The tricky nature of investigating Gen. Allen's emails
By Barbara Starr
A U.S. official familiar with the content of the e-mails Gen. John Allen sent to Jill Kelley described them as "embarrassing" and warranting the investigation that has been launched.
"They are embarrassing. If they got out, John Allen would be very embarrassed by them," according to the official, who emphasized that there is no evidence of "physical contact between the two."
The official noted that the e-mails that are under investigation - which have been called "potentially inappropriate" - are from Allen. It is Allen's e-mails that are under investigation, and the official did not know the content of any of Kelley's e-mails to Allen.
"The e-mails are concerning enough to warrant an investigation," the official said.
Related: General John Allen: A Marine of distinction
A second U.S. official, who has had the e-mails described to him, characterized the content as "sexy," but emphasized he could not say whether they "crossed the line."
They "are not the type of e-mails you would want your wife to read," the second official explained.
But a senior official close to Allen told CNN's Nick Paton Walsh Tuesday that there was nothing pointing or referring to sex or an affair or anything of a romantic nature. Allen may have said, informally, "thanks sweetheart" in an e-mail, the official close to Allen insisted.
"Anyone who knows him knows his style - he has a habit of replying to every single e-mail (he is sent). Kelley would e-mail his business and personal accounts," that official said.
It will be up to the Defense Department’s inspector general to decide specifically if the content of the e-mails is so inappropriate that they would be considered conduct unbecoming an officer, according to a third source, a senior U.S. official. This official pointed out this may be a very difficult matter to decide because everyone has a personal definition of what is "affectionate, admiration, all the way to what some might define as sexting."
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
Its has also been reported, Jill Kelly provides escorts to select servicemen in the Tampa area..Has anyone heard of this?
Yes, this was just realesed by Fox-Just hearing it...WOW
FOX!!! Hell, the fact FOX said it is news in its self.
Lawsuit approaching . . . affairs vs. escort or exchange of networking with higher ups for affiliation – sometimes not much difference.
Who cares whether he used government resources to send non-official business emails?
Nothing is gong to happen.
He's a General. Granted anyone else would potentially receive a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (which is BAD) and negative counseling which could adversely affect a career but he's a General.
Geez!
"Something you wouldn't want your wife to read..."
This is the problem. It's behavior such as this that leads to Jill Kelley having leverage over the general. ANY secretive or embarassing behavior provides a potential for blackmail. And that type of behavior suggests that the general can't be trusted in the future.
The newspapers are acting like Tabloids.This is private matter between him (Allen or Petraeus) and his wife as long as no security issues are involved. They had served well to defend the country. I would like News to concentrate on Fiscal Cliff and Unemployment issues.
Yes of course, we should ignore that fact that two of the top military and intelligence officers in the world compromised their positions because they cant think with correct head.
...I wonder which one got the "Honorary Diplomatic" tags for her car...
Both these MARRIED hussys. Broadwell and Jill Kelly need to pull up thier pantys and focus on thier own husbands and stop having cat fights over some elses husband (Petreaus). How bout it ladies??? If I were your husbands, you would be out on the street right about now!
Honestly. Americans are kinda crazy. A guy cheated on his wife – – – and? This isn't a story worth of this much time/effort. There were no security breaches and these seems to no problem how people did their jobs. Stick with chasing/harassing Lindsey or those Jersey Shores kids – people who plant such stories to further their 'careers'
CNN, a CIA front, distracts, hides the intrigue and subtleties.
This is a clash of CIA and Military Cultures.
Just saw a picture of Kelley. Major league rack, baby! Who could resist those bad boys hanging in their face? Oh yeah, there has never been any physical contact. Who's he kidding.?
He replies to every email received? What a waste of time! What he does to is reply to every underling that he's nailing on the side.
Biology 101 = men are pigs, get over it America. Men have one thing on their mind and everything they do in life is toward that end. Nature always finds a way....
And so what? Men are what we are, what nature has made us...and we should never have to apologize for that. You don't like it, too bad.
You, right there, epitomize the decline of America, a lack of education, enlightenment, higher level thinking, honour, intelligence, maturity. You should grow up – perhaps be sent off to war to realize a thing or two.
It takes two people to make this happen, the whole "men are pigs" thing is just dumb.
Comments like this are hilarious. You do realize the attractive young women that older men "seduce" are playing them like chumps, right? The women pretends to think he's charming, pretends to be giggly/cute, pretends he's still got game. Then when the dust settles – she's walking away with exactly what she wanted out of him (usually either money or fame) and the guy is left holding the bag with his whole life circling the bowl (like these generals).
If you're stupid enough to fall for that old game, you deserve whatever happens to you. But a lot of men have wised up to it, don't lump us all in with you.
Not true. Media makes it seem, quite often, that the self absorbed youth culture is cool for all ages and persons – an excuse not to be anything but. There are many men who are caring, loyal, sincere, and consistently honorable. They aren't as often, though, highlighted in the media. It is also unfortunate that so many don't have male role models, so those growing up likely think it is normal to be piggish – as those on the Maury Show are so often. How sad, though, that so many men think it is a joke to be userous pigs – normal.
"Someating you wouldn't want your wide to read..." Conduct unbecoming and unprofessional conduct. Watch them just give him two Articles 15...
Again we're reminded that so many of our leaders and heros have feet of clay.
Of course this was never said about Jesus Christ.
I find it frightening that all of them (the two generals, Clinton and many others that we don't know about) found the time and the strength to think about and to get involved in affairs, flirts and more, when they are entrusted with the fates of nations. It just shows where their mind is.
What a disgrace.
Not that these guys can't keep it in their pants.
Rather that they can lead tens of thousands of soldiers.
But can't control their women.
Thats weird.
Not nearly so tricky as investigating this, eh Ms. Starr?
http://pulverizedtonearpower.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/pulverized-to-near-power/
Does anyone feel the media is starting to unfairly pile it on poor Jill Kelley? Where's Ann Romney to defend a fellow stay-at-home mom-inaire when we need her? In other news, I’m glad the Obama Administration is moving quickly to name Petraeus’ successor, and the FluffingtonPost has the funny exclusive details: http://bit.ly/TCAE4b
No different than when a republican is in office and FOX gets the exclusive. Turnabout is fair play.
Animals reproduce and evolve because of nature, and Humans are no different than other animals except that they basically have more control over their natural instincts than most, however nature’s impact on the mind of both men and women can have an almost hypnotic effect, bypassing the self-control even of generals.
Scientists realize this, as do most intelligent folks. Why do you think a few women spend long periods of time at the international space station?
Until recently the military didn’t allow women to serve in close quarters with men and it wasn’t simply to protect them from the dangers of combat. Military personal, from the lowest rank to the highest are separated from their spouses for months or even years at a time and anyone who doesn’t think that these natural acts are not rampant in today’s military is being self-delusional.
If we dismiss or prosecute every officer that has done things like this, we would have only privates left to run the military.
Makes sense
Epicurus and Nietzsche may agree with you, but some of us believe that we were made by God.
And those who believe that we were made by God also believe that we were made in the image of God. As such we also believe that because we were made in the image of God, we should live to reflect God's holiness and not behave like animals.
Wow! Looks like you need to go back to your cave. God!!! Are you kidding?
How old are you? Or did you get teleported from year 0023?
Please do not use internet. It is not written in Bible that thou must use internet. And if it is not written then there is no internet because that is what you must believe.
So ... why can't the privates get laid?
That is a very intelligent question indeed.
I think these men are doing wonderful jobs of making love in their minds, via email and literally.
Hey girls! If you like it , I love it. I am not a general! But I invite you to come down to Rio de Janeiro and experience a Latin lover!
Well, both commanders have engage in conduct that is unbecoming of their positions, which violates the code of conduct they swore at oath too, not counting the marriage vows. The president had nothing to do with the lack of personal judgement these men made. Quit trying to blame him for everything. Last week, the majority of citizens voted for four more years of the presidents policies. People act like the president just squatted in the Oval Office and refused to leave. HE WAS ELECTED!!!!!!!! Get over it. Back to the commanders...both men granted these women access to information they should not have had access to. They behaved inappropriately...end of this. And Benghazi? People act like they are interested in what happened ...they are not. They just didnt like the presidents response, and want to find out if the president was one of the killers. Seriously some people needs to quit pretending to be deep. Damn guppies...stay in the shallow end!
If the President knew and did nothing – he is guilty. Your self love of Obama nears the same thing as Allen's, lusty!
This is little nonsense that should not be on the president's desk anyway, whether the president is Obama or George W. Bush
This is all Obama's fault.
Let me say it again – all Obama's fault.
These Generals are like any regular guys – they have affairs – big deal. What you see now is Obama trying to weaken the Military command structure so that he can rip us out of Afghanistan way before these guys want to.
Your post makes no sense and just magnify's your my way or the highway mentality. Get over it.
What access did these women have access to? One was a biographer and had access because of her job, the other "diplomat" (she's a volunteer) had/has NO access to confidential information.
Stop buying that B.S., this is nearly a veil to cover up true issues, the fact the FBI is even wasting resources to investigate a SOAP OPERA is insane!!!
What kind of culture has infiltrated your military? It's always been this way. Just no paper trail in the past.
I don't hold Presidents responsible for the erratic behavior of the generals under their command... people who do, either way, are loco en la cabesa.
As a 6 year Air Force veteran and 22 year FAA employee I am just wondering what kind of culture has infiltrated the military? These nut jobs are suppose to be making intelligent decisions in the defense of our Country. They can't even manage their own lives!
Clear to see that "BinLyin" is an illiterate Fox News Follower. Simply cannot think on his own, no surprise there!
I'm more concerned about a media who thinks that personal banter between two adults is anybody's business. Sure, this whole time they have said that INTELLIGENCE MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED but they have yet to find any that was. So removing the only justification cited all they really have tried to report on their headlines is some flirting and sleeping around done by powerful people. Again, despite how "juicy" some might think this is, its still none of your business. Lets get back to talking about the elephant in the room, the deficit.
This whole administration is embarassing
Yeah, and he became a Gen. the day Obama swore-in? One or two bad apple's doesn't mean it's the Prez. They r as much as stupid as ur comment.
Please!!! Obama is not responsible for these Republican Generals!!!!
You are right, Unless the president actually ordered the action he is no more responsible for it than an employer would be responsible for an employee robbing a bank or stealing a car.
Generals do not have party affiliation maybe you should go back into their lives and see when they joined, does it make them a particular party affiliate? NO! Comments like that show your true blindness to reality instilled by Democrat's lies during your upbringing.
Oh no? Wanna explain why his administration knew about Patraeus as early as June but left him as Director of the CIA, thereby allowing a compromising situation to continue? Huh? What about that dummy?
This guy is a 4star general? Looking at the photo, he's got a look on his face that says, " Hey bubb, if you're not going to eat that, how about giving us a look see?" He is talking to a seagull? Tar and feather the man for being this dumb.
Make her face look like a glazed donut & cream all over her rear end. She can be a naughty little vamp & suck you dry.
Make her face look like a glazed donut.
I demand to see these emails. My tax dollars, baby... spill it
How can the media just destroy the image of men who have Lead our Wars WTH is really going on?
Isn't anybody vetting these clowns posing as generals while soldiers are being maimed and dying? Shame on them and it also shows that Obama was too inexperienced to be prez.
Oh and President Obama is at fault because Generals are behaving badly... get over it!!! #fourmoreyears
Uh, yes, as a matter of fact, Mr. Commander-in-Chief Obama IS responsible for his generals' conduct and appearance before the American people. On every military installation, Mr. Commander-in-Chief's photo is displayed in every lobby, and what goes on there is representative of his administration.
He is Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Military, so he IS responsible for the conduct of his Generals. Just like a C.E.O. is responsible for the financial integrity of their company.
^ You make no sense when you say that, do you realize that? That's like saying that, as a manager at work, I am personally responsible for reading every single e-mail sent and received by every single employee, personally monitoring all of them when they go out to the bars, and personally monitoring their interactions with other stuff. I have no way of knowing that somebody is having an affair unless they make it obvious or I literally take that much time to monitor them. Period.
And consider that Obama's the *president* and has far more responsibility than just management of his cabinet.
Bull. Get over having lost.
The only thing he is "responsible" for is deciding whether or not to fire him (and as the investigation isn't over yet, that time hasn't come).
I get it that you don't like the Presdient, Marcos, but you are grasping at straws there.
Fu<k u rhino poo🍆
Walk in their shoes for 25+ years, be deployed and away from your family for a majority of your military life and walk in their shoes. They are men and not machines and to some women who push themselves on powerful men it is somewhat understandable. That being said, it is not what we need and should rightly expect form our military leaders. But Marcos, my guess is you have no idea what theses men have seen and the pressure they deal with on a daily basis.
Oh please!
That woman Jill Kelley is fine as Hell!What is she Indian or something? I wouldn't mind getting in trouble with her myself!
Seriously??
🍆She is a vegetable lover, if you know what I mean.
Ummmmm... no we don't. Why don't you enlighten us genius!
This never would of happened if Bush didn't steal a second term.
Hahahahaha
May be you'd have liked a traitor like Kerry running this country! He should have been run out on a rail along with Hanoi Jane
Shades of Benghazi. how convenient
look at how ugly he is. Are we really surprised?
The reason democrats are not in the mix is they are smart enough to learn from Clinton s side show in the WH that caused.taxpayer$$. because he couldnt man up which democrats are famous for..not my fault, lets blame George
The USA hasn't won a war in 60+ years...the US Military is a joke.
It's not the fault of the military that we have not "won" any wars since WW2. Its the politicians. We could have stomped the viet cong but Nixon would not let the bombers and jet fighters bomb Hanoi. Bush knew where Osama was before the war. Do not EVER think we CAN'T win a war, POLITICANS DO NOT WANT TO.
There haven't been any wars in the past 60 years. Just "Police Actions". (yes, I'm being cynical.)
You are mistaken. Ronald Reagan, praise his Holy Name, beat the pants out of Grenada. Don't you remember the phitos of your fellow marines being filmed storming a tourist beach by reporters sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them?
This whole thing was a setup. I just wonder who did it and why.
And you know this because you're so well briefed on what's really going on, right? Your insights are valuable.
I suspect it because I've lived long enough to have lived through enough of these types of situations dating back to the Kennedy assination and Watergate.
I think you are right. A lot of things do not add up. I don't understand how some "harassment" emails can be the object of an FBI investigation. It is amazing nobody asks this question. I would focus my attention on the people who started this whole story. Then how is it possible that this Kelly person is so well known to so many US generals?
It doesn't matter if it's a government email account or personal email account. Anyone who has access to and works on a government computer goes through training and acknowledges by signing that anything they do on "ANY" governments system is subject to monitoring. PERIOD. All involved knew the risk, this is not anything knew to government employees, be it military, civilian, or civilian contractors....
Yep. That is a fact. Emails typed on a government computer are government property.
at least kim kardashian finally has a role she can play–a dual role–as money-grubbing twins...
Were all getting from behind tell the wive's to kick rocks and let the goverment get on with the business of screwing us!!!....
Unlike those in the Black House,
Generals are Generally not LBGT - AssErtive Action is needed !
The cleaners called – your hood is ready for pick up.
So we have a Republican " Love Rectangle" between two Generals and two Ladies, All either Republicans or praised to heaven by them. I don't see any Democrats in this picture!
Not a smart response JJ. Could be a Democrat tomorrow in this fiasco or any other.
How quick the Dems forget about Bill and Monica!! It doesn't matter the party.... What matters is the time and energy and money that is going to be spent investigating this crap when many americans are still dealing with unemployment, Hurrican Sandy, and who knows what else in our day to day lives... Government needs to get back to work to take care of the american country as a whole... Stories like this made public information makes us look like idiots to the rest of the world. Yes "ALL" individuals are wrong but lets remeber everyone still has a family, children and grandchildren that become the center of ridicule over other's stupidity. Not mistake, STUPIDITY
Allen was just infatuated with that big fake rack that Jill puts on display. Hussy.
Gotta love misogynist trolls.
Please tell me, where did they get these generals. I thought they were supposed to be halfway INTELLIGENT.
Have you seen Petraeus's wife? There's the justification for his activity. Lesson to you women. Don't get old, ugly, and fat.
Jesus may have something there...but us guys have been know to put on 10 Lbs a year...good God (aka Jesus), in 10 years we are a complete tub of lard!
And have you seen Petraeus? He's no prize...ugly as sin (and apparently, so are you based on your comment). Had he been just another ugly old man and not the head of the CIA, these women wouldn't have given him the time of day. I love how some men act like only women age and lose the beauty of their youth. Have some of you looked in a mirror lately?
We all get old but read her resume. She is an extraordinary Lady. The husband is a piece of crap. Now we should go back and review his work in Iraq and find out if he i actuallyis half a man they said he is!
Oh come on, the lady does not really look her age. She is highly intelligent, comes from a long line of military, has never lived in a permanent house during most of her life, let alone marriage. She has stood up for people in the military to protect them from the greedy pa day loan business. She deserves a lot of respect.
men get Distinguished: women get Old. Besides, someone or some group is just trying to get these generals out of the way because they don't like what they are doing–or they didn't do what they wanted them to.
Petraeus' wife looks like a good woman. If you see what she does for our people in uniform and their families, you would see an excellent example of someone supporting our troops with deeds and not just hollow words.
Everybody gets old (the woman is 60 for goodness sake). Petraeus doesn't exactly look like Brad Pitt himself.
It's not her fault is her husband is stupid and let some fame-hungry socialite play him. He probably felt like he seduced her and thought he was a stud or something. LOL. Meanwhile she took him for all he was worth and is going to be laughing all the way to the bank on all her tell-all book while his life circles the bowl.
There's a lesson to older men here more then older women :p
Yes, there is! I can't believe how many derogatory comments there are bout his wife, as if no one can just age, be, exist, be happy without being a bulimic, anorexic, youth fixated, plastic surgery oriented woman. She is likely an intelligent, accomplished, SUPPORTIVE, caring wife, mother, and community member. It is horrifying how so many malign her.
While ordinary soldiers died left and right fighting war on terror, top brass like these generals went amok on escapdes on tex payers dime on Bush's watch, no wonder they could not find Bin Laden or WMD.
I guess you're one of those bash Bush whenever possilble types. All accounts put the Petreaus' affair after he left the military which was under Obama.
So this affair is Obama's FAULT? Are you daft?
Quit blaming everything on Bush, that's a 4 year old excuse. The General's affairs, emails, etc were all under Obama's watch.... It's not Bush nor Obama, it's an individual's lack of respect for his wife and family... Either way time for the "Blame Bush" excuse to go away... Time for the politicians to be americans not puppets
Mikey, we liberals will stop blaming Bush when you guys stop blaming us for impeaching Nixon. That's the true origin of the historical rabidly anti-liberal bias of the GOP.
You guys?? I didn't "Blame" Obama for anything, i blame the individuals. I do believe that Blaming Bush 4 years later is an old excuse, I blame government as a whole, not "1" individual has the sole authority, not Bush nor Obama....
My take on this? The Obama administration spared no expense or media medium to slander Petraeus and even went as far as to leak his extramarital affair in order to discredit his future testimony about the Benghazi incident. One that damns the Obama administration and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's handling of the whole debacle.
Proof positive that if you hate someone enough, you won't let little things like facts and common sense get in your way.
I completely agree; the entire Bozobama administration is just that way, though.
@Dustin Goldsen: That analysis seems spot-on. Hatred is a fertile breeding ground for paranoia.
@commonjoe. What's it like losing all the time?
All Democrats hate Benghazi –
Never been there.
Don't you get tired of any negative comment regarding the Obama administration being downgraded to hate or racism? Regardless of who was running the administration, the basic facts are still the same. Americans killed in a drawn out assault with no assistance given, bogus cover story, and still no real explanation. Perhaps now that the General is out he will be able to speak freely maybe that played a bigger part in his resignation.
You idiots ALREADY "know" what happened. Fox News has already written the script....and no amount of normality will ever get you idiots out of your conspiracy theories.
If the Generals are so unaware of email issues re. a lack of security, how can they know the ins and outs of the goings on in Libya. Perhaps they aren't aware enough of the tribal affiliations and much more – or don't take much they hear seriously. It seems far too much wasn't taken seriously. I lived in Libya on and off at one time and have been to Benghazi. I can just imagine how complicated it is now with those who supported Ghadafi and those who didn't, those wanting fundamentalism instead of democracy, or those just following whomever they are around at the moment or they think they will get the most from in the future. Who can the military trust there – hopefully they know. They certainly didn't know they couldn't trust Kelley, Broadwell, or themselves. Perhaps those in charge thought the knew more than those in Libya – didn't take matters seriously as they weren't there. I don't think it is Obama who should be blamed. Aside from all of that, there is no way everyone everywhere will ever all be protected – especially if a country is supposed to be providing some level of security of its own and it doesn't even know what is happening. Speaking of that . . .I wonder why no one asked during the election why, if America is expected to ensure its representatives overseas are secure why no one can ensure citizens are protected from gangs throughout American, nevermind secure its own borders. Gang issues are huge in most cities . . . and why is it America can't do anything much about that, but can supposedly regarding complicated foreign situations. Ron Paul was the most logical of the whole pack of Republicans when he said America can't afford to be the policeman of the world because you are bankrupt. Perhaps try to make the country safe for those living in the U.S.
What is it like having the mind of a chipmunk?
I don't know Texasmike, you'll have to tell me 🙂
and the moon landing was filmed in a studio, and the Twin Towers were felled by the Jews, and extraterrestrial remains are held at Site whatever it is, and the moon is made of green cheese. Petraeus is testifying. Why is it that if Americans are supposed to know all going on in Libya – good luck with that – impossible – they can't straighten out the problems in the U.S. just regarding gang activity – all the murders re. that – and also secure its borders. It is ridiculous to think Americans overseas are going to know all and be able to protect all, but it shouldn't be that difficult to curtail some of the lawlessness within its own borders.
Brilliant and thoughtful comments Andrea...but you are just whispering in a toxic wasteland out here. Darn – don't you know the world is Black and White? You have to love the Spanish inquisition aobut 4 people, two of which are contractors being protected in Libya. Where were these wonderful inquisitive minds when the contractors were killed in Iraq, when plans flew into the WTC and Pentagon, when our Embassy was blown up in Lebanon? What about when two embassys were attacked in Africa under George H.W. Bush? Even Saint Reagan could not protect our embassy from thse that attacked. W. could not even protect the financial center of the US from attack OR the Pentagon. Those that are questioning this one relatively minor incident where 4 people were killed in a world of 7 BILLION people, should reflect on all these other actions and ask why their hero presidnets were so hofrribly inept, or perhpas they can realize...as you said....that you don't ACTUALLY control the wold when you are president, you don't get superpowers, you are just a guy put in a position to make the hard decisions the best you can – and really are not all-knowing.
All the attention has been placed on the Generals, rightly so. The opportunistic married females as well as the unidentified FBI agent should not get a free pass. They deserve to be drug through the mud as well. Equal opportunity. I really hate the way Broadwell has been portrayed as "accomplished" and the other one as a "volunteer" I can think of better descriptions but I think that's what got me censored. Love to hear from the husbands.
@Lisa Olvera - Our country is going down the drain because so many citizens like you are satisfied to just read very superficial news summaries, and then decide what's true about the world based on what 'feels right' to them - you know, based on whether they personally like somebody. In your case, you didn't like Broadwell, so it didn't *feel* right to you to hear her described as accomplished. C'mon, Lisa, think and read more deeply. Use your mind!
Let's see: Broadwell was valedictorian of her high school class. All-State basketball. West Point graduate - the military equivalent of graduating from Harvard or Stanford. Master's degree in international security from the Korbel School. A Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University / John F. Kennedy. Research Associate at Harvard. PhD candidate at King's College. Best-selling author. Distinguished service in United States Army and the United States Army Reserve. Lieutenant colonel in the Reserves. Deputy Director of the Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies at Tufts University. Consultant for the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Yep. I'd say that's an accomplished person.
VERY accomplished.
Art citizens like me are not the reason the country is going down the drain. I do not focus on the superficial stories or rely on one source for information . The point I was making was someone who could accomplish so much should have been able to accomplish some self control. Which based on her own speech in Denver, her entire career has been a series of plans and calculated risks. Which begs the question, was this calculated as well? No matter who you are or what you have accomplished does not negate the principles of honor and duty something she would have learned at West Point none of which are evident in this situation. The idea that as long as you are accomplished these lapses should be ignored, That is what is destroying this country. The sad part is that the very thing that ruined his career will probably jump start hers. Every adult involved should bear the same public scrutiny not just the generals.
I think Lisa meant it's strange that Broadwell's accomplishments have been allowed, in press coverage, to totally overshadow Broadwell's apparent lack of character.
Yes, Mrs. Broadwell is accomplished allright. And you know what? Because of her lack of morals and self control, this MARRIED, mother of two young children is going to be written up in the history books as the married woman that schtooped the general under her desk, and her kids will get to read it!
Yea, and all those "atta-boys" gets taken away by the one "aww-shi**" moment she had by sending threatening emails. Real quality there, alright.
Jill is a lot more guiltier then it appears. Paula will end up smelling like a rotten rose but Jill's just stinky! Wait and see, I have firsthand knowledge and trust me, Jill the rat face will rue the day she started all this. Both her and Paula are going to prison a very long time once the truth comes out!
No where else to post this:
John McCain stands on the Senate floor and critizes Rice and Obama. How short are the memories!!!
Did he take to the floor and critize George W. for sending Colin Powell to the UN to out right lie!!!
Of course not! Powell did the "honorable thing" and resigned after he learned George W. lied to him and sent him to lie to the UN!!! McCain should shut up and examine what his own has done in the past! Oh, remember that "wonderful" VP pick he chose??? Memories are much too short!
I was thinking the same thing. Im glad you said it.
Too many generals being ruled by their privates
It's always been that way.
All men are ruled by their privates.
i posted a comment and it was bleeped. there was nothing offensive. again. what is your issue, please?
They censor posts they disagree with. It's a longtime practice here. Freedom of speech is not something CNN promotes unless they happen to agree.
CNN is a private corporation. The fact that your idiotic posts are deleted is more a fact that they are absurd than "freedom" inspiring. When will you idiots ever learn what Freedom of Speech is and where Freedom of Speech is applied?
And Fox News doesn't even allow comments period.Hats off to CNN!
General Petrais violated any number of Military regulations having the affair with a junior officer (his biographer was in the national guard). There are rules against senior officers having affairs with junior officers for good reason. If he was still in the army this could have gotten him courtmarshalled. The army has a right to expect MORE from its top leaders than having them behave like frat brothers. Keep allowing them to "dumb down" the rules and our army will look like the French army – can't fight or win a war because their officers don't command any respect.
Paula Broadwell was not on active duty orders when she was around the Ret. Gen, she was working as a journalist (biographer) as a civilian. He could not be court martialed for that, if anything he did wrong while she was imbedded with him while he was active duty was favoritism or preferential treatment. As far as the reports goes, the affair started after he left active duty and became a civilian. Adultery is punishable under the UCMJ for all military members but like I mentioned, the affair started apparently started after he retired.
You are totally correct. They should close this file asap otherwise they will make an misquitos become an elephant
Wonder if the General's wife will appear on an episode of Who the Bleep Did I Marry...
This would a great story line for a movie on the Lifetime channel. Pass the popcorn.
This is a great story line for a soap opera. Pass the popcorn...
The more we continue to drag our military leaders through the mud for HUMAN behavior, the more that we send a message to our junior military personnel that their military leaders are not exceptional. Junior military personnel NEED to believe that their military leadership is exceptional...they already know that they are human. I'm not just talking about these latest incidents. We have been firing and dismissing military leaders at a rate of about 2 per month for the past 5-7 years. This makes absoluely no sense at all...it's having a reverse effect on perceptions in the military. Nobody wants to be in command anymore. What we have done with our military leadership over the past several years is not solving any problems...and it never will.
Then tell the military to change its rules. The people being discharged are breaking the rules they themselves put in place. WE have done nothing to the military leadership. They've done it to themselves.
Well you Sylvie, I don't have that kind of free speech in uniform. Perhaps you don't know anything about that. Like I said somewhere below, a decorated four-star General in 2012 siginifies a person that has committed some horrible acts in the name of God and country over the course of about three decades...and it comes to this media and public feeding frenzy on his carcass.
fs.... perhaps our 'exceptional' military leaders should try acting 'exceptional', instead of behaving like immature school boys playing grab ass on the playground... if you're gonna play with fire... you're gonna get burned.
Right...they should wear a priest collar right up to the point that they squeeze the trigger sending a bullet down range to explode someone's head in combat. Society has absolutely ZERO clue.
These generals have nothing better to do than flirting with rich, bored and dumb socialites ...
Article 133 – Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Enough said. Court martial him. Why are we wasting so much time and money with idiots like this. Are there no longer consequences for bad action in the United States?
Take it easy, if all he did was call her a "sweetheart" I'm sure that's not considered to be "conduct unbecoming an officer."
Until you read the e-mails for yourself, it's only conjecture, nothing more.
i read one he asked what her favorite bird was an she said the swallow
Really? 20,000- 30,000 emails between the two of them and you think he only called her "sweetheart"? And someone involved in the investigation would consider that so embarrassing as to not be shared with his wife?
All I'm saying is unless you read the e-mails or we get more concrete evidence other than "if his wife read it he'd PROBABLY be embarrassed," let's not lynch him from the nearest tree without seeing how it all shakes out.
Sylvie...you do realize what we are trying to hang a decorated four-star Marine General over...don't you? Do you know what it means to be a decorated four-star General in 2012? It means you've killed a lot of people in the name of God and country. This is ridiculous that we allow the media and the public to feed on our heroes this way. It makes me sick to my stomach.
she was decorated too... with a pearl necklace
A bit naive aren't you? You seem to believe that the people and/or the behavior has necessarily changed. It hasn't. The standards have changed to unrealistic and unreasonable levels. There was a time when the disciplinary actions of something like this would have altered the projection of a decorated (meaning committed lots of horrible acts in the name of God and country) warrior, but not thrown him out with the trash. The Patraeus situation is unique; he is no longer in uniform, and he was the head of the CIA. We can't keep up with the pace of firings that we've been handing down. I've seen what it's been doing with promotions from the middle. I'm watching people who are essentially soft and inexperienced come up through the ranks entirely too fast and without the elements that make a good war commander. Most of these vacancies were created for transgressions of far less interest to the public, but created "just in case." Ever since around the time email came out, the military has evolved into an anticipatory set of organizations. We answer questions BEFORE anyone can ask them.
The media is a business based on ratings. News is boring but sensation sizzles. We all make mistakes. The actions of men living under a microscope are often magnified or exaggerated. Nietzsche wrote "The errors of great men are venerable because they are more fruitful than the truths of little men." JFK and Bill Clinton did great things but most remember Marilyn and Monica. CNN, why do you use the word scandal? Why do you label the mistakes of 5 different men a scandal? Your reporting on these events, your writers’ style, your writers use of the English vernacular can all be best described as a zoo that gives its’ monkeys dynamite and matches at playtime.
Amen. No wonder we generally get mediocrity for politicians.Most of the talented folks don't want the hypocritical spotlight from the press.
Allen , am totally in agreement with you. They should look for your contribution to the nations rather than acttacking the normal personal life as we are all human... Whats wrong if it didnt harm security?????????
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." THAT is what is wrong with it!
I agree with you that the whole affair is a personal matter between the general and his wife. I feel that way about Patreaus and I felt that way about Clinton. They should be (discretely) investigated to be sure no information vital to national security was exchanged and to be sure the individual was not being blackmailed, but if that all checks out then there's no reason to get the press involved. These men were elected, appointed, or promoted to high ranks because of their military or political skills, and no one ever said they had to be saints. Powerful men (and women) have taken advantage of their status, and were pursued because of it, for many centuries. It's only recently that Americans seem to think they should be pious as well.
Thou shalt not commit adultery – but many, after awhile, feel they are living with their sister or a stranger and when faced with passion after who knows how long, it is very difficult to resist – especially when it is sneakretive – all the more exciting – far away, especially. It is odd, though, that so many eyes watching weren't watching. It is just mind boggling, really, how the high level military, CIA, and FBI, I suppose, were so wishy washy regarding surveillance, including of emails. It makes one wonder about their level of awareness in Libya, etc. God, Jesus, the ten commandments, even when a Republican . . . doesn't help. Infatuation, jealousy, passion, connection – people can become obsessed and lose all perspective. It takes over their lives, human as they are, and military higher ups aren't any different as can be seen through the ages.
Allen, Enjoyed your extra-wife affairs? How's your wife feel about them?
While Allen isn't saying there isn't something Amoral with extra-marital affairs, but it shouldn't be news for a story. This is TMZ style journalism, it has NOTHING to do with the mess this country is in. It's a mere distraction to the real (boring) issues. This is no different than the Tiger Woods mess (again none of our business) or anything else.
If you think this stuff doesn't happen or won't happen in the future you're naive. Tons of people in high positions in this world are doing stuff like this (or worse), every day, I'm not defending it, but it's something that should be between only those involved, not the general public.
Just another pawn in play for the dem's goal of creating a soft easy target out of the US Military. I say they put boots on and come to the fight or STFU and continue to enjoy the umbrella of freedoms these troops provide. IMO all service members should simply strike until heads start popping up from asses. Think it cant happen.... well, let's just see.
You are really arrogant and STUPID.
You don't seem to be sane.
You sir are a moron. Your preposterous assumptions are completely devoid of any thought and are an embarrassment to Republicans.
fellow Ameicans,why should we waste anytime with these consenting adults if no sensitive data was breached. If she wants f....her ass, let it be. These guys sacrifice their lives and familly for this great country while the rest of us enjoying ourselves.
It depends on what they did. I agree that they are our defenders and our heroes. But unfortunately, if anyone committed adultery, that's against Military law. And they can't just ignore a violation of the law, no matter how trivial it seems to us.
With Broadwell, there is the matter of her being a military intelligence officer, and he was still a ranking General, so there might be a fraternization problem. The bigger issue is the vulnerable position, like a mistress sneaking access to email accounts, code names, etc. There is the potential for drugging, etc., to get sensitive information. Not to say she would do that, but it's the vulnerability of the situation, and also potential for blackmail.
With Kelley, probably less of a security breach because of not often being in close proximity, but still blackmail threat, at the least. Also, apparently she is from a Middle East family that has had some financial problems. Probably she's innocent, but it must be investigated. Even a short visit could allow for planting of listening device on premises, in his private phone, etc.
It's not a referendum on their morality, but the much bigger issue of national security. In fact, I heard that Elian Gonzalez might have had to go back to Cuba to live with his Dad after his Mom died bringing him over here (and her sister wanted to keep him here), because Clinton had a dalliance with a Cuban woman who had taken some compromising photos and he was then not in any position to resist the Cuban government's and Elian's father's request that he be returned. Don't know if that's true, but that's an example of how situations can have far-reaching effects on other people and the nation.
I don't particularly care what General Allen does in his spare time. However, it appears he sent this woman thousands of emails. I'm just wondering why, as head of the military in Afghanistan, he had so much spare time to send all those silly emails. Otherwise, he just looks very foolish.
Two things that concern me: Do these generals really have all of this time to be emailing bimbos? While down the road American troops are being blown up by IEDs? Why are two four-star generals writing personal letters to a court judge supporting the custody of children for Natalie ?, twin sister of Jill Kelley? Do they have time for that? Why are they writing letters of this nature? Because they are generals and the court judge will be impressed? Isn't that abuse of power on the part of the generals? They should both be fired, denied retirement benefits, and be forgotten.
After all those years they shouldn't receive retirement benefits? Seems a bit extreme for thinking they are on the set of Mash/Mad Men.
So there's an investigation, about emails, and those emails may be inappropriate, which is why they're being investigated, to learn the extent to which they're inappropriate, and to figure out if they're inappropriate to an extent that discipline should be administered for inappropriate emails? Okay, gotcha!
Putting these things on blogs is just like Pontius Pilate asking the crowd to decide a sentence.
Do you even know who that is? Pilate wanted to let Jesus go.
Oh, please.......Pilate wanted Jesus freed but still let it be decided by the crowds and then washed his hands.
My My, The whole thing is some Jesus scam. I'm just wondering if there was a Jesus. Got proof!
poor generals, so they need some loving too. e mails thats all it is. but the fbi is all over inbestigating. in louisville ky. powerfull people are terrorizing a latin lady and theaten her with bodily harm and the fbi and authorities look the other wasy. who cares about terrorizim if it is being done right here in US by people in power! http://www.facebook.com/bella.pito
This women is a board socialite and the General is just another man looking for some nook. What a waste of another great military career I really feel for him, so sad.
What is a board socialite?
Bored is what was meant.
I guess that means she is a "board certified socialite". LOL.
Dumb me bored is what I meant, but then again my Jesuit brother teachers were always on my butt about such things. Sorry !
There's more than one meaning for bored!
I sincerely think Amerians are crazy about paying so mucha attention to people's personal life. I wouldn't care who sleeps with whom as long as people do good job. Regaring men at war: these guys are out there for months at a time w/o their wives; do you expect generals will be jerking off?
Why not? The troops have to.
Apparently you know nothing about the UCMJ, in which adultery is a crime, and it is enforced. Troops who violate it while serviing can have their benefits reduced even after they leave the service. It's about good order, trust, and honor, without which an American military cannot function without descending into corruption. See?
How many emails were sent? If excessive, General Allen should be relieved of command since clearly his primary focus was not on the troops in the warzone.
Was General Allen a reservist leading the war only part-time?
I can understand the concern about Patraeus, but sheesh, flirty emails??? Who cares? People flirt everyday, it is natural as humans. This is stupid, invasive and big brother is watching.
Makes me want to move to France. Get a grip people! You are all doing it and you just like to read dirt in the paper.
If the situation were reversed they wouldn't be "flirty e-mails" they'd be evidence in the harassment case against him. Just more societal double standards. Equality should be equal for all.
There is no harrassment case if the person receiving the emails isnt complaining, which she is not. So your point is pretty invalid.
Beth – take a good look at France before you go – their generals do not win wars, they drink wine, make love and lose wars. We expect more of our military, especially our officer corps - higher standards and greater excellence. For sure, we are all human and mistakes are made...but, there is a price to be paid for mistakes. The suggestion that honesty, integrity and military decorum somehow should no longer apply to humans is a rubicon from which we cannot return.
This will go down in our history as "The Autumn of the Generals."
"Embarrasing" .. yet another weasely worded attack with absolutely nothing solid to back it up.
I approve this email.
I read that this is actually the result of a vendetta. Someone has a friend at the FBI and that friend got his buddies to start up an investigation. Now they are kind of stuck with it. If its ruled that there was no basis for the investigation thats the end of their careers.
Amazing......you can't say things in your email anymore without the FBI looking at them, does anybody have problem with that? My god!!!! I think we have just went by to McCarthyism.
When you're in the military and handling highly sensitve information, I think you should expect someone to be watching your email.
I'm shocked there wasn't oversight by the CIA, but perhaps there are exceptions for the CIA – still, Broadwell much earlier, one would think, would be watched – as would Kelley. I simply do not understand how those two women were so close to the military levels they were and they were not being watched. It really makes one wonder how much security there really is – how much awareness. Re. Libya, one has to be aware of much – tribal affiliations and much more. How astute on many levels can the CIA leader and military leaders really be if they are so naive regarding email – seriously. It really makes one wonder.
We were able to stop the hiring of a principal because emails that were sent when she was a teacher...and she can't understand what she did wrong or why she did not get the job. Once and email is sent...it's out there.
Jeanne I bet that if we all could read your email then your husband could leave you.And for sure you too could get fire. Emails are private and between two consenting adults. If the safety of our nation and children is not be jeopardize then NOTHING should come out of that. All it does is destroy lives and ruin careers. Puritan folks like you are the cause of so much problem in our world.
Wrong. You do not own your email address at your place of work. Especially if you work for the government, its backed up off site for reasons exactly like this. The employer has the right to search through their account they let you use for inappropriate material. Jeanne is on the money.
His wife is going to beat his a$$
Uhhh, there's no guarantee, nor should there be any assumption of privacy when you're using a workplace computer to send what should be private emails. That's pretty much spelled out in any employment policies anywhere. Any idiot should know that by now.
Exactly! I don't get why people don't understand that. It's a pretty straightforward concept....
Big important 'General' screwing around sending thousands of flirty emails to the 'chicks' while his troops are getting blown up on the battlefield. That sucks and he sucks. He should be busy as hell trying to protect his troops rather than screwing around on the computer. We pay his sorry ass to act like a military general not a stupid idiot. I'd fire his lazy ass in a New York minute. If he can't control himself he'll get more soldiers killed. He don't get to change the rules, if he thinks he can, he goes directly to the brig, that's the way it works when you put men's lives in danger.
Andrew, while I think the General showed poor judgement, I think you are a complete idiot.
So you think Generals don't ever eat, sleep, sh-t or write emails?
And if they do any of hte above they are killing soldiers?
Fool.
"Thanks sweetheart" is NOT a flirt. Its just old fashioned kind of politeness.
Obviously you never served a day in a combat unit. Poor judgement, yes. but to imply he doesn't care about the troops is a uninformed rant from a know nothing twit. Semper fi.
What court in the land is going to convict Petraeus for banging this hot broad when he's married to Broom Hilda.
Totally
How about just divorcing her if she's so hideous and then you can sleep with whomever you want....
How about keeping it in divorce court instead of making out like its high treason?
Yes because he's such a stud. When are powerful men going to stop being ruled by their little head and realize what it is women like this are after? I used to defend men and say they were smarter than that, that they weren't animals without reasoning, that they could control their urges and remain faithful but now I seriously wonder. Especially when it boils down to whether or not the wife is still young and beautiful. Cheating has nothing to do with the spouse's looks or it wouldn't happen to half of Hollywood.
My question is: Would these Generals persecute men under them for the same sort of actions....and I suspect the answer to be yes, therefore, I feel that they should march to the same beat....many in the military have been scorned, punished, and persecuted for less.....they should not be treated any different than the Privates.....no punn intened.
the general just wanted to meet the ambassador to bukkakeville
i seen the emails all he asked was do you drink whole milk oops hole milk
Who cares?
I realize we are all human beings and mess up from time to time. I'm wondering if we continue to have women move up the ladder to these positions if they will also face the same problems. I'm told that women think in a way different from men. Not better, necessarily, just different.
he just asked if she wanted to ride a cruise missile
There is absolutely no excuse for any of these 4 people. Teen-agers act like that. And those 2 guys are GENERALS ?? Terrible lack of judgement.
You have a lot of experience as a military officer? haha
Franch Ambassador's Clinton-Lewinsky joke:
"In America, a President sleeps with a college intern, he gets impeached. In France, that's WHY we run for President!.
Gotta admit he has a good point ...
There just men, so you cares, i don't .
I will attempt to translate this:
They're just men. Who cares? I don't.
Well, all I can say is I wouldn't want to be a ranking General right now and have to go home to a wife.
I picture all General's wives holding a rolling pin with arms crossed as they wait for their husbands to come home.
Kind of a funny image, really.
Hard up stupid Republican Generals ... email? You do not get dumber than that.
Repiublican? Hardly. These are both Democrats.
Sorry...both Republicans from the Bush Administration.
Maybe they just registered R but are really D?
They tell their boss whatever they want to hear. Like Colin Powell, they are Democrats when there is a Democrat administration.
Anyone wondering why the Republicans lost the election should just read these bloggers.
I suppose Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove are also both Democrats?
Education. It's really valuable. Some of you should start school some day, and maybe the Republicans can once again avoid electoral blowouts. Doubtful, but possible.
Both are REPUBLICANS and Petreaus was a top choice to run for president as a Rep. Maybe that is why Cantor, also a top Rep in congress, didnt blow this all out as soon as he knew it. Which was 3 weeks before the FB! and WH knew. So was he trying to protect his fellow republican?
I seem to recall that General Eisenhower had a long standing affair while married to Mamie.
You might want to get the facts straight. Cantor was tipped off to this and immediately contacted the FBI. He didn't say a word about it publicly, while he could have made political hay out of it in the run-up to the election.
This seems to be a diversion from what really matters. The CIA knows more about you and me than it does about its Director or the top brass in the Pentagon. That's what matters. Who's watching the store while they watch us? Quite interesting... and certainly nothing new for DC high-rollers.
Every day that passes, "Big Brother" gets more and more bold, more intrusive and has gone to far.
The lefties portrayed Obama as the anti-big brother POTUS. Pretty laughable now,huh? Obama's career will come to a screeching halt when the Benghazi COVER-UP is exposed. I predict that Obama will resign in disgrace and the man who looks like he sniffs laughing gas on a daily basis (Biden) will take over and leave this country in ruins. I never thought there could be a man more incompetent than Jimmy Carter...but Barry proved me wrong.
And will you feel very foolish when it is proven that there was no such "cover up"?
what "big brother" entered into this? The emails were exposed because Jill Kelley made a complaint.
Why did Kelley make the complaint to the FBI who mailed the shirtless pictures to her after; because she wanted attention and drama? Well, she certainly has it now. Why didn't she speak directly to Allen and Petraeus? There was an incredible lack of security all round. When she was so integrally involved, why weren't her emails scrutinized by . . . the CIA or someone? How could so many be around so many high level people without anyone watching her – or Broadwell? It is like they were all playing roles, not really in them.
emails = postcards
There are no exceptions to this. The ones that make me laugh the most are the ones with the "legal notices" in the signatures like: "This is intended for the recipient only! Any unauthorized disclosure by blah blah blah..." Wrong! If it wasn't intended to be read by whoever comes across it, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EMAILED. Added hilarity when the emails are from lawyers. They might as well print "I know nothing about computers" on their business cards.
Agreed. The Library of Congress is saving all "tweets." What are people thinking when they put personal info on a computer? on the internet? on the cloud? Are we the only ones who get it?
you are incorrect about this when it applies to lawyers ( which I am). lawyers in most jurisdictions are under strict professional guidelines to other lawyers that require us to avoid sharp practice or unfairly gain advantage from another lawyers mistake. if I receive an email form another lawyer that was intended for their client ( but perhaps they inadvertently auto-completed to me) I am under a professional obligation to that lawyer to (1) inform them of the error (2) confirm I will delete the email and disregard the contents ( and ideally never read it the moment i realise the mistake) and (3) delete the email. If I do not do the foregoing, I can be reported to the governign law society/ bar association, be discplined and even barred from practice. I have fortunately never sent an email in error, but I habe had about four or five over the course of my practice send my mistake to me. so putting the footer on the email is not pointless amonst lawyers.
What is a footer?
The general banged some broad. Nothing more. Nothing less. That is unless we keep our national security up Jill's C_nt!!!! Hahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
i don't want to make a comment...My wife might find out...lol
When an officer demonstrates poor judgement in his personal life, there's that moment where a reasonable human being is going to ask himself whether he should be putting his life in the officer's hands, and that moment of hesitation or lack of commitment can make a life and death difference.
He is a soldier, not a priest. What in the world is the fuss about?
They're worried about a security risk and whether classified material got into the wrong hands.
Is that OK with you?
Since WHEN has the general's d_ck been classified material!!!!!! Hahahahahahahahah
I wish we could get Tricky Dick Nixon's take on all of this.
"urrrhhhhh ... I am NOT a crook!"
What does that have to do with this?
What do you think should be done with these lovers? Bury them up to their necks in the ground in front of the White House and have the American Senators Stone them to death? I will not pick up a stone to throw at them. Who is without error? Have some Mercy………….
First you have to find the three innocent Senators.
Great reply, Jeanneboo. Best chuckle today.
Ride 'em cowboy!
As a former EM I find this whole episode hilarious!
Stay out of the Officer's Club and go back to the Beer Hall.
.