[nikos1121]

I agree with the first part of your premise, but don’t understand why Petraeus needs a pardon...

[nathanbedford]

I'm not at all sure of this but it might be that Gen. Petraeus is disqualified by virtue of his conviction for mishandling secrets from any office of trust of the United States. Nor am I sure that a pardon would remove that impediment, but I think so on both counts.