CIA Director Petraeus Resigns

[Guest American Woman]

I post this in fear Sharkman's head will explode knowing Republicans helped in this and not Obama but here you go. Some people around here sure look dumb now don't they?

http://www.politico....l#ixzz2BvPoRwpD

Thank you for the link/source.

It sounds as if the affair had already been under investigation, though;

Cantor, R-Va., was apparently concerned about the potential for a security leak and passed the information to his chief of staff Steve Sombres, who then filled in FBI Director Robert Mueller on the accusation...

...When Sombres told the FBI about the information from the whistleblower he was told an investigation into the matter was already in progress.

http://www.ibtimes.c...ation-harassing

But as you pointed out, it sounds as if Obama had nothing to do with it and was quite unaware of it.

Actually some Republicans I have talked to are trying to use the resignation to end Obama's career.

That doesn't even begin to make sense. His affair has nothing to do with Obama.

[jbg]

That doesn't even begin to make sense. His affair has nothing to do with Obama.

The scuttlebut is that he didn't believe that Benghazi was spontaneous and was kept quiet by the threat of exposing the extramarital affair. By this unlikely story he came clean so that he could no longer be blackmailed and would sing like a bird.

I personally don't buy it at this juncture. Does not mean I can't be convinced. Nixon after all did that kind of stuff.

[punked]

Thank you for the link/source.

It sounds as if the affair had already been under investigation, though;

Cantor, R-Va., was apparently concerned about the potential for a security leak and passed the information to his chief of staff Steve Sombres, who then filled in FBI Director Robert Mueller on the accusation...

...When Sombres told the FBI about the information from the whistleblower he was told an investigation into the matter was already in progress.

http://www.ibtimes.c...ation-harassing

But as you pointed out, it sounds as if Obama had nothing to do with it and was quite unaware of it.

That doesn't even begin to make sense. His affair has nothing to do with Obama.

No I agree, my point really is the Republican leadership had much more to do with this then Obama and those around here who are acting like it is about an Obama cover up now have egg all over their faces. You can only mislead so many times before people treat you like a liar all the time.

[BubberMiley]

How so? It's a sincere reflection of my views. Just because I didn't vote for Obama doesn't mean I want a failed Presidency. Far from it.

Delusional Republicans are always hilarious to me.

Edited November 11, 2012 by BubberMiley

[jbg]

Delusional Republicans are always hilarious to me.

I am neither delusional nor am I a Republican. I have been a Democrat since that sunny day in May 1975 when I registered to vote. Edited November 11, 2012 by jbg

[BubberMiley]

That's funny on so many levels.

[BC_chick]

Evidently the director of the CIA has resigned, citing an extramarital affair as the reason. It will be interesting to hear more about this as the story develops, as I can't imagine anyone in such a position resigning for that reason - but perhaps there isn't any more to it.

I read an article in the Huffington Post about this issue. Apparently having an affair is forbidden when working for the CIA and subject to being court-marshalled.

This is because national security would be jeapordised if a foreign nation learned of the affair and blackmailed Petraeus or his mistress.

I'm suprised none of our military guys on this forum contributed that. One seems to have posted quite a bit on this thread too.

Edited November 11, 2012 by BC_chick

[Guest American Woman]

Having an extra-marital affair isn't automatically a fire-able offense, and it appears as if there were no security threats as a result of Petraeus' affair.

[BC_chick]

Again, having an affair is forbidden when working for the CIA and subject to being court-marshalled. It doesn't mean he only get court-marshalled if there is a national security threat.

He breached it, he stepped down.

Seems pretty clear to me.

Lot of professions have behavioural conduct in their non-professional life that doesn't apply to the rest of us.

[bush_cheney2004]

If the affair occurred while Petraeus was on active duty, it could be a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm1342.htm

[bush_cheney2004]

Delusional Republicans are always hilarious to me.

While delusional ideas from others are just expected....not much humour value.

[sharkman]

I post this in fear Sharkman's head will explode knowing Republicans helped in this and not Obama but here you go. Some people around here sure look dumb now don't they?

http://www.politico....l#ixzz2BvPoRwpD

Thank you punked, you're always looking out for me!

According to your link, an FBI "whistleblower" contacted Cantor's office and told him about this situation. Then Cantor told the FBI Director. That appears to be the extent of Cantor's involvement, unless you can fill me in on something else. I guess that didn't work out so well for the whistleblower, his info gets handed to his boss who already knew about it, and then the boss realizes he's got a whistleblower to track down.

This doesn't change the situation. The FBI knew about an affair, which is probably grounds for dismissal from what others are saying due to national security issues. Doesn't matter if on a case by case basis this one did or did not have a high risk. The guy should have been outed, apparently. But the FBI decided to sit on it for months if not over a year and allow national security take a seat. I have no idea why they would do that and it appears to be a really dumb decision.

On Obama, I don't think he was aware of this whatsoever. Presidents rarely are. But many have gotten into trouble over what their underlings have done. It does appear that the FBI held on to this information way too long, either Patraeus became unglued sending thousands of emails trying to win back his lover, or she became unhinged, sending threatening emails to a third party. Depending on which story you read.

You are right though. Best to sit back and let this develop, no doubt there will be media 'leaks' on this and updates for quite a while. There does appear to be a smoking gun, however, but whether that turns out to be true is another thing.

[sharkman]

The scuttlebut is that he didn't believe that Benghazi was spontaneous and was kept quiet by the threat of exposing the extramarital affair. By this unlikely story he came clean so that he could no longer be blackmailed and would sing like a bird.

I personally don't buy it at this juncture. Does not mean I can't be convinced. Nixon after all did that kind of stuff.

The timing of the resignation is odd as well. We all know that such a resignation would have had an effect on the election. But it only appears to be suspicious at this time. The truth may be as simple as it appears.

[Guest American Woman]

Again, having an affair is forbidden when working for the CIA and subject to being court-marshalled. It doesn't mean he only get court-marshalled if there is a national security threat.

He breached it, he stepped down.

Seems pretty clear to me.

Lot of professions have behavioural conduct in their non-professional life that doesn't apply to the rest of us.

Not according to the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee:

Did Petraeus have to resign?

...so

on after the announcement, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she believed Petraeus’s transgression did not require a resignation.

“I wish President Obama had not accepted this resignation, but I understand and respect the decision,”

Feinstein said in a statement

.

In

Business Insider

, former servicemen Robert Johnson and

Geoffrey Ingersoll

explain why an extramarital relationship

might be

a fire-able offense for an individual with the highest level of security clearance: .....

http://www.washingto...have-to-resign/

Edited November 11, 2012 by American Woman

[WIP]

Evidently the director of the CIA has resigned, citing an extramarital affair as the reason. It will be interesting to hear more about this as the story develops, as I can't imagine anyone in such a position resigning for that reason - but perhaps there isn't any more to it.

Is he still All In? I guess everyone will eventually find out if it makes the supermarket tabloid front pages.

[bleeding heart]

Is he still All In? I guess everyone will eventually find out if it makes the supermarket tabloid front pages.

At least they'd have the journalistic pretence to holding the powerful's feet to the fire.

The mainstream media in general has done little but lament the fall of the Great American Hero.

[punked]

Not according to the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee:

Did Petraeus have to resign?

...so

on after the announcement, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she believed Petraeus’s transgression did not require a resignation.

“I wish President Obama had not accepted this resignation, but I understand and respect the decision,”

Feinstein said in a statement

.

In

Business Insider

, former servicemen Robert Johnson and

Geoffrey Ingersoll

explain why an extramarital relationship

might be

a fire-able offense for an individual with the highest level of security clearance: .....

http://www.washingto...have-to-resign/

Yes he had to resign. While the investigation is going on he has no security clearance. How can be head of the CIA with out security clearance? I under Petraeus is a good American who would never betray his county but you don't set up protocols with looking for the best situation you set them up for the worst. So if you are the head of the CIA and have access to all kinds of things others may want and can blackmail you for, then you are held to high standard to avoid what could become a national security issue. If you treat Petraeus any different then what happens if you do get into the worst situation. Which is why I am sure he resigned in the first place, he gets it, he knows the job and what is expected and he will follow orders and set the example he always has even in his fall from grace. History will be kind to him.

[Guest American Woman]

Yes he had to resign. While the investigation is going on he has no security clearance. How can be head of the CIA with out security clearance?

What makes you think he didn't have security clearance? - and I tend to put more weight on what the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee says, and she seems to think he didn't need to resign - and in fact, wishes that he hadn't.

... Petraeus is a good American who would never betray his county but you don't set up protocols with looking for the best situation you set them up for the worst. So if you are the head of the CIA and have access to all kinds of things others may want and can blackmail you for, then you are held to high standard to avoid what could become a national security issue.

He can't be blackmailed once he's admitted to the affair.

If you treat Petraeus any different then what happens if you do get into the worst situation. Which is why I am sure he resigned in the first place, he gets it, he knows the job and what is expected and he will follow orders and set the example he always has even in his fall from grace. History will be kind to him.

He resigned because it was his choice to resign under the circumstances, not because he had to. If it were mandatory that he resign, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee wouldn't have made the statement that she did and Obama wouldn't be making it clear that he didn't ask Petraeus to resign - it would go without saying that he had to resign. But that doesn't appear to be the case.

[GostHacked]

Having an extra-marital affair isn't automatically a fire-able offense, and it appears as if there were no security threats as a result of Petraeus' affair.

And now he does not have to testify before the hearings about the 'consulate' in Banghazi. Perfect timing.

[Guest American Woman]

And now he does not have to testify before the hearings about the 'consulate' in Banghazi. Perfect timing.

He may still be called to testify.

[GostHacked]

He may still be called to testify.

Yes but 'classified' and the 'classified' which possibly lead to the 'classified' .... we won't hear anything damaging out of Patreaus. Not anymore.

[punked]

What makes you think he didn't have security clearance? - and I tend to put more weight on what the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee says, and she seems to think he didn't need to resign - and in fact, wishes that he hadn't.

He can't be blackmailed once he's admitted to the affair.

He resigned because it was his choice to resign under the circumstances, not because he had to. If it were mandatory that he resign, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee wouldn't have made the statement that she did and Obama wouldn't be making it clear that he didn't ask Petraeus to resign - it would go without saying that he had to resign. But that doesn't appear to be the case.

Again this sets precedent doesn't it? Anyway it is like Petraeus said in his own resignation once his private behavior became something he needed to hide from the public he put the nation at risk. Again I like Petraeus I think he has done a great job and is a good man but that doesn't mean the next time this happens the person will be a Petraeus and setting a precedent where this is ok is probably not the best thing for national security.

[Guest American Woman]

Again this sets precedent doesn't it? Anyway it is like Petraeus said in hisown resignation once his private behavior became something he needed to hide from the public he put the nation at risk. Again I like Petraeus I think he has done a great job and is a good man but that doesn't mean the next time this happens the person will be a Petraeus and setting a precedent where this is ok is probably not the best thing for national security.

I agree that he has done a great job and that he sounds like a good man - who made a mistake; but I never once said that his behavior was ok, just that it's not automatic grounds for dismissal- as some are making it out to be.

[GostHacked]

I agree that he has done a great job and that he sounds like a good man - who made a mistake; but I never once said that his behavior was ok, just that it's not automatic grounds for dismissal- as some are making it out to be.

Just having an affair would be a concern. Such a powerful man in such a powerful positions, knows things. I don't see it as a lack of personal judgement as a lack of professional judgement in my view.

[punked]

I wish we lived in a society where having an affair would not end a career but we do and that knowledge alone could be used against a man like this and that is where the problem truly lies. Come on the right wing tried to railroad a president into the ground for such a thing politically there is no way he could have stayed with out tearing the organization apart. He fell on his sword and that is what I have come to expect from such a man who serves the nation and not himself.