A few thoughts on the resignation of David Petraeus as CIA director: Few American leaders had a stronger reputation for integrity and honor, so the reason he cited for his departure – an extramarital affair – comes as a shock to the nation and to those who know him best.

Petraeus will go down in American history as one of its greatest generals. He turned around an increasingly disastrous situation in Iraq, despite tremendous criticism from war skeptics here at home. The work that he did there no doubt saved American and Iraqi lives and provided the Obama administration an opportunity to leave Iraq a reasonably stable country.