After Petraeus

David Sanger ruminates about possible new heads fot the CIA, and reminds us that we really have Moved On:

Several current and former officials of American intelligence agencies said they believed that Mr. Obama might move quickly to nominate Mr. Petraeus’s deputy, Michael J. Morell, as his replacement. That would put the agency’s most respected intelligence analyst at the head of the organization. Mr. Morell is of the “light touch” school, and clearly the favorite inside the headquarters of the agency in Langley, Va.

The president could also choose the man inside the White House who is considered by many to be overseeing the entire American intelligence infrastructure from his basement office in the West Wing of the White House: John O. Brennan, a retired C.I.A. operative who once headed the agency’s station in Saudi Arabia.

By all accounts, both Mr. Brennan and Mr. Morell have developed strong relationships with Mr. Obama over the past four years; both were central players in the operation to find and kill Osama bin Laden, and both have been at the core of the covert program to undermine Iran’s nuclear program.

Here is the plot twist:

Mr. Morell is a soft-spoken onetime intelligence analyst. He was President George W. Bush’s intelligence briefer, and he was omnipresent in the White House after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He frequently could be spotted at a Starbucks in Waco, Texas, near Mr. Bush’s ranch, sipping his coffee between briefings.

If Mr. Morell was omnipresent at the White House after 9/11/2001, then he was omnipresent prior to March 19, 2003, when the US led the invasion of Iraq. And now Obama is going to appoint to run the CIA the guy who helped Bush lie us into war? I'm shocked.

And needless, to say, this need not be exclusively about mssing WMDs; Brennan has baggage, too:

Mr. Brennan would be more controversial. He was considered for the job four years ago, when Mr. Obama was first elected. But he withdrew when some human rights advocates accused him — unfairly, he said — of supporting or tolerating the use of torture while he was a top aide to George J. Tenet, the C.I.A. director from 1997 to 2004. Similar accusations have dogged many other agency veterans.

If that is a problem for Mr. Brennan then how does Bush's briefer escape any taint from missing WMDs, torture, secret prisons, or Gitmo? Once again I am reminded that I will never be smart enough to be a lefty. Nor could I succeed as a Times editor, since these points are not even raised.

Comments

[matt]

The headline on Yahoo news is that Petraeus could be prosecuted under the UCMJ. This is much deeper than just an affair. The long knives are out.

Petraeus chooses to act honorably and resign, and the blood hits the water and the sharks come out.

Maybe it's time to level Langley.And Foggy Bottom. And a few other cesspools.

[Captain Hate]

I've been in for that for a long time, matt.

[narciso]

So, that suggests that he has been a good source, for Sanger, although probably not the source of the battleplans for Iraq, Bowden has him as the briefer pre September 11th,who didn't think much of the vaunted Aug 6th PDB

More likely then not they will pick Brennan, who antagonized one of our long term allies, by burning their deep cover agent in AQAP.

The problem is still policy, as suggested here;

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/11/12/diehl-obamas-light-footprint-doctrine-the-author-of-benghazi-debacle/

[Sue]

Don't tell Boris they are trying to figure out if he was still in the military when the affair was going on. I don't think he could stand me being right.

[narciso]

That seems more and more likely, Sue, if they first met in 2006, while he was finalizing the counterinsurgency strategy,

[narciso]

A somewhat ironic story, here;

http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/121406WomenAndTerrorism.htm

[narciso]

I'm reminded of another official, who had more postings then time would allow;

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/paula-broadwell/3/697/12b

[bgates]

If Mr Morell is appointed and becomes a liability (or the administration needs a distraction from something else), the White House can inform Obama that Morell used to work for Bush the Thursday before he's fired.

[Momto2]

I saw that he took her to Paris just as he was entering his position with CIA - so that appears it was going on previously - also makes me wonder about her husband.... doesn't he wonder why his wife is flying all over the world with this general? Guess I"m just "old fashioned"....but my husband would have serious questions.

Paris Trip

[matt]

there is no room within the General Officer's bubble for this type of conduct typically. He lived in a very small trailer among his fellow officers and had a very small office in Afghanistan. In Iraq his office was connected to Ambassador Crocker's.

In addition, he usually has his aides, staff, and personal security detachment surrounding him.

Traveling abroad is another story, but even then the bubble exists.

In addition, Petraeus is the straight arrow he appears to be. He walked the walk. He sleeps 4 hrs/day and works 18-20 hrs. That is not from her bio. It is documented elsewhere.

Being stationed in DC for the last year may have been the opportunity. He was "home" much more often than when on duty in the Army. Still, I cannot imagine too much free time for fooling around.

[glasater]

I am just sick for the Petreaus family - Holly and the kids.

[glasater]

Was also remembering another Iraq veteran whose life has been destroyed and he's not that old. Ryan Crocker got a DUI up in Spokane WA this past summer.

[Sue]

Matt,

He has admitted to the affair. With someone. He hasn't said specifically it was her, but he has admitted to an affair with someone.

[narciso]

Does that claim, come from Hastings, who does have a sziable chip on his shoulder, about Petraeus, from her wiki, she had connections
everywhere from the FBI JTTF to academia,

[maryrose]

The underlying question to me is why was the CIA and the FBI complicit in sitting on this story until after the election? It broke evidently on the eve of election day. Obama was unsure about his re-election. That is why the lies about Benghazi and the fear to send in a rescue mission woukd produce a Carter- like result and cost him the election. The part I struggle with is that the electorate is perfectly willing to give him a pass in this blatant seize of power, knowing full well he doesn't deserve it because of his unpresidential response. The voters are the biggest disappointment of this election. Obviously they haven't suffered enough. In the future they will and they will have Obama to blame for that.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--He lived in a very small trailer among his fellow officers and had a very small office in Afghanistan.--

That would explain the "under the desk" detail.

[narciso]

Yes it does come from Hastings, who has gone so far as to take it upon himseld, to be the advocate for the poor Awlaki clan, who previously destroyed one officer with spurious claims,

[Sue]

Wow. Explosion kills 2.

Apparently a teacher with the Greenwood Indiana School District was killed in the explosion. Greenwood is a suburb of Indianapolis, I think.

Do we have any posters in that area?

[Sue]

That would explain the "under the desk" detail.

Oh dear.

[narciso]

If it were true, would they really admit it?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/11/alleged-petraeus-mistress-suggested-she-was-privy-to-state-secrets.html

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

I have read that the affair started while he was still in the army, and I have read that it didn't start until after he retired.

I don't believe that anyone feared that disclosure of this affair before the election would be harmful to Obama. Why would it? It hasn't affected his job approval at all.

[MarkO]

I sit wondering just what the hell would be harmful to Obama's job approval?

[Sue]

DoT,

That's because everyone thinks Petraeus is a damn republican.

[narciso]

Well apparently they held believed it was, otherwise it would have been released before
the election, just like the ludicrous assertions about Benghazi,

[matt]

The shit gets deeper. Holder knew about it for month says the telly.

[Clarice]

I'd pay not to hear about other peoples' sex lives. I'd rather just assume everyone was having a wild old time . I don't want to know the details.

[Captain Hate]

I sit wondering just what the hell would be harmful to Obama's job approval?

That somebody he appointed to head up the nation's intelligence agency was a poor choice.

[Sandy Daze]

And I was told never to beat him [running]. Keep up with him and you earn… it's the rite of passage. But don't beat him because he's a guy, you're a girl, and he's a celebrity, and you're a soccer mom.

In any case, he started elbowing me and it was over.

Long story short, I did beat him. We got down to six-minute mile pace, and I later found out that he was going through radiation treatment for prostate cancer, so it didn't really count. But it was a rite of passage and a great sort of rapport builder with him.

Stuff Broadwell said.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy Bruce is ridiculing DiFi's FNS performance yesterday. I wonder if any of her staffers are listening.

[narciso]

Well then Cllapper would have benn a clue, no,

[marlene]

If the affair had ended,how did she know "details" about Benghazi (9/11) that she blabbed about in her 10/26 speech.Why do her parents have a lawyer?

[Sue]

I don't know if Jane is checking in or not but if you do, the Texas democrat party says newly elected representative from Texas, Castro, will challenge Ted Cruz for his senate seat in '18.

[boris]

"I don't think he could stand me being right"

If they charge Petraeus for having a discrete (at the time) affair while serving overseas I would be very surprised but pretty sure I'd survive you being correct.

My bigger problem is with anyone thinking that is the right action to take.

JUST TO BE CLEAR by writing that I am not accusing Sue, JMH or AB of holding that position or FAULTING them for it, or forever implying they really think that or want to think that or did think that at any time whatsoever.

And may heaven forfend I should ever use the generic "you" again .

[maryrose]

Sue: You are correct
CH;
Thank God someone else sees DiFi's laughable performance for what it truly was=partisan politics albeit more cover for Obama.
Marko:
I have wondered that same thing myself. He calls for revenge and depicts us as the enemy he will get even with and still people see him through rose-colored. glasses. As for me -He's the anti-Christ.

[Sue]

boris,

LOL. I like your sense of humor, even when you're wrong.

I think it is the right action. More especially if anyone under him was brought up on charges of conduct unbecoming.

[Captain Hate]

Incredible that a Tea Party candidate who won his Senate seat (there's a hint, Nooner) is already being challenged. No the donks aren't fixated on the Tea Party at all.

[Chubby]

((f the affair had ended,how did she know "details" about Benghazi (9/11) that she blabbed about in her 10/26 speech.Why do her parents have a lawyer?))

the report that I read said those comments came up in the Q&A session following the speech. It didn't say what the topic of the speech itself was.

[maryrose]

boris: I have to admit your comment made me smile.
Sue
Castro could be dead by then. What's he playing at?

[jimmyk]

It hasn't affected his job approval at all.

The story's barely been out a few days, and we hardly know more than the tip of the iceberg. Watergate didn't affect Nixon's approval till long after the election, even though the break-in was in, what, June '72?

I don't foresee this affecting Obama, but who knows what could come out? Why was it suppressed till after the election?

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

Narc, where's your evidence that anyone in the WH knew anything before Nov. 7?

[matt]

Petraeus' runs were famous and he changed partners often. He always runs all out and hates to lose.

He used these runs to get the real poop; build esprit, and clear his head. And he is a very good runner.

He would take a COL one day; a 2LT another; a civilian another. It was another one of his many ways to cut through the clutter.

He worked 18 hrs/day and slept 4.

He also answered all of his own emails, usually within an hour, and acted on them when warranted.

Broadwell is exceptionally well connected within the corridors of power, and these people trade information like baseball cards just to prove they're plugged in. A lot of spooks gossip among themselves.

[Sandy Daze]

What are the psychosocial factors associated with prostate cancer?

Every person is different, and not all men have the same experience, thoughts, or feelings. However, some common feelings and concerns may be present when a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, including the following:

--threatened masculinity
...
--feeling embarrassed or avoiding discussions about the diagnosis
...
--being honest with yourself and with your physician
...
--being afraid to ask for help

A prostrate cancer survivor has related that a need to "prove" oneself after prostrate cancer treatment is not unusual.

[Thomas Colllins]

The "All-In" between Petraeus and Broadwell will ultimately turn out to be about a 0.7, with the Keeler/Profumo liaison as the gold standard 10. See LUN for an affair worthy of public and media fascination/revulsion and speculation with real national security implications and a truly sad personal "story behind the story" backdrop.

We Colonists just don't go "All-In" as well as the Brits!

[maryrose]

CH:
I like your comment about Castro. They are apoplectic that we have a viable future Hispanic superstar so they must elevate one of their own. Castro isn't a very modest fellow is he?

[Captain Hate]

maryrose, I just think it's funny that the party which yells "racism" like a tourette's syndrome sufferer on meth targets a minority winner of the opposition party immediately.

[boris]

"minority winner of the opposition party"

Race traitor and oppression enabler.

[boris]

Far far far worse than RINO (far far far)

[narciso]

Well it was admitting the obvious, to cover up the wider point, of course, the administration delayed the removal of the
forefront of the 'overseas contingency operations' until after the election,

[maryrose]

Maybe I am naive but this behavior and the stalker like aspect of it shows me we have some really disturbed people in high positions of power.Unfortunately the women depicted here are deemed powerful and smart. Anybody who parades their love life on e-mail or tries to appear linked-in has an inferiority complex at best and resembles an "I will not be ignored hussy" at worst. No one is anyone else's property.

[Sue]

Maryrose,

Castro is in reference to the newly elected representative from San Antiono, Joaquin Castro. Not Fidel. ::grin::

[Captain Hate]

maryrose, a lot of times severe character flaws in otherwise intelligent people get overlooked. I can't think of a better example than Slick.

[Sue]

Looking for silver linings...MOTUS will be around for 4 more years.

[narciso]

Really you don't think Holder tipped off Obama, 'now who's being naive' about this Alinsky administration,

[Thomas Colllins]

Perhaps for more than four years, Sue. Hillary may have competition from another Obama in 2016 for the Dem nomination. I just hope the Rubio/Cruz ticket is up to the task to beat the Michelle Obama/Joe Kennedy ticket.

[daddy]

Good Morning. Religion O' Peace update.

If for no other reason than this, this is why it is worth hating radical Islam:

‘Destroy the idols,’ Egyptian jihadist calls for removal of Sphinx, Pyramids

"An Egyptian jihad leader, with self-professed links to the Taliban, called for the “destruction of the Sphinx and the Giza Pyramids in Egypt,” drawing ties between the Egyptian relics and Buddha statues, local media reported this week.

“God ordered Prophet Mohammed to destroy idols,” he added. “When I was with the Taliban we destroyed the statue of Buddha, something the government failed to do.”

[Sue]

TC,

Michelle Obama's Mirror

Reflections FROM MOTUS: THE MIRROR OF THE UNITED STATES

I can't decide if you know what I'm talking about or not so I'm posting the link.

[narciso]

well it must be the film again,

[Thomas Colllins]

Thanks for the link, Sue. I hadn't checked MOTUS in awhile.

Daddy, no worries. I'm sure a duly nuanced and deferential letter from the UN Secretary-General, in which he begs the jihadists to respect the diverse cultural heritage of all periods of civilization, will persuade the jihadists to refrain from chopping more than a dozen infidels' heads off as the jihadists are destroying the Egyptian Pyramids.

[jimmyk]

‘Destroy the idols,’ Egyptian jihadist calls for removal of Sphinx, Pyramids

Of course we remember how the media got the vapors when it was thought (mostly wrongly, as it turned out) that some of the treasures in Iraq had gotten stolen or vandalized. That was Bush's fault. But this will not be connected with Obama's withdrawal of support for Mubarak and the unleashing of the Muslim brotherhood.

[Thomas Collins]

Now I have a reason to put extra ground beef in TC's special meat sauce for Monday pasta consumption. See LUN.

[narciso]

Oh this gets better, just appointment him Antiquities Minister, in the same ironic sense, as Bradbury's 'firemen'

[matt]

That is the alternative proposal to another one brought by City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, TC.

The other would establish Meathead Mondays as a regular examination of the mind of outgoing LA Mayor Tony Villar, I mean Antony Villaraigossa.

[narciso]

Does he ever go away, Zarovsalavsky was being profiled by Didion, twenty years ago

[Thomas Collins]

I prefer your alternative, matt. But is there anything there to examine?

[Sue]

A lot of Egyptians are proud of their antiquities. I'm hoping the protest against destroying them will prevent their destruction.

[RichatUF]

Maybe I am naive but this behavior and the stalker like aspect of it shows me we have some really disturbed people in high positions of power.

Recall that NASA had a similiar scandal with 3 astronauts (all military personnel I think). The carzy woman in that story was a Navy CPT that drove her car from Houston to Orlando in an adult diaper. More later.

Guess I'm just doing things wrong;)

[Captain Hate]

I might be wrong but, unless things have changed far more than I suspect in Egypt, I doubt that they'd have a benign response to the destruction of the pyramids and Sphinx. Even if they did, it's high time that those Talitubby vermin or their Saudi financiers start realizing a reciprocation for their vandalism. Unleashing some bottled sunshine on Mecca is always my first choice but YMMV.

[narciso]

It does seem exceedingly foolhardy, apparently like much of the offerings on MSNBC, Captain,

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--well it must be the film again,

Posted by: narciso | November 12, 2012 at 03:40 PM--

The only way to save the Pyramids is to put Cecil B DeMille and Charlton Heston in jail.
Wait a minute, what film are we talking about?

[Sue]

Petraeus has now stated the affair happened after he retired. He knows what he needs to say, anyway.

[narciso]

The secomd of the Mummy films with Brendan Fraser.

[Rick Ballard]

CH,

Think of it as a Mohametan IQ Test.

Should we:

1) Destroy our largest source of the income which provides the money with which we purchase the food which we don't have the brains to produce.

2) Not do so.

I sure wouldn't bet on the outcome.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--The secomd of the Mummy films with Brendan Fraser.

Posted by: narciso | November 12, 2012 at 04:06 PM--

Somebody should go to jail for that one.

[bunky]

If holder knew then cinc knew. They are close. Still think main issue is whether press knew before election. What did you all think of Andrea Greenspan trying to blame cantor?

[matt]

Doesn't the Statue of Liberty indecently expose the face of a woman? And Rome in general? Isn't it an insult to the most beloved, most holy Prophet?

The Ottoman Sultans certainly thought so. So what next? The first thing the Islamists did in their conquests was to desecrate the churches and cathedrals. Rome was the Ottomans primary goal. Oops...Did I say that?

[narciso]

Well there's a quote in Dore gold's book, by
an Imam in Riyadh, referenced in Silva's the Messenger' along those lines.

[jimmyk]

Doesn't the Statue of Liberty indecently expose the face of a woman?

Easily remedied:

[matt]

The idiot Saudis are in the process of tearing down much of Old Mecca, I believe for the new Allahworld theme park.

Especially popular will be Martyrsland where they will have a choice of rides. There will be the 767 simulator and the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device ride as well as the Tube and Madrid commuter train rides.

Then comes Salafiland, where all of the characters are dressed up as the followers of Salahadin and can crusade against audioanimatronic infidels.

Next door is Wahabbiland, where you can be the judge, jury, and executioner. There will be daily stonings, beheadings, and limb removals.

The women will of course have Burqaland where they can drive toy cars and shop.

[Frau Unterm Bett]

I'm with Clarice @ 2:40.

There's a little too much *squirrel* for my liking with this story. OTOH I've been adding the phrase "under the desk" to most of the statements I've read about Gen. Petraeus or his biographer.

[narciso]

The fellow involved is equivalent to the chaplain of their version of Annapolis, he's
an Ikwan not a Saud btw.

[Sue]

ABC News Radio says that Petraeus says the affair began in 2011, 2 months after he became CIA director and that only Petraeus and Broadwell know if that is untrue.

[Porchlight]

There's a little too much *squirrel* for my liking with this story.

Same here.

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

Porch, and it's working, it seems. (under the desk)

[Thomas Collins]

See LUN (via Instapundit) for an update from Charlie on how he is responding at the beginning of his 13 week food regime.

[Janet]

I'd pay not to hear about other peoples' sex lives. I'd rather just assume everyone was having a wild old time . I don't want to know the details.

Totally agree.

[Porchlight]

Frau, the jokes write themselves. (under the desk)

[Enlightened]

Hmmm - Seems to me Ms. Broadwell is somewhat psychotic.

No telling what kind of notes, photos, recordings et al she may have kept for sentimental reasons.

I'm just pissed off that Benghazi is now being reported on incressantly ONLY because of the lurid sex angle. It's repulsive.

[Enlightened]

And I seriously have a problem with Broadwell. This whole thing seems planned. And the fact her husband is just sitting in the background -mute- is just weird as hell.

Course, no her Dad says there is "more to the story, a bigger scandal". Go figure.

[daddy]

Re: Destroy the Pyramids and the Sphinx

I suppose that our MSM could respond, "Well didn't Napoleon and his men in 1798 take target practice by shooting off the nose of the Sphinx, so obviously all cultures do it and it's a relative thing (ie: the Christians destroying Hyapatia and the Pagan monuments in Egypt in the 400's, or the Spanish destroying the Aztec/Incan/Mayan Temples in the 1500's), so who are you in the West to judge them."

Thought it worth noting that in the story I linked there is pushback, but not from another Egyptian. Instead some Tunisian politician responds that when famous Muslim war-leader Amr ibn al-Aas conquered Egypt in 640 AD, he never destroyed the monuments, so isn't that good enough?

Obviously not for the Egyptian calling for their destruction: “God ordered Prophet Mohammed to destroy idols.”

Thankfully cooler heads are so far prevailing among the new Egyptian Leadership coalition, with the Salafi bunch merely calling for all Egyptian Statues to be permanently covered up.

A possible compromise? Hire Christo the "Artiste" to wrap the Pyramids and the Sphinx in a super-large Burqua, ie

I suggest the color Black.

[Sue]

Is Broadwell still active Army Reserve? Wouldn't it be a kick in the butt if she faced conduct unbecoming charges and Petraeus didn't?

Oh well...

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Four more years of Chicago on the Potomoc.
What a fate.

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

Porch, I won't even sink as low as to bring up "embedded" or "All In.

[Mike Huggins]

The Petraeus folks seem to have "set" their timeline for everything, as outlined in this Examiner piece.

[Sue]

bring up "embedded" or "All In. (under the desk)

::grin::

I will.

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

Enlightened, how about Broadwell's associations with the Jon Stewart crowd?

This is the most attention North Dakota has received since "Fargo."

Sue, you deliver!

[Mike Huggins]

And the Post is "All In" on the story.

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

This gives a new meaning to having a desk job.

(I can stop any time, honest.)

[Mike Huggins]

But, then again, this Post columnist knows what's important about the Petraeus story.

[Gus]

Maybe some of you recall that PATREAUS was rumored to be the VP pick of ROMNEY.

I wonder who floated that rumor?????

[Annoying Old Guy]

Frau's "desk job" is one I am going to steal shamelessly. Now that's bringing the funny.