Seamanship Quotation

“In political activity, then, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea; there is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place nor appointed destination.”
— from Michael Oakeshott's
Political Education” (1951)

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

David Petraeus’s winning confession


Spring is late. Yet, green shoots of innocence and hope are popping up everywhere. The Catholic Church has a new Pope who rose to prominence in the capital of a fascist republic, and radiates in culpability and love. And just last night David Petraeus received a standing ovation for apologizing for an affair that forced his resignation as head of the CIA.

His statement came awfully late for an effective military decision-maker. Nevertheless, he did earn the best wishes of those who were listening. According to AP reporters JOHN ROGERS and SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER, he acknowledged unreservedly that he’d shown “extremely poor judgment.” unacceptable behavior for a “leader of an organization such as ours.”

The immediate responses to Petraeus’s statement also demonstrated the undiminished faith of American marketers in the readiness of the American people to forgive and move on. Brace yourself for the words of Howard Bragman, vice-chair of the image-building company Reputation.com:

"I think the world is open to him now," said Bragman, vice chairman of the image-building company Reputation.com. "I think he can do whatever he wants. Realistically, he can even run for public office, although I don't think he'd want to because he can make more money privately."

Think of all the surviving “Willy” Lowmans who will be shining their shoes and walking taller today.

That said, David Petraeus’s confession of private misjudgments shrinks beside the rock-hard unwillingness of his political superiors to admit to their public errors of judgment, and unacceptable behavior as the war-makers of 2003.

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