I trust you remember the controversy that erupted when some on the left nicknamed General Davis Petraeus as General Betrayus. I was one. I later issued a correction. I’ll get to why I was wrong to admit I was wrong later, but for now, Petraeus probably did end up betraying us after all.
The F.B.I. and Justice Department prosecutors have recommended bringing felony charges against David H. Petraeus, contending that he provided classified information to a lover while he was director of the C.I.A., officials said, and leaving Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to decide whether to seek an indictment that could send the pre-eminent military officer of his generation to prison.
The Justice Department investigation stems from an affair Mr. Petraeus had with Paula Broadwell, an Army Reserve officer who was writing his biography, and focuses on whether he gave her access to his C.I.A. email account and other highly classified information.
F.B.I. agents discovered classified documents on her computer after Mr. Petraeus resigned from the C.I.A. in 2012 when the affair became public.
Mr. Petraeus, a retired four-star general who served as commander of American forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has said he never provided classified information to Ms. Broadwell, and has indicated to the Justice Department that he has no interest in a plea deal that would spare him an embarrassing trial. A lawyer for Mr. Petraeus, Robert B. Barnett, said Friday he had no comment…
Inserted from <NY Times>
Rachel Maddow has more detail and interviewed Michael Schmidt, the author of the above article.
The reason I was wrong to retroactively approve Petraeus’ Iraq strategy is that bribing Sunni terrorists to join us, arming them and training them provided only a temporary respite, because he also propped up the Maliki regime, that would not share any power or wealth with the Sunni. He left behind a highly trained and well armed force of angry Sunni. These are the basis around which ISIL formed. He is as responsible for the existence ISIL as ChickenHawk Cheney and his puppet, Crawford Caligula.
Now considering all the effort DOJ spends going after whistle blowers, it’s absurd not to prosecute this man who did more damage to our security than all of them combined.
I disagree with Schmidt in classifying this war criminal as a war hero in the video. Add one more Republican to the list of war criminals that Eric Holder should have prosecuted, but hasn’t.
13 Responses to “He Probably Did Betrayus”
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I am so glad that Rachel Maddow said that they didn't see this coming – I am so utterly shocked that this could happen that I can barely speak! How on earth could a four star general and head of the CIA allegedly behave like this?!!
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes indeed. Those who sit in judgement on the rest of the population and who dictate policy should indeed be held to a higher standard.
I just LOVE Latin phrases! It's not often I get to put my three years of HS Latin into practice.
And I'll share w/ you my standard rejoinder:
Oh! Was I speaking Latin again?
Silly me … sometimes it just sort of slips out. Sure, I speak a little Latin. I picked it up here and there. Really, Latin isn't all that hard. It looks like a tricky language, but you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.
And remember, there aren't any Romans around to correct your pronunciation.
Thanks for reminding me how much of my two years of HS Latin that I don't remember.
Even google translate can't properly translate:
Bah! Latin:
Silly me … Sometimes it just sort of slips out. Of course, a little understanding of Latin and I say. I picked it up here and there. Really, Latin is not all that hard. The tongue is the appearance of a tricky, but it pretty quickly.
And remember, the Romans, they are here, no one to correct your pronounciation.
I took 2 years of HS Latin and found it useful for understanding some English words. Other than that, I remember "vini, vidi, vici" and "amo, amos, amare" (spelling?) Your Latin obviously is leaps and bounds better than mine.
Gallia omnia est divisa en partes tres.
Nameless probably read "Winnie Ille Pu" to his kids. It's a good way to get a feel for expressing 20th (and now 21st) century concepts and idioms in a language that wasn't really meant for that.
The high and mighty, when they fall, create a bigger emotional impact in us yet seem to feel they should be protected from the consequences. The conundrum has always been why others seem to agree with them.
I wish I were more shocked. I am so accustomed now to the corruption and sense of entitlement of those in power, and particularly Republicans, that I can only see this as more of the same.
You are right that he is not a whistleblower. Whistleblowers inform the American people of information they have a right to know. Apparently wat he did was inform one person of things she had no right to know. Sure, she turned out to be a (presumably unbalanced, or maybe just entitled also) stalker. But no information got out to the American people who (as I already pointed out) have a right to know. So, no harm, no foul. I'm sure that's the rationale for non-prosecution.
You don't seriously think that anyone would actually ever get indited for actions which resulted in the existence of ISIL, do you? No, no, that isn't sexy.
How could he NOT be prosecuted? That's the oath that Eric Holder, as chief protector of our laws, took to do.
If he's found innocent, fine – but he needs to have his day in court … just like any other American accused of such actions.
I agree with Nameless. He should have his day in court. If he is innocent of these charges, he will be able to return to this life. If guilty, he should be in prison just as any other convicted felon is. Pillow talk is one thing, revealing classified information to your lover is far different. If he did this, he should be prosecuted, and HOlder needs to do his job. We have too many "entitled" people in this country all ready. Isn't that why we had our original revolution?
The military, over the years, has become imbued with corruption, scandals at all levels of its hierarchy. Nonetheless, I was surprised by Rachel Maddow's video report.
4 Star General Davis Petraeus should be arrested and have his day in court.
I am sure that there are a great many number of military personnel that are law abiding in fulfilling their everyday duties.
Holder needs to get off his ass and make the decision to prosecute and get that show on the road. I don't know what all the charges would be but treason seems like it might fit. And, having caught the evidence on her computer, I think that Paula Broadwell should face an indictment as well. Let the courts decide innocent or guilty based on the preponderance of evidence and testimony. It also means that he/she can her their say.
Thanks all. Hurrying. To be clear, he should be prosecuted for secureity violations, nit for the Republican incompetance with which he made a mess of Iraq.