Monday, 12 November 2012 06:45
"Historians will likely judge David Petraeus to be the most effective American military commander since Eisenhower," according to CNN. Time credits him with "salvaging the U.S. war in Iraq." John McCain testified that he "will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes." Now he has resigned as Director of the CIA in disgrace.I first heard Gen. Petraeus when he spoke at a leadership event in Dallas a few years ago, and was deeply impressed with his intellect and candor. A West Point graduate, he earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from Princeton and authored 23 books and articles. After leading our forces in Iraq, he became commander of all U.S. military operations in the greater Middle East before assuming control of operations in Afghanistan. On June 30, 2011, he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
He has been married for 37 years to Holly Petraeus. The couple met when he was a cadet at West Point, where she was the daughter of the academy superintendent. They have two children; their son led an infantry platoon in Afghanistan.
Last Thursday he resigned his office after the FBI discovered emails revealing Petraeus's affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. She is a West Point and Harvard graduate, a 40-year-old married mother of two. On Friday, the president accepted his resignation. Such a transgression is considered a serious breach of security for an intelligence director—foreign governments could have blackmailed Petraeus or otherwise compromised his leadership.
In 1 Kings 15:5 we find a bittersweet epitaph which begins, "David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord's commands all the days of his life." High praise, but the verse ends: "except in the case of Uriah the Hittite." Will history remember David Petraeus with the same caveat?
We must never assume that present obedience guarantees future faithfulness. While our culture segregates religion from the "real world," you and I should never make the mistake of self-reliance in guarding our integrity. "There but for the grace of God go I" is the right response to Gen. Petraeus's sin and our temptations.
In the latest Newsweek there is an article titled "Petraeus's Rules for Living," written by Paula Broadwell. "Lead by example from the front of the formation" is his first rule. It should be ours as well.
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JOHN 8:6 - 7 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone..." We need to pray for forgivness, wisdom and discernment for Petraeus and ourselves.
I remember you from SPDL. Are you pastoring a church too?
I did not know the general's mistress was also a West Point grad. The Haaaavaaaad grad does not impress. It goes to show that smart people do stupid things.
DP should've known better than to get in bed with the racist coward Obama as well as the well educated bimbo, bless their hearts.
Unfortunately the US is being ran like a 3rd world country.....
Jim
I agree with what you said but would like to add that present and past sin does not guarantees future unfaithfulness either.
What you said has been lost in interpretation for some. They could not wait to start throwing stones from their lofty religious towers. I must believe that those who could not wait to jump in and critize, are and have always been sinless. Otherwise they would not have the right to judge and should know it.
I will pray for him and his family as this news will effect them more than any of us.
We can be grateful that this travesty was not ignored by our government, however, it's interesting that it was kept quiet until after the election.
I have a minister friend who says he never even has coffee with a woman. To guard our integrity, it is necessary to keep strong boundaries....and it is a choice we make.
The general knew this and tried to ignore the rules he himself has taught for years.That which you sow, also shall you reap.
Your friends are short on understanding because they bear the brunt of presidential determinations. The reason they call him Betray us is several fold. One of which is it sounds cute or cool to rhyme his name. Another is they do not have the capacity to walk in the General's shoes. They are not old or mature enough.
All they know is things were tough and they passed the buck up the ladder. Usually the buck travels in the opposite direction. But comparing apples to apples many are alive and living because of the General's own innovations. Generals do not have an easy day. It hurts them when they see injured and dead combatants on both sides of the war. They do their best to preserve the sanctity of life even under presidential orders or tirades. I am certain he grieves over the lives lost in Benghazi because they were his boys. It is not beyond the scope of officers to commit suicide if the things they don't tell anybody become to great for them to bear. It is a matter of honor, something most civilians do not understand and many of the military underlings as well.
I hope he will survive this. There are many things the military does not tell the public because the truth is not handled very well by the public. They silently work to keep you free without any real complaint because it is forbidden to complain. The only things you know is what the government controlled press wants those with itching ears to hear . You also hear the complaints of formeractive duty service members and the government has already calculated that in the equation. Best wishes!
The enemy works so hard at exploiting our human weaknesses and destroying people - and I have noticed that he waits until people are at the top of their career and where the news of it will do the most damage to throw all he's got at individuals, families, nations.
Regarding the comments about President Clinton, I watched John Bevere dvds and he said that because the Lord had alerted him to pray for the President, he had been doing so for quite some time before President Clinton fell into sexual sin, and that when that happened, rather than experiencing condemnation of the man, he felt great compassion for him and continued to pray for his restoration. Additionally, I heard that Billy Graham ministered to him - and that was a big part of Bill Clinton and his wife being able to restore their marriage. I hope that what I heard is true, and that the Clinton's experienced a true restoration of their marriage, and for the right reasons.
In reading some of these other comments and in having read several bios now of how corrupt people set out to corrupt "good men", when I hear some news like this it makes me wonder what really happened.
I recently read the book Son of Hamas, and got an idea of how convoluted much of what we hear can be.
I like what some others here have said. If "we" take the high road, God will help "us". Praying for the salvation, protection, and healing of others - and especially of those who are in positions of leadership, and especially of those who are "good", that helps us all.
I donot believe this was his first extra-marital affair..... it's all to convenient,this is the same man that was going to testify on what transpired in Benghazi, the powers that be said it was not a terrorist act but a youtube video that sparked all that.... right.
In a situation like this, at the very least, the attendants to the CIA director's job should be to ensure that the chosen biographer is not "much younger and beautiful".
I am still very saddened, and prayerful - but as I get more information, I think - who counsels and offers good advice and protection for a top-notch Official like this? Don't people around him "see" a train-wreck coming?
Don't those kind of safeguards go along with a position like that? Wise attendants/advisors?
I would think that would be protocol in protecting someone who is that essential to the safety and security of any country.
He (the Holy Spirit) has also spoken volumes through last week's election outcome eg by not allowing the Presidency to fall into the hands of an ardent follower of a 'false' Jesus. Study the mormon cult, and you will learn how much of a 'FALSE CHRIST' its leader really is.