Petraeus reportedly used draft e-mails to converse with mistress

[The Straight Story]

Petraeus reportedly used draft e-mails to converse with mistress
The former CIA director used a trick often used by terrorists and teenagers to make e-mails harder to trace, the Associated Press reports.

In an effort to cover a trail of messages between him and his mistress, former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus reportedly used a tactic favored by terrorists and teenagers -- communicating via draft e-mail.

Petraeus and Paula Broadwell, the co-author of Petraeus' biography and the woman he was having an affair with, set up private Gmail accounts in order to communicate, the Associated Press reported today. In addition to creating the e-mails under false identities, Petraeus and Broadwell decided to exchange some messages using the draft function, as an added precaution.

Instead of actually e-mailing each other, they would compose and draft messages but not send them. The other person would then log into the same account and read the drafts. This made those messages harder to trace, and the tactic has been used in the past by terrorists and teenagers, an unnamed law enforcement official told the AP.

Apparently, this trick has been around a while. PBS Frontline mentioned it in a 2005 special on terrorist tricks and counter-measures.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57548733-83/petraeus-reportedly-used-draft-e-mails-to-converse-with-mistress/

[tblue]

1. Now why didn't I think of that?

He must feel like such a schmuck.

[yardwork]

2. So he did give her access to his email account.

I wonder what other emails he sent on that account. Was it a private account used 100% for correspondence with his girlfriend, or did he use it for business sometimes.

[Ilsa]

4. The news reports I heard said it was not

Used for business, just communicating with her. But that was one report I heard yesterday.

[aletier_v]

3. I bet it was fun and they giggled about it. "Just like the terrorists", one would say

[Kaleva]

9. He would role play Osama Bin laden and she would role play Laila Khaled

[morningfog]

5. Jesus Chirst. THe head of the fucking CIA and this was the best he could come up with?

How can the top spook not know how to keep a secret?

[aletier_v]

8. He did keep a secret (at least so we've been told)

She went off.

That's not technique, that's the human element.

[chillfactor]

6. who the hell cares?

I am so sick of hearing about Petraeus ..now I just hit the mute button...

[underthematrix]

7. I do/ Why would you post to a thread you don't care about?

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. "Used in the past by terrorists and teenagers" WTF? n/t

[rocktivity]

11. And they weren't smart enough to set up SEPARATE accounts?

Military intelligence, indeed!


rocktivity

[underthematrix]

12. well they used separate gmail accounts which are free

and aliases

[Angry Dragon]

13. I see a new book coming out: The Arrow in the Quiver