Comments on: How I Was Drawn Into the Cult of David Petraeus http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1581500 wysinwyg Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1581500  No, the violence "stopped" (became less prevalent) because Iraqis got sick of violence perpetuated by militants from other countries.  Go ahead and google "Sunni awakening," it's not as if people hadn't written hundreds of pages on this already.  No, the violence “stopped” (became less prevalent) because Iraqis got sick of violence perpetuated by militants from other countries.  Go ahead and google “Sunni awakening,” it’s not as if people hadn’t written hundreds of pages on this already.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580694 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580694 I reject that view. I reject that view.

]]> By: GlyphGryph http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580497 GlyphGryph Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580497 It means one probably want to marry the guy, but beyond that...? He's human. Everybody lies. This, in particular, seems to be one of the things that vast majority of people would lie about. Compared to the sort of lying our leaders recite to us regularly, this sort is pretty benign. The problem isn't that he lied - practically everyone would under the circumstances. I imagine the bigger criticism is that he allowed himself to get into the position to begin with. It's not his deceit that condemns him here - it's his exceptionally poor judgement, something that's actually relevant to the sort of position he's working in. He not only lied - he got caught. If you're the head of the CIA, "getting caught" is probably one of the big no-nos, I'd imagine. It means one probably want to marry the guy, but beyond that…? He’s human. Everybody lies. This, in particular, seems to be one of the things that vast majority of people would lie about. Compared to the sort of lying our leaders recite to us regularly, this sort is pretty benign.

The problem isn’t that he lied – practically everyone would under the circumstances. I imagine the bigger criticism is that he allowed himself to get into the position to begin with. It’s not his deceit that condemns him here – it’s his exceptionally poor judgement, something that’s actually relevant to the sort of position he’s working in. He not only lied – he got caught. If you’re the head of the CIA, “getting caught” is probably one of the big no-nos, I’d imagine.

]]> By: amarx http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580445 amarx Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580445 Absolutely -- I've been following the site since it started back in January.  It's pretty funny most of the time.  Nobody knows who is actually behind it. Here's a story about the site from the Los Angeles Times: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/09/entertainment/la-et-mn-hollywood-swine-20120910 Absolutely — I’ve been following the site since it started back in January.  It’s pretty funny most of the time.  Nobody knows who is actually behind it. Here’s a story about the site from the Los Angeles Times: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/09/entertainment/la-et-mn-hollywood-swine-20120910

]]> By: Paul Renault http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580439 Paul Renault Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580439  I'm gobsmacked!  Is that like a 'The Onion' for Hollywood?  I’m gobsmacked!  Is that like a ‘The Onion’ for Hollywood?

]]> By: amarx http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580391 amarx Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580391 His bad behavior has already been rewarded with a book and TV deal:  http://hollywoodandswine.com/disgraced-general-david-petraeus-enlists-in-nbcs-celebrity-apprentice-all-stars/ His bad behavior has already been rewarded with a book and TV deal:  http://hollywoodandswine.com/disgraced-general-david-petraeus-enlists-in-nbcs-celebrity-apprentice-all-stars/

]]> By: Paul Renault http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580235 Paul Renault Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580235 Why do you think that being a liar isn't a job requirement for being head of the CIA? /It's funny, eh. I was just thinking this morning: "Hmm, I haven't seen any messages from Antinous lately. I wonder if he was on vacation..." Why do you think that being a liar isn’t a job requirement for being head of the CIA?

/It’s funny, eh. I was just thinking this morning: “Hmm, I haven’t seen any messages from Antinous lately. I wonder if he was on vacation…”

]]> By: glaborous_immolate http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580231 glaborous_immolate Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580231 I thought that was the Clinton lesson. Everyone lies about sex and it has nothing to do with any other public trust we put on someone. Or something I thought that was the Clinton lesson. Everyone lies about sex and it has nothing to do with any other public trust we put on someone.

Or something

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580160 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580160 <blockquote>The Shia have virtually eliminated the Sunni.</blockquote>Your avatar seems more sinister than usual.

The Shia have virtually eliminated the Sunni.

Your avatar seems more sinister than usual.

]]> By: HubrisSonic http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580158 HubrisSonic Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580158 The Shia have virtually eliminated the Sunni. What I am saying is that COIN was not effective in Iraq. The "surge" happened to coincide with the end of the ethnic cleansing there.  This is well documented. Regarding what you meant about the mess in Iraq, sure I guess you meant it that way, but how does Petraeus come off a conquering hero in that respect, except as a 16th century version of that. The Shia have virtually eliminated the Sunni. What I am saying is that COIN was not effective in Iraq. The “surge” happened to coincide with the end of the ethnic cleansing there.  This is well documented.

Regarding what you meant about the mess in Iraq, sure I guess you meant it that way, but how does Petraeus come off a conquering hero in that respect, except as a 16th century version of that.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580157 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580157 I wore a Goldwater button to school. How frightening is that? I wore a Goldwater button to school. How frightening is that?

]]> By: SmokingHeartDesigns http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580133 SmokingHeartDesigns Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580133  I want to thank God, Barry Goldwater, Lady Ada, and H.R. Puf'n'stuf.  I want to thank God, Barry Goldwater, Lady Ada, and H.R. Puf’n'stuf.

]]> By: BarBarSeven http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580067 BarBarSeven Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580067 <blockquote>He's a liar and a hypocrite.</blockquote>Seeing what the war in Iraq was & is, it seems like he was a perfect fit for the position.

He’s a liar and a hypocrite.

Seeing what the war in Iraq was & is, it seems like he was a perfect fit for the position.

]]> By: Judas Peckerwood http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580029 Judas Peckerwood Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580029 Bootlickers never prosper. Except in journalism, politics and the military, of course. Bootlickers never prosper. Except in journalism, politics and the military, of course.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580021 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 05:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580021 Why are you not concerned that the head of the CIA is a liar? Is lying about sex exempt from moral criticism? Is lying about sex special and different from regular lying? Why are you not concerned that the head of the CIA is a liar? Is lying about sex exempt from moral criticism? Is lying about sex special and different from regular lying?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1580018 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 05:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1580018 He's a liar and a hypocrite. If he were my employee, which in a sense he is, his career path would take a 180° turn. He’s a liar and a hypocrite. If he were my employee, which in a sense he is, his career path would take a 180° turn.

]]> By: Rindan http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579989 Rindan Mon, 12 Nov 2012 04:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579989 The is absurd.  Iraq didn't run out of people.  The nation still has a solid mix of Kurds, Sunni, and Shia.  They never ran out of bodies or neighborhoods to burn.  In fact, the violence has spiked again as the central government struggles to keep the warring parties from tearing into each other.  Lebanon and Yugoslavia tried killing each other until they ran out of bodies and neither one ever did.  Iraq certainly didn't run out of bodies in the few years it was fighting with itself. Also, read what I actually wrote.  I never said the US left Iraq in "good shape".  I said, and I quote myself, "The US left Iraq in about as good of a shape as you can after having spent a few years leveling it".  If you take that to imply that I am saying the US left it as a fantasy land of wonder, you badly misunderstand.  I am saying that the US physically tore the place apart, kicked off a civil war, and made a god damn mess.  After having made a mess and kicked a genocide into gear, stopping the genocide and then getting the fuck out is about as good as you can hope to do. The is absurd.  Iraq didn’t run out of people.  The nation still has a solid mix of Kurds, Sunni, and Shia.  They never ran out of bodies or neighborhoods to burn.  In fact, the violence has spiked again as the central government struggles to keep the warring parties from tearing into each other.  Lebanon and Yugoslavia tried killing each other until they ran out of bodies and neither one ever did.  Iraq certainly didn’t run out of bodies in the few years it was fighting with itself.

Also, read what I actually wrote.  I never said the US left Iraq in “good shape”.  I said, and I quote myself, “The US left Iraq in about as good of a shape as you can after having spent a few years leveling it”.  If you take that to imply that I am saying the US left it as a fantasy land of wonder, you badly misunderstand.  I am saying that the US physically tore the place apart, kicked off a civil war, and made a god damn mess.  After having made a mess and kicked a genocide into gear, stopping the genocide and then getting the fuck out is about as good as you can hope to do.

]]> By: HubrisSonic http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579973 HubrisSonic Mon, 12 Nov 2012 04:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579973  It stopped because they ran out of people to kill. Pulling out was exactly the right answer. You said we left it in good shape, which was bullshit.  It stopped because they ran out of people to kill.

Pulling out was exactly the right answer. You said we left it in good shape, which was bullshit.

]]> By: Ky Platt http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579966 Ky Platt Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579966 He had an affair. Who gives a shit? Seriously. He had an affair.
Who gives a shit?
Seriously.

]]> By: Rindan http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579935 Rindan Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579935 So the violence stopped "just because"?  That is absurd.  Everyone was winding up.  Money and weapons were pouring in, power struggles were getting worse, and regional powers were backing their guys.  It started because the US kicked over the government and failed to provide security.  It ended when Petraeus instituted his counter insurgency campaign, which unlike the previous one, wasn't just about blowing people up.  I suppose you think the ethnic genocide in Yugoslavia  also stopped "just because". <BLOCKQUOTE>And, "The US left Iraq in about as good of a shape as you can after having spent a few years leveling it" .. Is complete bullshit.</BLOCKQUOTE>As opposed to what?  Stick around for a few more decades?  Say "screw this, I'm out" as soon as the ethnic cleansing started and hope it fixes itself?  After having completely decimated the country and setting up the an ethnic civil war, what better of an outcome could you really be hoping for?  The US shut down the ethnic war they started and got the hell out before they broke anything else.  The US should have never of been there in the first place, but Obama pulling out in the way that he did was exactly the right answer. So the violence stopped “just because”?  That is absurd.  Everyone was winding up.  Money and weapons were pouring in, power struggles were getting worse, and regional powers were backing their guys.  It started because the US kicked over the government and failed to provide security.  It ended when Petraeus instituted his counter insurgency campaign, which unlike the previous one, wasn’t just about blowing people up.  I suppose you think the ethnic genocide in Yugoslavia  also stopped “just because”.

And, “The US left Iraq in about as good of a shape as you can after having spent a few years leveling it” .. Is complete bullshit.

As opposed to what?  Stick around for a few more decades?  Say “screw this, I’m out” as soon as the ethnic cleansing started and hope it fixes itself?  After having completely decimated the country and setting up the an ethnic civil war, what better of an outcome could you really be hoping for?  The US shut down the ethnic war they started and got the hell out before they broke anything else.  The US should have never of been there in the first place, but Obama pulling out in the way that he did was exactly the right answer.

]]> By: dolo54 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579934 dolo54 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579934 I don't get what his having an affair has to do with his job. Is it because he opened himself to the potential to be blackmailed? Is that it? I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. I don’t get what his having an affair has to do with his job. Is it because he opened himself to the potential to be blackmailed? Is that it? I’m not sure what all the fuss is about.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579923 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579923 <blockquote>whats more important? protecting this country...</blockquote>As far as I can tell, we're not in very much danger. And to the extent that we are in danger, it's because we wander around the world shoving our fist up everybody else's asses.

whats more important? protecting this country…

As far as I can tell, we’re not in very much danger. And to the extent that we are in danger, it’s because we wander around the world shoving our fist up everybody else’s asses.

]]> By: Mary Margaret McCurnin http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579921 Mary Margaret McCurnin Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579921 Is the affair issue about being blackmailed etc? Not about the morality of doing IT. Is the affair issue about being blackmailed etc? Not about the morality of doing IT.

]]> By: Mary Margaret McCurnin http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579922 Mary Margaret McCurnin Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579922 Its about someone having your CIA email and possibly hacking it. I think. Its about someone having your CIA email and possibly hacking it. I think.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579916 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579916 I've been wondering how long it would be before Ms. Radakovich's name came up. I’ve been wondering how long it would be before Ms. Radakovich’s name came up.

]]> By: DryDry http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579917 DryDry Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579917 He had an affair. Who gives a shit? Seriously. He had an affair.

Who gives a shit?

Seriously.

]]> By: HubrisSonic http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579900 HubrisSonic Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579900  Actually, no. Violence dropped because the ethnic cleansing the Iraq's were doing was winding down. He didn't stop it, it had been ongoing from before he was given command. And not for nothing, counter insurgency is not 'his' strategy. It's been around for some time. And, "The US left Iraq in about as good of a shape as you can after having spent a few years leveling it" .. Is complete bullshit.  Actually, no. Violence dropped because the ethnic cleansing the Iraq’s were doing was winding down. He didn’t stop it, it had been ongoing from before he was given command. And not for nothing, counter insurgency is not ‘his’ strategy. It’s been around for some time.

And, “The US left Iraq in about as good of a shape as you can after having spent a few years leveling it” .. Is complete bullshit.

]]> By: omar http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579895 omar Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579895 ok, america loves creating myths and then bringing them down, michael jackson, britney spears, military geniuses, etc. whats more important? protecting this country or finding a CIA leader without any fault or error? we are humans with faults, Petraeus is NOT selling NIkes or playing in the NFL ok, america loves creating myths and then bringing them down, michael jackson, britney spears, military geniuses, etc.

whats more important? protecting this country or finding a CIA leader without any fault or error?

we are humans with faults, Petraeus is NOT selling NIkes or playing in the NFL

]]> By: Tchoutoye http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579886 Tchoutoye Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579886 Spencer Ackerman has always struck me as a total Pentagon tool, selling belligerence to the nerds through military tech awesomeness . Spencer Ackerman has always struck me as a total Pentagon tool, selling belligerence to the nerds through military tech awesomeness .

]]> By: MrJM http://boingboing.net/2012/11/11/how-i-was-drawn-into-the-cult.html#comment-1579867 MrJM Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193423#comment-1579867 <em>The Sins Of General David Petraeus</em> by Michael Hastings "Petraeus seduced America. We should never have trusted him." http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhastings/the-sins-of-general-david-petraeus The Sins Of General David Petraeus by Michael Hastings

“Petraeus seduced America. We should never have trusted him.”

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhastings/the-sins-of-general-david-petraeus

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