We have long discussed the sweetheart deal given General David Petraeus, who violated core professional and national security rules only only to avoid any jail time. It is part of what I have called our Animal Farm system where some people are more equal than others. Now Petraeus is under consideration for the positions of Secretary of State. It is an ironic twist since his predecessor in such a position was accused of recklessly compromising national security — the very allegations raised with regard to Petraeus.
Petraeus resigned after the disclosure of his sordid affair with Paula Broadwell, who wrote his biography, All In: The Education of General David Petraeus. As we discussed, the affair was uncovered after Broadwell allegedly began sending harassing emails to a longstanding family friend of the Petraeuses, Jill Kelley. It was later learned that Petraeus violated national security rules in giving his mistress access to classified information. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information. Like Sandy Berger and others, Petraeus avoided jail time.
Now he is a candidate for the Secretary of State despite his disgraceful departure from his prior position as CIA director. Patraeus has always been an insider operator in the Beltway. His resurrection will likely infuriate many in the national security and military areas who view his part treatment as an example of the separate system for the powerful and the elite. Consider it the second edition of Animal Farm.
