII]

Getting out before Benghazi touches him?

I was thinking originally that it might be a forced resignation as a way of shielding higher ups from Benghazi but I can't link that to the affair. *shrug*

[Flagg]

Well as Michael Hastings said on MSNBC a few minutes ago in his scathing rebuttal to the Petraeus fellating going on, he's known to leave his post right before everything falls to shit and blame the guy that took over.

[Eldy]

I think it's at least as likely that Petraeus was asked to resign because having an extra-marital affair is a security risk for the Director of the Goddamn CIA. Honeypots and blackmail over that sort of thing didn't end with the Cold War. It's also possible he felt genuine regret and wants to make amends to his wife.

I mean sure, it could be Benghazi instead, but I don't see any need to jump immediately to conspiracy theories.

[Aaron MkII]

Yeah, that was always the reason why your not supposed to have an affair if you hold a clearance of any sort. Funny, given the massive infidelity in the military.

[Lord MJ]

I thought the news that CIA agents were denied permission to help in Benghazi was repudiated. And that the CIA did render assistance. And that the two former Navy Seals with Ambassador Stevens, were in fact working for the CIA.

[Sea Skimmer]

Congress can still subpoena his testimony if he resigns, so it makes very little sense for him to resign just to avoid talking. My bet it he just couldn't take having spent the better part of the last decade being stationed in Qatar and started screwing around.

[SirNitram]

The current right wing paranoia line is that this has something to do with Benghazi. How exactly this is supposed to help a cover up is beyond me.

The alternate reality seen by the right wing is currently all about Benghazi. They will pound on it like obsessives.

[Losonti Tokash]

It's currently being claimed by multiple sources that the affair was with Paula Broadwell, author of his biography, and that evidence of the misconduct was uncovered by an FBI probe.

Edit: holy shit, did MSNBC just kick Michael Hastings off air for criticizing the media's treatment of Petraeus?

[Dalton]

Huh? What show?

[Flagg]

It's currently being claimed by multiple sources that the affair was with Paula Broadwell, author of his biography, and that evidence of the misconduct was uncovered by an FBI probe.

Edit: holy shit, did MSNBC just kick Michael Hastings off air for criticizing the media's treatment of Petraeus?

Pretty much. Bashir looked like he bit into a turd after the interview.

[Dalton]

It's currently being claimed by multiple sources that the affair was with Paula Broadwell, author of his biography, and that evidence of the misconduct was uncovered by an FBI probe.

Edit: holy shit, did MSNBC just kick Michael Hastings off air for criticizing the media's treatment of Petraeus?

Pretty much. Bashir looked like he bit into a turd after the interview.

No, he was not "kicked off". I just worked that show. We have designated times for commercial breaks and we only kill those for breaking news. In this case, that block ran out of time and Martin ended the conversation very politely.

[Grumman]

Just for general reference, here's the link for the Hastings comments.

[Losonti Tokash]

Fair enough. I didn't actually see the show, just saw people blowing up about it.

[Dalton]

Fair enough. I didn't actually see the show, just saw people blowing up about it.

Yeah, because Martin didn't let him ramble on. The thing about a TV show is that sometimes the anchor has to get the guest to shut the fuck up so that they can get to the break.

[Flagg]

It's currently being claimed by multiple sources that the affair was with Paula Broadwell, author of his biography, and that evidence of the misconduct was uncovered by an FBI probe.

Edit: holy shit, did MSNBC just kick Michael Hastings off air for criticizing the media's treatment of Petraeus?

Pretty much. Bashir looked like he bit into a turd after the interview.

No, he was not "kicked off". I just worked that show. We have designated times for commercial breaks and we only kill those for breaking news. In this case, that block ran out of time and Martin ended the conversation very politely.

Well I didn't take it to mean literally kicked off, but I can see how me agreeing with the term caused you to think I did. Your explanation clears up why it felt so rushed after Hastings started ripping into Petraeus, but Bashir did look like he bit into a rotten turd right before the break.