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General David Petraeus: The Perils of Victory

Episode Summary

He is considered by many to be the greatest military strategist since Dwight D. Eisenhower. General David Petraeus was the man President George W. Bush turned to, four years into the War in Iraq, when it was clear that the war was failing dismally. Petraeus took command of "The Surge," completely changed the U.S. military's approach, and turned the war around. He then moved on to the War in Afghanistan, before President Barack Obama appointed him Director of the CIA. David Petraeus talks here about his reputation as a fierce competitor, the big ideas and the strategy that he implemented in Iraq, the scandal that derailed his public-service career, and the lessons that allowed him to move on with his life. (c ) American Academy of Achievement 2019

Episode Notes

He is considered by many to be the greatest military strategist since Dwight D. Eisenhower. General David Petraeus was the man President George W. Bush turned to, four years into the War in Iraq, when it was clear that the war was failing dismally. Petraeus took command of "The Surge," completely changed the U.S. military's approach, and turned the war around. He then moved on to the War in Afghanistan, before President Barack Obama appointed him Director of the CIA. David Petraeus talks here about his reputation as a fierce competitor, the big ideas and the strategy that he implemented in Iraq, the scandal that derailed his public-service career, and the lessons that allowed him to move on with his life.

(c ) American Academy of Achievement 2019