Statement by President Obama on the Resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus

Michael Yon

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2012

Statement by President Obama on the Resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus

David Petraeus has provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades. By any measure, he was one of the outstanding General officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end. As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication, and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger.

Today, I accepted his resignation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission, and I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell and the men and women of the CIA who work every day to keep our nation safe. Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time.

On this Veterans Day

http://comicallyincorrect.com/

Blackfive  "An FYI. If you happen to be in the Washington DC area, the Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries.

"To all my fellow Veterans, I'd like to say thank you for your service. You ARE the 1%. And no matter where you served or what you did, YOU made a difference with your service.
"Remember to thank a Veteran tomorrow for his or her service. It only takes a second, but it that second is worth its weight in gold."

From Canada: A Thank You to U.S. Service Members

"A crew from the United States Air Force spent Saturday night and Sunday morning airlifting different groups of wounded soldiers from Kandahar to Camp Bastion to Bagram, back to Kandahar, then back to Bagram, and back to Kandahar. These patients were from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Here, an Air Force nurse caresses the head of a wounded, unconscious Canadian soldier while whispering into his ear."

Later, this soldier's parents revealed his identity and gave this heart-felt thank you to American forces. 

Your photographs were extraordinary and have impacted so many people here in Canada. There has been an outpouring of affection for the Americans who helped Danny in his moment of need. For that, we thank you for recording these acts of kindness into history.

...."Physically, Danny will overcome his injuries. He also has the support of his family, his friends and his community to deal with the emotional side of this war. Our hearts go out to those families who have had the loss of a soldier or who have had to deal with greater injuries.

"Danny and his whole family are very grateful, and are actually overwhelmed, by the support he received while in US care. The Canadian military have also been wonderful. It is our intention to personally thank everyone who worked so hard to save Danny's life. We have already made contact with Major Deborah "Lucy" Lehker to thank her.

The way forward; Republicans do not need to radically change.

Charles Krauthammer  "They lose and immediately the chorus begins. Republicans must change or die. A rump party of white America, it must adapt to evolving demographics or forever be the minority.

"The only part of this that is even partially true regards Hispanics. They should be a natural Republican constituency: striving immigrant community, religious, Catholic, family-oriented and socially conservative (on abortion, for example).
....

"I’ve always been of the “enforcement first” school, with the subsequent promise of legalization. I still think it’s the better policy. But many Hispanics fear that there will be nothing beyond enforcement. So, promise amnesty right up front. Secure the border with guaranteed legalization to follow on the day the four border-state governors affirm that illegal immigration has slowed to a trickle."

....
"The answer to Romney’s failure is not retreat, not aping the Democrats’ patchwork pandering. It is to make the case for restrained, rationalized and reformed government in stark contradistinction to Obama’s increasingly unsustainable big-spending, big-government paternalism.

"Republicans: No whimpering. No whining. No reinvention when none is needed. Do conservatism but do it better. There’s a whole generation of leaders ready to do just that."

Elections have consequences

Obama Supporters Have No Understanding of Business or the Economy  "Since election day, there has been an avalanche of layoffs at American companies.
"Obama supporters stupidly perceive this as a case of partisanship.
"In some cases, they’re even calling for boycotts of companies laying off workers. Which will only lead to… drum roll please.
"More layoffs!
"The term “elections have consequences” is going to take on a whole new meaning.
"Americans are about to find out exactly what they voted for."

 I fear that Obama does not mind a stagnant economy, nor will his supporters as long as they are on the ever-increasing government dole. Under Obama, people can live in a state of retirement. Please convince me I am wrong, I beg you.  

Warning Signs

The more people you have on benefits, the more people you will have rioting and burning when you run out of money to pay them   "More than 370,000 migrants who were admitted to Britain to work, study or go on holiday are now claiming out-of-work benefits, according to official figures compiled for the first time. "....
"The figures are likely to reopen the debate over the generosity of the welfare system amid growing concerns that the country has become a destination for “benefit tourists”. "....
"Concerns are growing that the country has become a destination for 'benefit tourists' ."
"“It should never have been allowed to happen and Labour* should be embarrassed by what it left behind,” they add. "  Emphasis added.
*Labour: the British equivalent of our Democrats.

The more people you have on the dole, the more you will have rioting in the streets when they find out you are running out of our money to pay them.

Lars Larson

Alan Caruba; The Day After the Election

Norman Thomas, the former U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate in the 1940s said, “The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialist. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” That day has arrived.


Winston Churchill said, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”

Mr Caruba builds the foundation for his essay on the above quotes, then frames it all in with his grim predictions of the consequences of Obama's election. He then tops it off with the following:

It is a triumph of the stupid, the lazy, the mob.

Older Americans already wonder what happened to the Republic. Younger ones will never know why it was a place for which millions sacrificed their lives to protect and preserve, a far happier place.

God Will Not Be Mocked

Matt Barber  "I grieve for my children. I grieve for America’s children. Evil won on Tuesday. An arrogant and rebellious nation has chosen, for her leader, an arrogant and rebellious man, whose arrogant and rebellious party has, as Pastor John MacArthur put it, “adopted the sins of Romans 1 as their platform.” "
...."We call that which God calls an abomination, “equality.”
"We call that which God calls murder, “reproductive choice.”
"We call that which God calls theft, “fundamental fairness.”
"We “call evil good and good evil.” "
....
"Through it all, you see, He remains sovereign. His will is being done, even when it is not our own. He is faithful, though we are not. Victory is His. We are His. And so victory is ours."

Obamatown

Google plans to pay gay employees more

MSNBC Via World Net Daily  "Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent, the newspaper said, noting that the tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer."
"Citing a study, the Times said employees with domestic partners will pay about $1,069 more a year in taxes than a married employee with the same coverage. Google will essentially cover those costs, the newspaper said, putting same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits."

Petraeus and Benghazi; what is going on here?

Sex, Lies and Videotape; Petraeus’ Benghazi Problem  "That West wrote that article November 6th, makes the Petraeus “resignation” on November 9th highly suspect. Pundits are out in force questioning the “affair” with high ranking retired Military stating “its not a must for him to resign over an affair”. That the FBI was conducting “some investigation” in which they learned of the Petraeus affair is interesting, as the FBI is the agency investing Benghazi too. What even causes one to pause is what West uncovers about Petraeus and the funerals for the 2 CIA operatives:

Mr. Petraeus didn’t attend funerals held later for the two CIA contractors, irking some administration officials and CIA veterans.

Is Petraeus Falling on His Sword?  "But it certainly it is a bit odd that Petraeus's resignation happened several days after the election and several days before he would have testified about Benghazi. It would not be the first time self-immolation was ordered so that a dear leader could survive.
"Remember, Petraeus refused to go along with the administration's storyline about Benghazi, disassociating himself and the CIA from the whole debacle. It could be he was ordered to resign. Failure to do so might have meant his affair would be plastered over the media and the mistress targeted. So maybe Petraeus chose to fall on his sword, coming forth with the information about his affair himself and offering his resignation."
....
"After all, the story of a "spontaneous" demonstration instigated by an obscure video has not held up well, and in-depth answers still have not been forthcoming. But as head of the CIA, the general has to know the truth about what happened, and is no doubt being pressured to sit on it."

Victor Davis Hanson; Down from Olympus "Fairly or not, questions will be raised why this Washington-style Friday-afternoon resignation occurred after rather than before the election — a question that does not necessarily suggest that Petraeus’s did not take the proper nonpartisan course. But just days after this Tuesday, we are already beginning to hear of all sorts of “sudden” news: the Iranian attack on a U.S. drone; the plight of the Hurricane Sandy victims ... the sudden publicity of the “fiscal cliff”; and the Benghazi hearings. In that unfortunate politicized landscape comes the Petraeus bombshell."

Hanson included this little quote that I particularly enjoyed:

Because of both Petraeus’s sterling reputation and his high office, infidelity takes on greater importance than if it were — how absurd to write this — merely that of a lesser figure like Bill Clinton, whose serial miscreant conduct was taken for granted, even when he was a sitting president.

Marine Corps 237th Birthday, Nov 10th;

Independent Sentinel

"The official birthday of the United States Marine Corps, on 10 November 1775, began with the Second Continental Congress decree:

“That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates as with other battalions, that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies; unless dismissed by Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalions of Marines.”

"The 13th Commandant, Gen. John A. Lejeune, in 1921 issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921.

Gen. Lejeune’s order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps. It further directed that the order be read to all Marines on 10 November of each year to honor the founding of the Marine Corps. Thereafter, 10 November became a unique day for U.S. Marines throughout the world."....

Want to be a Marine? It begins this way:  (Video) Congressional Medal of Honor winner John Basilone and all other brave Marines began just like these frightened teenagers.

We see John Basilone featured in this segment of  "The Pacific"

Boeing “Unexpectedly” (and conveniently) Announces Huge Layoffs to Their Defense Division

Urban Grounds  America's chickennns are coming home...to ROOOSSST!
"Remember back in September when the Obama administration encouraged defense contractors to delay layoff announcements until after the election, offering to reimburse contractors for any legal costs incurred in not informing their affected employees? We knew that Lockheed Martin took ‘em up on their offer. And today, we find out so did Boeing."
....
"Because higher unemployment and fewer folks on the tax roll is exactly what California needs right now…


"Perhaps the most fair method to determine who gets laid off first is to go out into the parking lot and find all the cars with Obama/Biden stickers on them, and start with them."

CIA Director Petraeus Resigns, Cites Extramarital Affair

NBC New York  "After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."  Via Drudge.

This should be a resume' enhancement in the Democrat Party.

Brief highlights of Gen. David Petraeus' career  I would also include in this list that the General presented Obama a war in Iraq that was won as long as politicians didn't screw it up.

Photo: urbangrounds.com

Could there be a connection here? Petraeus Throws Obama Under the Bus   "Breaking news on Benghazi: the CIA spokesman, presumably at the direction of CIA director David Petraeus, has put out this statement: "No one at any level in the CIA told anybody not to help those in need; claims to the contrary are simply inaccurate. ” "  William Kristol

Does Obama seem to you to be the type to settle old scores once reelected and thus "more flexible"?

Did Obama's people see this cartoon some time back?

Petraeus' letter of resignation

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for
personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I
showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is
unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This
afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served
with you, the officers of our Nation’s Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in
every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life’s greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.

Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.

With admiration and appreciation,
David H. Petraeus

Many more posts and articles on politics, culture and history in the Tunnel Wall

Lets give thanks to a good man and his family

Matthew May   "This is a thank you note to a good man.

Thank you for turning aside from a life of ease and security to run for the presidency against an incumbent.

Thank you for enduring the slander of you, your family, and your faith perpetrated by a criminally negligent media.
Thank you for calling things such as terrorism by their right name.
Thank for selecting Paul Ryan as vice presidential running mate.
Thank you -- and your lovely wife -- for demonstrating true love.
Thank you for handling yourself with grace and equanimity in every situation.
Thank you for your patriotism.
Thank you for believing in America. It is to our eternal shame that America did not, in this time and place, believe in you.

And who did this good man lose to? These people:

 

May God bless Americans like the Romneys and may He save us from the likes of these other people. Perhaps this is the price we pay for attempting to kick every trace of God out of our culture. TD

U.S. Amb. to Saudi Arabia: U.S. Foreign Policy Will Change After Obama Victory

Weekly Standard  "The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, James Smith, told the Arabic news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat that American foreign policy will now change after President Barack Obama's reelection. Smith made the comments at an election night party at his residence.

allvoices.com

"Ambassador Smith "stressed the desire of President Obama to resolve a number of foreign issues, most notably restoring negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, responding more strongly to Iran, and working with allies to end the Syrian crisis, in addition to providing support for the new governments in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, and assisting the current Yemeni President," Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
"The ambassador appears not to have elaborated further.
"Obama was famously overheard promising the Russian leadership more flexibility after he was reelected by the American people. It now seems Obama believes he will have more flexibility in the Middle East, too. "