DEVOTION TO DUTY (GEN PETRAEUS) BY PAUL R. PILLAR

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06107719
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2016
• Case Number: F-2013-00268
• Publication Date: January 25, 2012

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UNCLASSIFIED
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Petraeus David H.
From: Paula Broadwell
Date: 01/25/2012 07:10 AM
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wd: Devotion to Duty (GEN Petraeus) by Paul R. Pillar
From: Paula Broadwell
To: Petraeus David H
Please respond to Paula Broadwell
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FYI
Sent from,my iPhone while on the run. Please excuse typos.
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SmNeet: Devotion to Duty (GEN Petraeus) by Paul R. Pillar
Devotion to Duty
January 23, 2012
Paul R. Pillar 2)
ZSuccessful implementation of public policy and�even more important�maintaining the principles of democratic government
depend on the professionalism of public servants who have a clear sense of their proper role. This means the dutiful execution
even of lawfully determined policies with which an official may not agree. It means staying in one's proper lane notwithstanding
any urges to stray from it. If public servants did not do these things, the result would be chaos in public administration and a
breakdown of democratic accountability.
None of this should be taken for granted. In the United States, the lines between the prerogative to make policy and the duty to
execute it are not as clear and widely understood as in some of its sister democracies. This is largely because of an unusually
large stratum of political appointees, who are not wholly part of either the policy-making or policy-executing portions of
government. External pressures from those wanting policy executors to nudge the policy one way or another do not help. Nor do
tendentious interpretations by outside commentators of the conduct of officials who are only trying to do their jobs. Staying in
one's lane is sometimes difficult.
It is therefore reassuring to see conspicuous examples of senior officials doing just that despite pressures to do otherwise,
especially when it involves someone of such fame and stature that many would expect him to do otherwise. The Washington
Post has an account [3t of how David Petraeus, while still military commander in Afghanistan, responded to President Obama's
decision to schedule a faster withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan than Petraeus favored. In a nutshell, Petraeus responded
exactly as a dedicated professional should have responded. Before the decision, he gave his best military advice about what
would be needed to accomplish his mission, and after the decision he focused on implementing it. In response to suggestions that
he resign, he said, "the troops can't quit." Petraeus correctly believed that "military leaders should provide advice that is informed
by important nonmilitary and military factors beyond their strict purview, but is driven by the situation on the ground and military
considerations." He also understood that the political leadership making the decision must take broader considerations into
account. His message to his staff hit exactly the right note: "All of us will support the decision and strive to execute it effectively.
That is our responsibility as military leaders."
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President Obama also had the right concept of lanes and responsibilities in systematically seeking input from all his military and
civilian advisers before making the decision himself. The concept was clear as well in the president acknowledging that Petraeus
should be honest in responding to Congressional questions about his own preference regarding the troop withdrawal from
Afghanistan.
In taking off his uniform and becoming director of the CIA, Petraeus continued to evince a clear comprehension of the different
roles and responsibilities that go with different jobs. He understands the distinction between intelligence and policy and the one
between personal views and institutional positions.
David Petraeus deserves the nation's respect and gratitude for his skill and accomplishments, and for taking on some extremely
difficult jobs. He also deserves it for setting such an outstanding example of what it means to dedicate oneself wholly to
performing the precise duties of whatever job one occupies.
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