Judging from the picture, I can't really blame David.
Judging from the picture, I can't really blame David.
.....”Judging from the picture, I can’t really blame David”....
Well...if he was really any kind of man as he claims....he could have at least asked his wife if it was ok...and then let the chips fall where they may.
But no...he took the cowards way out.
Holly Petraeus is an honorable woman who cares about our service-people. To denigrate her or say her scuzzball of a husband had a right to cheat on her based on her looks alone is beneath what I’d expect of a FReeper.
Am I really reading what you just said you were writing?
I can.
He swore an oath to this country, and he made an even stronger vow to his wife.
“For better for worse. In sickness and in health. Til death you do part.”
I have great respect for Petraeus capabilities as a general, a planner, and his military capabilities.
But all of that is betrayed and tarnished horribly by the violations that he committed and the most basic trusts he violated.
So his wife of some 30-40 years does not look like a sweet young thing any more?
Bid whoop. Big deal. The man is old enough, mature enough, and has been through enough of life to know that he should never think with the wrong part of his body.
If he was true to his vows, he would love that wife just the same and do the hard work of retaining her love and trust.
So, yes...I blame him for that hurt, that dishonor, that stain he brought to his wife and family on that count. And for the shame and betrayal he brought to his nation.
He is human. We all are. We all make mistakes.
He made several HUGE ones, and had to be caught in them. And so his star fell because of them in a big way...but he was also not held accountable for violating his honor and trust as an officer...as one poster said, that commission should be given up.
I would retain some level of respect for the man if he came forward and owned up to that bald faced violation as an officer. As it is...he has been disgraced for violating the nation’s trust for the information he was entrusted with.
In the end...somehow, the God in Heaven balances the scales. Either we do it by sincerely coming to His Son, repenting, taking His name upon us and having the price paid...or we will pay the price.
But the price will be paid in the end.
You are a disgusting person.
You see with blind eyes. To me, the lady in the middle is the most beautiful .... The two on the outside are ugly, inside and out.
She cheating on your wife is acceptable because she is not attractive? Really.
I really try to not get into personal comments about posters on FR as I respect the forum, believe people should be able to say just about anything they want and I learn a lot from these comments BUT...
You ought to be ashamed with your implication that because the wife is not “hot”, it explains his infidelity...disgusting comment.
Ok, let’s all take photos of our wife’s and post them so that people can judge. After 30 years my wife is not as outwardly hot as she was. But I would suggest that I might not be as cute as I once was either.
And it was that woman who worked countless hours beside him in all his levels of command to insure the family support groups of his units functioned during deployment and garrison alike. There was a time when the wife could be mentioned in a rating. Petraeus might even have early OERs in which she is mentioned. But, even when the spouse isn't mentioned, it is known. And a man doesn't get promoted without a strong hand on the family support side of the ledger.
But beyond that, I don't know if they had kids, but if they did, then she raised them for him. She kept the home functioning, because the service member is GONE. She still was his confidant, and I've no doubt there was a time when she trusted him with everything she was. And loved him despite all he wasn't, that she knew, but the outside would never know.
So, his act was a betrayal, a horrific betrayal, of his closest friend.
That is more why he should no longer be trusted than that he had secret documents in the hands of an uncleared person.
He betrays his deepest friends.
Dude. You suck.
You can’t blame him??? Listen dude, HE MARRIED her. Nobody tied his hands behind his back, put a blindfold on him and MADE him say I DO!! His choice. His free will. He just got a case of a hard on and decided he would cheat on his wife. He got caught, as usually happens. He has NO EXCUSE. None.
Character, integrity, honesty, and loyalty aren’t based on looks, brother.
He made a vow. An Oath. Several actually; one to his wife, another to his Country.
In a graceless age, I know those words seem old-fashioned and out of date... but to people with character, integrity, honesty, and loyalty, they still matter.
We’re all fallible, ultimately; it’s how you react to it that matters.
Petreaus was out of line, completely. For the record, your comment regarding his wife was too.