Will America accept Gen. David Petraeus' apology?

The former CIA chief makes his first public appearance since his career-ending affair

Petraeus received a standing ovation from a perhaps more sympathetic military audience.
(Image credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Almost five months after he retired as CIA director when he admitted to an extramarital affair with his biographer, David Petraeus returned to the public stage on Tuesday night, at a University of Southern California dinner for military veterans and ROTC students. The amply decorated former general opened his speech with an apology:

I join you keenly aware that I am regarded in a different light now than I was a year ago.... So please allow me to begin my remarks this evening by reiterating how deeply I regret — and apologize for — the circumstances that led me to my resignation from the CIA and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.