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CIA Director General Petraeus Resigns

Photo By YURI GRIPAS/REUTERS

CIA Director General Petraeus Resigns

Director of CIA General David Petraeus announced his resignation today after admitting an extra-marital affair.

Petraeus was the Obama Administration's highest-ranking neocon holdover from George W. Bush's Administration.

NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who broke the story on air, said the resignation was announced in a letter to the CIA work force dated Friday.

Director of CIA General David Petraeus announced his resignation today after admitting an extra-marital affair.

Petraeus was the Obama Administration's highest-ranking neocon holdover from George W. Bush's Administration.

NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who broke the story on air, said the resignation was announced in a letter to the CIA work force dated Friday.

Mitchell added that Petraeus's letter notes he exercised "extremely poor judgment" with the affair, and that he was stepping down to deal with the subsequent "personal and professional issues."

President Obama released a statement Friday, saying that Michael J. Morell, the deputy director of the CIA, would take over once again as acting director.

Petraeus became head of CIA in September of 2011 following his tour as head of allied forces in Afghanistan.

Petraeus' wrote the following letter to the CIA work force:

HEADQUARTERS Central Intelligence Agency

9 November 2012

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

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