CIA Director David Petraeus Falls from Grace

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Nov. 10, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

      Ratted out by an unknown source, 60-year-old four-star-general, former Centcom Commander and CIA Director David H. Petraeus resigned yesterday admitting to an extramarital affair with his 40-year-old West Point graduate biographer Paula Broadwell.  While no one knows yet how the FBI got wind of Petraeus’ affair, it’s possible her radiologist husband, Scott Broadwell, notified the New York Times and possibly FBI.  “After being married for 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,” wrote Petraeus.  “Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours,” tending his resignation.  U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said that she would not have accepted Petraeus’ resignation, noting his superior knowledge of intelligence and national security.  President Barack Obama reluctantly accepted Petraeus’ resignation.

            Unlike former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer who resigned March 11, 2008 for soliciting Emperors Club prostitute Ashley Dupré, Petraeus’ probably didn’t violate any known federal or state laws having sex with Broadwell.  While it’s true Petraeus could have compromised his post were Broadwell a double agent, it’s also true he knew her military background as a 1995 West Point graduate.  He also knew Broadwell was working on her Ph.D. at London’s King’s College, and held masters degrees from the University of Denver [2006] and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.  Revelations of Petraeus’ fall from grace took Washington by storm, especially because it was held until after the Nov. 6 presidential election.  Republicans grumbled that the left-wing media kept news of Petraeus’ affair from the public until after the election to secure  Obama’s victory.

            Given that Petraeus broke no laws, his abrupt resignation surprised some at the Pentagon and CIA.  “I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission,” said Obama, seeing Petraeus’ sudden departure as potentially disruptive.  Veteran Deputy CIA Director 54-year-old Michael Morrell has already taken over as acting CIA Director.  “He’s respected, a straight shooter, and has great relationships with the White House and Capitol Hill.  Not to mention 30 years of agency experience,” said a former CIA official, expecting Morrell to get the job.  Petraeus’ abrupt departure adds more holes in Obama’s Cabinet, knowing Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta are all ready to go.  “I wish President Obama had not accepted this resignation, but I understand and respect the decision,” said Feinstein, knowing the loss to the CIA.

            Had Petraeus tried to hang on, he would have faced an avalanche of bad publicity, making his job as CIA director difficult.  When the conservative Internet Drudge Report leaked former President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky July 4, 1997, the media feeding frenzy dominated the headlines for three years, sabotaging former Vice President Al Gore’s chances to be president in 2000.  Knowing the media, Petraeus resigned to nip the scandal in the bud, something Clinton refused to do.  While a vindictive House of Representatives impeached Clinton Dec. 19, 1998 and dragged him through a sensational trial Jan. 7-15,1999, he was eventually acquitted Feb. 12, 1999.  Had Petraeus decided to hang on, he would have faced far less complications than Clinton who eventually survived the Lewinsky scandal, rising to new heights in popularity.  Petraeus resigned to spare the CIA unnecessary distractions.

                When 52-year-old U.S. Amb. Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed Oct. 9 in a terrorist attack at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, the CIA and Pentagon came under intense scrutiny for providing too little security.  Former GOP president nominee Mitt Romney hammered Obama for not doing enough to prevent the attacks.  “This [Petraeus’ resignation] had nothing to do with Benghazi, nothing to do with his relationship to the White House,” said an anonymous military official.  When Petraeus left his storied career at the Pentagon and accepted the CIA post Sept. 6, 2011, he was being groomed for higher political office.  Former President George H.W. Bush’s CIA background helped clinch his 1980 pick for VP by the late President Ronald Reagan.  Before Petraeus’ affair broke yesterday, the sky was the limit.  He was slated for Defense Secretary when Leon Panetta resigns.  

            Petraeus’ resignation showcases yet another high profile fall from grace, where some of the best-and-brightest political leaders let sex scandals destroy their careers.  “I would have stood up for him,” said Feinstein, recognizing the profound loss to the intelligence and military community.  “I wanted him to continue.  He was good, he loved the work, and he had a command of the intelligence issues second to none,” baffled by why sex scandals so easily destroy political careers.  While both Petraeus and Broadwell bear responsibility for their actions, Feinstein’s raises legitimate questions of whether or not today’s reaction is too harsh.  “General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America’s greatest military heroes,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), also troubled by his resignation.  Given that human sexual attraction isn’t going away anytime soon, perhaps the consequences should be reconsidered.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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