President Barack Obama made a media splash four years ago when he became the first president to declare he would publicly release the names of people who came to visit the White House, whether for official business or pleasure.
The White House last weekend refuted testimony by former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus to Congress, saying the administration didn't make any changes in its early talking point about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, to downplay the role of the terrorists ("Petraeus: Benghazi seen as terror strike right away," Web, Friday).
In most countries, secrecy shrouds the workings of state intelligence services. Israel's Mossad sets a gold standard for such organizations, especially in operational effectiveness. Almost invariably, Mossad chiefs are promoted from within and possess extensive operational experience.
Paula Broadwell, whose extramarital affair with CIA chief David Petraeus led to his resignation, is telling friends she is devastated by the fallout.
"In the Middle East, are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?" asks a CNN survey released Monday. The simple question has multiple answers. Overall, 59 percent of Americans side with the Israelis, 13 precent with the Palestinians. Three percent sympathize with both, 11 percent with neither, and 13 percent have no opinion.
David H. Petraeus is a genuine American hero, a man of great intellect and proven integrity, which makes the four-star general's sudden resignation for adultery very curious.
Ever since CIA Director David Petraeus resigned, one question has risen above all others: Why? There's an easy answer.
Former CIA Director David H. Petraeus' resignation after admitting an extramarital affair had nothing to do with scrutiny of the Sept. 11 attak on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Sunday.
Top Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees said Sunday that Obama administration political appointees removed references to al Qaeda-linked groups from intelligence agencies' accounts of the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
