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

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

TK was warning us, Gus.

[Barbara]

Whatever happens to Petraeus, Broadwell will:

1) Write a book - about her life story, the trauma, the challenge of being a woman just trying to become the next National Security Advisor;

2) Pose for the centerfold in Playboy;

3) Go on the talk show circut.

[Thomas Collins]

"I'd pay not to hear about other peoples' sex lives."

I wouldn't pay to hear or not hear about other people's "all-innings". On the other hand, I think peeks in measured amounts at tmz.com to see, at no cost, what's up with Charlie Sheen is part of a well rounded approach to current affairs!

[Rob Crawford]

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?

There's a problem there, though. In the day, "Rome" was, to the Arabs, Byzantium. Heck, the "Byzantines" called themselves Romans and said they ruled the Roman Empire. A lot of the historical Turkish comments about conquering Rome refer to conquering what we call the Byzantines.

Either way... I'm considering asking the Turks how much they want for the imperial sarcophagus I suspect was Julian the Apostate's. It has to be the cheapest; it's the least decorated.

Someone else will have to find the money for the Alexander Sarcophagus.

[Mike Huggins]

I think Barbara at 5:06 has nailed Broadwell's future.

[Jim Eagle]

Frederick yesterday with Sgt. Ben Curry, 2nd Marines, Counter-Terrorism Force, Diyala and Ramadi. Two tours. Came back with all limbs but still an American hero and he is not even 30 yet. He spoke at our Vet's Muster yesterday where the kid delivered the Pledge:)

[Janet]

1) Write a book - about her life story, the trauma, the challenge of being a woman just trying to become the next National Security Advisor;

Ugh! I hope it isn't #1. Unless someone pushed her "under the desk"...I don't want to hear about it.

there is an option 4) too (Gary Hart's girlfriend, Donna Rice)- She gave her life to Christ & began a new life. She was running (& maybe founded) a company that focused on protecting kids on the computer.

[Sue]

OMG, Jack. Look at the smile on Frederick's face. I love his Scout uniform. Webelos, If I remember right?

[Barbara]

I thinks it's all three, Janet.

A possible #4: Host a news segment on MSNBC.

[matt]

actually, Rob, when the Ottomans said Rome they meant Rome. They felt the Pope was Public Enemy No. 1, especially after the fall of Constantinople. And they were right. The Popes were the main line of resistance to the Muslim faith and called for the various crusades. When they could they funded them or paid off the nobility in absolutions and confirmations of sinecures and such.

It was Pius V who financed much of the fleet that won at Lepanto along with Philip of Spain with the takings from the Americas. Later on, the tide was finally turned at the gates of Vienna in 1683.

It is interesting to note that in 1571, the French were allied with the Ottomans and that while the Hapsburgs were fighting the Turks in the 1600's the French were busy gobbling up Hapsburg territory.

[Rob Crawford]

Guys, you're leaving out an obvious one:

#5: Senator from New York.

[Sue]

And Rob wins the thread.

[Rob Crawford]

They felt the Pope was Public Enemy No. 1, especially after the fall of Constantinople.

After the fall of Constantinople, sure.

[Barbara]

Gosh, Frederick is so cute! (I hope he won't mind my saying that.) He's just a darling - reminds me of one of my nephews at that age.

Thank you for sharing these great photos with us, JIB.

[lyle]

So as long as this Petreas droit du seigneur (loosely translated, of course) is getting more and more tawdry, could someone at least post a picture of her in something more form fitting than military uniform? My inner 15 year old is curious. Maybe I should head on over to the moron horde, huh?

[Captain Hate]

And the fact her husband is just sitting in the background -mute- is just weird as hell.

He's the William H Macy character in "Boogie Nights"; married to a porn actress, sees his wife being a bangtoy one too many times and dies of self inflicted lead poisoning. Tick Tock.

[Barbara]

could someone at least post a picture of her in something more form fitting than military uniform?

Iggy,

Your public is calling.

[Sue]

Hey Janet we should your picture to the Ewok.

[Sue]

Oh Capt'n, I hope not. They have 2 small children.

[Jim Eagle]

Sue,

He is a fun kid. Plus he takes everything seriously like the Pledge:)

You're right - Webelos 1

[Captain Hate]

Nice picture of both, JiB. Great that Frederick gets to meet some real heroes.

[Sue]

Oh my gosh. I'm going to steal him. That's the second time today I've said something that might get me into trouble. ::grin:: He's adorable.

[Thomas Collins]

#6-A jaunty jog with Bill Clinton.

[daddy]

I vaguely recalled that the Islam's had besieged Rome in the 700's, but I was wrong. A quick google check advises that Rome was not sacked by Muslim invaders until 846. They were first at the walls of Constantinople in the 674, which is what I was probably remembering.

[Captain Hate]

I hope not too, Sue. It's gotta take a toll on one's self esteem though; and anybody saying otherwise is lying to themselves.

[Sue]

I know Capt'n.

[narciso]

Well we see with Hagia Sophia, which became the Blue Mosque, featured briefly in Skyfall,

Clinton really is chomping at the bit, at this point,

[narciso]

This is the fellow I was referring to in the LUN,

[Barbara]

Clinton really is chomping at the bit, at this point,

Just imagine what Wm. Jefferson Clinton is thinking. "Petraeus? Petraeus gets the good looking babe and I get Hillary and Monica? Life just ain't fair."

[windansea]

hmmmmm

Jill Kelly hires high priced DC lawyer and PR person.

why?

http://www.businessinsider.com/jill-kelley-lawyer-2012-11

[Jim Eagle]

Sgt. Curry's friends in Diyala province. Guess who?

Apologies for sizing.

[narciso]

Hum, that a bit of a poser,

[Sue]

Is that the doctor from CNN?

[Captain Hate]

ust imagine what Wm. Jefferson Clinton is thinking. "Petraeus? Petraeus gets the good looking babe and I get Hillary and Monica? Life just ain't fair."

Slick gets the low esteem wimmenz because that's what predators do. Comparing him to Petraeus, even at his lowest time, is a big mistake imo.

[marlene]

She certainly has the talk show venue thing going for her.All of a sudden we're seeing the Jon Stewart,Imus and CSPAN book tour events that she did this year. She certainly wasn't *ahem* hiding under the desk.

[Clarice]

Frederick's very sute

[Barbara]

Comparing him to Petraeus, even at his lowest time, is a big mistake imo.

Agreed. Point taken, Captain.

[Janet]

Thanks for the Ace link, Sue!

[bgates]

Came back with all limbs but still an American hero

If you think it's unusual to be a hero without losing a limb, you have the threshold for heroism set too high.

[daddy]

If I was MSNBC's CEO I would start a program hosted only by guest Political serial adulterers. That way you could resurrect the careers of your fallen Dem philandering heroes, allow ostracized Repubs to stay in the limelight (thus weakening Repub's image overall) and evolve the culture to accepting adultery as simply another acceptable lifestyle choice as our cultural mores collapse.

Any one of us can easily list a dozen candidates, but just for starters:

Elliott Spitzer
Bob Livingston
Gary Hart
Dan Burton
John Edwards
Helen Chenoweth
Jesse Jackson
David Vitter
Jim McGreevey
Newt Gingrich
etc.

I suspect that if you started making them wear a nice embroidered Scarlet "A" on their jacket or suitcoat lapels, there'd be so many of them being sported in Congress, that instead of being an unwanted thing, pretty soon it'd be the new cool thing to have on one's jacket, and "Gosh darn I want one of those things too!"

Or better known as "Client Number 113th Congress."

[Captain Hate]

Barbara, I know you were just making a light-hearted comment.

Not knowing when to keep their yaps shut must be bred in the bone: http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2012/11/12/boradwells-father-says-theres-more-to-the-story/

[anonamom]

I vote for Paula to
4) Notice she has two young children and commit to being their physically available mother.

[windansea]

Even if Kelley simply found it prudent to keep a lawyer handy—why Lowell? It's like hiring David Boies because your friend got a speeding ticket. Lowell is the quintessential Washington power broker. He represented Clinton before the Senate during his impeachment trial. He specializes in disgraced political figures, including John Edwards. He's the kind of guy you hire when you're seriously fucked.

Likewise, Judy Smith is one of those unique DC creatures one hires to make serious problems go away. Her clients have included Monica Lewinsky, Larry Craig, Wesley Snipes, Michael Vick, Kobe Bryant, and the family of Chandra Levy.

http://gawker.com/5959847/why-has-the-other-woman-in-the-petraeus-sex-scandal-lawyered-up

[Jim Eagle]

Iranian Mujahadeen in Camp Ashraf back in 2007-08. As soon as the Army came in, then the Marines, they capitulated and became our Best Friends. These two guys did building and painting. When Iran goes down those two could end up being PM and FM. Who knows in that world.

[daddy]

"Jill Kelly hires high priced DC lawyer and PR person."

Betch'a Gloria Allred is pissed.

[Janet]

Wonderful pictures of Frederick, JiB...thanks for sharing them. Makes the whole day better to see the good things in life.

[Mike Huggins]

The whole Petraeus thing looks like one big Pack of Lies, from end to end.

[Clarice]

*cute*

Windansea, Fox already retracted the other woman angle on Kelley.

[matt]

The first Crusade was sponsored by Pope Urban II in 1096-99 to regain Jerusalem. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was held by Latinate kings for 200 years.

Saladin took the Kingdom back from the Latinate kings in the late 1100's, and the Europeans came back again and took Acre.

In the aftermath the 4th Crusade was supposed to re-take Jerusalem, but the Venetians diverted it to take Constantinople, which caused the great schism between the Eastern orthodox and Latinate churches.

All of this time, Al-Andalus was a thorn in the side of the Christian states, as were the emirates of the Barbary Coast, who ransacked and murdered their way throughout the Western Mediterranean and were in the business of enslaving any Christian they could find.

Byzantium was a more of a temporal target while Rome was considered the anti-Prophet if you will.

[maryrose]

Sue:
I knew it was the new congressman from Texas. I just think that predicting 6 years down the road is pretty bold.Who knows where he will be in his life by then. He could be dead is not that far-fetched.
How many senators in the Senate are 84 or older? I know Lautenberg is. I wonder if we will see some deaths of some people in the next couple of years?

[Extraneus]

The petition to let Texas secede from the U.S. to be reviewed by the White House

“If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response,” explains the website.

It needed 25,000 votes by Dec 9th.

[daddy]

What's in an 'er'?

While googling came across 2 US Congressman named Philander:

1) Philander Chase Knox: (1853 - 1921) US Senator, US Attorney General, and US Sec of State

2) Philander Stephens: (1788 – May 15, 1861) US Rep from Pennsylvania in the 1830's. He missed one third of his votes, so obviously not "at his desk" much.

Have no idea if either Philander was a PhilanderER.

[windansea]

Windansea, Fox already retracted the other woman angle on Kelley.

Posted by: Clarice | November 12, 2012 at 06:18 PM

yep, and that retraction is based on someone saying Kelly and Petraeus were just friends, which could be the truth.

but why the DC power lawyer and PR firm? FBI investigation is finished, no charges filed etc etc

[maryrose]

matt: Thank you for the historic information. I always like to learn new facts.
I remember before 9-11 and the taliban ascending that there was destruction of ancient ruins inIraq ans Afghanistan. I recall being outraged that someone would desecrate history like that. Reading about the pyramids and the Sphinx is like deja-vu all over again.
As far as Holder goes-no wonder he is thinking about cutting and running. His fingerprints are all over this. Last Tuesday in Philly his homeboys were having a field day at the polling places. Guess he should have prosecuted them after all.But remember "Black First" and all that.

[marlene]

Why do her parents need a lawyer? If they are sitting in North Dakota and are minding their own business and find out their daughter is having an affair with the CIA director,why does that put them in legal jeopardy?

[maryrose]

Mike Huggins "Petraeus thing is a pack of lies."
Kind of like the Benghazi thing is a pack of lies.

[narciso]

That's from the Montefiore book, although Crowley and others have referred to that event, Since I'm on a Renaissance kick the Borgias, the Sforzas, and the Medici's come to mind,

[centralcal]

windansea: Do you suppose she has lawyered up because her twin sister is a lawyer (supposedly represents whistleblowers). Maybe family is advising her to do this as a precaution?

[Clarice]

To get the story retracted pronto, windansea.A letter from someone like that threatening libel and slander suits means a lot.

[maryrose]

windansea:
I agree. Something is rotten in Denmark.Nobody lawyers up unless they have something to hide.
News Ohio voters didn't have on election day.
Federal government will cut food stamp program in Ohio. That info was CONVENIENTLY released today-6 days after the election.
The people that voted for Bammy are soo screwed!

[Rick Ballard]

Narciso,

I'm sticking with Rome. The treatment of Scipio Africanus by the Roman Senate after Zuma comes to mind.

[daddy]

Maryrose,

Here's a link to the beginning of the Destruction of those Buddha's from 2001.

One reason I prefer Bangalore in southern India to our layovers in Delhi and Mumbai in Northern India, is that so much of the Pre-Islamic Hindu temples and monuments were destroyed by the Islam Invaders once they began their main invasions from the northwest in the 1100s. The south was the last to be conquered, and only briefly before the arrival of the European Colonial powers, so much more of the neat ancient Hindu Temples are existent in the south (at least within vicinity of the hotels they put us at) than up north.

[Extraneus]

Another petition at Whitehouse.gov:

provide University graduates ability to trade their diplomas back for 100% tuition refunds.

24,999 more signatures needed.

[Jim Eagle]

David Petraeus is an American Hero, one of the great war general's we have ever had and dared to overcome PC war college rhetoric and create the COIN strategy. So what? He is not an elected official like Kennedy, Clinton, Teddy, et. al. The fact he is the CIA chief is immaterial at this time and if he gave away any classified information even to a mistress then I would be surprised.

Another selective prosecution of a great man albeit not perfect.

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

daddy, this one's for you and the copy of yourself.
LUN (sorry it's NPR)

[Clarice]

maryrose, were I in her position and innocent, I'd hire the best plaintiff's lawyer I could to shut the story down pronto.

[windansea]

probably right Clarice but kinda overkill no?

plus a high priced PR person all because a headline called you "the other woman"

ah well, it's her hubby's money and he can spend it as he sees fit to defend her honor

we'll see if Broadwell's dad was blowing smoke on more to come

[matt]

This case has more layers than an onion. People lawering up when there seems to be a limited pool of participants doesn't make sense unless there's a lot more going on.

Broadwell seems like she may have snapped. Perhaps it's not about an affair or potential affair with Kelly but something she may have been ready to tell. Whatever it is it is a world class mess now and it's going to get even messier.

To have the boy scout in chief involved must just make Axelrod and Plouffe and Jarret go all gooey inside.

[narciso]

Yes, of course, JiB, the jibes aside, be has been at the forefront of a tough fight in
the NorthWest Frontier, and Mesopotamia, he
uprooted a lot of the army old guard, and needless to say, the Obama administration, so this disclosure is very easily payback,

[Rick Ballard]

He's not prog scum and if he had any thoughts of curing the Dem Party of its progressive social disease by putting himself forward, he doesn't anymore.

[Frau Unterm Schreibtisch]

I still cannot figure out why Petraeus even took the CIA job.
The Dems have been gunning for him since the "willing suspension of belief" days.

Will *anyone* be testifying at the upcoming Benghazi meeting?

[matt]

One of my areas of study has been the influence of the Greeks in Central Asia, specifically in The Gandharan Empire. Unfortunately, the Bamiyan Buddhas were one of the prime targets of the Taliban.

There were Buddhist sites all through Afghanistan that have all beeen destroyed or defaced irreparably. Same is true on the Pakistani side, where Taxila was one of the most sublime cultural fusions of history.

These artistic influences then fused with the Hindus for brief time as well. The religions got along until the conquest of the Muslims in @ 1100 AD after which it all went to hell very quickly.

The predations of the Ghaznavids and of the Ghoris into India were incredibly violent. Followed by Genghiz, Tamerlane the Mughals and casts of thousands. Millions of infidels died. I just love all the talk of the religion of peace.

[narciso]

Well therein lies the rub, Frau, he would have been most directly aware of what happened that day, and subsequently, as Diehl pointed out in the linked piece in Hot Air, the 'light footprint,' was part of the administration strategy,

[maryrose]

daddy:
Thank you for the link.
clarice: You make a good point. I will reserve judgment until all the facts are in.
I put the deadline for Holder getting out of Dodge at December 31st or after the pardon. Whichever comes first.

[BobS]

Holder...grrrrrrrrrr...should have been challenged at his confirmation hearing. Just another reason to be pissed at Oren Hatch and Lindsey Graham.

[narciso]

Yes, it looks like Kelley was drawn into the dragnet by proxy, Broadwell really is looking
like a character out of a Lifetime tale,

[Charlie (Colorado)]

I'd rather just assume everyone was having a wild old time.

Well, and I'd rather live up to your imaginings.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

A prostrate cancer survivor

AUGH! AUGH!

prostate

A "prostrate cancer survivor" is one who is flat on his face.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

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

Thanks TC. BTW, its down 20 lbs since Oct 19, down 6 since the official start on November 2, er, 4.

[BobS]

Cha Co: I saw Broadwell's January interview with Imus. He noticed her gushing over Petraus and asked "isnt the General married?" Very strange fatal attraction kinda thing. Glen Close would be impressed by Broadwell.

[narciso]

So Griffin's account, does seem to have partially confirmed Broadwell's anedote, the question is how did she know this, was she 'read in' to the program,

[Jim Eagle]

Charlie,

I plead ignorance and should probably know better but can a guy recovering from prostrate cancer be in a. dalliance like Petraeus and Broadwell?

[sailor]

JiB, From having friends with prostate cancer, it depends on what kind of treatment one opts for--radiation or removal of the gland. One would assume it was radiation so "under the desk works!"

[BobS]

JAB: Maybe they were playing solitare under the desk.

[narciso]

Seems everyone is lawyering up;

Broadwell, a former Harvard University researcher who focused her dissertation on Petraeus’s military career, hired longtime Washington criminal defense attorney Robert F. Muse, the lawyer said Monday.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Jack, you bet. Depends on the staging and the luck of the draw somewhat, but the incidence of impotence with treatment of early-stage prostate cancer, depending on the treatment modality, may be as low as 15 percent.

[Jim Eagle]

Thanks, I guess. But every guy I have knon that got it could hardly pee in th morning.

[narciso]

And he's no small fish;

http://www.steinmitchell.com/lawyer-attorney-1626054.html

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I called my lawyer this afternoon and gave him a heads up just in case this thing spreads any further.

[Jim Eagle]

Almost Profumo like but missing some critical parts. DSK must be drinking out of the bottle of Billcart-Salmon.

[henry]

JiB, my brother is a prostate cancer specialist. Impotence from treatment happens, but as Chaco noted it is not the rule. If you have it (and apparently we all will at some point), don't fear the big "i" -- stop the cancer.

[Janet]

I called my lawyer this afternoon and gave him a heads up just in case this thing spreads any further.

Hahhahahaa!

[Sue]

A little lawyer here a little lawyer there before you know it someone is going to be sued. My guess is the lady in Florida sues the lady in NC.

[Chubby]

ignatz, lol!!!!!!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I know two chaps who have had the radioactive "seeds" for their prostate cancer and to the best of my knowledge both of their wives are still smiling.

[Jim Eagle]

henry,

Thanks. So far scot free. Everytime I get the rubber digit I ask if its still there:). I think bob s. and. sailor are on to the best scenario - under the desk Lewinsky style.

Wonder what is more accessible. The Oval Office or that. of the DCI on the 7 th floor of Langley?

[narciso]

This storym has so 'spun out of control' it's developed it's own escape velocity,

[Pops]

Petraeus should have had the affair with his autobiographer.

[Jim Eagle]

Any one know of timline comparisons to Katrina relief and restoration compared to Sandy? Where is the outrage?

[henry]

Heh, JiB rumor has it that bob s and sailer refer to a key to prostate health. ; )