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CIA director David Petraeus resigns over affair | CIA director David Petraeus resigns over affair |
(35 minutes later) | |
CIA director David Petraeus has resigned from his post, admitting he had an extra-marital affair. | |
In a statement, Mr Petraeus said he had submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, and that he had shown "extremely poor judgement". | |
He described his behaviour as "unacceptable" for the leader of the nation's main intelligence agency. | He described his behaviour as "unacceptable" for the leader of the nation's main intelligence agency. |
Mr Petraeus became CIA boss in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq, then in Afghanistan. | Mr Petraeus became CIA boss in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq, then in Afghanistan. |
He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, winning plaudits for his role running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. | He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, winning plaudits for his role running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. |
'Great patriot' | 'Great patriot' |
Mr Petraeus' resignation came just three days after President Barack Obama's re-election, and prompted a flurry of statements from the White House, intelligence community and Mr Petraeus himself. | Mr Petraeus' resignation came just three days after President Barack Obama's re-election, and prompted a flurry of statements from the White House, intelligence community and Mr Petraeus himself. |
Announcing his decision to stand down, the former general was full of contrition. | Announcing his decision to stand down, the former general was full of contrition. |
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," Mr Petraeus said in a statement. | "After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," Mr Petraeus said in a statement. |
"Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation." | "Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation." |
Mr Obama's statement said Mr Petraeus had "provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades", citing both his time as CIA director and service to the military. | Mr Obama's statement said Mr Petraeus had "provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades", citing both his time as CIA director and service to the military. |
"By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger." | "By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger." |
"Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work." | "Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work." |
James Clapper, director of national intelligence, thanked Mr Petraeus for his decades of service: "Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants," | James Clapper, director of national intelligence, thanked Mr Petraeus for his decades of service: "Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants," |
"I have spent more than five decades serving our country - in uniform and out - and of all the exceptional men and women I have worked with over the years, I can honestly say that Dave Petraeus stands out as one of our nation's great patriots." | |
CIA deputy director Michael Morell will serve as acting director of the agency, the White House confirmed. Eventually Mr Obama must nominate a new director to head the agency, who will then need to be confirmed by the Senate. | |
Mr Morell, who is well respected at both the White House and on Capitol Hill, also served as acting director following the departure of former CIA chief Leon Panetta. | |
The CIA faces a potential period of instability after Mr Petraeus' resignation, as it also deals with a budget plateau and questions over its response to a deadly attack at a US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. |