Ex-CIA Director May Be the Only Personal Casualty from this Well-Publicized Tryst.

[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

The Paula Broadwell story isn't going away anytime soon - literally and figuratively - which is just fine for the Ms. Broadwell and her publisher.  Ms. Broadwell's biography of the 5-Star General who ran America's military operation in Afghanistan, entitled "All In: The Education of General David Petreus," was recently published. 

The book is now a best seller – largely, if not solely – because of the firestorm among political and military circles over the news that Ms. Broadwell had an affair with David Petraeus as she accompanied the General throughout Afghanistan - while gathering intimate data for the book. 

General Petraeus resigned his post as head of the CIA, then hired 'Top Gun' defense lawyer Robert Barnett of Williams & Connolly to help him exit government.  Other than that, it would appear that personal fallout has been limited.  Yet, there is one other person on the radar - his story is unfinished and it may not have a happy ending.  We're referring to Petraeus's successor in Afghanistan, General John Allen, has temporarily was suspended from his command for having sent thousands of flirtatious e-mails to Florida socialite Jill Kelley - the same person who opened Pandora's box by reporting to an FBI friend that she had received 'threatening emails from Ms. Broadwell.   General Allen, whose nomination to be NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe has been put on hold, still has the support of President Barack Obama.  Mrs. Broadwell recently bloodied a photographer with her car door –and still – no charges have been pressed.

[C-I Note: A close friend of Mrs. Kelley said she saw the e-mails as death threats and feared for her life.  The friend told The New York Daily News that the Florida socialite read one e-mail in which Broadwell promised to "make you go away."]

Ms. Broadwell's brother, Steven Kranz, told the Daily News that his sister is "devastated by this," and is "filled with guilty and shame for what she's done."   But, it's not clear whether Brother Steve is blowing smoke on his sister's behalf.  For now, we'll take the position that he is.

Ms. Kelley has been barred from MacDill Air Force Base, where she was an unpaid social liaison.  But apparently, there's no evidence that she was having an affair with Gen. Allen – so she and General Allen are not in the same position as Paula Broadwell and David Petraeus.

This story may have a long run before it's concluded.  And we'll keep you informed.  Who would want to miss it?

For further details, go to [New York Daily News, 11/20/12].