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CIA director David Petraeus resigns over 'unacceptable' extramarital affair CIA director David Petraeus resigns over 'unacceptable' extramarital affair
(about 3 hours later)
The head of the CIA David Petraeus resigned on Friday, saying that he had shown "extremely poor judgment" by having an extramarital affair.The head of the CIA David Petraeus resigned on Friday, saying that he had shown "extremely poor judgment" by having an extramarital affair.
It is an embarrassing downfall for one of America's most senior generals and one of the most high-profile members of the Obama administration.It is an embarrassing downfall for one of America's most senior generals and one of the most high-profile members of the Obama administration.
The affair was discovered during an FBI investigation, according to the Associated Press which cited officials briefed on the developments. National Public Radio said that the FBI had been investigating a possible breach of security, with the possibility that the woman he had the affair with may have had access to his emails. No criminal proceedings were being considered.
Petraeus, who went to see Barack Obama on Thursday to offer his resignation, said in a letter published on Friday it had been for personal reasons.Petraeus, who went to see Barack Obama on Thursday to offer his resignation, said in a letter published on Friday it had been for personal reasons.
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," the letter said. "Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours.""After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," the letter said. "Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours."
He met his wife Holly when he was a cadet at West Point. Her father was the superintendent at West Point at the time. Mrs Petraeus is an official with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, working with the office of servicemember affairs, which looks after the financial interests of those serving in the military.He met his wife Holly when he was a cadet at West Point. Her father was the superintendent at West Point at the time. Mrs Petraeus is an official with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, working with the office of servicemember affairs, which looks after the financial interests of those serving in the military.
The argument for resignation was that the affair had left him vulnerable to blackmail. All spy agencies warn their agents against affairs for that reason, and the head of the organisation could not then ignore the advice given to those further down the chain.The argument for resignation was that the affair had left him vulnerable to blackmail. All spy agencies warn their agents against affairs for that reason, and the head of the organisation could not then ignore the advice given to those further down the chain.
One of the reasons the CIA chief may have felt it necessary that he should resign is consistency. His predecessor at the CIA, Leon Panetta, now defence secretary, was reported to have insisted during his time at the agency that a senior official resign in similar circumstances.One of the reasons the CIA chief may have felt it necessary that he should resign is consistency. His predecessor at the CIA, Leon Panetta, now defence secretary, was reported to have insisted during his time at the agency that a senior official resign in similar circumstances.
But an alternative version circulating in Washington, particularly among Republicans, was that Petraeus was under pressure over the killing of the US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in an attack on the US embassy in Benghazi in September. After news of the resignation first broke, on NBC News, it emerged that Petraeus will no longer have to testify before a congressional hearing on the Benghazi attack, prompting speculation that this was in some way connected to his departure. But as the details of the FBI investigation and the possible security breach emerged on Friday night, this seemed unlikely.
That speculation will be fuelled by the fact that Petraeus will no longer have to testify next week before a congressional hearing on the issue. The session had been expected to be tough as the CIA has faced criticism for its handling of Benghazi, with White House officials privately blaming the agency for the administration's mistaken insistence in the days following the attack that it had been born out of a spontaneous protest over an anti-Muslim film.
The deputy CIA director, Michael Morell, an Asia specialist, is to take over in the short term on the understanding that Obama will nominate him to take over on a permanent basis. The nomination has to be formally approved by the Senate.The deputy CIA director, Michael Morell, an Asia specialist, is to take over in the short term on the understanding that Obama will nominate him to take over on a permanent basis. The nomination has to be formally approved by the Senate.
In his statement, addressed to colleagues, Petraeus said: "As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our nation's Silent Service, a workforce that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that."In his statement, addressed to colleagues, Petraeus said: "As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our nation's Silent Service, a workforce that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that."
He added: "Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end."He added: "Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end."
Obama issued a statement praising Petraeus for what it called "extraordinary service" to the US for decades.Obama issued a statement praising Petraeus for what it called "extraordinary service" to the US for decades.
"By any measure, he was one of the outstanding general officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end," the president's statement said."By any measure, he was one of the outstanding general officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end," the president's statement said.
"As director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication, and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger.""As director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication, and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger."
Obama added: "My thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time."Obama added: "My thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time."
James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement: "Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants. From his long, illustrious Army career to his leadership at the helm of CIA, Dave has redefined what it means to serve and sacrifice for one's country."James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement: "Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants. From his long, illustrious Army career to his leadership at the helm of CIA, Dave has redefined what it means to serve and sacrifice for one's country."
Petraeus only took over the CIA post in September 2011 after what was regarded in Washington as a glittering military career. He was credited with crafting – after listening to younger officers - the counter-insurgency strategy in Iraq that helped the US beat al-Qaida with the help of Sunnis.Petraeus only took over the CIA post in September 2011 after what was regarded in Washington as a glittering military career. He was credited with crafting – after listening to younger officers - the counter-insurgency strategy in Iraq that helped the US beat al-Qaida with the help of Sunnis.
Afghanistan was more difficult but again he was given credit in Washington for having done a good job given all the problems stacked against him.Afghanistan was more difficult but again he was given credit in Washington for having done a good job given all the problems stacked against him.
He was frequently tipped in Washington circles as a potential Republican presidential candidate.He was frequently tipped in Washington circles as a potential Republican presidential candidate.
Senator John McCain, a champion of Petraeus down the years but now one of the leading critics of the administration's handling of Benghazi, issued a statement praising the former CIA director. Notably, McCain's praise was directed at his time as a general rather than at the CIA.Senator John McCain, a champion of Petraeus down the years but now one of the leading critics of the administration's handling of Benghazi, issued a statement praising the former CIA director. Notably, McCain's praise was directed at his time as a general rather than at the CIA.
"General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes. His inspirational leadership and his genius were directly responsible – after years of failure – for the success of the surge in Iraq," McCain said."General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes. His inspirational leadership and his genius were directly responsible – after years of failure – for the success of the surge in Iraq," McCain said.
Petraeus belonged to a new generation of officers who like to describe themselves as scholar-warriors, having spent part of his career in academe. He was different from them though in one important way, in that he was also extremely political, good at courting people in various administrations and in Congress.Petraeus belonged to a new generation of officers who like to describe themselves as scholar-warriors, having spent part of his career in academe. He was different from them though in one important way, in that he was also extremely political, good at courting people in various administrations and in Congress.
He left West Point in 1974 and followed a conventional career. It was his time in academia that made him different and helped him to the top of the military. While taking time out, he wrote extensively about the US experience in Vietnam, developing an alternative counter-intelligence philosophy.He left West Point in 1974 and followed a conventional career. It was his time in academia that made him different and helped him to the top of the military. While taking time out, he wrote extensively about the US experience in Vietnam, developing an alternative counter-intelligence philosophy.
He caught the attention of senior figures during his command of northern Iraq in the early days of the 2003 and George W. Bush sent him back in 2007 with overall command of US and other international forces during the so-called surge. He then implemented the 'hearts and minds' policy he had developed during his Vietnam study, winning over Sunni tribal leaders and others to engage in operations against al-Qaida elements in what became known as the Sunni Awakening.He caught the attention of senior figures during his command of northern Iraq in the early days of the 2003 and George W. Bush sent him back in 2007 with overall command of US and other international forces during the so-called surge. He then implemented the 'hearts and minds' policy he had developed during his Vietnam study, winning over Sunni tribal leaders and others to engage in operations against al-Qaida elements in what became known as the Sunni Awakening.
He returned to the US in 2008 to take over Central Command. When the senior commander in Afghanistan, General Stan McChrystal, was forced to resign over comments reported in an article in Rolling Stone, Petraeus was called for again, this time by Obama. He did not enjoy the same success in Afghanistan as he had in Iraq.He returned to the US in 2008 to take over Central Command. When the senior commander in Afghanistan, General Stan McChrystal, was forced to resign over comments reported in an article in Rolling Stone, Petraeus was called for again, this time by Obama. He did not enjoy the same success in Afghanistan as he had in Iraq.