Petraeus would be a disaster — a stalwart of the old establishment in an administration that said it would “drain the swamp.”
In May 2016, he published what was essentially an anti Trump screed, saying that proposals to restrict immigration from Muslim countries that are hotspots of jihad terror shouldn’t even be made, so as to avoid offending Muslims.
He was in favor of using al Qaeda jihadis to defeat the Islamic State, which would give us a region full of al-Qaeda jihadis with American weapons and materiel who hate the United States and want to destroy it. (This is essentially what we have now in Syria, where Obama armed “moderates” who were really al-Qaeda jihadis.)
When he headed up the international coalition in Afghanistan, he said that Florida pastor Terry Jones’ plan to burn the Qur’an was “hateful, it was intolerant and it was extremely disrespectful and again, we condemn it in the strongest manner possible.” He warned that the Qur’an-burning would endanger American troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere. He issued a statement saying that he hoped “the Afghan people understand that the actions of a small number of individuals, who have been extremely disrespectful to the holy Quran, are not representative of any of the countries of the international community who are in Afghanistan to help the Afghan people.”
I opposed the Qur’an-burning, but not for the reasons Petraeus did. I don’t like the burning of books. And I’d rather that the contents of the Qur’an, and the ways that jihadists use those contents to justify violence, be known. However, Jones was free to do what he wanted to do. Petraeus would have done better to have told the Afghans that in America we have freedom of speech and expression, and that we put up with speech and expression that we dislike without trying to kill the speaker.
He has never shown evidence of having a clue about the jihad threat.
“National Security Council’s Keith Kellogg tapped to succeed Michael Flynn; David Petraeus floated as permanent replacement,” by Nicole Hensley, New York Daily News, February 14, 2017:
The man slated to temporarily take over for ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was one of his right-hand men.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg served as the National Security Council chief of staff under Flynn and was tasked with overhauling the Defense Department under President Trump’s transition team.
Trump announced Kellogg as Flynn’s replacement on Monday night following a tumultuous weekend as the White House turned on the adviser for allegedly lying to senior members of the administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, about pre-inauguration talks with a Russian diplomat. He is accused of offering to lift former President Obama’s sanctions against Russia….
Already the Trump administration is floating names to permanently replace Flynn, including Kellogg. The disgraced former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, David Petraeus, is another one of those suggestions, according to NBC News.
Petraeus has about two months remaining on his two-year probation period for mishandling classified documents. He pleaded guilty in April 2015 after giving secret files to his former mistress and biographer….

mortimer says
There are many military officers who are knowledgeable about jihad. They are self-taught and some may have read Robert Spencer to learn about jihad.
Robert Spencer would probably know of some excellent candidates personally. A former police chief or prosecutor might have the insight. Someone like former-mayor Giuliani.
Virginia Apel says
How bout General Hamm? He knows all about Benghazi and infiltration of the ranks for sure! Anyone but Petraeus, please. He has his own sights on a Rino presidency.
David Scoltock says
Amazes me that the right trusts Trump
More Ham Ed says
Go live in yemen. Oh, that’s right, your country is already turning into that. Hypocrisy.
gravenimage says
You’ve already said you hate America. Why are you even posting here?
RichardL says
Petraeus will never get any job in a Trump administration. If there is one thing that DJT is incredibly good at it is judging people’s character. He might surprise everyone by pulling a Guliani out of his hat.
I trust President Trump.
Carrie Rinker-Schaeffer says
Well said.
Christianblood says
Very sad to see the man with the best knowledge of the global jihadist threat in the Trump administration leave office. Gen. Petraeus is from the US politically-correct establishment and has NO understanding or appreciation of the global islamic jihadist threats. Newt Gingrich would be the best man to fill Gen. Flynn’s post.
More Ham Ed says
Websites are cheap these days.
http://www.armchairuscritcizer.com
TR says
I agree on Newt!
Would Newt Gingrich take the position?
Christianblood says
TR
I think he would if approached respectfully. Newt is as smart as hell and he understands the jihadists threat very well. Colonel Alan West would also be another smart choice!
gravenimage says
Yes–Allen West is very knowledgeable about Islam.
RichardL says
Newt would be awesome!
West is too brash. He would offer too big a target for the media pansies. I like him though. A lot!
Sam says
How could Flynn be so naïve to let enemies in the WH leak his talk with Russia immediately? Big loss for America, good win again for Islam. Haters of America are all over the place. Trump must clean WH NOW.
Sam says
Brash is what we need now just like Trump. This is war against communism and Islam. There is no escape but fight. Those days of political correctness are gone. Look at the left. Are they PC. Hell no. PC is only for conservatives to follow and we have to get rid of it regardless what the left call us.
Christianblood says
Sam posted
(..How could Flynn be so naïve to let enemies in the WH leak his talk with Russia immediately? Big loss for America, good win again for Islam. Haters of America are all over the place. Trump must clean WH NOW..)
Very good points! Very true!
EYESOPEN says
“Christianblood”: Perhaps you should see my reply to you posted @ 8:54 on 2/15/17 – that is if you can. Currently my post is “awaiting moderation” – perhaps due to the links to the articles in that post. Forget what Newt Gingrich “plays on TV”. Take a good look at the REAL person behind the “false face”.
(And anyone automatically saying that they “ignore the article” because its primary source happens to be John McManus of The John Birch Society should rein-in their pre-conceived notions and prejudices and weigh what is said on its merits.)
Carrie Rinket-Schaeffer says
This is a serious matter. Mr. Spencer is spot on about Petraeus – total disaster. Is there an organized effort to forcefully, yet sanely, make our concerns known? We have to get this right. Thank you for your immense and continuing efforts Mr. Spencer, you are not alone
Christianblood says
Carrie Rinket-Schaeffer posted
(..This is a serious matter. Mr. Spencer is spot on about Petraeus – total disaster. Is there an organized effort to forcefully, yet sanely, make our concerns known?..)
You are right. This is indeed a serious matter and Petraeus is a total disaster who has NO clue about the nature of global islamic jihadis threat.
vlparker says
Too bad about Flynn. He understands islam better than anyone else in Washington, but you can’t lie to the VP and expect there not to be any consequences. Petraeus would be a freaking disaster. I surely hope Trump doesn’t pick him. We need to flood the White House with opposition to Petraeus.
vlparker says
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact#page
Christianblood says
vlparker
Trump should pick someone who deeply understands the global jihadist threat for NSA post. Newt Gingrich, Stephen Coughlin and Colonel Allen West would all be smart picks for this post.
EYESOPEN says
Newt Gingrich would be just as bad a pick – or even worse – than Gen. “Betray-US”. “Newt” is NOT who he “plays on TV”. For any and all who would like to know the REAL Newt Gingrich:
http://logisticsmonster.com/2010/08/07/the-real-newt-gingrich-new-world-order-globalist/
http://www.newswithviews.com/Nelson/kelleigh307.htm
http://www.themoralliberal.com/2014/04/11/gingrich-toffler-gore-a-peculiar-trio/
As the old saying goes: “Don’t listen to what they SAY – watch what they DO.” OR… one can always do both. Ronald Reagan’s idea of “Trust, but verify” comes into play here. If what you uncover is not a conservative, but a Fabian type of “wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing”, then “trust” comes off the table.
pdxnag says
How many times worse is partnering with Muslim Brotherhood to slay America, from within? Oh wait, Flynn’s error was to oppose it, perhaps even by talking to Russia about stopping them.
vlparker says
No, his error was lying to Pence which is just about the same thing as lying to Trump. If Trump had let him get away with lying to Pence it would have made Pence look unimportant in Trump’s eyes and it would have made Trump look like a fool.
Baucent says
Unfortunately Flynn shot himself in the foot, not once but twice. The first time was taking that ill advised trip to Russia to a RT television event and sit at the same table as Putin. In truth the Russians set Flynn up. Secondly making the phone call to the Russian ambassador was unwise, and he should have guessed his call could be intercepted. both incidents reveal poor judgement, and much as I like him, he had become a liability to the Administration. Third mistake, lying to your boss, never a good idea.
vlparker says
Trump needs to start firing State Dept. and CIA employees who oppose him. Whoever is doing the leaking needs to be sent to jail.
TR says
State Dept has been a swamp of spooks since the days of FDR.
CIA going back to the days of inception when OSS recruitment included Communists, the natural enemy of WWII Fascist.
Kiel says
It goes the other way around too. After WWII old nazis were hired by CIA to do away with Commies. One might say that makes even.
Vic says
Excuse me, TR. I used to work for DoS. I take offense at being called a spook. Just kidding. Yes, DTS. Very much needed.
Robert Spencer is right. Petraeus is not good for the NSA job because of his history. He would rather compromise. Maybe Stephen Coughlin would be a good choice.
Shmooviyet says
Agreed; also too many ‘Obamists’ still floating around.
Clear the poison from the area nearest you, before draining the swamp.
Kiel says
Precisely! All marked persons from ancien regime have to be removed.
Angemon says
The heat is on.
vlparker says
Out like Flynn, in like Petraeus? Scary.
Kiel says
What’s at stake here is not only sacking of a prof excellent fit for the task at hand but also the new administration’s trustworthiness. The enemies of the new government include internal civil servants and CIA who are leaking to the MSM the news they are waiting for.
The picture is very clear now, the Globalist Liberal Utopian Elitists are heading for the golden calf itself: President Donald Trump.
Vic says
Exactly. For all his faults, let everyone see that DJT’s highest standard for his administration and for himself is being Trustworthy to the American people. A refreshing concept!
Daniel Triplett says
Maybe Allen West is the right man for the job.
But I haven’t done enough research on his Islamic views to be sure.
DJT should definitely let Steve Bannon be in on the interviews. Bannon seems to understand the threat precisely.
David Ramseur says
Allen West is solid and unapologetic in regards to the truth about Islam. So is Frank Gaffney.
Daniel Triplett says
Good to hear. Thanks.
EYESOPEN says
Frank Gaffney is EXCELLENT about the threat from izlam (sic – on purpose). Not to mention the fact that this would enrage Grover Norquist – an erstwhile “conservative” who has sold out lock-stock-and-barrel to the cause of izlam.
Frank Gaffney’s Center for Security Policy is an excellent place to find information. But the specific item of interest that is essential is a rather LARGE document entitled: “Sharia – The Threat To America: An Exercise in Competitive Analysis – Report of Team B II” that can be downloaded in PDF format for those who have the time to read the entire document. (There is also an abridged version on the Center for Security Policy website itself.)
Among its authors are:
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM G. “JERRY” BOYKIN
US Army (Ret.), former Deputy Undersecretary of
Defense for Intelligence
LIEUTENANT GENERAL HARRY EDWARD SOYSTER
US Army (Ret.), former Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
Associates
CHRISTINE BRIM
Chief Operating Officer, Center for Security Policy
AMBASSADOR HENRY COOPER
former Chief Negotiator, Defense and Space Talks, former Director,
Strategic Defense Initiative
STEPHEN C. COUGHLIN, ESQ.
Major (Res.) USA, former Senior Consultant, Office of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff
MICHAEL DEL ROSSO
Senior Fellow, Claremont Institute and Center for Security Policy
FRANK J. GAFFNEY, JR.
former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy
(Acting), President, Center for Security Policy
JOHN GUANDOLO
former Special Agent, Counter-Terrorism Division, Federal Bureau of
Investigation
BRIAN KENNEDY
President, Claremont Institute
CLARE M. LOPEZ
Senior Fellow, Center for Security Policy
ADMIRAL JAMES A. “ACE” LYONS
US Navy (Ret.), former Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet
ANDREW C. MCCARTHY
former Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney; Senior Fellow, National Review
Institute; Contributing Editor, National Review
PATRICK POOLE
Consultant to the military and law enforcement on anti-terrorism issues
JOSEPH E. SCHMITZ
former Inspector General, Department of Defense
TOM TRENTO
Executive Director, Florida Security Council
J. MICHAEL WALLER
Annenberg Professor of International Communication, Institute
of World Politics, and Vice President for Information Operations,
Center for Security Policy
DIANA WEST
author and columnist
R. JAMES WOOLSEY
former Director of Central Intelligence
DAVID YERUSHALMI, ESQ.
General Counsel to the Center for Security Policy
The down-loadable report can be found here:
https://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/upload/wysiwyg/article%20pdfs/Shariah%20%20The%20Threat%20to%20America%20(Team%20B%20Report)%20Web%2009292010.pdf
David Ramseur says
Frank Gaffney would be an excellent choice!
Transmaster says
I think it is going to be Vice Admiral Robert Harward. He is and understudy of General Mattis the Secretary of Defense. President Trump takes great stock in “Mad Dog” Mattis advice.
annmarie says
Clare Lopez, intelligence expert on middle east, former CIA. .
Christianblood says
NSA post should be ONLY be filled by someone who has in-depth understanding about the nature of the global islamic jihadist threat. The smartest choices for this post would be Newt Gingrich, Col. Allen West, Stephen Coughlin and Frank Gafney.
Transmaster says
No they are not the best choice as I predicted Vice Admiral Robert Harward has been offered the job, He is eminently qualified he grew up in Tehran, Iran his father was a Naval attache at the American Embassy. His went to school at the American University of Tehran and was forced to leave the country when the Peanut farmer pulled the rug out from under the Shah of Iran. He remembers being able to travel through the region without the worry of being killed.
gravenimage says
annmarie, I was not familiar with Clare Lopez. She seems very good, though. More here:
https://counterjihadreport.com/category/clare-lopez/
Christianblood, why would you assume Lopez is ignorant?
Christianblood says
gravenimage & Annmarrie
Graven, I forgot who Lopez was but when I read your link and watched the clip I immediately remembered her because I saw her speak about these issue some years back and she is really, really terrific! I agree with you and Annmarie that Lopez will just be as good as any of the other names mentioned above, may be even better! Thanks for the link Graven and I do apologize for my sloppiness!
gravenimage says
No problem–I was glad to learn about her, as well.
Kepha says
In the immortal words of Charlie Brown, AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH!
It was baad enough that Shrillary Shroooooo could care less about the proper handling of classified info, and smashed machinery to avoid having her carelessness come to light; and Trump and Abe could’ve chosen a more secure location to discuss sensitive matters. Now it’s Petraeus again, who will drop classified info when his membrum virile and 外卵 get itchy.
I fear for my country.
gravenimage says
Flynn out at NSA, Petraeus could be all in
…………………
Oh, *this* is not good.
Here’s some important stuff from Hugh Fitzgerald on Petraeus. This is from 2010, but the wisdom still holds today:
“Fitzgerald: Arabia Petraea, Or General Petraeus’ Middle East (Part I)”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/01/fitzgerald-arabia-petraea-or-general-petraeus-middle-east-part-i
“Fitzgerald: Arabia Petraea, Or General Petraeus’ Middle East (Part 2)”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/01/fitzgerald-arabia-petraea-or-general-petraeus-middle-east-part-2
I had never gotten a clear sense of how much Flynn understood about Islam, but Petraeus is an utter ignoramus.
At best, we may spend the next four–or eight–years taking and losing places like Raqqa, over and over again, at great loss of American lives–not something to look forward to…
Daniel Triplett says
“At best, we may spend the next four–or eight–years taking and losing places like Raqqa, over and over again, at great loss of American lives–not something to look forward to…”
Or we could start using the big guns.
Regardless of who’s calling the shots, these are really our only two choices.
We just spent 16 years, $6.5 Trillion US, and sacrificed over 6500 Patriots learning that the first method was never going to work.
gravenimage says
True, Daniel.
Kay says
Sometimes it sounds like we live in a Dickens novel. What names! Betrayus. Hellary. Obamination. Sore-us. Trump.
Debi Brand says
“Petraeus would be a disaster — a stalwart of the old establishment in an administration that said it would ‘drain the swamp.’”
Indeed. In brief.
gravenimage says
Apparently Trump has asked Vice Admiral Robert Harward to take the position. He is a former Navy Seal. He has a lot of counter-terrorism experience–given the uneven quality of anti-terrorism, and its frequent appeasing of Islam, that could be a good or bad thing.
From what I do know of him he seems at least to be a good guy and a genuinely patriotic American–a good first step, at least, and by no means a given under the Obama administration.
EYESOPEN says
Gen. “Betray-US” would indeed be a disastrous choice to replace Mike Flynn. This might be of interest to any who wonder why “Betray-US” was so against ANY ban on muzlims (sic – on purpose) coming into the U.S.:
“Why David Petraeus Really Wants You To Shut Up About Islamism”
http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/18/why-david-petraeus-really-wants-you-to-shut-up-about-islamism/
EYESOPEN says
*** possible dup posting (My other attempt failed to post) ***
Off-topic on the issue of Mike Flynn’s ouster; but of interest nevertheless. This latest from Frank Gaffney:
“How Can House Democrats’ Muslim IT Scandal Not be News?”
Imagine the following: A small group of white supremacist computer geeks were discovered to be stealing government property from dozens of Republican congressional offices for whom they provided information technology services. They are also suspected of stealing legislators’ emails and other House communications – possibly including traffic involving the most sensitive national security-related committees on which some of their employers served.
Think this story would be basically ignored by the mainstream media?
Well, that is exactly what is happening to an actual scandal with all these features – only the congressmen are all Democrats and the IT contractors are all Muslims, originally from Pakistan. And with the notable exception of the Daily Caller and a few other, online publications, all we’ve heard from the press has been crickets.
This travesty demands a rigorous damage-assessment, an overhauled counter-intelligence capability and a truly free press.
source: http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2017/02/15/how-can-house-democrats-muslim-it-scandal-not-be-news/