With 'Admiration and Appreciation' CIA Director, Petraeus, Resigns

Just days after President Obama is re-elected, and one day after his birthday, CIA Director David Petraeus resigns citing his "extremely poor judgement" caused him to have an extramarital affair.

In a letter Petreaus writes:

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.

Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.
With admiration and appreciation,

David H. Petraeus

President Obama responded to Petraeus' decision by stating:

David Petraeus has provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades. By any measure, he was one of the outstanding General officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end. As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication, and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger.

Today, I accepted his resignation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission, and I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell and the men and women of the CIA who work every day to keep our nation safe. Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time.
The news comes as a shock to many, but not to all.

Many questions have ensued surrounding Petraeus' resignation, among them, with which of his military colleagues did he commit the malfeasance?

Petreaus took over as CIA Director when Leon Panetta became Secretary of Defense in April of last year.

**UPDATE**

We now know who the mystery woman is. The woman responsible for helping Patreaus betray us is Paula Broadwell, married mom of two.

Several news outlets report that 'Broadwell is an expert on military affairs and the author of a biography on Petraeus.

Broadwell, seen here in this CSPAN video last year discussing her book about Patreaus, lives in Charlotte, N.C.

David Petraeus is married to Holly Petraeus, assistant director of service-member affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the Obama Administration.

Whether she will be another 'stand by your man' wife in the midst of his affair remains to be seen.

Related
Patreaus and wife, Holly, have dinner with Vice President Biden
Those with close access get even closer: Presidential Candidate John Edwards admits affair with his videographer.

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