As a man, I always wonder why men of power often fall hard simply due to personal transgressions.. and its typically due to the same thing over and over again: extramarital affairs; can't they just keep it in their pants??? or the allure of women throwing themselves at him are just too difficult to resist.

Although, we probably will never know the details, but it's just sad. He served the country well.
Hope for the best for him and his family.. it's going to take some time to heal; after 37yrs of marriage, it just aint cool.

Conservative nutjobs, would blame it on bengazi-gate... wait for it, wait for it.... 3...2....1..

Hanky Panky and spying is a no-no..unless your name is JAMES BOND!

RM - This is about sex, they will blame Clinton

Tunde Akins

Nice timing.

Why state he engaged in an extramarital affair even if it is true??? Seems very odd. I think there is much more to this...

I bet you Faux Noise must have started blaming Obama even before waiting for reason of resignation to come out....

Phew, that was a close one....

This guy definitely exercised extremely poor judgement and showed his lack of self control. Shame on him.

Who really cares? I don't see how this affair has anything to do with his job at the CIA. As long as he is competent at his job, I don't see how stupid personal issues are relevant in any way.

Akins. I do believe the woman in this situation was 50% of the equation. Most likely that meant she was also cheating on her spouse.

hahaha Even if the Affair is True.. He is not quitting cause of it.. He is quitting cause of the Benghazi ordeal.

If even half of what I have heard is true, heads ALL up and down the command structure should be lost.

I believe that that someone somewhere got wind to the extra-marital affair (maybe through the third party involved) and he decided that a preemptive strike would reduce the fodder that would have surely followed if the media would have broken the story. If this is what happened, then it probably took the wind out of the sail of the third party who would have stood to make some pretty good money from their story; either way, a very sad ending to a very hardworking civil servant.

Regardless of the reason - "my wife doesn't understand me" or "my husband doesn't understand me" just end the relationship before moving on to the next one. I so feel for his wife. She has endured many years of hardship as an Army wife and deserved more respect than this. Good luck to them both.

Alway like this quote from Slim. The guy that kicked the Japanese asses in Burma

"Nothing is so good for the morale of the troops as occasionally to see a dead general". Field Marshal Slim. "It makes no difference which side the general is on".

Because, gotnorice, it is extremely relevant. He had made a commitment to be true and faithful to his wife. He lied to her and betrayed her trust. What would keep him from doing the same thing to the U.S.? It's all about trust.

Gotnorice - ever heard of blackmail - with his position, this would be a nice incentive to provide info to keep the info quiet.

hey, he's a guy... (|) has turned ships around

Very disappointing. I consider this man a great general.

Hell, General, you didn't have to resign over a little affair. I mean, Bill Clinton and his cradle robbing fling with the chubby little page lowered the bar all the way to the ground for all politicians!

Too bad . . . I think He was one of the Good Ones.

"I'm still waiting how it's Bush's fault."

It's not, unless you can link it to invading Iraq for no good reason; getting a bunch of our service men and women killed and destroying our economy in the process?

Life is hard when we make mistakes, but when you're in a position such as the Director of the CIA, and you do something like this, you have to step down. There's no conspiracy about Benghazi here.

It must have been an affair with a man.

no Dottie, the reason the 4 were killed is because of us medling in the middle east. If we werent there trying to police the world they would still be alive along with another million people that died because of our medling in middle east affairs because of corporate gain through our congress and senate right up to president Bush's(both of those nuts).

Great man

Homer -- I think you're right; something else is going on here. Perhaps the mistress is using some sort of professional or emotional blackmail because if every man in this country resigned due to an extramarital affair, there would hardly be anyone showing up for work on Monday.

Dottie's: After Jr & Co. answer for 4,344 American dead chasing weapons that didn't exist. There is no problem. Are you willing to work that way?????

Joan-1991647

It looks like I'm the only one on here who smells a rat.

Really?

He still is a great general. We all make mistakes. He has to deal with this personal mistake.

While I think it is poor judgement, unless the affair also colored his decision making process related to his job, I think spousal cheating is private. So was he sufficiently distracted that he failed his job? Maybe this explains his video endorsement?

How do these high profile Washington people find time to mess around?

RM - This is about sex, they will blame Clinton

No more like the many two faced, family values RepubliCON hypocrites.

Obviosuly while the affair was going on he didnt resign..I think that someone may have some SERIOUS blackmail on this affair now and thats why he's taking this step.

Your attention please;

This is an example of how a leader takes responsibility for mistakes and accepts the
consequences. I wish General Petraeus success in saving his marriage and
winning back the trust of his wife and family. Thank you for your service and
example.

Most of Washington D.C. should take note of this leadership example and resign as
well. Most of them have had affairs with the cruel mistress of selfishness and
have abandoned their pledge to serve the people and uphold the laws and
Constitution of the United States of America.

Lets start with McCain and Lavine for co-sponsoring the NDAA of 2012 shall we?

Next

"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances,
as though they were realities, and are more influenced by the things that seem
than by those that are."

Who cares where he puts it?

Wow, so many people that root against America. It's sad.

Wow. When I first heard the news, I thought there was someone finally with some honor. I thought he was resigning for his part in killing two American citizens without any due process whatsoever. He and two other generals, and Sec. Panetta, killed two American citizens on the say of two unnamed agents. No Grand Jury, No indictment, No trial, no verdict, no sentencing, just kill them. This violated the 4th, 5th, and other parts of the Constitution, all becasue some unnamed lawyers in Washington think you can amend the constitution by just ignoring it. All of these individuals violated their oaths of office to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, and to bare true faith and allegiance to the Constitution when they carried out that illegal order. They also killed a bunch of innocent civilians at the site of the missile strike. But hey, who cares right?

But no, he resigned because although he can command thousands of troops, he can't command the little guy. Sorry General. Even though you have earned a lot of "attaboys" in your career, they are now all gone. As you well know, one awsh$t removes all the attaboys. Your affair is not the awsh$T I am referring to. Violating your oath as an officer and violating the Constitution is the awsh$T that has wiped out your attaboys in my opinion.

With that said, it was refreshing to see someone stand up and take responsibility for something in this day and age. That is a very rare occurance, especially in Washington.

Hey Dottie - I remember you shrieking about failed leadership when 12 (TWELVE) US embassies were attacked and people killed between 2000-2008.

Oh wait, I don't remember one word from you.

They say power is the greatest aphrodisiac just ask billybob clinton, interesting timing though.

Anybody want to bet Odumbo gets impeached before his 4 yrs is up?

First off I am also amazed at how some men just can't keep it in their pants despite all they will lose for a few minutes of sex or a bit of ego-stroking. I'm also amazed at how many women chase powerful men (or any men, for that matter) without thinking through what danger they put themselves in or how much pain it will cause.

But really, he was open for blackmail with that situation and I can see how covering it up could be distracting and pose a danger to anyone around him. Too bad, but his choice to do it.

Also, it is normal for many to leave administrations when the president is reelected, so unless you need to see conspiracies you will see that it is a good thing to switch up to people who fit your new goals and agendas.

who is David Betray-us? Did he Betray-us? Did he Betray the President and our trust.

@aworldofhurt: Still hurting???? Talk to your goppers to come back to reality. Remember how well was last Tuesday with the same rhetoric that you were spewing for the last 2 years (still waiting for jobs, jobs, jobs.) 2014 will be a bit@ch for Repugnicans......

Obama is going down vary soon.

And a few laugh at the Bible. The Bible talks about things like this. How one woman can destroy a great man. Happens all the time and it will continue to happen. Men never learn.

General Petraeus did the right thing in resigning. My heart goes out to his wife.

And to the few who question his resigning simply because of an affair. When you are the Director of the CIA you have to be very careful on what you do. You never know if the person you are dealing with is a spy. This woman could have been a spy. People may laugh at the James Bond scenarios but this stuff really happens.

Max^108

This guy definitely exercised extremely poor judgement and showed his lack of self control. Shame on him.

Actually, this might be a very astute move. He gets to bail out on a morals issue rather than stay and take the heat for Benghazi.

This is such a selfish act. Just walk in and toss a generic letter ... no hot sweaty details, pictures, fantasies exposed, who the other woman is .. just leave us hanging with bags of unpopped popcorn in our hands.....

I never figured the guy for being too intelligent. He had all those big Military jobs and never accomplished anything. Lied to Congress a couple of times. Good riddance.

"Who cares where he puts it?"

These are the guys who wrote and enforce General Order 1 - and they'd better be able to live it.

Hmmm this is highly suspect...There's got to be something more going on here.

Irish21-there will be more to jump ship..coming very soon. This is all just getting started.

Hmmm. This doesn't sound like a reason to resign. But I suspect there are other issues in the background that constitute the real reason. Perhaps something to do with national security leaks or Benghazi. Surprised Hillary hasn't resigned yet. God help us all if she is replaced by V Jarrett. And please, don't replace Eric Holder with Deval Patrick, Holder was bad enough.

What a lying cheating SCUM. The reason he is leaving is more than that! You dont just up and resign from a high rank position for cheating. Hummmm Boy he must think we the people are really stupid. It will all come out in the wash.

I guess the thing I find appaulling in all of this is the double-standard. He cheats on his wife, and is still able to resign/retire and receive his full pension and benefits. Granted he isn't "active" military, but Generals never actually retire completely. Had he been a sergeant who cheated, he would be dishonorably discharged and possibly serve time. But you know the same rules do not apply to the nobility in this country.

I submit, a man of his stature should not involve himself in such situations, but sometimes the little head is more powerful than the one we use for thinking. He was wrong, no doubt, but, as a man I salute him for admitting his transgression, and stepping away.

Otherwise, great job General Petraeus, I'll always be proud to have served under your command!

Hooah!!!!!

Hmmm. This doesn't sound like a reason to resign. But I suspect there are other issues in the background that constitute the real reason. Perhaps something to do with national security leaks or Benghazi.

Here we go, don't take ya'll long to bring up bull@!$%#. There's been a number of congress-people, governors, and other elected officials, who have resigned for some of the same reasons.

She also said Petraeus will not need to testify at Benghazi hearings she is chairing next week.

How convenient!

Poor teabagging idiots. How soon they forget Ritter, Sanford, Ensign (the three that REFUSED to resign) Foley, Craig, Delay, Gingrich...etc., etc., etc. At least Patreus had the decency to be a man, come clean and resign.

I swear, the nazi propaganda Fox channel could tell the teabaggers that Patreus was acting under to control of an alien probe and the morons would believe it and repeat it.

Jumping ship??? How many positions were reassigned for the second terms of BushII, Clinton and Reagan. Presidents elected to a second term usually take this time to shake things up. It's unfortunate that the teabaggers are too retarded to look at a little simple, 3rd grade history.

Grow up, little baggers. Your just looking like spoiled brats that didn't get their way.

Tunde Akins

As a man, I always wonder why men of power often fall hard simply due to personal transgressions.. and its typically due to the same thing over and over again: extramarital affairs; can't they just keep it in their pants??? or the allure of women throwing themselves at him are just too difficult to resist.

Hey, Tunde, I don't think it's so hard to believe. We all know that everybody (male and female) is a whore. With few exceptions of what we are going to sell out on, there is a price we will committ the unthinkable for. It's a matter of finding it.

I would imagine that when confronted enough times with the right comination of ego, kind words, fatigue, loneliness, stress, physical qualities, etc. it's hard to keep saying "no".

Goes to show you how brainwashed the Neocons on this page have become after listening to years of hate-filled drivel.

I'm not even exaggerating when I state this, I wouldn't be surprised if half of them secretly rejoiced if the US suffered a 9/11 like attack under Obama.

You self-proclaimed patriots are fascist fools.

Who was the girlfriend? An Iranian or Al Qaida spy? Russian?

can't they just keep it in their pants??? or the allure of women throwing themselves at him are just too difficult to resist.

It takes a special man, one who's "not that into women" to be able to walk away from POP. The "power of p@$$+" is tremendously strong for some men, including me. I have to admit, there is nothing in this world that I love more!! Sure, there's been some I've walked away from, and cursed the whole damn way!!!!!

Anybody want to bet Odumbo gets impeached before his 4 yrs is up?

LOL, and I'd bet you said Romney would win. What does that leave you now, 0-2, you know your loss with McCain. LOL I'm 2-0 in the last two Presidential elections.

It's interesting reading the strong anti-Petraeus comments here, probably many from people like you who have never served one day in our Military protecting this gread country, have you?

"Obama is going down vary soon."

• Hmmmmm -- I guess you didn't get the news. Just a few days ago he kicked Republicans' ass all over the nation.

Shockedanddisgusted

Grow up, little baggers

Says the person using the term "teabagger"

D Man

I wouldn't rejoice at such a thing, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if it happened. And, no doubt, Mr. Obama would try and find some scapegoat to blame it on while apologizing to the attackers.

At least General Petraeus had the honesty to admit that he had made a mistake and accept personal responsibility for it instead of trying to blame it on someone else. It takes a hell of a lot of personal integrity to do something like that. That's why I hate to see him go. I agree with Sen. Feinstein and Rep. King on that.

"I wouldn't be surprised if half of them secretly rejoiced if the US suffered a 9/11 like attack under Obama."

• Oh no doubt -- all the clowns at Fox, Rush the junkie, a huge number of teapublicans would love to see that happen.

It was Cheney's fault, he couldn't keep Dick in control of his urges.

Who really cares? I don't see how this affair has anything to do with his job at the CIA. As long as he is competent at his job, I don't see how stupid personal issues are relevant in any way.

Until he went public with his affair, he was open to blackmail. Of course, once he announced the affair, that's no longer a risk.

Poor "dingle". It was the teabaggers that called themselves teabaggers before they figured out why everyone was laughing at them. Of course, this was a couple of years ago and, being a teabagger, I can understand why you can't remember...

A man is a man is a man. They have 2 heads but can only think with one at a time. I bet his wife ONLY blames the other woman. LOL what a joke. She needs to kick his butt to the curb. However, I don't care about this topic, it is between his wife and himself.

Men have been doing this since almost the beginning of time. It doesn't matter where they are in their careers. Does this make him unfit for the job? No. He should not have resigned.

At least Petraeus shows he has more character and class than good ol Billy C by resigning.

Was it Bush's fault for having him in such a high position to begin with that temptation won out?

Shockedanddisgusted

Being critical of the government is okay, even when somebody you support is in office. It doesn't make you "teabagger" "libtard" or whatever. We are not democrats and republicans, we are Americans, and dissent is the American way.

The inability to critically think is the ultimate ignorance, and anyone who doesn't question this thing, is being willfully ignorant.

something is not right, JFK didn't quit, Clinton didn't quit, I smell something. He probably knows that the Sh!!!t is going to hit the ceiling after Obama's re-election.

Don't call me names cause I didn't voted for Obama this year, I did in 08.

Honey, I quit my job today.

And the thing is, I lied about the reason, and I wanted to talk to you about that.

I told everybody that I was cheating on you, because, heh, people out there generally still think that spies can't afford to be put in potentially compromising positions. They don't realize that we really don't care if somebody gets blackmailed or kidnapped and held for ransom.

So, you see, honey, I wasn't really having an affair, honest.

No, the real reason I quit was because I was about to have to go to Congress and testify about that whole Benghazi thing.

Yeah, I know, I realized after I quit and had some time to think about it that quitting really won't change the fact that I have to testify one little bit.

So, you see, I really wasn't having an affair, snookums.

You believe me, right?

Well all this shows is David is Human. He is a good man that a bad thing, How human. There isn't a perfect person in this whole room. So get off your high horses. David P maned up and didn't run from it. That is what a man does. David you didn't need to resign for this.

Clinton did it, who cares about the D/CIA ,

There is absolutely nothing wrong with questioning our government, "dongle". What side were you on when those of us who opposed the war in Iraq were called traitors by every loud mouth on Fox??

Dissent is definitely an American attribute. Telling outright lies, praying for the downfall and calling for a revolution against the democratically elected President, however, is the height of anti-Americanism.

Believing everything you hear on Fox simply because it appeals to your hatred of an ever evolving United States doesn't make you a patriot, "dingle", it makes you thoughtless.

If I was Obama I wouldn't have accepted his resignation. I think it is past the point of ridiculous that people are crucified for DWI/DUI or having affairs. It happens. Is it right? Probably not but we are dealing with humans and humans have weaknesses. There isn't a person on here who doesn't have something in their life they would want exposed to the world. The way things are no we are losing too many people like the General who have a lot to contribute.

Thank you General for the service to this country you have given.

why do we put personal problem between husband and wife in the public eye.... we don't need all this transparency we need good leaders... remember half the people have marital problems ,should we total disregard these people because of it. i'm not saying petraeus was or would be a great head of the cia but the more we ,for some reason ,we need to know this crap....the more we lose out on leaders who never were because of freaking transparency.....fdr, jfk, ,churchill....lbj go down the freakin list and take these womanizer out of the equation and where would we be today.... get off the soapbox people and look where this quote " transparency " has gotten us.. leaderless leaders.

All is left now is some bimbo to come forward saying she was forced to have sex with him for ten years and will sue him and the government for millions.

Who cares that he had an affair. Some of our greatest Presidents had affairs while in office. Why would we care about a CIA director having an affair?

Sorry "dingle"...."dongle" was an actual typo.

Gotnorice (post 1.12): Gotmorals?

He had an outstanding career and a mistake like an affair should not wipe out all the good he has done. He has served our country well and his personal life is - frankly - no one's business.

If you look at the biology of the situation, rather than the religious/cultural values, the genetic diversity of the human population of this planet didn't come about because of the opinions of the news items. The women have just as much to do with the affair as the man. There was no crime of rape. If you look at the cultural diversity of the spouses of military members both past and present, it's apparent that biology doesn't play second fiddle to any cultural prohibitions about mating. The call of the wild is all about genetic diversity in the population. In the case of males, if one male for whatever reason does not wish to perform, some other one will. In the case of females, time might be a limiting factor. But for whatever reason(s) that might be presented, the population of this planet didn't get into the billions for a lack of passions, culturally approved of or not.

The senate now is not calling him to testify. I really don't get this. He was the one on duty THEN. Why isn't his testimony important NOW.

I posted above that I am sure many already knew this information. That is what is now being reported. So why now is he leaving his post?

Again, if it did not hinder his job duties, I fail to understand why he would step down. His ONLY explanation is to his wife and family. He needs their forgiveness. I am fine with reporting it, but apparently it is old news.

I have no reason to believe Gen. Petraeus (Ret) to be anything other than an honest man, but I'm not buying this for one second. Were it just the affair, he could have quietly resigned and oversaw a proper transition to his successor. Instead he abruptly resigns 3 days before testifying to Congress about Benghazi. Perhaps the problem -- for the administration -- is that he is an honest man.

"Conservative nutjobs, would blame it on bengazi-gate... wait for it, wait for it.... 3...2....1.." - Tunde Akins

Use your head dude. Petraeus has been honorable, dedicated and committed to his role as a public servant for decades. This sudden departure is extremely out of character for him. Like I said, if it was only about the affair, out of respect for his position and his team, he would have quietly resigned and led a smooth and proper transition to his successor. Instead he abruptly quits on the last workday before he is scheduled to appear before Congress to testify about Libya. Of course in your fantasy world 2 + 2 = 3 doesn't it?

This extra marital affair thing is a cover for something else. The real reasons are hidden. Such is the world of spies.

It probably has something to do with Benghazi....

rgsdca1965

Obama is going down vary soon.

Actually there are a few Republicans we may all have a few questions for:

Frank Luntz - GOP Minister of Propaganda
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA),
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX),
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX),
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA),
Sen. Jim DeMint (SC-R),
Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ-R),
Sen. Tom Coburn (OK-R),
Sen. John Ensign (NV-R),
Sen. Bob Corker (TN-R),
Newt Gingrich

It's a shame there is not an Economic Treason category.

Looking forward to this story getting the traction it deserves:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/08/1098434/-Eric-Cantor-Paul-Ryan-Kevin-McCarthy-Plot-To-Sabotage-US-Economy-with-Frank-Luntz

Empress-409341

This extra marital affair thing is a cover for something else. The real reasons are hidden. Such is the world of spies.

It probably has something to do with Benghazi....

What a completely idiotic statement. So tell me, how does it feel to be a loser? And how long have you known you are one?

You actually bought that cover story? It was not even a clever cover story.

I do not claim to know exactly who did what etc., but it is way too coincidental that after the Benghazi mess, he suddenly resigns as an investigation starts. This is not even as subtle as Watergate.

"empress" - Those at Fox who own your brain are just sore losers and lost a truckload of money. If you care, they are making you look like a foolish little cry-baby.

The families of those who tragically lost their lives have asked, even begged, that people stop using their loved ones as political fodder. Does it make you feel warm and fuzzy inside to spit on the families of those who have fallen for their country?

Would love to have an independent media get to the bottom of this, but guess we are 50 years too late. If he actually had an affair, he has to go. Not being overly moralistic, but we can't have leaders in extremely sensitive positions ( this includes the President ( Clinton) by the way) being open to blackmail.

The coverup of Benghazi actually makes Watergate look like schoolboys. Where was Obama during the attack? Why did they send Susan Rice out to tell complete lies? Why did it take 3 weeks to admit terrorism when they knew right away it was terrorism?

Again, wish we had a truly independent media. Fox will get to the bottom of it, but the silly liberals won't believe them.

Hey what do you know...the story was broke after the election...instead of before it...even though he was being investigated.

And hilarious today that CNN and MSNBC finally started covering Benghazi again...yet ignored it for almost 2 months before the election.

Does anyone actually believe Petraeus resigned because of what he did ? I already heard everything from (a guy with his position had to resign) to( lets wait and see how they can blame Obama).....Facts:how many U.S presidents committed the same offence but did not resign (Clinton for starters).And about Obama he didn't even try to talk Petraeus into staying Why? because now that he is gone Petraeus does not have to testify about that nasty word that no one wants to talk about (Benghazi).Very convenient this happens after elections.But I'm convinced that wouldn't of mattered anyway because everybody seems to be infactuated by what they think Obama stands for and not what he is really about.Like it or not Obama has already failed his second term........

Well, actually it is more likely that the person he was seeing was the source of some leaks the FBI has been investigating. The theory is that the person, a researcher and author, Paula Broadwell, who also did a book on him, had access to confidential information under the responsibility of the general. Sounds like maybe his email or some other secure information.

Bottom line is in such a position, trusted and privy to exceptionally confidential information, you simply can not reveal it to anyone else. Not your wife, your sweetie or anybody. She is the one being targeted in the investigation and it seems likely that her connection with the general was maybe a bit more than professional. Something got the FBI interested in her. She has commented in several interviews that she wants to build a future in international security and she has called the general a mentor. In the interviews it seems like she has a great appreciation for the general. It seems plausible. She is married, has two kids and is pretty attractive. Obviously, no sure fire proof, but if she got access to confidential information, it seems highly likely that it came for the connection with the general.

If this theory is true, you can see why the general felt it necessary to resign.

Something is missing in this story. Timing raises the red flag.

And why wouldn't he have to testify in the Benghazi issue? Oh, Andrea Mitchell NBC foreign correspondent said so.

Somewhat shocking how soon after the election that things have already begun to unravel.

Watch this interview on Charlie Rose. It seems completely obvious that the two have or have had an extremely close relationship. She's talking about things you just don't get in interviews, more like things discussed in an intimate relationship. She obviously knows this guy extremely well. http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12162

Who really cares if he cheated on his wife? It's a personal issue and no one's business.

I don't think he quit over the affair, he quit to avoid the Republican witch hunt for someone to blame for the terrorist attack... they seem to forget terrorists did it, not Obama.

Thank you, "hills". You epitomize precisely what the "tea" party stands for.

Poor loser...It's unfortunate that your mother didn't learn how to raise you right before she decided to spawn.

Too bad - like RObert Gates, he served well and long. Too bad he has to go. I am impresssed how the RIght WIngers can't let go of what happpened in Bengazi. Thank goodnesss we've never had to deal with a situation where Obama atuallly screwed up; THe frothing at the mouth would be unbearable!

Ayup. That is what I am hearing.

Obama is going down vary soon.

We've been hearing that for four years. Even from some people who know the difference between vary and very. At this point I just don't think it's going to happen.

Who cares that he had an affair. Some of our greatest Presidents had affairs while in office. Why would we care about a CIA director having an affair?

Go argue with Petraeus. He's the one who resigned.

I just want to know who else is going to fall on the sword for this moron(Obama). Remember the Desert Fox(Rommel), he did it to save his family. Wonder what kinda sweet deal Betraus got, his old lady already knew what was going on, guess it's better to live comfortably, than live like the rest of us. Next up!

All of this Benghazi talk is just CRAZY!!!!! Who in the hell would lie about cheating on their wife to cover up not sending in some extra security to a Consulate location that got attacked? WOW! You conspiracy theorists are totally bat-@!$%# crazy!

Why is it anyone's business..other than his wife...who the hell he let talk him into doing the dirty deed? He's famous and rich....women love famous and rich....men love willing women. Big deal, so a couple of people had a good time.

"Mr. Petraeus was scheduled to testify before the Senate intelligence committee next week. Michael Morell, who was named acting director of the CIA after Mr. Petraeus's resignation, will appear instead."

I'm amazed. An American General throwing himself on his own sword for his commander. I thought that was an Asian trait. Honors to the General.

I see nothing honorable about embarrassing his wife like this.He should have just stepped down and left his sordid details out of the picture.Everybody has to be the big confessor and put their private affairs under a magnifying glass for all the world to see.We are surely becoming a classless society.

R.M. Fields: Quick, someone blame Obama! But seriously, I can't wait to see how this story gets twisted and somehow comes back to Obama's failed leadership.

Fox News already beat you to it. (as expected...)

What's funny is --- Petraeus is a Republican. He was brought up the chain by Dumbya Bush and is one of Dumbya Bush's War Heroes.

So yeah, should be interesting to see them blame it on Obama. What a hoot!!

I just looked. That letter of resignation is displayed on the CIA's web site along with another one from Morrell. I was just thinking how shocked everybody at Langley must have been today.

So sad. Perhaps another torn family.

He says: "With his code of ethics and morals, he did a very dishonorable thing". Code of ethics and morals in the same sentence as "Dishonorable" thing. A little contradictory I think.

If you cheat - you have no code of ethics or morals. Is he truly sorry? Only that he got caught.

I agree with some, there is more to this story than is being told. Time will tell.

@ Tunde Akins, post 1.1

Not a very popular name, sorry had to say that. Now to your comment, I agree. I too am a man but I suffer from something a lot of men would do better to have, ED. I'm 55, my wife is a little older 58 and for over 20 years of her adult life she was single and raising 2 boys living with very strict parents. She wasn't able to spend the nights out with anyone so I feel the sex she had was very limited. We deal with the ED very well I suppose she says if I can't satisfy her not to touch her and I can't see a reason to have something that doesn't satisfy me either. So we don't make love any more. It's been 10 years. We are happy with each other and for that reason I can't understand how these men let women pull them away from the one they love whether it was for sex or companionship. It's got to be the stupidest thing a man can do to a women and visa versa. I have only been married for 15 years but I don't feel at this point doing what he has done was worth it. I also feel if he thinks he has done something to cause him to lose his job he should lose it all. Retiring from a position without warning whether for personal reasons or not should be considered quitting and when you quit you are walk away from everything. Is that what he did? I also agree with some of you that think this is not a reason for him to quit, it's personal. It's not our job to judge him but at the same time we should know if the woman was a spy and extracted any intelligence from him. If that is the case there should be a full investigation and charges should be brought possibly jail or execution if so. When men/women are put in the position of government his was put at isn't there an extensive investigation into his/her family, friends and complete back ground? Although I don't feel we have the right to know about this woman/man we should still investigate. If his judgment is so lacking he doesn't care about his wife what does that say about his care for the United States of America? Again sorry about the ribbing;)

When you are in the intelligence world, anything that may subject you to blackmail is a bad thing. Apparently, he tried to keep this a secret. Had he admitted it the day after...no issue. He didn't. It was.

can't they just keep it in their pants???

Now where would be the fun in that? Why keep it in your pants when you can put it in someone else's pants?

the allure of women throwing themselves at him are just too difficult to resist.

If you saw all those ribbons and colored fabric on his chest wouldn't you throw yourself at him. I know I would and I'm not even gay. There's just something about colored ribbons that is sexually stimulating.

I hate to be the conspiracy theorist but he was scheduled to testify about Benghazi, now is under no obligation? Sounds a little hinky, his departure for the simple reason of getting some strange.

Exceptionally poor judgement - remarkably good timing.

Really, big suprise have you seen his wife.

The reason it's a big deal is that as a member of the CIA, the affair makes for blackmail fodder and as head of a spy organization, WE can't allow our agents to be liable to blackmail. Unless people WANT blackmailers of CIA agents to have access to government secrets?

Enough of this already!!! How many excellent men do we have to lose before we insist on a solution to a problem such as this? Look at all the years of excellent & dedicated service Petraeus has given the Nation only to have to resign because he got his dick wet!

I propose that we establish a "Whore Corps" (that would be "Ho Co" in today's parlance) in order to provide relief to military members of all ranks. Then we wouldn't have to piss away decades of experience because of situations like this. Make the job a legitimate MOS (military occupational specialty) and have them service every rank. For those with puritanical or other religious objections- they need not participate or indulge themselves in this stress reduction program. Stop trying to make them live according to fundamentalist christian or muslim standards and let them have a smile every now and then. Give the WC some psych training and they might even help to reduce the amount and severity of PTSD or behavior problems.

But of course, this won't happen. The religio-whackos have established themselves securely within the US military and they would claim that the proposed Whore Corps is dangerous both physically , emotionally and spiritually- even though it would be under complete military control and they could impose cleanliness regulations etc...

Okay, go ahead and chew up my idea now. But at least have the decency to propose an alternate solution. Abstinence and "Just say NO" responses not allowed since they are the present failing policies. Have at it!

Hills Hobo

Punch a Democrat. I've gotten 3 since the election. You have to make sure they start it, and there are witnesses.

T

Hahaha! That's so funny... it's the one good comment on this thread of dim wit democrats. I don't think democrats could possibly dumb it down any further...lol!

What we are witnessing is called a preemptive strike, in military parlance. Patraeus knew there would likely be an investigation into the debacle in Benghazi, knew that his lover was being investigated and knew that the affair would probably come to light. He took the preemptive action of trying to remove himself from the equation by hoping that Obummer would cover for him by providing executive privilege. By having Obummer cover him with executive privelege the administration can continue their pattern of lies and obfuscation by throwing hillary under the bus. He doesn't need her anymore since he won the election and if he didn't throw her under the bus, she has the potential of getting elected in 2016 and showing the world what OBAMA is - One Big Ass Mistake America.

Considering the continual degradation of society, I'm somewhat surprised that something such as a little extramarital hanky panky even raises any eyebrows anymore. Does anyone really care?

Read the article. The actual issue is Petraeus' paramour is being investigated for trying to access his email and other classified information.

Those who say it has something to do with a Benghazi cover-up: that dog won't hunt. Remember that congress voted against a bill that would have increased the funds for our diplomatic missions overseas.

I'll bet that this has everything to do with the Benghazi debacle. obama tells one story but the media starts finding out what really happened and how non-responsive the administration is in responding to it. obama was so focused on his efforts to retain his position that he went out on the campaign trail only hours after learning is lame excuse for the reason behind the attack shows total disdain for the American public - they are too ignorant to know any better was his philosophy.

Hillary coming forward was an attempt to distract the public and let obama keep campaigning. The problem was that info starting leaking out about what really happened in the Situation Room and all of the people that were directly involved in doing nothing. The media did its best to ignore the growing wealth of information but there were certain forums that chose not to ignore it. Then the storm happens and it couldn't have benefitted obama more. It distracted the media and gave them something to focus on besides being obvious politics. And obama hammed it up to the hilt.

The administration knew that Petraeus had been sleeping around. The FBI has pointedly stated that they weren't going to be looking into his role in the possible release of classified info. They are only considering her role. The FBI is more interested in protecting him than finding out the truth. Reminds me of a rape trial - focus on the female and protect the male.

Feinstein has also given him a pass. She has no intention of him being questioned regarding his total lack of action when the CIA safe house was able to be of use; making it obvious the politicians are circling the wagons around obama. The dems consider him above reproach and will do anything to cover for him. The problem is that when they try to cover for him they make it more obvious he was directly involved but chose to sacrifice those four Americans.

Imagine how "presidential" he could have looked if his ego hadn't gotten in the way. Narcissism has its costs.

"...and have them service every rank."

Yes Merlin, you've defined the problem. Particularly in Afghanistan, Private Willie ends up under the bus for the same or worse offense by his commander. This is the guy who wrote the law that you can't have sex with anyone other than your spouse. He expects everyone to abide by General Order 1 while he parties.

US had talent in the field but McChrystal couldn't shut his arrogant mouth and simply be good at what he does.

It is obvious that he wanted out of this admin with what is going on with Obama watch. Here is the spin but, it is not a spin, it is more like a looky here. Look, the is no little Blue Dress in this one. Don't you see.

This is a lesser hit than he would take if he stays. He is a General He don't need this stinkin @!$%#.

Remember Hillary? She couldn't handle it either and she had to take one for the team also.

So, no spin. Just look up and listen to what is going on.

Here is your spin. He spent 4 years dividing America. He will do a damage recovery for the next 4 years, which means lying to yall.

Ya see it be about the legacy.

Why are all of the early posts that question the timing of his resignation with his pending testimony on Benghazi being collapsed? They do not say anything inflammatory or use curse words. All they do is logically question why a the head of the CIA and has critical PERSONAL knowledge about the President and Behghazi would suddenly resign over something that is relatively insignificant, especially for a non-politician who does not have to campaign for their position or be elected into that position. Three days before the heraring?! Seems more like he was forced into the resignation to keep something about Benghazi from coming out. This is a brilliant intelligence officer and military strategist and you want us to believe he would simply roll up shop because of an indiscretion all because that is the "honorable" thing to do? This man's honor is for much greater things than that - his honor would be for the good of the country first. What does he know that could be so bad that would make him willing to publically take a fall like this to protect. Why is no one from the media questioning this?! Waiting for my post to collapse in 3..2..1..

There is more to this story than what meets the eye. President Clinton was getting BJ's in the oval office for years and most democrats and a lot of others thought that it was ok and not really a problem. Petraeus was having an affair and he can't be general anymore? If he was willing to come clean that means that he couldn't be blackmailed about the affair anyway. Politicians are employees of the people and as such should not be able to lie to us all the time. I'm not talking about Petraeus but the politicians that forced him out. There is a lot more to this story and the people in power are lying to the American people about it. Lying to Congress is a crime and lying to the American people that you are sworn to serve and protect should be an even bigger crime.

As the head of the CIA with that level of security clearance he can be blackmailed for his dirt. He has to fess up and in fessing up, he had to resign.

Maybe it wasn't an extra marital affair with a female......

Hmmmmm.....,

At his clearance he could of made anyone who knew disappear so him being human and at his stage in life figured his soul mate was more important then anything and he had a lot of making up to do before it was gone forever

I surely hope that this is the end of a very wacky week!

David Petraeus in an affair? so David Betray his wife?

Like I always tell my Grandkids . . ."DON'T PUT YOUR WILLY IN THE WRONG WOODY HOLE!!!"

ROMNEY/RYAN 2016!!!

Truth Sees Thru Glass.......also Lies and Coverups. That is the true character and mantra of Obama and his staff. Yes, he is a "wuss" because there are parents, family and friends of 4 dead Americans that have been kept in a state of unbelievable anguish. It all could have been resolved in minutes by answering 4 simple questions. Instead they chose to stonewall the truth hoping the media will brush is under the White House rug. Petriator..zip it-please keep your lies to yourself.

Than there's Holder. This seems to be a patten; More parents, family and friends being hurt and lied to by the WH. They too are waiting but have not seen justice and closure for their son's death. Perhaps he's had enough questioning on Fast and Furious; That's what happens when you spin a web of lies---everything gets tangled up until you arechocking for fresh air. Holder just released a video in which he is telling his law students he might not stay on...he can't even tell them the truth. Timing is just too perfect. God Bless the parents of these young men.

ROMNEY/RYAN 2016!!!

LMAO! That turtle has left the barn, handsof. Romney will be retiring to play with his car elevator, Ann will retire to the stable for some "therapy," and Lyan Ryan will be the laughing stock of congress - the numbers wonk who failed at arithmetic.

He'll still get that juicy pension and benefits package though. People in the private sector (except CEO's), when they get @!$%#-canned for a screwup - all they get is "buh bye".

F**k you partisan fools. You are all responsible for tearing down our country.

Genisis111

Truth Sees Thru Glass.......also Lies and Coverups. That is the true character and mantra of Obama and his staff. Yes, he is a "wuss" because there are parents, family and friends of 4 dead Americans that have been kept in a state of unbelievable anguish. It all could have been resolved in minutes by answering 4 simple questions. Instead they chose to stonewall the truth hoping the media will brush is under the White House rug. Petriator..zip it-please keep your lies to yourself.

Christ will you give it a rest? Four dead Americans? Really? Because of the last Republican President's unwillingness to accept and follow up on the intelligence given him over 3,000 Americans died while he read "My Pet Goat"! And as a result of his wanting to be a "war-time" President and the falsified Intelligence...over 4,000 American Service Members died. Where the hell is your sense of proportion NEOCON?

HaHa, you actually believe he is quitting over an affair? He is quitting over Benghazi.

Hillary wasn't big enough to smother the grenade, and now they are desperately trying to make sure the flames don't spread.

"She also said Petraeus will not need to testify at hearings she is chairing next week into the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the attack."

pjamo9, my thoughts exactly.

He fessed up to this affair way too willingly. Why would a man with such a long standing military reputation accept such a humiliation so quickly. He must be running for a scandal which is so much worse than a extra-marital affair.

The CIA does not sound like a bunch that would care about affairs. They are not fundamentalist Christians. The fact that the woman he had an affair with spied on him...yeah, they make take a dim view of that (not a very good spy to be taken in by a femme fatale). But I think if it was just that, he would stay his ground and defend himself rather than accept such a humiliation. That to me says that he is in hotter water than that.

From the article: "After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

Nay, I don't buy it. His quote above is admirable and true...but so what. POTUS Clinton was also caught in an affair. He got debarred from practicing law for lying about it...but that was it. More to this story than just resigning over an affair.

-there will be more to jump ship..coming very soon

To where? The Republicans? Sorry, they pissed away all of their money and so much of others that they aren't taking in anyone at the moment.

Jesse Jackson Jr. got reelected, and if he could get reelected, having an affair is small potatoes compared to not representing your constituency and being under federal investigation at the same time. Look at Marion Barry and his scandalous life, even went to prison and got reelected. Compare having an affair to that behavior of reelected public officials in major metropolitan areas... no comparison. You can't watch TV in the evenings without sex enhancement products being advertised between bouts of political endorsements. By the time you've gone through the time and expense of having your hair colored, your curves enhanced, your wrinkles Botoxed, your under ware colors vibrant with the detergent you wash them with, and smelling like the floral section of a botanical center, you just don't want to waste all that energy in not having an affair.

The affair is incidental. Affairs happen so much they are inconsequential. There's probably something else.

Morrell may serve the CIA better since he had long experience with them and probably understands them better. Better yet, I wish Fred Rustmann Jr. would be the next CIA director. He has an impressive CIA resume'. (I am not sure how well he'd get along with Obama, though.) He is what I would call a "real spy" because he actually led spy missions in far away places. He is now a private spy with a business in Florida. Look him up. Read his book CIA, INC. The CIA has been in a mess for a long time and he would straighten it out.

Well, I can wish, can't I?

Empress,

Ditto. I too would wish for Fred Rustmann Jr. to be head of the CIA. Rustmann has an impressive record and also really likes the CIA so he would be loyal to them. I believe Rustmann would do his best to repair the CIA. The best person for the CIA director is one who really cares for the organization. Even a friendly, loving civilian would beat someone who coldly thinks it is just a job. Note: this is not a statement against Petraeus. As for Petraeus I have conflicting information so I will not comment since I must wait until things unfold.

Since many times a President has picked a civilian to run the CIA I will go a little further on three different kinds of civilians chosen. The President could choose civilian X,Y,Z. Civilian "X" is friendly, respectful and loves the CIA. Civilian "Y" is cold and logical and it is just a job. Civilian "Z" is hostile towards the CIA. The "Y" and "Z" scenario has already been chosen on a number of occasions. The "Y" person usually barges in and thinks he knows it all and begins his changes without thinking of the harm it might cause. The "Z" person barges in and changes things to cause the most harm with intention. The "X" person would take their time calling and asking people like Fred Rustmann for advice on what to do knowing that being a civilian he/ she might not know how that organization is best served. The point being is civilian "X" would at least have the decency to look up people with the right knowledge. Ideally if the civilian were lucky enough to find and ask "Ground Floor" CIA people this would be most valuable since it is those particular people who remember it's founding and have a knowledge that is lost. In case you are asking "Ground Floor" CIA is one who started with the CIA in 1947 when it started. These people usually were OSS first. That is why asking one of them would be priceless for a new Director.

Why are all of the early posts that question the timing of his resignation with his pending testimony on Benghazi being collapsed? They do not say anything inflammatory or use curse words. All they do is logically question why a the head of the CIA and has critical PERSONAL knowledge about the President and Behghazi would suddenly resign over something that is relatively insignificant, especially for a non-politician who does not have to campaign for their position or be elected into that position. Three days before the heraring?! Seems more like he was forced into the resignation to keep something about Benghazi from coming out. This is a brilliant intelligence officer and military strategist and you want us to believe he would simply roll up shop because of an indiscretion all because that is the "honorable" thing to do? This man's honor is for much greater things than that - his honor would be for the good of the country first. What does he know that could be so bad that would make him willing to publically take a fall like this to protect. Why is no one from the media questioning this?! Waiting for my post to collapse in 3..2..1..

To all the conspiracy theorists who want this to be about something else, hang up your tin-foil helmets.

This is "Basic Spycraft 101: You do not engage in personal behavior which makes you vulnerable to blackmail by a foreign power or foe."

It's a very good thing indeed that the FBI stumbled upon this (by examining Ms. Broadwell's e-mail messages) and was the entity which respectfully confronted CIA Director Petraeus; rather than some foreign intelligence agency discovering it and turning it to their advantage.

The reason that the General resigned is exactly as stated, and why President Obama had no choice but to accept his resignation. You violate "Rule No. 1" of your craft, ...and you have to go.

The business of foreign intelligence is not one which allows for stretching the rules in order to accommodate 'personal issues.' It's very, very serious business indeed..

Robert in Oregon. If he was willing to come forward, he could not be blackmailed could he? The CIA has no problem with arranging fatal accidents for the people who get in the way. Blackmail was never an issue here. Ask yourself if you had some dirt on someone in the CIA, would you be willing to threaten them with blackmail? Only if you had a deathwish.

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

It isn't that I excuse being unfaithful to one's spouse, but others here have comments with which I agree. Making a fall guy out of a brilliant man whose work for our country has been very much what we need, is not fair. Think about it. How many CEOs in this country would or even should be fired for the same thing.

It's the selectiveness that I object to. There is no civil law in this country against infidelity. OK Some may quote the Bible (Thou shalt not commit adultery) which is a right-on aspiration... but the Ten Commandments are a list of ideals we should strive for. The punishment for failing should NOT be utilized against a hard-working and talented employee of this nation which is founded upon "no state religion." Separation of Church and State. And that Commandment is religious.

We are not perfect, but asking a General to "resign" when he is doing a class-A job (and I am very sure that is precisely what happened at the White House level) smacks to me of a serious infraction I'd call religiosity. Unless ALL CEOs in the United States are required to resign for a religious reason, not a civil reason, then this is not justice.

It is evident to me, at least, that the General was pushed into this resignation, and very likely by jealous employees in the CIA. And Mr. Obama made absolutely the wrong decision in accepting the General's offer to resign.

The unmentionable "jounalist" who became the "other woman" in this case is the one for whom I have more disgust After a story? She sure got one in an unacceptable way. And a woman can ALWAYS say "no" in this kind of situation. He is a married man... and she has no excuse whatsoever.

Why aren't we seeing that she is resigning her from her job or boycotting any further publications of hers? That, frankly, I what I feel like doing.

This does not make much sense. Patraeus is a very honorable guy (on the surface) who has committed his entire life to strengthening our defenses. I cannot believe he resigned due to one affair that he admitted to. It makes more sense that it is solely related to the events in Benghazi. Is it possible that something worse than not sending in a defense team happened there? Mortar fire that is so specific to a location, time and the knowledge of where our people were suggests a worst case scenario. Is it conceivable that some people from our own organizations are either indirectly or directly responsible? Indirectly, the agenda and specifics could have been given to the terrorists in advance. That gives them enough information to set and target the mortar. But real time information needed to know when to fire might also have been provided. I would say the worst case scenario would be that a decision was made to directly eliminate our own citizens by folks in our own government for the "greater good". It is widely conceded at this point that Libyan weapons were being transferred to Syrian rebels and this was why the ambassador was there instead of in Tripoli. There is probably more to the story than that. Either way, the ability to use a mortar shell so accurately is still giving me alot to think about. If the compound had been attacked by people wielding automatic weapons the defense forces would have had a very good chance of holding them off. A plane dropping munitions would also have faced the prospect of failing. Setting up the mortar station and aligning it's exact path in advance just keeps suggesting a foreknowledge of events. Perhaps Patreaus participated in something that turned out so badly despite his best efforts that he could not, in good conscience, stay in his position as Director of the CIA.

Many of you who, in your hyper-partisan dislike of President Obama, have the inability to disassociate the resignation of General Petraeus from what you are certain must be a"cover-up" of "the truth about Benghazi" (whatever you have decided that truth must be) are completely missing the point of the posts in this thread noting that this REALLY WAS about unacceptable behavior by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The General recognized that his behavior was unacceptable, when confronted by the FBI, and he informed the President that he wished to resign for that reason. The President asked the General for 24-hours to consider his request, and after consultations the President concluded he must accept.

Separate from the unacceptable personal behavior by General Petraeus, which led to the resignation, the General and the President should BOTH be praised for their honorable and appropriate handling of this situation. This is what honorable men and women do when faced with an untenable status quo.

The behavior was "unacceptable" BECAUSE he is was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, just as it would be unacceptable behavior for a lower level CIA field operative or upper-level CIA handler of field operatives. Why? ...

In the foreign intelligence game "moles" (double agents) secreted within an agency are often individuals who are "turned" by a foreign operative through blackmail and manipulation. The "mole" had something in his/her past or present personal behavior which was discovered, and the foreign operatives used the information to assert control of the individual with threats coupled with remunerations for cooperation; eg., "If you don't play ball with us we will leak this information and you and your family will be destroyed. If you do play ball we will pay you handsomly for your cooperation" Sometimes a person's reputation, and the fear of the loss of their spouse and family, and/or the offer of lots of money ...is more important to them than loyalty to country. Sad, ... but true. It's human nature, and intelligence entities exploit human nature in every way they can.

This is why the CIA and our nation's several other covert intelligence agencies (and foreign intelligence agencies as well) run random, unannounced polygraph tests on employees (looking for evasive responses) and thoroughly investigate agent's lifestyles, financial transactions, bank accounts, etc., reviewing how those equate with an the individuals known income sources.

lf employees of the CIA know that their personal lives and behaviors are not private from the agency, and need to be above reproach so that they will never put themselves (and by extension put the agency and the USA) at risk. Risk of being subverted by blackmail and manipulation by a foreign power in order to avoid exposure, embarrassment and loss of job and reputation. General Petraeus, to his credit, recognized that as the Director of the agency, he could not violate the agency's own primary tenets -- which would be cause for termination of any lower-level employee of the agency -- and remain in the job himself. It is exactly what it is, folks.

If those of you who have lost the ability to see any single event in the world today as anything other than an Obama failure, or an Obama lie, or an Obama cover-up, etc., .....you might want to spend some of your time over the coming four years maturing into grownups. You are only repeatedly making fools of yourselves -- in public -- and defaming yourselves in the eyes of a clear majority of your fellow Americans. One has to wonder WHY a person would WISH to be perceived as a fool?

Robert, Very well said!!!

Robert in Oregon:

If those of you who have lost the ability to see any single event in the world today as anything other than an Obama failure, or an Obama lie, or an Obama cover-up, etc., .....you might want to spend some of your time over the coming four years maturing into grownups. You are only repeatedly making fools of yourselves -- in public -- and defaming yourselves in the eyes of a clear majority of your fellow Americans. One has to wonder WHY a person would WISH to be perceived as a fool?

You may want to convey that message to the parents of the Navy seals who died or to the family of Chris Stevens.

I don't know if there was failure on the part of the Obama administration. This is why we need an investigation. I don't think it is a sign of immaturity to seek out what really transpired. If the results of an investigation shows no wrong doing on the part of the Obama administration, then those who continuously harp on the conspiracy theories( such as the Bush administration being behind the WTC attacks) are quite foolish. But before anyone can place judgement, we need to uncover the decisions made by those in charge right up to the Secretary of State and the President.

@ Ronkonkoma Chet wrote:

"Robert in Oregon ...You may want to convey that message to the parents of the Navy seals who died or to the family of Chris Stevens."

You mean the parents and family who, since the day following the deaths, have repeatedly asked that the irresponsible rhetoric and attempts by others to use the deaths of their family members for partisan political purposes cease? Those parents and family whose requests have been completely ignored by people such as yourself? (as demonstrated by your comment).

I don't know if there was failure on the part of the Obama administration.

And yet you are nevertheless predisposed to assume something nefarious, and claim such. Blind bias and hatred clouds judgement, and obscures and ignores relevant facts.

This is why we need an investigation.

There are already two ongoing investigations being conducted, did you doze off?

But that is not enough. Even if these two ongoing investigations, in the Congress and in the Administration, find no nefarious or actionable culpability ...that will never be enough. People will assert "there was a cover-up of the cover-up" and demand more investigations.

People who are certain that the President and his administration are guilty of something -- based on nothing more than their blind hatred and hyper partisanship -- will never be able to intellectually grasp the concept of "Occam's Razor" (lex parsimoniae) - the law of parsimony, economy, or succinctness stating that among competing hypotheses, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be selected. Or in modern parlance .... "S**t happens!"

I don't think it is a sign of immaturity to seek out what really transpired. If the results of an investigation shows no wrong doing on the part of the Obama administration, then those who continuously harp on the conspiracy theories ......... are quite foolish. But before anyone can place judgement, we need to uncover the decisions made by those in charge right up to the Secretary of State and the President.

Well you are wrong. It is clearly IS a sign of immaturity to hijack a discussion forum about the resignation of General Petraeus and change the subject to make it about "Benghazi."

It IS a sign of immaturity to assert that the REAL reason for the resignation of General Petraeus is "Benghazi."

It IS a sign of immaturity to assert that the REAL reason for the retirement of Secretary Clinton is "Benghazi."

It IS a sign of immaturity to assert that the REAL reason for the recall/relief of command of Adm. Gaouette and the relief of command of Gen. Ham is "Benghazi."

And if you are one of the people who hijack discussion forums for making off-topic and irresponsible assumptions, and spreading false claims and rumors, ...then you ARE showing your immaturity, ...you ARE making a fool of yourself, ...and you DO need to "grow up" and begin behaving like a responsible adult.

Food for thought (and personal reflection) ...

There is no blind bias while an investigation continues. How can you be 100 % certain there is not more to this. Oh, I forgot : the messiah said so. Let's believe everything that's put out there, shall we? Politicians never lie. All I'm saying is let the investigation pan out. Question those who need to be questioned; including Petraeus. If the investigation shows no wrong doing, then thats the end of it. If there was wrongdoing, find out who was responsible and punish them accordingly.

Is it possible that Petraeus was blackmailed into not talking by threatening to reveal his affair and he didn't allow the threat to be used against him, thus his coming clean?

I happen to notice when you quoted me you left out the George Bush blowing up the WTC conspiracy. You certainly don't think there was a coverup there do you?

Ronkonkoma Chet ...

Wow! That was 'special.'

Just as I thought. You ARE another one of the whackadoodle, Obama-hating, tin-foil helmet wearing conspiracy theorists. How sad. The world you live in (that alternate reality inside your head) must be a very, very dark and foreboding place indeed. It's not necessary to live that way; but I imagine those in your life who care about you have already told you the same thing (Have you resisted their advice?)

OK, fine. It's not my responsibility to try to reason with the unreasonable. So perpetuate whatever silly conspiracy theories and elaborate delusional fabrications you wish, and continue to make a fool of yourself in public. Whatever floats your boat. After reading your last post (above), I now have placed you on my "Ignore this author" list, along with your brethren cuckoo-birds-of-a-feather. I will not challenge you again.

Take care.

Rob: I still see you cannot answer my question about conspiracies regarding Bush. What I am witnessing from your posts is a mirror image of yourself. I am willing to accept the results of the findings of an investigation and move on. I have never said there is a conspiracy, personally I don't waste my time absorbed in such nonsense. You however are the unreasonable one by not allowing the full facts of what transpired to come to fruition. I do not hate Obama; I find EVERYONE in gov't. accountable for their actions, including the president. You however, are so far up Obama's butt that if you spread his cheeks you would see your face. I'm glad you will not respond to my postings anymore because it is really a waste of time dealing with those so one sided, and I really don't have time for such nonsense. Have a nice life.

WOW!!! They are "humans" after all......

If everybody in gummint who's had an affair resigned, Washington would be a ghost town.

The point is we hold our leaders to a higher standard than the average citizen as they are supposed to represent what the majority stands for. It shows a serious lack of morals and judgement on his part.

@ProFreedom, you nailed it!

@profreedom---thenk God it's not Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan.

BTW---it's bushie's fault Mitt lost the election!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

makessense-7131188

The point is we hold our leaders to a higher standard than the average citizen as they are supposed to represent what the majority stands for. It shows a serious lack of morals and judgement on his part.

@ProFreedom, you nailed it!

Yes...and he resigned. Do you think a Corporate CEO would have resigned for not keeping it in his pants?

you know, it really IS Bushies fault. I never thought it through.

Ol-Doc thanks for your link. It was ver educational. Even though I already figured most of that. But still thanks. You told the truth. The Republicans are the American Taliban. And they made it clear they would intentionally fight the democrats and President Obama on everything. And they just recently said it again in another news press conference again. They really are an evil party with evil intentions for Americans. I believe they do want total control. They want total control over everybody and everything. I really hate that my state sent four them of them Republican bastards to the US Congress. And I really hate the fact Michelle Bachman and Paul Ryan was re-elected. Them two shold not have been re-elected. OL-doc You should have posted this information prior to the 2010 election and this election. Maybe the economy would have quickly recovered by now and Congress would have been controlled by the Democrats. But thanks anyway for the educational link.

Now as to this story. I dont believe he resigned just because he had an extramarital affair either. I believed he either was blackmailed, or he gave some extra sensitive information to the woman he was eeing who is under investigation and just didnt want to be prosecuted, or he just simply didnt want to go before Congress and testify to incriminate himself, or either its a combination of all three. It just doesnt add up. Just because he had an extra-marital affair, does not give him a real reason to resign. So I do agree with most of the commenters on here. Because that is suspicious for him to to just up and resign three days before he has to go to trial.

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

Maybe because they belongs to the human race also?????

Yes, the human race. Pull up a list of species that mate for life on the Internet. I have found several and not one of them has humans on the list. Did Newt Gingrich resign when he got caught screwing Callista in the car and was married to wife #2. And this was when they were trying to impeach Clinton for a blow job. And of course, congressman Henry Hyde got caught screwing Carrie Snodgrass. Congressman Bob Livingston admitted to having several extra marital affairs. Trent Lott didn't have any but he was getting some coaching from Bob Livingston on how to find women.

I wonder how many people would be left in congress if everyone who had an extra marital affair resigned? My guess would be about a third.

Jim - you forgot David "the Whoremonger" VIttter - who received a standing ovation from his highly moral christian colleagues in the REpublican Party - p[resumnably for contributing to the economy of New Orleans.

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

At least he did the honorable thing of resigning, unlike too many GOP Congressional members.

• One more time --- the root of all evil isn't money. It's something women have that men want.

You mean like Bill Clinton?????

.....a little stank on their "hang low"??

So, anti-trust proponent, should the "honorable" Bill Clinton have resigned over his extra-marital indiscretions, or are only Republicans held to that standard?

bville1, because his is not just any old job. He's the head of the intelligence community -- a group that demands that none of its members engage in behaviors that could allow them to be blackmailed or compromised. That means no affairs, no drug problems, no drinking problems and no gambling problems.

Joanne--perfect comment, it is all about how awfull the Republicans are, Dems are above the law.

anti-trust proponent

At least he did the honorable thing of resigning, unlike too many GOP Congressional members.

....and Democrats alike, up to Slick Willy. Or did you forget that? No problem. I did'nt, and MOST others, Demo/Repub/Ind too! It's ALL Parties.

"You mean like Bill Clinton?????"

• Yep.

AZskibum. That makes sense. I can see that. I stand by my comment for elected officials however. The only time I think it's relevant is when a "family values conservative" gets caught. I just don't like that hypocrisy.

I truly don't believe that a person's marital indiscretions have any bearing on their ability to do their job. I really don't feel he needed to resign. Perhaps he just needed some time to repair the damage he's done to his family, but I don't know that the President would have required it of him otherwise.

Exactly. If quitting due to marital indiscretions was a reason to quit such a high profile job, the majority of the House would be gone.

Which Is why I'm sure it's something bigger. Something that compromises America and America's foreign policies. It's something bigger. Screw the wizard I want Toto to pull the curtain open already.

One word "Blackmail"

Could it have anything to do with the fact that it has been announced that he won't be testifying before the Senate Intel Comm next week as a result of this?

Charlie-1915998

One more time --- the root of all evil isn't money. It's something women have that men want.

Who the hell told you that Charlie? With enough money you can get all of that you want...ROFLMAO

Charlie-1915998

"You mean like Bill Clinton?????"

Yep.

And Republican Senator Larry Craig...tap...tap...tap?

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

ThinkVoice is correct Joe.

.

Hmm. Being unfaithful to vows made by a leader is a minor trangression? If he can't keep his word for his wife, who will he keep his word to? Who wants to follow a leader who is is untrustworthy? What am I saying -- it's Washington. How silly of me.

That is why Romney is gone. He was and is not believable.

Democrats had no problem following Clinton for 8 years and defending his actions as well, even in the face of the blue dress evidence.

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

Make sure the missle is attached!

I am so tired of hearing these men - who couldn't keep their pecker in their pocket - now say they used poor judgement and wait for everyone to fall in and say - hey, that's ok and wait for everyone to give their take on WHY he screwed around and screwed up and GOT CAUGHT.

Well it doesn't give me a warm fuzzy to know a man in this position is having an affair.

It doesn't. Somethin's coming.

Hey ThinkVoice,,, don't be scared.

The CIA as an institution has a very traditional and backward sense of morality. It doesn't really work.

When you are head of the CIA and people have things to blackmail you with it isn't the same as others doing the same things.

thinkvoice--you are correct.

It's called National Security. It's one reason "dont' ask don't tell" was actually a really bad idea as a security risk. Foreign agents find out you have something very important to hide...tag, you're it.

ThinkVoice

It doesn't. Somethin's coming.

Probably those black helicopters with the UN/ACLU/NAACP/ACORN troops to take us all to the Arizona DHS concentration camps...where they'll take away our bibles, make our sisters take birth control and force us all to sing "We take care of our own".

...damn, have a nice day.

ram-762581, that's no reason. Just do it out in the open then. No big deal. But no, the CIA expects an ancient biblical sense of morality from its employees.

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

Can't be Bush's fault..he's in the Cayman Islands waiting for Romney to arrive!

Actually this is Bush's fault. Petraeus was Bush's man that Obama inherited !!

LoL!

Nice one, PJ!! I'm beginning to think that teabaggers really don't have the mental capacity to remember yesterday.

PJ, thanks for proving my point clownshoes. Shocked...get off his nutsack.

At least he has one, oh Fox eunuch "xforged"....

(and, by the way, thank you for responding in typical teabagger fashion...The more you post, the better we look!!)

He said in his letter the he did not enjoy doing his job any more. Wonder why?

Maybe your right Cynical.... But still I think it shows a fair amount of character to admit your wrong and take actions to either correct or make amends... contrast that with Edward's "indiscretion" and you get a "What not to do." when in trouble... Patraeus in my eyes is a class act and he didn't wait for a firestorm of controversy before making his decision. God bless him and I pray for his family restoration as well as his Honor. I also agree there will be more resignations coming.

"A man who serves without falling is great... a man who falls is a shame.... a man who falls and stands once more with repentance and honor stands above both."-Flame

Yeah, or how about "I did not have sexual relations with that woman!" Anyone remember those little words from the Commander-in-Chief not so long ago? Definitely have to salute this man's courage to admit when he has done something morally wrong and move on.

It still depends on the definition of sexual relations.

@Flame77_7

I think it shows a fair amount of character to admit your wrong and take actions to either correct or make amends...

God bless him and I pray for his family restoration as well as his Honor.

- - - -

Right, it takes a fair amount of character to cheat on your wife.

WHAT!! If I were his wife I'd tell him to take it and shove it somewhere else.

Did the woman he cheated with also resign her post? Why is it that "the man" gets castigated but the female is obscure and hardly, if ever, mentioned as being just as bad? Is she married? Bring her azz to the spotlight too.

Is it because men have some hynotizing powers over women to get them to "whoopti whoopti woo", because they can't resist the male Jedi mind trick, telling them: come to me, come to me? Don't think so.

All you holier than thou males (Jimmy Swaggarts) STFU! You are probably just finishing, about to finish, or just into it....fuking around on your woman. Now you play politics & morality on the Newsvine?

Women, some of you......same thing!

I thank Mr. Petraeus for his military service. As a Navy Vet, I appreciate and congratulate him. A mistake like this does not change that.

I don't think Petraeus was being honorable. He was about to be exposed. If he had admitted the affair under his own steam without exposure hanging over him, THAT would have been honorable

He had no defense or excuses ready, and it seems there was not just one woman.

No, they're not forgiven, just transferred to parishes with fewer boys.

Common ... really... You guys can bash the religious all you want... but the real difference between you guys and religious.

Religion: If you repent (about face) and never do it again.. your forgiven and heaven is yours but if you "repent" because you got caught and you want to soothe your conscience just to "re-offend" then you are on your way to Hell in a handbasket.. but, at least there is hope.

Not religious: (Invisible Hand, Indigo) then "I'm sorry" or no.. without God.... you just go to Hell without the basket.

I hope I cleared that up for you.

Could you please provide specific directions to this "Hell"? So far the only one I've been able to find in in Michigan. I saw no burning lakes, no devils with pitchforks - just a bunch of small-town people.

You see, Flame, I'm quite religious, I just don't worship the bloodthirsty, psychotic god of jews and arabs.

It's all about trust. With his clearance level and the information he is privy too, you expect his life to be completely honest, in all aspects.

In the CIA, you cannot have skeletons that could be used to blackmail you. No affairs and no addictions, whether they be addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling.

A man who cheats PERIOD whether on his wife or himself is not a person that should be in a power position.

Ah, I see. A bit archaic, but I get it. As for blackmail? Really? Sadly, cheating on your wife/husband has become a common place. I know of 2 men and 1 woman at my job that are steppin' out on their spouses.

Just because you know somebody who cheats, it does not make it right. When you try to get a clearance, this stuff is brought up. If you would cheat on your spouse who you promised to honor and are willing to break that promise, can you be trusted with other people's lives? I believe Petreus did the right thing.

I sure his wife thinks he is a POS just like Hillary did with Bill. Wasn't one of them named Paula also. Message to self do not have sex with women named Paula.

I don't think he cares much what his wife thinks. He married her because she was the general's daughter. He has played the system to the hilt all his career, to make it all the way to the top. She's pretty frumpy looking and she does not speak well at conferences. He had a chance to pork a 39 yr old hottie and he took it. He admitted it way too soon though. He's taking a fall for Obama.

And the rest of America since he was considered a leader.

His wife has no reason to be embarrassed...she did nothing wrong.

His wife has no reason to be embarrassed...she did nothing wrong.

Do you know that for sure? Maybe wifie was getting her own side action. More women are doing that now you know.

You're right, she did nothing wrong. That said, I would be humiliated if my husband cheated on me and the whole country knew about it. Personally, I would want to handle it privately.

Petraeus has ALWAYS been about self-promotion and his own oversized ego. Hero? I don't think so. Liar and hypocrite? Most definitely. And his resignation isn't about his affair with his biographer. It's about the OTHER affairs that will now come to light. He is a typical self-promoting egotist who can't keep it zipped.

It's obvious what has happened "Mike"

Petreaus got his hands on the "Original Kenya Birth Certificate" and has to be done away with...

This "extramarital" excuse is just the one that general public can swallow without water. The lamer the excuse, the better it works.

This "extramarital" excuse is just the one that general public can swallow without water. The lamer the excuse, the better it work

Question: Do you think it is a lame excuse, when the head of the CIA was subject to blackmail?