Sudden departure: CIA Director David Petraeus resigns
US media says he stepped down due to involvement in an extra-marital affair.
WASHINGTON:
CIA Director General David Petraeus resigned from his post late Friday night, reportedly due to his involvement in an extra-marital affair.
US President Barack Obama, in a statement, said he had accepted the resignation.
“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,” he said.
According to US media reports, Petraeus said in a message to the CIA workforce that he was resigning because of an extramarital affair.
The former CIA Director, in his resignation letter, said:” 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.”
President Obama, in his statement, further said, “David Petraeus has provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades. 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.”
While the acting director Mike Morrell will lead the spy agency in the interim, a new CIA Director will have to be confirmed by the Senate.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper also confirmed the resignation on Friday.
“Dave’s decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation’s most respected public servants,” Clapper said in a statement, without giving a reason for the resignation.
Gen Petraeus was appointed as Director to the CIA in 2011, following his predecessor Leon Panetta’s appointment as Secretary of Defense. He served as head of ISAF in Afghanistan prior to his appointment as CIA Director. (with ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2012.
CIA Director General David Petraeus resigned from his post late Friday night, reportedly due to his involvement in an extra-marital affair.
US President Barack Obama, in a statement, said he had accepted the resignation.
“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,” he said.
According to US media reports, Petraeus said in a message to the CIA workforce that he was resigning because of an extramarital affair.
The former CIA Director, in his resignation letter, said:” 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.”
President Obama, in his statement, further said, “David Petraeus has provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades. 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.”
While the acting director Mike Morrell will lead the spy agency in the interim, a new CIA Director will have to be confirmed by the Senate.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper also confirmed the resignation on Friday.
“Dave’s decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation’s most respected public servants,” Clapper said in a statement, without giving a reason for the resignation.
Gen Petraeus was appointed as Director to the CIA in 2011, following his predecessor Leon Panetta’s appointment as Secretary of Defense. He served as head of ISAF in Afghanistan prior to his appointment as CIA Director. (with ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2012.