Has Recent Criticism Of David Petraeus Been 'Overblown'?

General David Petraeus. Reuters.

Petraeus, Yin and Yang -- Joe Klein, Time

We have new evaluations of David Petraeus this week, in New York Magazine and the New Yorker. The New Yorker piece is by the great war correspondent and author, Dexter Filkins. The New York piece is by former theater critic Frank Rich. They couldn’t be more different.

Filkins sees the world from the streets up; he is not only a great reporter, but also a fine writer and military analyst. Rich sees the world from 30,000 feet and in only one way: everything is theater. There is, of course, a little bit of the theater critic in all of us who cover politics–internally, at Time Magazine, we call my accounts of presidential speeches and debates “theater criticism.” But theater criticism without context, without substantial knowledge of the issues at stake, is entertainment, not journalism. And that is what Rich, who at times is capable of powerful political insights, is guilty of here.

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My Comment: I am not a fan of Joe Klein, but he is probably right that recent criticisms of former General and CIA Director Petraeus in the past month may have been "overblown". But as I have said in the past few weeks .... a review of Petraeus is long overdue .... and I do expect more criticism (and praise) of his service in the weeks and months to come.