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CIA Director Resigns

Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

No, he admitted to an extramarital affair ... which is obviously a huge problem for the chief of the CIA. Presumably it was going to come out and he decided to head it off.

Somehow I doubt that's the actual reason for his resignation.
 
Bush could of knocked down the towers. Anything "could of" happened. But see your making your accusations based off of no facts.
I am going to risk some points here... and a ban in the process.

Your see... there is a difference.
Petraeus HAD an affair.
This is now public knowledge.

Bush did not make public he knocked the towers down... and to think he might have is mental retardation at its highest.

Now... you see the difference?
Petraeus admitted to an affair. Some enemy of America could have blackmailed him for who knows what; and if he were as dishonest as say Bill Clinton he might have given up something vital to national security for these folks to keep quiet; say... allowing vital information about rocket performance land in the laps of the Communist Chinese (which did happen).

Do you understand now?

Come back to me when you have some facts. Cuz im not buying into this "could of" whole situation.
The facts are... Petraeus had an affair and could have been blackmailed by the Russians or Chinese. You don't think they have surveillance on these people or seek to entrap them if possible? I know after The Wall came down, there was a military base in south Germany; not a large or especially significant one... there were 17 Communist German agents trying to dig up anything they could.

In a previous post about Iran and the attack on the drone you said something like "I hope..."... you DemSocialist seem to be a naive fool who thinks you can deal with enemy states like Iran through dialogue, and then cannot see the blatant risk Petraeus opened himself to.

It is absolutely no wonder you believe in the tyranny of Socialism, though you don't seem to notice the cost of liberty, the tyranny such systems must employ.

When that liberty is lost, it isn't lost temporarily... it is lost forever, or it takes generations to re-institute... just like doing away with the idiotic 55mph speed limit put into law by the Carter administration.
 
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I don't know about him running for office; but your first two? I agree with. In fact, I think it's possible that he was blackmailed, and that's why he came forward. Which, if true, would be the exact right thing for him to do.

I agree... I put the third option in as something that is out there, but is 100% plausible but could be 100% wrong.

Looking into the minds of others and their intentions is a game where the odds are stacked against you highly.

There was a post here by someone who tried to do that to me... it's like looking into a haystack for an invisible needle. Th person missed by miles, but they held onto that position foolishly... what it indicates is a very small (but highly motivated) mind. They were motivated by personal destruction... and I enjoyed their destroying their own credibility by reaching so far into the ether and holding onto that view.

Petraeus might have seen Obama's reelection as a death knell for this country; then again, there are tons of options. The timing allows for all manner of speculation. One thing is 100% sure; if he did have an affair as he admits... he was 100% open to blackmail.

I do not see this having anything to do with Benghazi, except perhaps to free him, and allow him to piss freely in the face of his Commander in Chief. But then the letter he wrote was filled with admiration and hope.

There is a forecaster who I disagree with politically (Paul Saffo) who gave a great speech about prediction. Nassim Nicholas Taleb is also an interesting character who delves into this field. From Saffo I learned that the most unbelievable predictions can come true... and often are cloaked in humor. It's the old story that reality is stranger than fiction... and Petraeus is a patriot. I hope he runs in 2016... we need someone who has credibility and courage... even if he's proven to be fallible.
 
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Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Somehow I doubt that's the actual reason for his resignation.

Why would you think that? A man shouldn't be head of the CIA with blackmail fodder on his resume, nor should he be head of the CIA while going through a possible divorce.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Why would you think that?
Because most people in that position would simply resign without admission of scandal. 37 years Army, Commander of ISAF and operations in Afghanistan, then appointment to an equally stressful position, who would question it? He didn't resign, he got forced out. For why, we'll never know, but it wasn't something as trivial as adultery.

A man shouldn't be head of the CIA with blackmail fodder on his resume, nor should he be head of the CIA while going through a possible divorce.
The same could be said of senators and congressmen.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Good response but I think realistically you have to give people, even in sensitive positions at least one pass on personal issues. Expecting perfection or "don't get caught" from officials creates an atmosphere of dishonesty and *winks winks*. I don't live that way and don't expect it from others. Now if he's a brain surgeon doing surgery, saying "ooops" then **** can him.

Seriously. If the POTUS can do it on tax payer time (in the oval office) and go on being President....it's certainly no excuse for the CIA director to quit.

It's a cover story.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Why would you think that? A man shouldn't be head of the CIA with blackmail fodder on his resume, nor should he be head of the CIA while going through a possible divorce.


That is true, however the timing is suspect....The "blackmail" may not be so much from China, or Russia as a threat as much as from within.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Seriously. If the POTUS can do it on tax payer time (in the oval office) and go on being President....it's certainly no excuse for the CIA director to quit.

It's a cover story.

I agree completely. I was a devout conservative Repub during Clinton's reign and thought he was way too friendly with China. But I never liked how the GOP, especially Gingrich (hypocrite) went after an impeachment (abuse of process) on an issue that was more between him and his wife than the Media and Congress.

If Patraeus was unavailable for consultation and should've had at least a secure cell for that purpose of sending in reinforcements or talking to the State Department/Military, then he dropped the ball. Though if his direct attention were not necessary or responsible for the situation, then he should be reprimanded at best. His sex life is between him and his family, not for public scrutiny, unless it's completely off the wall, dangerous and extreme affecting his work.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

That is true, however the timing is suspect....The "blackmail" may not be so much from China, or Russia as a threat as much as from within.

"The threat from within" may have been, "General, you're either going to resign? Or have a heart attack on Sunday."
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

"The threat from within" may have been, "General, you're either going to resign? Or have a heart attack on Sunday."


either way the more this goes forward, the more of a cover up it is known to be.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

The same could be said of senators and congressmen.

Perhaps, but our elected officials are not held to the same standards. It is up to the voters whether or not they are suitable for the job. They don't go through the same rigorous background checks the rest of us go through and they aren't polygraphed. It may not be fair but there you go.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Perhaps, but our elected officials are not held to the same standards. It is up to the voters whether or not they are suitable for the job. They don't go through the same rigorous background checks the rest of us go through and they aren't polygraphed. It may not be fair but there you go.


Polygraphed? What does that prove? Not even admissible in court.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

All the character references, loyal to a fault, 37 years of marriage, West Point grad, 30+ years of military experience, director of central intelligence and throws it all away for a piece of *****? During the Benghazi investigation, which without his testimony will be largely incomplete?

Don't really add up...does it?

Congress could decide to call him as a witness. No problem there.

I'm convinced that powerful men can't keep it in their pants.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

But I never liked how the GOP, especially Gingrich (hypocrite) went after an impeachment (abuse of process) on an issue that was more between him and his wife than the Media and Congress.

Actually the impeachment came about because Clinton lied under oath in a court of law, and perjury was a capital offensse up until about a century and a half ago. The irony is that the questions Clinton was asked had been considered illegitimate by the courts until Clinton himself proudly signed a "ViolenceAgainst Women Act" that made the questions relevant. And thus was Clinton one of the early (and more spectacular) victims of his own hubris.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Congress could decide to call him as a witness. No problem there.

I'm convinced that powerful men can't keep it in their pants.


One caveat....I don't think that 'power' has much to do with it...:mrgreen:
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Polygraphed? What does that prove? Not even admissible in court.

Of course they aren't. They are a joke. But it makes enough people nervous that they spill the beans. You ever been hooked up to a machine for two straight hours being told you can't move or take deep breaths and have the same questions asked over and over? It ain't fun. They even polygraphed my fiance when I requested permission to marry a foreign national. She was pissed at me for a week after her ordeal.

I have to undergo it every 5 years and I always dread it.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Actually the impeachment came about because Clinton lied under oath in a court of law, and perjury was a capital offensse up until about a century and a half ago. The irony is that the questions Clinton was asked had been considered illegitimate by the courts until Clinton himself proudly signed a "ViolenceAgainst Women Act" that made the questions relevant. And thus was Clinton one of the early (and more spectacular) victims of his own hubris.

The questions were improper and should've never been asked, making them erroneous. How does what he did make them relevant in the "Violence Against Women Act"? It was all political over reaching then and still is. I don't condone his activity in the White House, even though it's a gov appointed residence and place of official business. But the whole scandal was at most laughable Media fodder and partisan stupidity.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Of course they aren't. They are a joke. But it makes enough people nervous that they spill the beans. You ever been hooked up to a machine for two straight hours being told you can't move or take deep breaths and have the same questions asked over and over? It ain't fun. They even polygraphed my fiance when I requested permission to marry a foreign national. She was pissed at me for a week after her ordeal.

I have to undergo it every 5 years and I always dread it.


Yeah, I have had a polygraph one time in my life, didn't care for it, but at the same time I don't think that intimidation should be the hurdle for holding office either...
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

The questions were improper and should've never been asked,...

Agreed.

... making them erroneous. How does what he did make them relevant in the "Violence Against Women Act"?

Disagreed. Clintons VAWA made past behavior relevant where it had not been earlier.
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

Of course they aren't. They are a joke. But it makes enough people nervous that they spill the beans. You ever been hooked up to a machine for two straight hours being told you can't move or take deep breaths and have the same questions asked over and over? It ain't fun. They even polygraphed my fiance when I requested permission to marry a foreign national. She was pissed at me for a week after her ordeal.

I have to undergo it every 5 years and I always dread it.

You are not completely accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions | American Polygraph Association

"Polygraph admissibility varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some states ban it completely; others allow results by stipulation; and some allow polygraph evidence over objection."

Polygraph - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In 2007, polygraph testimony was admitted by stipulation in 19 states, and was subject to the discretion of the trial judge in federal court."
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

"The threat from within" may have been, "General, you're either going to resign? Or have a heart attack on Sunday."

With all the focus being directed at the General's pecker, am thinking an element in the story is being missed. Broadwell's credentials.

Broadwell has more than a decade of military service and nearly two decades of work in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. She is a PhD candidate at the University of London. Paula received an MPA degree from Harvard. She graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy. She lives with her husband and their two children in North Carolina.

Paula Broadwell - About Paula Broadwell - Penguin Group (USA)


This babe ain't Lois Lane just penning a quick autobiography.....
 
Re: CIA director Petraeus resigns over affair

You are not completely accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions | American Polygraph Association

"Polygraph admissibility varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some states ban it completely; others allow results by stipulation; and some allow polygraph evidence over objection."

Polygraph - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In 2007, polygraph testimony was admitted by stipulation in 19 states, and was subject to the discretion of the trial judge in federal court."

Interesting. It has been a long time since I have been subject to anything but federal law so i am likely behind the times. I would bet that those instances in which it is admissible are from the person confessing during the test. It is ridiculous that they should be admissible. I know for a fact they aren't always reliable.
 

From what I've heard on CNN the FBI originally got involved because of massive misuse of government e-mail by a high ranking CIA officer who turned out to be the general. They followed that until they got to the affair. The report also stated that since the affair was ongoing so was the investigation and so the FBI and probably the White House and National Security Committtie in Congress also held back (that means Congress knew too) until the investigation was over. The FBI frowns heavily on having thier investigations made public before they are over.

CNN also interviewed a CIA op (retired) and he said this type of stuff (affairs) went on all the time with high ranking officers including the director and never saw daylight they were handled either in house or quietly dispensed with. "This is the first time in my 25 years with the agency that anything like this has come to the surface".

Questions - Yes. Conspiracy - NO not unless you want to include the members of Congress who were also told and kept quiet. Only a fool would blow an ongoing investigation by the FBi by taking it public.

More hands in this pie than meet the eye.
 
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