http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/12/us/petraeus-cia-resignation/index.html (sorry I couldn't figure out how to link this to the title)
This article discusses the emerging story of the extramarital affair CIA director David Petraeus carried out with his biographer and its relationship to our national security and the Benghazi attacks. The affair first emerged after a family friend went to the FBI complaining of threatening messages. Paula Broadwell was soon found to be the author of those messages, and it wasn't hard to figure out the rest of the story from there. The situation is currently being investigated by the FBI.
I think it's a shame that this is how such a decorated military hero has to end his career, but he definitely should have known better than to get involved in something like this. The good news is that officials don't seem too concerned that the affair will have any effect on our national security. It is a possibility, however. What may be the most controversial issue surrounding the affair is whether or not Petraeus' departure is connected to the investigation of the Benghazi attacks. What I personally wonder about more is the timing of the affair. Is it a coincidence that the affair emerged just after President Obama was reelected? I don't know, but it sure seems suspicious. What do you think?
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Petraeus Scandal
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I agree with Nicolette that this is a bad way to end a career. This man had a lot to live up to and realize his mistake too late. I do think this lady is up to no good though. She says she didn't get any important files, but no one knows for sure and to find important documents on her computer? That's even weirder. She must have gotten them from some where obviously. As for Nicolette's question of this occurring after Obama was reelected, I think it had nothing to do with him. I believe the CIA found out a late and it just happened to be near the election. If Obama had something to do with it, it could be another Nixon thing and Obama would have to resign (at least, that's what I would assume should happen).
ReplyDeleteI may be missing something, but it clearly said in the article about six times that national security was, at no time, compromised. So why are we wasting so much tax payer dollars further investigating an affair?
ReplyDeleteIt really is sad how this happened, but it is what happens when you are in that important of a position. They really should just stop giving it so much publicity and let it die down because I do not think it is really THAT important. As for coincedence Nicolette there is none. If you look back you will see that Petraeus was Bush's CIA Director as well so there is no scandal involved with Obama's administration. Even so I feel that these things are their private lives and while I certainly do not encourage these acts, it is not my business to know them either.
ReplyDeleteObviously this was a bad way to end his career. He spent is whole live honorably serving his country, and it is a shame that he went out like this. I think it should be emphasized that he didn't have to resign. The president was even hesitant in accepting his resignation. Petraeus thought that with a job like his it was not honorable to keep his position. He was not asked or forced to step down he did it out of honor. I think that says something.
ReplyDeleteAs for this having a relation to the attacks in Benghazi, there has been no evidence whatsoever that suggests that or even that any information that would in any compromise our national security was leaked. If that did happen, there would be no question about it. They would know. That was just thrown out there to get people more concerned about this. It really is a shame that we turned a terrorist attack, into a political issue and now trying to blame it on this scandal.
I agree with Seb. People are just using the Benghazi attacks make the Petraeus scandal worse than it is. What happened to Petraeus is very sad and it's a shame that he didn't end his career honorably. However, he made the decision to have an affair. In the end Petraeus made the right choice by choosing to resign.
ReplyDeleteI agree that ending such a successful career due to an affair is very disappointing. The whole situation is definately Petraeus's fault, but I agree with Bryan that the media gave this scandal too much publicity. I get that Petraeus is a very significant figure, but scandal happen very often. I also agree with Seb that this has no relation to the attacks in Benghazi. I think that the government would have uncovered some kind of evidence by now if it was true.
ReplyDeleteI agree that ending such a successful career due to an affair is very disappointing. The whole situation is definately Petraeus's fault, but I agree with Bryan that the media gave this scandal too much publicity. I get that Petraeus is a very significant figure, but scandal happen very often. I also agree with Seb that this has no relation to the attacks in Benghazi. I think that the government would have uncovered some kind of evidence by now if it was true.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everybody here that there is no national security threat and that this scandal has absolutely nothing to do with the Benghazi attacks. I think Petraeus did the right thing by resigning. This scandal would have no hope of going away if he was still the CIA director. I also feel so sorry for Petraeus's family members that this very personal matter is being continually dragged out into the limelight.
ReplyDeleteI think this story has been a blown out of proportion to some extent because the media hasn't had much to cover since the election. That being said, it is a big deal when the director of the CIA resigns. Too much emphasis seems to be placed on the affair itself and not the effects it has on the country. I'm not quite sure that it was necessary for Petraeus to resign. The reason why he was unfit to serve was that he could be blackmailed with this info, but since it has been made public, there is nothing for him to be blackmailed by presumably. It's too bad that someone who has helped this country a great deal has to resign because of something stupid like this, but it's also his fault for being so stupid in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI find it difficult to see any correlation between Petraeus' affair and Benghazi. Many people have been trying very hard to find some big cover-up with the Banghazi attacks, but I think that the timing of his resignation is just a coincidence. Just like Dan said, I think people are blowing this way out of proportion just to have something to talk about. I think it was right for him to resign though. If you lose the respect of your peers with a personal scandal like this, you will not be able to properly perform in the role of a leader.
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