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Editorials

editorial | The Petraeus affair

FBI struck the right balance with David Petraeus investigation

What, exactly, would critics want the FBI to have done differently? The agency is coming in for a lot of second-guessing in Congress for its handling of the inquiry into the extramarital affair between former CIA director David H. Petraeus and biographer Paula Broadwell. The bizarre case, involving anonymous e-mails, catty rivalries on the Tampa social scene, and a cast of deeply immature people, has no immediate precedent. Although the facts are still coming out, it seems the Department of Justice handled the investigation about as well as it could have.

To some, the agency never should have gotten involved at all. Sex between consenting adults is legal, romantic rivalries are none of law enforcement’s business, and FBI snooping into private affairs creates an uncomfortable echo of the abuses of the J. Edgar Hoover era. The questionable role played by an FBI agent who had sent a shirtless photo to a woman involved in the case only makes the agency’s involvement more awkward. Still, when the FBI became aware of a prominent national security figure involved in secretive escapades, it had an obligation to ensure that no sensitive information was compromised.

Comments

you people still believe the president didn't know about this, either you're covering or completely naive.

Globe is making stuff up with this editorial. It is not to be believed.

This is a MUST read article: "Israel: Petraeus was unfaithful to us"

This is some sort of joke Op/Ed. First of all, the FBI Agent in charge should be fired. Second, the FBI NEVER gets involved in CIA internal matters. Heck...the two agencies hate each other. Third, Obama and Holder are best friends AND political twins. Fourth, the real issue is Benghazi and the murder of our Ambassador and (3) others, of which (2) are CIA operatives. Fourth, our UN Ambassador covered up this story 5 days after it happened. Fifth, Petreus was compromised into perjuring himself in his first Congressional hearing on Benghazi. Sorry Globe: This story has legs, and no one is going to stop Congress from the truth. What HAS been compromised in the integrity of the President.

Realy, Globe, are you serious or just delusional?