Big shots of the beltway were left dumbstruck by the downfall
Gen. David Petraeus — a widely respected man once rumored to be bound for the White House.
Petraeus was praised throughout Washington for his candor, political
acumen and, ironically, discretion. He was one of the nation’s most
decorated four-star generals and one of the most prominent and acclaimed
members of America’s military.
Expressions of regret poured in from both sides of the aisle.
RELATED: DAVID PETRAEUS RESIGNS AS CIA DIRECTOR, ADMITS EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
describes the resignation of Petraeus 'an enormous loss for our nation's
intelligence community.'
Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called
his downfall “an enormous loss for our nation’s intelligence community
and for our country. . . I wish President Obama had not accepted this
resignation, but I understand and respect the decision.”
T. Ortega Gaines/The Charlotte Observer via AP
Paula Broadwell, author of the David Petraeus biography "All In,"
poses for photos in Charlotte, N.C. Petraeus, the retired four-star
general renowned for taking charge of the military campaigns in Iraq and
then Afghanistan, abruptly resigned Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 as director of
the CIA, admitting to an extramarital affair. Petraeus carried on the
affair with Broadwell, according to several U.S. officials with
knowledge of the situation.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who worked closely with Petraeus as a member
of the House Intelligence Committee, called him “one of America’s most
outstanding and distinguished military leaders and a true American
patriot.”
King added that he had no advance knowledge of Petraeus’ affair. “I was absolutely shocked,” he said.
Harry Hamburg/AP
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who worked closely with Petraeus as a member
of the House Intelligence Committee, said he was 'absolutely shocked'
when he learned of Petraeus' resignation.
A combat commander with a Ph.D. from Princeton who turned 60 on
Wednesday, Petraeus was an architect of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and
in Iraq, where he was credited with developing the U.S. troop “surge”
that helped to turn the war around.
Former President George W. Bush called Petraeus his favorite general, a
distinction that prompted Obama officials to view him with suspicion
when they took over.
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