Do you agree with potential charges against GEN Petraeus?

2015-01-09T19:43:12-05:00

Do you agree that charges should be made against GEN Petraeus? Do you think he passed classified information to her (or did she already have access)? Is this a political action to keep him away from a 2016 run for office?

Criminal charges recommended against Petraeus

The Department of Justice recommended that retired Gen. David H. Petraeus face felony charges for provided classified information to his former

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 7:46 PM

2015-01-09T19:46:44-05:00

Damn! I just posted this. Great minds think alike. I seriously think they need to drop the charges and he should still be in a leadership position.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 8:12 PM

2015-01-09T20:12:59-05:00

On the one hand, it sounds extremely political to me. On the other hand, even as a 4-star General, he is not above the law (or the UCMJ), so the investigators should look at the situation fairly. Unfortunately, because GEN Petraeus is such a personality and potential political foe, there's probably no such thing as fair when it comes to an investigation into his alleged wrongdoing.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 8:27 PM

2015-01-09T20:27:27-05:00

I think Gen Petraeus is a great leader, however, if they have evidence and prove that the classified information he shared was in violation of his non disclosure agreement and caused harm to our nation, then he must be held accountable.

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Jan 9 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-01-09T20:26:13-05:00

Question really becomes: why now? why not when they first fired him/forced retirement?

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Jan 9 at 2015 8:31 PM

2015-01-09T20:31:23-05:00

IF the investigation was completed in unbiased non-political manner and conclude charges should be filed then he should be indicted. He is not above the law and if he did pass classified information to a non-cleared person than he is wrong and should answer those charges. I just wish that whatever, happens they set a precedent and if he is tried and convicted they sentence him with unbiased prejudice and not just slap him on the wrist.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 8:43 PM

2015-01-09T20:43:32-05:00

I have personally interacted and been led by General Petraeus......He was my 1st BDE Commander when I was assigned to HHC 2/504 PIR and then he was my Division Commander when I was in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He led us into Iraq in OIF I and I will always remember him driving by our convoy after an attack for which we successfully repelled. He drove by in an unarmored HMMWV and threw all of us a thumbs up and a smile. General Petraeus was the mastermind of the few successes we had in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would follow him anywhere. He knew how to inspire Soldiers and tactically win wars. He was not perfect and I understand that he had flaws, but it sickens me that our DOJ is dragging out a witch hunt to find fault in this man. It screams politically driven intent to destroy this man. He was not a fan of pulling out of Iraq and look what happened. What he said would happen, did. He was not a fan of pulling out of Afghanistan and there is a possibility that he will be right about that as well. But all of that goes against the Presidents agenda and intent. Therefore, this is all now coming to light 2 years after the investigation started. There is some eye brow raising coincidences to this situation and it really doesn't sit well with me. This has political assassination written all over it.

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Jan 9 at 2015 8:43 PM

2015-01-09T20:43:34-05:00

Team,

I have nothing but respect for P4. He was my Division CG in Iraq and ran PT with my Company (I was the 1SG) once around the Mosul Airfield... just jumped in formation with his aide and ran with us. He was then my CG @ CAC. He really made a difference in that assignment and shook up the typical TRADOCians to be more innovative. Hell, during a brief (I was a civilian then) he looked at me and remembered me 5 years later saying, "Cam... where do I know you from..." I explained and he immediately went into the story in 03 at Mosul. To this day I think he was one of the better, no best, senior leaders in the Army over the past score years and the fittest GO I have ever seen.

Now I drop the other boot

He is not above the law and the charges he faces need to be addressed. Period. If they are found not to be true, or unfounded, and he is vindicated... which I hope is the case (though "Hope is Not a Method" by GRS) then there can not be an accusation of cover up... should he elect to run for any office in the future... though he has stated he doesn't plan to.

Now you may say that even if proven innocent people will still whisper that he was guilty and it was a shame... to that I say simply... there will always be those that believe in the "conspiracy theories". Got it and let them. Why? You won't convince those folks otherwise...no matter what proof.

I would place a wager of a bottle Jamesons that he would say the same thing. Regardless of the affair, he was a very stand up man and leader.

My 2 cents

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 8:44 PM

2015-01-09T20:44:03-05:00

I never worked for the man, and never served under him as far as any major units go... however, we lost 3 guys in my Platoon due to a deep buried I.E.D and they kept pushing back the memorial ceremony at Camp Taji and I was trying to figure out why. Later when we saw a couple of Expeditions pull up "I was on the honor guard team", we realized that he and the CSM had flown in to partake in the wake for those falling hero's. Once we rendered honors we came back in and saw him and the CSM go up first to pay there respects and render there hand salute and they walked out the room, and got into the Expedition, drove to the flight line and got on a Blackhawk and headed to go knows where in Iraq.

To think that the man would come down during the high points of the war for us it was "THE SURGE" and render those honors to my Sapper/Engineer Brothers meant a lot to me. At that time in the war we were losing over 100 Soldiers a month. I don't care who he banged or what was claimed he did.. as a Soldier I will never forget that or him. He is good to go as far as I am concerned!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 11:23 PM

2015-01-09T23:23:20-05:00

If she had no true "need to know" and she did not have an active clearance ... by definition his providing her with access was illegal and wrong by CIA regulation, DOD regulation, OPM regulation and by law. Whether his actions caused harm to the national security is difficult to see without seeing what she was provided access to.

HIS role was to protect the nation's secrets...not use his postion, authority and control to impress his girlfriend for access to "other parts".....

No matter how great a military leader he may be, just as any other military or civilian - he must be held accountable.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2015 12:29 AM

2015-01-10T00:29:18-05:00

CW5 Jim Steddum. Are you kidding me? NO!!! Absolutely & Positively NO!!! Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Jan 10 at 2015 9:37 AM

2015-01-10T09:37:49-05:00

He is a four star trophy buck hunted like a animal. I don't believe he leaked any classified information. He manned up about his personal mistake and that should be the end of it. The charge of a felony will destroy his name and ruin his life even if cleared of the charges. He dedicated his life in service of the USA and this is what he gets for it. I wish he would run for president.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jan 10 at 2015 11:34 AM

2015-01-10T11:34:14-05:00

Hell No, but I think I am biased on this one

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 10 at 2015 11:58 AM

2015-01-10T11:58:20-05:00

Let's break this down into bite size pieces.
- Charge. Boils down to allegedly sharing classified information.
- Shared with whom. His mistress. A USMA graduate, LTC in the reserves with a security clearance, who was writing a book on him.
- Negative impact to the nation. To be determined but my guess is negligible in terms of did the mistress share the information with adversaries of the United States (doubtful).
- Guilt/Innocence. TBD but likely happened.
- Extenuation/Mitigation. See above negative impact to the nation.
- Behind the scenes. Appears to be a case of pole vaulting over a mouse turd. Therefore begs the questions of why, why now, and what is end state for DOJ (and POTUS). Call me crazy but last six years of DOJ actions do not fill me with confidence that national laws are uniformly and equally applied to all and enforced. The examples are too numerous to list all but a few include: Illegal immigrant executive order, police shootings, Islamic terrorist attacks (sorry work place violence incidents), and voting irregularities.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 10 at 2015 7:31 PM

2015-01-10T19:31:04-05:00

General Patraeus is just another in a long line of heroes extending to antiquity who ultimately failed. (Interestingly, I wrote about this on my website just prior to the news breaking that charges may be filed against him. http://www.jackdurish.com/4/post/2015/01/heroes1.html )

This is why we should never celebrate the hero. We should celebrate the heroic act. All heroes are mortal and will succumb to their baser natures sooner or later. Patraeus, like David and Solomon, succumbed to the lure of a woman. If his sexual peccadilloes drove him to reveal secrets, he won't be the first nor the last, and he should be prosecuted.

Let me emphasize "if". I don't know anymore than what I read in the news and I know of no journalists, at least no modern journalists, who come anywhere near to acting heroically.

Why do you suppose all heroes fall sooner or later?

Everyone is a hero to someone. No one is a hero to everyone. How many in this gallery of heroes are yours?

Response by CPT Andrew Kletzing made Jan 10 at 2015 9:20 PM

2015-01-10T21:20:41-05:00

The President should just pardon him now

Response by 1SG Pete Marcell made Jan 11 at 2015 10:23 AM

2015-01-11T10:23:53-05:00

As much as I like the guy he's done. As far as agreeing with the charges it is pretty clear he passed the information on so there is nothing to agree or disagree with. Now the punishment, that is a different story. Personally I think jail time is out of line however I don't know what an offence such as this calls for. It's such an unfortunate ending to a career that accomplished so much.

I recall one morning I was out for a run at Camp Liberty/Victory and I saw a group of about 8 people a quarter mile ahead of me. I kicked up the pace and caught them. In the lead of the group was General P. I looked at him, he looked a me and we matched pace for a while. He gave me the thumbs up a I motored on.

When I heard the news of the affair I was really disappointed.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jan 11 at 2015 12:14 PM

2015-01-11T12:14:42-05:00

I really do not know this gentleman's legacy, other than his mistress. I see many people speaking highly of him, many of these people I have come to respect because of our interactions on this site. If they say he is good to go then who am I to judge the man. Whatever he might have shared didn't seem to cause the life of anyone, and also does not seem to be giving heartburn to anyone but the D.o.J.

Response by SGT Charles Vernier made Jan 11 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-01-11T13:50:19-05:00

We all have our demons so to speak. However, I think the question that really needs to be answered is wether his actions cost the lives of any soldiers or intelligence assets, or compromised any of our operations. If none of those things happened then I don't see any point in charging him other than to make a political example of him.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Jan 11 at 2015 6:05 PM

2015-01-11T18:05:25-05:00

General Patraeus broke the faith with all soldiers and with his code as a West Point officer, (specifically "Honor"). Sorry, but if he's guilty of passing classified information to anyone unauthorized to receive it, he's not only broke the faith, he is a criminal in the eyes of the UCMJ and should be punished accordingly. Because he was a General doesn't exempt him from the law. When we start to think so, we become what we fear the most. I know a lot of people who idolize him and I thought he was an awesome commander and leader, but he allowed his Johnson make decisions that he knew was wrong. I don't know if he's passed classified information or not, but if he did, I hope he's stripped of his rank, and his retirement and sent to Federal prison for an appropriate length of time. He would be no less guilty than Edward Snowden.

Response by SPC David Brown made Jan 11 at 2015 10:12 PM

2015-01-11T22:12:03-05:00

No, He Should NOT be charged. Especially given that the person who WOULD possibly bring the charges against him is himself under Contempt of Congress charges. Besides if an American War Hero is allowed to be Charged, yet Terrorist's are traded for Traitors, and Voter Intimidation against the American Voting Public at Polling Places is Overlooked & Summarily Dismissed. Then We as a Nation have Misplaced Our Priorities & have Allowed Elected Leaders to Usurp Our Moral Fabric for Political Expediency & Unmitigated, Corrupt Power. THIS Must Change, Immediately.

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jan 12 at 2015 6:41 AM

2015-01-12T06:41:08-05:00

Yet another General that I believe has gone against what the current administration wanted and has been done wrong. Look at howany top officers have been forced into "early retirement".

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made Jan 12 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-01-12T08:03:42-05:00

'Holder told ABC’s “This Week” that news reports based on information leaked by anonymous sources are “frequently inaccurate” and assured members of Congress that Petraeus would be treated fairly.' All of this following Senators' support of the General.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/11/holder-mum-on-report-petraeus-faces-felony-charges-as-senators-rally-for-ex-cia/

Holder mum on report Petraeus faces felony charges, as senators rally for the ex-CIA director

Attorney General Eric Holder said on Sunday he has yet to decide on whether to bring felony charges against ex-CIA Director Gen.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-01-12T10:56:05-05:00

Just my two cents, i say "YES" the charges should be.dropped immediately. This is more political BS and its got to stop. He no doubt saved thousands of american lives and saved the lives of many Iraqis as well. So he had some indiscretions , but his actions did not jeopardize the mission or expose any national security information. She enough to connect the dots he just made it easier

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Jan 12 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-01-12T10:54:49-05:00

NO WAY ! EVERYTHING being done to this man, is being politically motivated...especially now. I do not know the man, nor have I ever met, seen or worked for or under him...however, I believe, at least from stories, that he is an honorable man, and is/has been scapegoated into the current situation. Like someone else said, it doesn't matter who he was sleeping with, that is between him and his conscience.

Response by 1SG Sam Serna made Jan 12 at 2015 11:56 AM

2015-01-12T11:56:21-05:00

Not no but hell no. Politicalet ploy.

Response by 1SG Kent McClanahan made Jan 12 at 2015 12:14 PM

2015-01-12T12:14:08-05:00

I don't know if he's passed classified information or not, but if he did, I hope he's stripped of his rank, and his retirement and sent to Federal prison for an appropriate length of time

Response by Matthew Torrelli made Jan 12 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-01-12T12:17:25-05:00

I served under his command in 2003-2004 when he was Commanding General over the 101stAbn during Oif 1. He is a great leader and no I don't believe he did it.

Response by MSG D Cebo made Jan 12 at 2015 1:47 PM

2015-01-12T13:47:22-05:00

AHH NO NEXT QUESTION!! THANKS !! We have other issues in the world, and Americas inters that are in DANGER !! so spend you money and time on me the VET give then A JOB .....

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Jan 12 at 2015 2:34 PM

2015-01-12T14:34:38-05:00

I really dont think America gets the REAL Issue on anything anymore, as long as he wasnt giving information out who cares what he does behind closed doors. The same thing goes for Clinton. America thrives off of gossip and pointing fingers at the rich and shameless .I dont know either on a personal basis and could care less what they do, if at their age's they can still get it...more power to them.....if its proven he did infact pass info on...fry his ass !!!! if not, let the man alone and in peace.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 2:46 PM

2015-01-12T14:46:56-05:00

By most accounts he was a good man and this may be nothing more than character assassination, that said... if there is sufficient evidence to convict him, he should be treated the same as any other soldier.

I don't believe the charges would stick though... first, I do not believe it is uncommon for a General officer to have a safe at home which is used to store classified information. So having classified information at him home is most likely a trumped up nothing. As for passing classified information to Broadwell, that's difficult to know. I would expect that most of what she needed to know to write her book would have been classified at one time, however it's intelligence life or value after the fact was probably very limited. I suspect that if anything he's guilty of bypassing proper procedures here... reasonable suspicion is one thing, proving he committed a crime is another.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Jan 12 at 2015 3:58 PM

2015-01-12T15:58:26-05:00

I really like Gen. Petraeus and despite his shortcomings, he did a lot for our country. I only think he should be charged if he committed a crime that warrants it. Nobody should be above the law. I also think we need to keep into account the intent.

From working in the intel sector for years, sometimes you are around information so much that it can blur and something you thought was unclassified may not be and vice versa. If anything he did was unintentional and did not harm to our country, I believe we should be lenient. Some like private manning who on purpose did this and harmed our country should be prosecuted as was done.

But I do not believe (would like this to be true!) that if there were any issues, it wasn't done intentionally.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 5:58 PM

2015-01-12T17:58:33-05:00

I believe that under enough scrutiny anyone with long term access to classified material ends up leaking it. We simply have so much. I doubt any harm was done, time to let the man have some peace.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 8:17 PM

2015-01-12T20:17:38-05:00

looks like the ugliest politics on the highest level

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 7:59 AM

2015-01-13T07:59:10-05:00

I dont JUDGE heroes, i HONOR them. read the treads below. some of you may be too fast to cast a stone. this guy was a Soldier's Leader. simple things that he did all over the battlefield prove that he was honorable and loyal to those he served with and he loved his country.

if he willingly and knowingly did something REALLY bad, then hold him accountable. but if you are just telling me that he slept with an attractive woman who had access to information already, then i dont care. sounds like the woman is trying to pin some juice on him so she gets a lighter sentence. but i dont read up on this. why, because until all facts are presented, i dont want speculation to taint this hero!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-01-14T16:51:45-05:00

NO!

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 5:14 PM

2015-01-14T17:14:29-05:00

I do not think for one minute this man EVER in his life would risk this country or her secrets. No way did give anyone access to classified materials! His personal life is his own. There is far more to this mess than we are being told!

Response by PV2 Chris Soule made Jan 14 at 2015 9:05 PM

2015-01-14T21:05:45-05:00

Charges should be based on the merits of the case, not the man. Having said that, some weight should given to the career and sacrifices of the man as well.

Response by SSG Luis Viera made Jan 15 at 2015 9:05 AM

2015-01-15T09:05:34-05:00

If there was no IPSec violations why should he?

Response by PO3 James Conner made Jan 15 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-01-15T10:58:42-05:00

If she was a former army intelligence officer (unless she published classified info) I dont see anything really wrong here. Maybe a stern conversation about protecting classified info better and a public slap on the hands. I seriously doubt any info was ever in any real danger.

Response by PO3 Dennis Stockinger made Jan 15 at 2015 8:28 PM

2015-01-15T20:28:15-05:00

This is a millitary hero and that's why Obama wants to destroy his reputation Obama wants to destroy anything good and moral in this country Obama doesn't respect the military

Response by MSG Martin Griffith made Jan 21 at 2015 2:33 PM

2015-01-21T14:33:39-05:00

I served under General Petraeus several times beginning when he was a Battalion Commander. I can't think of an officer that I have greater respect for. Yes, he did appear to have a lapse in judgment this once, but I personally think it's a far greater offense to try and erase a lifetime of good and faithful service for one incident. This IS politically motivated.

Response by MSG Jody Johnson made Jan 21 at 2015 3:22 PM

2015-01-21T15:22:28-05:00

I hope he's hes found innocent but if not I think extra duty is in order.

Response by SP6 Stephen Hensley made Feb 2 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-02-02T11:09:16-05:00

If these charges were placed on a NCO or an officer ( Warrant Officer through Captain ) they would be charged with criminal activity right away. Petraeus himself has officiated in general courts martial and he knows dog gone good and well that he should lose all rank and privileges. I think that as head of the CIA and his signing of the non disclosure agreement that goes with it he should be tried for releasing secret information and serve 10 years at Leavenworth as his punishment , but there has always been one set of laws for enlisted and lieutenant to captain and another set of laws for field officers.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-02-09T21:06:46-05:00

I am tired of flag officers and politicians getting away with stuff that would send you and me to Leavenworth to turn big rocks into small rocks for decades. It looks like probable cause to indict, and if he did it, yes he needs to go away. This isn't political, it is right versus wrong. There is a reason polygraphs delve into ones sex life. The biggest risk factor in the intelligence cycle is the human element.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Feb 9 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-02-09T23:47:43-05:00

I really don't think it makes any difference what we think. He disagreed with this president and like all the others who have disagreed got fired, moved down the chain, and now is having everything destroyed. If he said something in the heat of passion, and I don't believe he did, then maybe they should arrest her as a spy or enemy agent. Does his service and service record not prove anything to anyone. If this lady is so good as to get information from a man an soldier of his caliber then I think I will became a monk.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 5:54 PM

2015-03-07T17:54:49-05:00

All of us make mistakes. Even a General can make them. I think he let his romance get in the way of common sense and protocal. From what I've read about him he is a fine man, a great leader, and an humble Soldier who cares about his troops. I can't condem him for the mistake he made. I don't know if anything he told his mistress leaked to an enemy. All I think is the DOJ knows for certain he told her top secrets. Even our past Presidents have made some serious mistakes. No telling what Bill Clinton told Monica. For some reason, most of the time, nothing gets covered up in the military, but as a President or Secretary of Defense, the government goes all out to cover it up. General Petraeus is a dedicated soldier who wasn't thinking with his brain. Women will do that to a man, and Petraeus is just a man. IMHO

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Mar 7 at 2015 6:23 PM

2015-03-07T18:23:32-05:00

yes I do agree, and I'm A Petraeus fan....we also need to look at the bigger picture to and the possibility of double standardswe also need to look at the bigger picture to and the possibility of double standards
flick Hilary needs to pay the piper also. the same us code that Petraeus broke is the same us code that slick Hillary broke

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Mar 7 at 2015 7:50 PM

2015-03-07T19:50:04-05:00

He knew the ramifications for using classified material for his memoirs. His classified documents custodian was derelict. I know this because I saved more than my fair share of Officers, that "forgot" to call me back up to the office to retrieve documents. I remember an officer asked "sergeant; don't you trust me"? To which I responded; "no sir". So that NCO did not do his job.

Response by CW3 Craig Linghor made Mar 7 at 2015 8:05 PM

2015-03-07T20:05:14-05:00

Politicians leak secrets to the media all the time to serve there political interests.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Mar 7 at 2015 8:11 PM

2015-03-07T20:11:28-05:00

I have read many of the other posts and I agree with the majority on this one. He may have stated he wasn't interested in running, but we all know people's intentions Change and do so often. Seems to me there are powerful people making sure he does not change his mind. The General has a lot of support from the SM's & Veterans alike. He could use this whole situation to gain an advantage if he were to work it right. It is not always the actions you take or the words you say but HOW you take those actions and HOW you articulate the words you are saying.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 7 at 2015 9:22 PM

2015-03-07T21:22:34-05:00

No!!!! This is clearly politically motivated. P4 saved the day in Iraq and fixed years of back pedaling. And, he did what many many democrats said could not be done. I was there from Aug 06 to Nov 07 in Baghdad (actually all over too) and the difference from start to finish was dramatic. Then... our political leaders blew it and gave it all up again.