What's the difference between CIA Director and General?

[bcguy42 38594]

For those casually following the Petraeus - General Allen - Jill Kelly thing, there is an interesting detail that comes up.

 

Petraeus resigned after admitting to having an affair. The FBI appears to have known about the affair for quite some time and did not mention it to anyone. They are getting some flak for this "omission".

 

Actually, Petraeus was not required to resign. He did so out of a sense of honour and a realization that once the affair became public, his credibility was shot.

 

The FBI's lack of notification to the President, the head of the Intelligence Committee or anyone else was because they were following protocol. They were required to determine if any classified material was at risk. Finding none, they had fulfilled their requirement. Additionally, the FBI is still sensitive about their past history when J. Edgar Hoover was keeping personal files on everyone.

 

General Allen's case is different. If investigation determines that he actually had an affair with Kelly or anyone else, his actions would be an offense under the Military Code of Conduct in which case he would be forced to resign and could be subject to military sanction.

 

At this point, all that has been made public is that Allen and Kelly were playing some kind of electronic footsie which, while silly, is not illegal.

 

So the difference between CIA Director and General is adultery, while stupid, is not illegal for the CIA Director but is both stupid and illegal for the General.

 

I just love the way society twists itself into weird knots when it comes to matters sexual/

[Phaedrus 209521]

What really amazes me about this is the way the FBI appears to be snooping on everybody, right up to senior soldiers and the top dog at the CIA, with almost no oversight. I knew the surveillance state was pervasive but... this is impressive :)

[roamingguy 300292]

The military has certain laws, in the United States military, called the

Uniform Code Of Military Justice (in the Canadian Forces it's the Code Of Service Discipline) The General as are all members of the United States Military is bound by those laws. And yes, they are laws

Those laws do not apply to the CIA Director or to other civilians.

And in the military, both in the United States and Canada, it is volunteer, so the members of the military chose to join the military knowing it has certain laws unique to being in the military...not to mention the General is a high ranking member who should lead by example. Breaking the UCMJ so publicly where troops can read about it, is poor leadership.

RG

[PhantomKnight 7914]

I agree with RG.

I watched a General get booted off tour for doing the same thing only with a soldier of much lower rank. Terrible leadership.

[bcguy42 38594]

What really amazes me about this is the way the FBI appears to be snooping on everybody, right up to senior soldiers and the top dog at the CIA, with almost no oversight./QUOTE]

 

 

The FBI got into it when Ms Kelly complained about receiving threats. So it wasn't like they were freelancing the initial investigation. More like they were invited in. So - in this instance - no Big Brother.