Topic: David Petraeus

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'Zero Dark Thirty': Top 3 controversies from the Osama bin Laden film

"Zero Dark Thirty," which tells the story of the hunt and capture of Osama bin Laden, is already garnering critical accolades – and plenty of criticism, too. Here are the top three controversies currently surrounding the film.

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CIA deputy director Michael Morell steps down. Who is the new CIA No. 2?

Michael Morell, the CIA deputy director, is leaving. The new CIA deputy director: White House lawyer Avril Haines, who will be the first woman in the job.
Decoder Wire Why Benghazi talking points make US government seem like Dunder Mifflin (+video)

Let's put aside for a moment who did what to the talking points on Benghazi last September and focus just on the editing process, which could have come from an episode of 'The Office,' it seems.
Benghazi emails: What do they reveal?

One email confirmed officials removed information about CIA warnings regarding an al Qaeda threat before the attacks in Benghazi, Libya in September 2012 from talking points the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations presented to the public. The administration released the emails in an effort to seem more transparent.
FBI at Petraeus home: Why FBI is grilling the ex-CIA chief

FBI at Petraeus home: FBI agents visited David Petraeus at his Virginia home as part of an investigation into Paula Broadwell's handling of classified information, according to USA Today.
Backchannels US in Afghanistan: Why throw more good money after bad?

That two more US troops were killed by an Afghan soldier today is a reminder that the Afghanistan 'surge,' which ended last year, accomplished few of its objectives.
Backchannels Hamid Karzai is mad as heck and he isn't going to take it anymore

Afghan President Hamid Karzai would like to make it very clear that he doesn't like the US, his principal protector and patron.
Pentagon leaders: We support plan to arm Syrian rebels

Senator John McCain (R) of Arizona has championed greater US involvement and chided the Obama administration at a hearing, pressing Panetta and Dempsey about whether they backed the recommendation by the State Department and CIA chiefs last year to arm the Syrian rebels.
Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present

Max Boot's entertaining history teaches valuable lessons, but sometimes draws shaky conclusions.
Pentagon lifting ban on women in combat, opening new opportunities

Chiefs of the individual service branches are being told to submit a plan to implement the new policy to the secretary of Defense by May.
The Daily Reckoning Is the US a nation of dependents?

When too many people and companies depend on government subsidies, Bonner writes, your society consumes more wealth than it produces.
Afghanistan: The challenge of 'good' vs 'bad' militias

Gunmen in northern Afghanistan want the Karzai government to make their local unit an official part of the security force that will take over after US withdraws.
Who faces tougher nomination: John Brennan at CIA or Chuck Hagel at defense?

Early Monday afternoon, President Obama will nominate John Brennan to head the CIA and Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense. But both Hagel and Brennan may face an uphill nomination process.
Drone use surges in Yemen, the frontline against Al Qaeda

Drone strikes in Yemen skyrocketed in 2012, as much as tripling in frequency when compared to 2011.
Chuck Hagel: why his candidacy for Defense post is losing altitude

Critics of Chuck Hagel's potential candidacy have focused on remarks he made years ago about Israel, Iran, and Hamas. Some even called him anti-Semitic, a charge branded as outrageous, even by other critics.
CIA: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ not a realistic portrayal of hunt for Osama bin Laden

The CIA says scenes of torture in the new film 'Zero Dark Thirty' are not an accurate portrayal of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. This follows similar criticism from three senior US senators who say the film is 'grossly inaccurate and misleading'.
'Zero Dark Thirty': Top 3 controversies from the Osama bin Laden film

"Zero Dark Thirty," which tells the story of the hunt and capture of Osama bin Laden, is already garnering critical accolades – and plenty of criticism, too. Here are the top three controversies currently surrounding the film.
Reports: Sen. John Kerry to be named secretary of State (+video)

Now that Susan Rice has withdrawn her name, President Obama reportedly will name Sen. John Kerry to take over as secretary of State when Hillary Rodham Clinton resigns.
Susan Rice's surprise withdrawal saves Obama a fight (+video)

UN ambassador Susan Rice, once perceived as a natural replacement for Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, has withdrawn her name from the nomination process. It now seems likely that President Obama will pick Senator John Kerry for the role.
Backchannels Vast sums of aid continue to be stolen in Afghanistan

Despite years of supposed effort to stop money laundering out of Kabul airport, billions continue to flow from the country unchecked.
Opinion Obama and Israel are walking away from two-state solution with Palestinians (+video)

By refusing to support the Palestinian bid at the UN, President Obama has essentially endorsed a No State Solution between Israel and Palestine. Changing course is possible. A good place to start would be threatening to remove US aid to Israel, given its plans for more settlement building.
Decoder Wire Is Karl Rove's media career kaput?

Don't count Karl Rove out, despite reports that the GOP strategist will get less face time on Fox News for the foreseeable future. He still has some platforms, and he knows how to use them.
Petraeus scandal: Jill Kelley goes on the attack

In an attempt to recover her reputation following her involvement in the Petraeus scandal, Jill Kelley (through her attorneys and publicist) released new information on Tuesday. Among the items released were a cease-and-desist letter to a New York businessman, a complaint to the Florida bar about a Tampa attorney and a letter to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Susan Rice: why GOP opposition to her is no longer white-hot (+video)

Key GOP voices including Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have tempered their rhetoric about Ambassador Susan Rice, who could be nominated as a possible secretary of State.
'Cult of David Petraeus': Did media perpetuate a myth?

Members of the Pentagon press are shaking their heads in the wake of the David Petraeus scandal. Some think Petraeus's savvy and personable style led them to be too soft on him.
Is infidelity an emotional war wound? (+video)

Rebecca Sinclair, the wife of a high-ranking US general who had an affair, said in an interview that military marriages suffered from the protracted US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.