

David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell

As you probably know by now David Petraeus resigned as Director of the CIA yesterday when news of his extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell became public. It seems his resignation was not only due to his personal indiscretion, but because Broadwell had gained access to his email account and possibly classified information. The affair actually came to light through a FBI investigation of whether his Gmail account had been hacked. Pretty sloppy for the country’s #1 spymaster, but Mondo readers may remember this isn’t the first time Petraeus was fast and loose with his email account.

In July, 2010 Phil Weiss reported on an email exchange between Petraeus and neocon writer Max Boot. Petraeus contacted Boot for help spinning a report his office prepared for the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding Israel/Palestine which indicated that the conflict “[presented] distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests.” This statement was celebrated by critics of U.S. policy towards Israel, and Petraeus ran to Boot for help re-establishing his pro-Israel bona fides.

Here’s how Phil reported part of the Petraeus-Boot exchange:

at 2:37, Petraeus sent the story along to Max Boot (I’ve eliminated addresses): From: Petraeus, David H GEN MIL USA USCENTCOM CCCC/CCCC

To: Max Boot

Subject: FW: On the Middle East: It’s Palin vs Petraeus As you know, I didn’t say that. It’s in a written submission for the

record… Petraeus meant that the comments weren’t in his testimony. But they were in a 56-page document, titled “Statement of General David H. Petraeus, U.S. Army Commander, US Central Command before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the posture of US Central Command, 16 Mar 2010.” Four minutes later, at 2:31, Boot responded to Petraeus. No need to say Sir: Oh brother. Luckily it’s only media matters which has no credibility but

think I will do another short item pointing people to what you actually

said as opposed to what’s in the posture statement. Six minutes pass. From: Petraeus, David H GEN MIL USA USCENTCOM CCCC/CCCC

2:37 Thx, Max. (Does it help if folks know that I hosted Elie Wiesel and his wife at our quarters last Sun night?! And that I will be the speaker at the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps in mid-Apr at the Capitol Dome…) 2:45, Boot: No don’t think that’s relevant because you’re not being accused of being anti-Semitic. 2:57, Petraeus: Roger! :-) That’s military talk. The emoticon means, I’m running for President.

Phil gained access to the exchange from activist James Morris who shared it after Petraeus inadvertently sent him the entire email conversation!

Again, here’s Phil:

On March 19, Morris sent Petraeus an email congratulating him on his views on Israel/Palestine. And the same day, Petraeus responded to Morris with one word, “FYI”, and the Commentary piece by Boot. The commanding general obviously didn’t realize it, but his copy of the Commentary piece was pasted in above his email correspondence with the author, Max Boot, and Gfoeller.

Oops.

Who know how many other email faux pas there are in General Petraeus’s past, but it does seem clear that any future mishaps will be taking place strictly from the private sector.