Petraeus pleads quilty to passing classified info

[Jhhnn]

Four star generals get these kinds of passes; mustn't embarrass the voting bloc / power brokers that is the armed forces.

Sweet fucking Christ on a crutch. This is in no way a pass. It's the ass hammer. He's been dragged down from the pinnacle of power, heavily fined, disgraced & dismissed. God only knows how much he spent on lawyers. Relative to what actually happened, that's quite sufficient.

It's not like I'm some fan of the guy, either. He fucked up, & he's paying dearly.

 

[cabri]

Much information is over classified.
where it should be classified as Not for Dissemination or ITAR, gets classifed as Secret or TS. Confidential level should suffice; however, everyone rather than using common sense always errs above and beyond.

Except that, in this case, the stuff he gave to his mistress included

“classified information regarding the identities of covert officers, war strategy, intelligence capabilities and mechanisms, diplomatic discussions, quotes and deliberative discussions from high-level National Security Council meetings, and defendant David Howell Petraeus’s discussions with the President of the United States of America”

Seems to be way above confidential.

I was talking in general terms about classification of information; not specific to this case

 

[Fern]

Four star generals get these kinds of passes; mustn't embarrass the voting bloc / power brokers that is the armed forces.

This was discussed on MSNBC/Maddow last night. Maddow doesn't have conservatives on her show. The guest discussing this (I don't remember his name) said the prosecutors took a plea for the misdemeanor because they thought it was the best they could get. Patraeus has the best law firm in DC on his side, and they were afraid his status as a 4 star general would sway the jury, plus there was no harm or even any intent to harm.

So, according to this journalist they wanted to hang a felony on him but weren't confident so they took the lesser plea.

------------------------

Also Maddow said emails show that the woman asked for the black books and Patraeus originally told her "no", saying they contained classified info. In a later email he said he changed his mind and she could look at them for a few days. He personally drove the books to her home where she had use of them for 4 days. IOW, he "knowingly and willingly" gave her classified secrets. (See text of statute above.)

If the above is true he's guilty and needs some level of punishment. The 'vagina' has proven to be the most powerful espionage tool in the history of the world. He knows better. IMO he's lucky she wasn't a spy. he'd bear personal responsibility for any loss of life etc and likely die in prison.

Fern

 

[HomerJS]

Sweet fucking Christ on a crutch. This is in no way a pass. It's the ass hammer. He's been dragged down from the pinnacle of power, heavily fined, disgraced & dismissed. God only knows how much he spent on lawyers. Relative to what actually happened, that's quite sufficient.

It's not like I'm some fan of the guy, either. He fucked up, & he's paying dearly.

Really? Ever heard of Bradley Manning? He's getting 35 years in jail for the very same thing.

 

[Jhhnn]

Really? Ever heard of Bradley Manning? He's getting 35 years in jail for the very same thing.

Has the lack of sense of proportion of our Righties rubbed off on you? On one hand, we have the largest leak of govt records in history. OTOH, we have this little tempest in a teapot.

Get a grip.

 

[Fern]

I have a cold and sore throat. The fever must be worse than I thought; I'm agreeing with Jhhnn.

Fern

 

[werepossum]

Except that, in this case, the stuff he gave to his mistress included

“classified information regarding the identities of covert officers, war strategy, intelligence capabilities and mechanisms, diplomatic discussions, quotes and deliberative discussions from high-level National Security Council meetings, and defendant David Howell Petraeus’s discussions with the President of the United States of America”

Seems to be way above confidential.

Yep, and way above what as his biographer she should have had in an ongoing operation where past decisions and current identities are very much relevant to our success.

I very much agree with Cabri that information is way over-classified, but one deals with what is, not with what should be.

I have a cold and sore throat. The fever must be worse than I thought; I'm agreeing with Jhhnn.

Fern

lol You and me both.

 

[Subyman]

Really? Ever heard of Bradley Manning? He's getting 35 years in jail for the very same thing.

Seriously? Petraeus shared information that was never leaked further to his lover. Manning leaked information to the world on purpose. This isn't close at all.

 

[HomerJS]

Has the lack of sense of proportion of our Righties rubbed off on you? On one hand, we have the largest leak of govt records in history. OTOH, we have this little tempest in a teapot.

Get a grip.

Me, I would have a higher standard for a 4-star general but oh well.

 

[feralkid]

Eh, I'm fine with this double standard. The average joe hasn't done as much for the US as Petraeus over their life time. Sure, he made a poor choice, but, damn, the man is a four star general.

I don't even look at it as a double standard, but rather the fact that intent is a mitigating factor.

I don't see Petraeus having the slightest bit of malicious intent.

He fucked up, no doubt about that.


Of course that may sound obvious...



.