Petreaus gave classified documents to someone with a valid security clearance that allowed her access to those documents. She happened to be his mistress who was writing a book designed to advance his political fortunes. If everyone in Washington did this, real estate prices in D.C. would completely collapse.
When I got back from a White House mission to Bosnia during the Dayton Accords discussions, I got a call from James Schlesinger, the former Secretary of Defense. He wanted to meet and discuss my recent adventures. I told him that I would be happy to meet with him, but that the Departments of Defense and State, along with the White House would have to know of our meeting and that I would comply with whatever restrictions they might impose. The meeting never happened and he was quite confused that I refused to play the Washington game of insider info sharing. Stupid, naive, hayseed were his thoughts, I’m sure.
Petreaus played a dangerous game, but he was smacked down because he was perceived to be a threat to Obama, and that problem has been dealt with. He’s not a threat anymore.
It’s interesting that the “classified documents” were five black notebooks with handwritten notes, including information that according to one account was classified at a level above Top Secret. The description of these “black books” is a little strange - normally creation of documents that are classifiable are done in a classified environment and even as working papers covers explicitly state the highest level of classification for the contents. It sounds like he just had his handwritten notebooks without portion markings so it would be unclear what was and what was not classified. Huge error in judgment and safekeeping of the documents.
That all being said - hope this is the beginning of the end for the far worse handling of information by the Hildabeast. I can’t imagine the information she received and likely transmitted using unsecure emails won’t ultimately be found to be classified at some level. The classification guides should be available to Congress in some form for their comparison to content as they review the emails.
If only we had more honorable men like you. Sad state of affairs we have now....
I had men in my platoon fresh out of the ghettoes of Chicago and New York. There was a race riot in my barracks the week before my arrival.
I had no fear about my soldiers, but I was scared to death of losing that CEOI out in the field.
“Petreaus gave classified documents to someone with a valid security clearance that allowed her access to those documents.”
Need to know applied then and now.
She had no need to know what they discussed.
Having a current Top Secret Sci clearances does not entitle one to everything that is classified.
She and the general knew that.