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The Last Fighting Season Part Two: Petraeus To Head CIA

First Posted: 04/28/11 12:44 PM ET Updated: 06/28/11 06:12 AM ET

Petraeus

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KABUL, Afghanistan -- From Baghdad to Kabul and coming soon to Langley, Va., there's a single image that Gen. David Petraeus keeps framed in his mind - and on his wall.

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KABUL, Afghanistan -- From Baghdad to Kabul and coming soon to Langley, Va., there's a single image that Gen. David Petraeus keeps framed in his mind - and on his wall.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- From Baghdad to Kabul and coming soon to Langley, Va., there's a single image that Gen. David Petraeus keeps framed in his mind - and on his wall.
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02:21 PM on 04/29/2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cq4DMYf0Vo&feature=player_embedded#at=54

Victory Day tomorrow
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ewldest
I don't care "whose" war it is - end it now
12:08 PM on 04/29/2011
Petraeus' legacy is - how many dead civilians? So of course we promote him and grant him extra-legal powers - disgusting reminder that we are only a failed empire after all.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
osofar
America once was Exceptional
07:53 AM on 04/29/2011
Only 90 comments....but the Royal wedding is getting thousands of hits.
10:51 AM on 04/29/2011
Wait till Pee Wee Herman marries Janet Jackson. We'll show them.
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StopThePlanet
Relentless pursuit of every silver lining's cloud
01:25 AM on 04/29/2011
Sad choice to begin with but after he so publicly dissed Obama as Commander in Chief it is unbelievable.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
01:37 PM on 04/29/2011
Waaayyy off...wrong general! Here's a hint....the other guy's name was Stanley.
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StopThePlanet
Relentless pursuit of every silver lining's cloud
01:57 PM on 04/29/2011
Sorry, you are right. My bad.
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farmilyman
everything is illusion
01:10 AM on 04/29/2011
This can only mean wars, wars, and more wars.
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kocean1
When this party's over it will start again
10:18 PM on 04/28/2011
What was his record in Afghanistan? Looks like a stunning failure. More black wars against countries in the Middle east. A political appointment for Obama. How will Petraeus fit into the CIA 's secretive culture ? This will enable his effort to continue his attempt to change the Middle East and supply accurate assessment of conditions that exist. Leave these places-no more lives need to be lost.
12:33 AM on 04/29/2011
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about do you?

He was an O-10, they know how to do administration, COIN worked excellently in Iraq, and he was given more resources and time to handle it. An O-10 knows how to keep secrets.
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kocean1
When this party's over it will start again
09:54 AM on 04/29/2011
Wow
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kocean1
When this party's over it will start again
02:03 PM on 04/29/2011
At what cost ? What is barometer for success ? Oh-I forget Libya and Pakistan.
In Libya, defense analysts estimate that the U.S. is spending $100 million per day. Just imposing a no-flight zone over the northern part of Libya could cost $400 million to $800 million for the initial strikes. It had also projected costs of $30 million to $100 million a week to patrol the area. This is success.

Iraq-$ 787 Billion
Afghanistan-$ 399

http://costofwar.com/en/
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loki
Better to die fighting, than live on knees
08:45 PM on 04/28/2011
military control of the CIA. sounds so very , KGBish to me....
12:35 AM on 04/29/2011
You know that those two comparisons are completely wrong right? The KGB handled internal/external security in the USSR, GRU was their military arm, there were KGB troops however.

The first director of the CIA was a USN Rear Admiral, nearly half of all directors have been in the military.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
osofar
America once was Exceptional
07:54 AM on 04/29/2011
That is why they use military solutions for most situations.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
01:39 PM on 04/29/2011
meh....this would only make 40% of the directors having been active military. Even the saintly Jimmy Carter did it with ADM Stansfield Turner.
08:33 PM on 04/28/2011
Just what we need, a soldier in charge of the CIA. I can understand why he would want to leave a war we cannot win but why we would want more military control over our government agencies is beyond me. More of the "change" you can't believe in from Obama.
12:32 AM on 04/29/2011
Almost half of the CIA has been former military, including the first director, a Rear Admiral in the USN.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
01:40 PM on 04/29/2011
Carter did it...why can't O? The first 4 directors were military. Not unusual in the slightest.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
osofar
America once was Exceptional
07:16 PM on 04/28/2011
Petraeous has to leave the military, because there is no more room for medals on his uniform.Unfortunately, far too many good people died in the illegal wars he supported. Many will not live a long life due to his decisions.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
02:51 PM on 04/29/2011
Why does he have to leave the military? Just because you don't like him?
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rikster
buy the ticket-take the ride
04:41 PM on 04/28/2011
I'm sure he'll make a great spook....
05:11 PM on 04/28/2011
DCI isn't that type of position.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
05:18 PM on 04/28/2011
My friend...not to be nitpicky...but the DCI position unfortunately no longer exists. It's been usurped by the DNI. However, I agree with your position that he/she is more politicion/administrator/CEO than spook.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
sophiemaki
04:09 PM on 04/28/2011
why is Obama afraid of change?
he is shuffling the same old people around..
we are stagnated..
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
osofar
America once was Exceptional
07:17 PM on 04/28/2011
Because, the rich masters have a preferred list of employees.
08:32 PM on 04/28/2011
'the rich masters'

Do you need more tin foil for your hat?
iridium53
Semper Fi
04:05 PM on 04/28/2011
The original mission in Afghanistan was to apprehend or kill the scion of the rich Saudi family, Osama bin Laden.

After a decade and a half trillion spent - complete failure to achieve the mission objectives.

But, the man who lead the failure gets a promotion.

There's something terribly wrong with utter failures being promoted.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
sophiemaki
04:17 PM on 04/28/2011
the odd thing is:
when Petraeus fed us his line :
" Making progress, however fragile and can be reversible."
(how is that for meaning nothing?)
The CIA contradicted him......
oh well.,...nothing we can do about it.
we are so weary from the wars. .
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
05:07 PM on 04/28/2011
It's not a promotion...he retains his current rank....we haven't had a 5-star since WWII.
He's only been ISAF CDR for 10 months. When he was CENTCOM, he had a deputy who was ISAF.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
osofar
America once was Exceptional
07:18 PM on 04/28/2011
I dare say, we haven't had real Generals since WWII. We now have political generals.
03:57 PM on 04/28/2011
Now this is an odd story.

i would not think the military and the CIA would have much in common.

Nor any love for each other.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
04:07 PM on 04/28/2011
If he's confirmed...the general will make it 40% of the Director who were active duty military officers...as have 25% og the deputy Directors.

Actually, they work well together.

https://www.cia.gov/library/reports/general-reports-1/gulfwar/061997/support.htm

http://www.fas.org/irp/program/core/tencap.htm

http://www.fas.org/irp/program/core/merit.htm
04:08 PM on 04/28/2011
Why? Nearly all of the directors are prior military. They share intelligence and work together all the time.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Okieborn
Equal Rights For All !
02:52 PM on 04/28/2011
Betraeus has done enough to ruin America , it is time to send him home for good !!!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
03:00 PM on 04/28/2011
Can you be specific, rather than spewing the lefty bile?
04:08 PM on 04/28/2011
How exactly has he betrayed us?
02:08 PM on 04/28/2011
It's a mistake to put a military man in charge of the CIA. That will only continue to focus on covert action that has become the agency's obsession. It is way past time to reform the agency by taking away its paramilitary mission and focusing on intelligence gathering and analysis.
02:41 PM on 04/28/2011
Why? Look at the previous directors....
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CDRUSNret
03:05 PM on 04/28/2011
Too late!!...if confirmed, the general would make it 40% of the directors having been on active duty at the time of appointment. Even the saintly Jimmy Carter did it with ADM Stansfield turner.
04:09 PM on 04/28/2011
Why did the squids get most of the intel jobs?