Petraeus Rehire: Journalists Support Return Of CIA Director
He was forced to resign as director of the CIA because of an extramarital affair with his biographer, but some journalists are defending David Petraeus, stating that the official should be rehired.
Petraeus was commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan before becoming CIA director. He resigned from his government position earlier this month after news surfaced regarding his affair with Paula Broadwell. Adding to the fact that his wife, Holly, is threatening him with a divorce after the embarrassement he caused her, some reports stated that Petraeus faced enough humuliation and that he deserves to be rehired.
"I have a great idea whom Barack Obama should nominate as his next CIA director: Gen. David Petraeus," Slate.com reporter Emily Yoffe said in her news report entitled "Bring Back Petraues."
"Since Petraeus' departure both Democrats and Republicans have been mourning the loss of a public servant of extraordinary ability...Obama could strike a blow for civil liberties and against the silly and destructive sexual Puritanism that has taken down so many public figures," the report added.
Yoffe believed that Petraues' affair was the old story of an older man going for a younger woman - not a breach of national security or a crime holding such a caliber that it would be a career ender.
Eric Holder, the head of the Justice Department, reportedly knew late in the summer that FBI agents were investigating Petraeus' extramarital affair. The information was revealed to President Barack Obama's cabinet on Election Day, after which the Director of National Intelligence urged Petraeus to resign, according to The Telegraph.
"It also seems a waste to throw Petraeus' hard-earned expertise and experience out the window over a personal matter," said Diane Dimond from The Daily Beast. The report added that the country is wasting "brilliant young men like David Petraeus" over personal matters rather than how they do their jobs.
However, Petraeus does not seem to be curled up in a corner anywhere. He recently hired Robert Barnett of Williams & Connolly in Washington as his lawyer, known for negotiating book deals for political figures such as President Barack Obama and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. With the top representatives and legal times hired to help deal with the matter, the scandal will no doubt give the government official a newfound celebrity status.
Undeniably, Petraeus earned his "censure and disgrace," according to The New York Times. Nevertheless, reports are stating that America should get ready for future book deals, job offers, and TV apologies in a shared spotlight with Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters.