November 10, 2012

• Another good man goes down....

  The news was hyperventilating yesterday about the abrupt resignation of General David Petraeus.  Gen. Petraeus had a long and distinguished career serving the military and the United States and it all came crashing down because of an extramarital affair.

  Being director of the CIA is an important and nerve wracking job.  But, I think Gen. Petraeus was correct in resigning.  Leadership needs an someone who is not compromised.  Gen. Petraeus was.

  In the world of the spies, being compromised means that someone has something on you and can "turn" you for their purposes.  The delicate and often unpleasant work of the CIA demands someone who cannot be turned.

  Thus, it was necessary for Gen. Petraeus to resign.

  A lesser man might have tried to hold on and may have caused irreprable damage to the CIA and to the security of this country.

  A better man would not have betrayed his wife by having an affair.

  But we are not perfect men and women.  Lust happens and there are almost always consequences. 

  But honor survives.  An honorable person does the right thing even when it costs them potentially everything.

  I do not know if the Petraus marriage will survive this.  It is not my business to know or to pry.  I'm sure the media will, however.

  But I do know this: Gen. Petraeus's military training at West Point drilled into him the idea of honor and that when a person has done something dishonorable, that person steps up and acknowledges that dishonor.  Acknowledgement is the only honorable way to face the deed.

  General Petraeus faced up to the deed.  While his honor has been tarnished, that act restored some of it.

   

  • 7:23 am
  • 4 Comments