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Subscribe to RSSDuring a top secret briefing, lawmakers said David Petraeus made it clear the CIA believed terrorists -- not protestors -- were responsible for the deadly assault in Benghazi. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Updated 3:00 pm ET -- Former CIA Director David Petraeus testified Friday before congressional intelligence panels telling members that he had believed from the outset that the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi was an act of terrorists.
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reported that members of the Senate Intelligence Committee said after hearing from Petraeus that Obama administration officials made a decision to hold back as classified information an explicit depiction of Benghazi incident as an act of terrorists -- therefore that description did not make it into the “talking points” that the administration prepared for officials when they went on TV talk shows and spoke to reporters.
Instead, the initial talking points focused on spontaneous reactions to an anti-Islamic video as a spark for the attack. Five days after attack, the administration dispatched U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to speak on the Sunday news shows to offer a preliminary explanation of the attack, which she attributed to an anti-Islamic video that was circulated on YouTube.
In the attack Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans – Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods and Sean Smith – were killed.
Keeping as classified the determination that the Benghazi attack was the work of terrorists may have been done in order to help pursue those very same terrorists.
“There might have been two tracks happening all along: the public statements that were reflecting part of what they may have known” and the classified information that terrorists had been the ones attacking the consulate. “The real question is if they knew it was terrorism all along – was there too much suggestion that a video or demonstrations may have been involved?” said O’Donnell.
House Intelligence Committee member Peter King, R-N.Y., told reporters Friday after Petraeus testified that the initial “talking points” from the Obama administration to prepare officials for what they should say publicly in the first days after the attack had been changed to delete references to any al Qaida involvement in the event.
Rep. Peter King said he was "satisfied" with Gen. Petraeus' testimony at the Senate hearings on Benghazi, though the former-CIA director gave, to King, a "different impression this time around."
King said he and his colleagues now needed to hear testimony from officials in the State Department, the Defense Department “and also people at the White House – to see if anyone at the White House changed the talking points.”
King told reporters after Petraeus testified that “his testimony today was that from the start (immediately after Sept. 11) he had told us that this was a terrorist attack, that terrorism was involved from the start.”
But King said that he himself “had a very different recollection" of what Petraeus had told the panel in the initial aftermath of the attack.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein comments following closed door hearings of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees regarding an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya.
"The clear impression that we (members of the House Intelligence Committee) were given (in the initial days after the attack) was that the overwhelming amount of evidence was that it arose out of a spontaneous demonstration and it was not a terrorist attack,” King said.
Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger of Maryland, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts after hearing from Petraeus that “I can’t agree that there was entirely an intelligence failure” in the days leading up to the attack.
The Daily Rundown panel, which includes former DCCC spokesman Doug Thornell, The New York Times' Jackie Calmes and Roll Call's David Drucker talk about the latest in the hearings on Benghazi.
He said, “The intelligence community did put people in the area of Benghazi and in Libya generally. It was a hot spot, it was an area where you had to be on high alert – they did not pick up the actual attack itself. So we’re evaluating whether or not it was or was not an intelligence failure.”
Another House Intelligence Committee member, Rep. Tom Rooney, R–Fla., told MSNBC’s Roberts that he’d learned from the Petraeus testimony how inadequate the protection at the consulate was on Sept 11.
“We had less than a handful of security there for the ambassador,” Rooney said. “First of all, I don’t know why the ambassador was there on 9/11 to begin with, but that’s a whole other story. Second we were relying really on local Libyan militia who – if there was anything coordinated about the two attacks, at the compound and at the annex, it is that there was a coordinated absence by the people who were supposed to be protecting us.” He said the Libyan militia “were nowhere to be found” when the assault occurred.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says Gen. Petraeus' briefing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, concerning he Sept 11, 2012, attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was "comprehensive" and "added to our ability to make judgments about what is clearly a failure of intelligence."
Rooney added that President Barack Obama has said “he did everything he could” to protect the consulate. “He may have done everything he could, but it wasn’t enough because our people are dead.”
The investigation into the Benghazi events has become a major focus for members of Congress returning to the Capitol after last week’s elections. The episode has political implications not only for Obama but for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who may run for president in 2016.
Petraeus resigned one week ago after the revelation of his adulterous affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.
Rice told NBC’s David Gregory on Meet the Press Sept. 16 that “putting together the best information that we have available to us today – our current assessment is that what happened in Benghazi was, in fact, initially a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired hours before in Cairo – almost a copycat of the demonstrations against our facility in Cairo, which were prompted, of course, by the video.”
She added that in Benghazi “opportunistic extremist elements came to the consulate as this was unfolding. They came with heavy weapons, which, unfortunately, are readily available in post-revolutionary Libya, and that escalated into a much more violent episode.”
Rice is said to be in the running to be Obama’s nominee to be secretary of state once Clinton departs.
ISAF via Reuters file
Meet the people who have been pulled into the scandal that caused Gen. David Petraeus to resign.
But Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other Republican senators have made clear they will use any means they can to block her nomination if Obama does select her.
“I don’t trust her,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said of Rice, calling her “more a political operative than she is anything else when it comes to Benghazi.”
Obama defended Rice Wednesday, saying she had “represented the United States and our interests in the United Nations with skill and professionalism and toughness and grace… Should I choose, if I think that she would be the best person to serve America in the capacity of the State Department, then I will nominate her.”
McCain on Wednesday introduced a resolution to create a special eight-member select Senate committee to examine the attack on the consulate. But McCain’s proposal got a mostly chilly reception Wednesday from Chambliss and other senators.
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice recaps the causes and effects of recent violence against Americans in the Middle East.
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This one goes out to all those who condemn Petraeus and praise Bill Clinton
You know who you are
Hostess letting 18,500 employees go
What is the President doing to change his failed economic and administration policies
@MARCUS D, why is the President at fault for Hostess going bankrupt? Gee, ever think it was the stockholders fault? That is correct, the stockholders keep the same failing CEO in charge, using the same failing policies. Just like the tea baggers want to do with our country.
If you want to fail, if you want our country to fail, elected the tea baggers and their failed policies. Think more wars, without the means to pay for them, isn't a failed policy? That is just one example, there is plenty more that can be used.
Sally, "IT WAS THE VIDEO"........If they could not be sheared, he would never had made them sheep.
Q: Why is every Repugnant Politician like a sperm cell?
A: One in every three million have the potential to become a human being.
Shouldn't you be in school?
I'm taking you to school, get on the bus
@HOODIEBOY, well those three million don't have a chance with me. I don't screw tea baggers or Republicans. Independents are better material, and more sexy than those "old white men."
And yes, you are trying to educate jdmbo3. Kind of hard process to do, but keep trying, you might be able to teach him. Nobody else has suceeded yet, so be aware of that.
You keep posting comments that have nothing to do with the story at hand.
Looks like SallyAnn wants to play with you, have fun children.
@hoodieboy --- Congrats on being the first one in your 3rd grade class to have a drivers license. Now lets focus on your homework. You need all the help you can get.
Romnesia is a serious and debilitating illness, seek help while you still can, lucky for you we have Obama Care
That many????? :)
impeach the bastard
impeach McCain alright now you're talking
@hoodieboy -- Just because the NBC peacock nailed you mother and became your father that doesn't make you the brightest crayon in the box. Look up the definition of boring in Webster's (that's a dictionary) and you'll find your mug photo beside it.
would one of you holders of the real truth please step up and tell us how many presidents have had petions to secede on their desks?
people are unhappy we don't like our gov..and his vision
Faux Family your state should have elected a different governor
Greyfox II: No President has ever had petitions to secede on thier desk including Obama. There are always crazies out there, the difference is Obama choses to acknowledge them because it helps justify his need to "protect" us from the crazies. The other Presidents just ignore them and do their job. In other words, Obama chose to put them on his desk, all other presidents had the brains to just ignore the idiots.
You mean the way Obama ignored Trump when righties wanted him to pay attention? Good job, Mr. President. Now, back to the topic at hand.
Transparent: a : free from pretense or deceit b : easily detected or seen through : obvious c : readily understood d : characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices.
I believe the ultimate in hypocricy is Obama having the nerve to brag about a transparent administration. This Benghazi thing is about as muddied as a mississippi creek after a horse crossing.
funny how gas prices shot up and the dow tanked ...right after the election
Funny how Repugnants got their diapers soiled and Tampon Baggers went in the toilet right after the election
@hoodieboy, totally immature, there should be an IQ test and a respect test for people in order for them to vote.... you would of failed
I'm anxious to hear what John McCain has to say at the conclusion of the hearing today...that's if he bothered to attend the closed hearing, rather than holding a news conference...
Remember the old BO knows ad campaign that was popular when Bo Jackson was playing.
BO knows - Unemployment and Joblessness
BO knows - Poverty and declining incomes
BO knows - Bad economy that he can't fix
BO knows - Lying and cover-ups
BO knows - Ducking responsibility
BO knows - There's many clueless who support him
FauX News was never recommended for a weak mind like yours
Yep, the people are sure going to gets lots of truth with closed door testimony, not under oath. The great dog & pony has begun in earnest. The only thing the people will find out, is which story of bull the shadow government psychopaths are going to proceed with, that will also advance the never ending agenda of offensive wars and killing of powerless people in faraway lands for economic benefit of the usual.
It's amazing that this "President" never knows anything about anything that happens...hasn't been told ...wasn't aware of...never does anything wrong and it's Bushs' fault....I've never known a human that didn't make a mistake or make the wrong decision once in a while...but I guess this President never does anything wrong..maybe he should look at his economy.....
I think the same thing many times. It really is amazing how unconnected to his own administration he is when these issues come up. It seems his go to excuse is always "well I didn't know". Try that in a court of law and see how far that gets you.
At first it was the protest about the movie. There was no mention of a terrorist group. Then it was a preplanned terrorist attack that used the move as a smoke screen. Just last week on NPR they were interviewing a he said it was about the movie. He said heavy weapons were easy to get on site so it quickly became what it eventually was, an attack on the compound. Is the administration still lying and making the inquiry panel lie about the attack. Mount some heavy machine guns on the roof and kill anything coming into the compound. Build safe rooms into the design of the buildings. If they are already built modify them for a safe room. No problem.
I just want to know if the Obama administration broke any laws while lying about the video causing the attack. We all know this was a terrorist attack and that the warning two weeks earlier was ignored.
Bengazigate - impeach Obama
But benramz, it's still under investigation and I don't know what happened and when it happened.
Signed,
Obama, Liar in Chief
I feel sorry for all the Repugnants and Tampon Baggers that are brainwashed by almighty FauX News, that type of entertainment was never intended for genetically inferior humans that consider themselves to be a Repugnant or Tampon Bagger.
When GOP/Tea Baggers learn how to treat women, minorities, and gays, they may have a chance to regain the White House. You MUST embrace the minorites, invite them over for brunch, hug them and tell them how much you love them. Then and only then will you have a snowball chance in regaining the White House. There is no, no one that can beat Hillary in 2016. We want Bill back in the White House so he can entertain the maids like Arnold The spermanator (another GOP/Tea Bagger) formere Gov of Cali did to his long and faithful wife (Maria Scvriver). Oh by the way he was dumb enogh to leave evidence (a babay). Wise up guys, Bill left no evidence, he used a cigar. You keep hearing all this crap about Marco Rubio who couldn't lead hisself out of a wet paper bag.
First, Obama violated the U.S. Constitution by waging war on Libya without provocation and without the permission of our elected officials. Then he aided Libyan "rebels" who were caught on video waving al-Qaeda flags and chanting al-Qaeda fight songs.
Next, Obama brags that he's brought peace and freedom to the world, ignoring warnings and requests for increased security.
Then he blames the 9/11 attack on our Benghazi embassy on protesters upset about some anti-Islamic Youtube video, hiding the reports that this was a well-armed, well-planned terrorist attack... possibly al-Qaeda.
Then when General Petreaus of the CIA finds out the truth on the eve of the election, Obama tries to ruin him with a sex scandal that has been known about internally for months.
These are impeachable, treasonous offenses.
He didn't wage war on Libya.
Really? All those U.S. jets and missle strikes were an act of peace? No wonder he got the Nobel Peace Prize!
How about some actual proof on these comments. Comments are a dime a dozen ! Back em up.
They were on loan to the UN.
As part of the UNSC Operation Odyssey Dawn.
Can any Republican tell me what President Obama lied about?
not sure yet...if he did there will be a whistleblower..if not it will go away..If democrats jump on board and want more answers..not good for the president..we will see
He lied about the Benghazi attack being a spontaneous act of angry protesters when several sources had at least suggested that there was reason to believe it was an orchestrated, well-armed terrorist attack. He lied about the main motive being a stupid Youtube video that had come out months earlier, when obviously the attack was planned to coincide with the 9/11 anniversary. The only question is whether we believe he lied, or if we believe instead that he is just really, really stupid and incompetent. I could go either way...
But since I'm not a Republican, I guess that my answer doesn't count!
"..when several sources had at least suggested that there was reason to believe it was an orchestrated, well-armed terrorist attack."
Who are these sources and when did they suggest that there was reason to believe it was an orchestrated, well-armed terrorist attack?
"He lied about the main motive being a stupid Youtube video that had come out months earlier,.."
So then Bush's statement about WMDs in Iraq was a lie also?
BTW, there were protests in 19 over cities, where these all terrorist attacks too?
Simple, IF the General is telling the truth, and there is no reason not to believe him, then Obama new about the terrorist threat memo from the CIA, therefore he lied.
You guys ever hear about a lil something called national security. There is a reason we have things that are classified, covert, top secret. The general public doesn't need to know everything. I know you think you are entitled in some way, but you aren't.
There is a very real possibility those misleading statements were made public to allow our agents to get closer to the real target. You do not know, and you won't know until any related documents are declassified and made available to the public. If anyone single one of you out there really believed this was a demonstration gone overboard, then you are very very naive. We are at war, that hasn't changed yet.
Had to wonder after hearing the Denny's announcement yesterday of the 5% surcharge they're going to start charging and reducing all employee hours to 28 per week or less.
Then Hostess announced they are closing and letting 18,500 employees go.
How many of those employees involved voted to re-elect Obama.
What is the President doing to correct his failed economic and administration policies
Ahh, another lost soul, always blaming failures of others on someone else other than who's at fault. Not all employers are using lame excuses such as yours and others in their business. My company is doing just find and hiring and giving raises and bonus' and so are many others. Maybe those other companies need to run their business better. AND STAY ON SUBJECT NEXT TIME LOSER!
Hey that's what unemplyment is all about. The wealthy pay for us to stay hopme and bang other people wives all day. Come on dude that's what redistribution is all about. Furthermore, didn'yt you hear GOP/ Tea Bagger House Speaker say Obamacare is the law of the land which mean we will get free medical and unemplyment, why work. I love being home and getting paid for it. Oh what a beautiful country we live in. Life is good.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Petraeus told the senate "that it was because of a video", then in the house he said "he knew it was terrorism from day one".
Either way he lied under oath and committed perjury.
Now on to the interesting stuff:
Who from the White House told him to say it was about the video and not say it was terrorism?
Why did Obama say that Suzan Rice wasnt qualified to speak on Bengazi during his first press confrence, yet she seemed perfectly comfortable with going on 5 sunday talkshows (after the attack) saying that it was because of a video?
Some many questions so few answers.
Heads have to roll with this, we have 4 dead Americans and someone needs to be held accountable for the improper flow of information being fed to the American people.
I understand that its tragic that we lost 4 lives in the Benghazi attack and the republicans are good at pointing that out. How about the thousands of lives we lost in the unjustified war we had in Iraq? How about the faulty testimony from Condi Rice that she received from the intelligence community over WMD's? So now the republicans seem to have a different standard (as they always do in these matters) when it comes to this tragic event. Oh an senator McCain, you were crying on all the cable TV stations about not getting the information you requested, but you were too busy to attend any of the meetings as they were going on because you had to stick your face in all the cameras to portray your fake outrage.
Exactly cooler, I use to have respect for John McCain. But this situation is changing all that. He did not attend the meetings as you say, he was too busy getting himself out into the public eye, trying to stir up anything he could. I do support President Obama, that does not mean I agree with everything, I am not blind. Sometimes there are issues. BUT, the day something happens, the day after, everyone is screaming for information. There are times when we need to give the powers that be a change to get that information and not receive speculation. So many times there is a crime in your home town, the police are interviewed and they do not answer many questions (on going investigation).. That makes sense.
37 out of 49 DEMOCRATIC Senators also backed the war...
But it's much easier to "blame Bush".
People with any reasonable amount of judgement smell Horse Hockey and say that is Horse Hockey. Obama's supporters smell it, dip there fingers in it and taste it, and still are willing to say Mr. Obama says it is not horse hockey!!
People with any reasonable amount of judgement smell Bull S**T and say that is Bull S**T. Repugnants and Tampon Baggers smell it, dip there fingers in it and taste it, and say it's a chocolate treat!!
I wonder Petraus also lied to Paula Broadwell when he said is arthritis had flurred up and would she help his old a-- put his tupae back on after he finished banging her. He lied to his loyal and faithful wife after 38 years. Liar iar
Obama lied. Americans died.
FauX News was never recommended for a weak mind like yours
Bush lied about WMD in Iraq and cost this country over 5,000 innocent lies. We're still loosing lives over there. Fortunately, Obama had the guts and smarts to start getting us out of Bush's mess. Also, do you know how much money we spent on Bush's war but now you GOP/Tea Baggers are complaining about the deficit Obama inherited. You guys are hipocrits and that's why you lost thew White House for the last two elections and will lose to Hillary in 2016
McCain is leading the charge, yes by having a press conference while the closed door testimony was being given. I guess he does not want to know (good or bad) what is being said. I believe this needs to be resolved. BUT, I also believe that it is a witch hunt. Right now this country has fiscal issues that really need to be on the front burner. The republicans look like they plan to spend the next four years trying to discredit any and all democrats that will run for any office. So really all this is, is more politicing.... Let's get some work done please!
Agent Tyrone Woods lazer painted the mortar locations that were firing on the consulate. He was trained as a Navy Seal. He would not have done that unless he was communicating with someone about firing on those mortar locations. He gave up his position and was killed painting those mortar locations to save the people of the consulate. I want to know who he was communicating with, and why we did not take out the mortar positions he painted. We have a right to know the answers.
Just to republicans know, this issue is the reason I changed my vote to democrat. It reminded me of 9/11 and how we all stood together. Even if George Bush knew about the attacks, and if I remember correctly, it was more then 4 people who died. Then we supported him through the wars, we reelected him, we always stood by him even though he screwed us. Now we got a good leader in the White House and republicans are acting like a bunch of spoiled school yard brats who do not know how to lose. Blaming our leader deaths as if he works for terrorists. Republicans just keep digging yourselves into a hole, give it up, the election is over, you lost and if you keep going the way your going, you will NEVER get it back. ( You will never get it back no matter what you do really but just saying...)
Thank you for getting wise to the Repugnant Tampon Bagger BS
I don't trust her.
I don't trust the president either!
Impeach BHO.
To all you right wing bottom feeders. Four Americans die in Benghazi--tragic event. Thousand of Americans died in 9/11. Thousand more died in Iraq. Thousand more are dying in Afghanistan. BUT! No outcry from you bottom feeders on any of those deaths! Why is that!? Could it be because none of those despicable events can be tied to Obama, now could it?
You people are so pathetically predictable is not even funny. What happened to all the hoopla about the economy? About Jobs? About the deficit? Could it be that the main reason the economy isn't moving as fast as it could be because the Tea Party republicans are getting in the way? So, you pathetic bottom feeders need to stir up anything that will give you some sense of existence and continue to try to find enough smoke to blame on Obama.
GIVE IT UP! None of your crap worked during the election and it won't work now. The republicans lost the White house; they lost seats in the Senate; they lost seats in the House. THEY LOST PERIOD! Get over it! For once, use what little gray matter is still between your ears and concentrate on moving this country forward. The Benghazi affair will be resolved. And just like Fast-n-Furious, the truth will come out. Nothing regarding Benghazi will hurt Obama, no matter how much you bottom feeders keep stirring the feces.
I realize it sucks eating crow, but give it a good chew, swallow and move on. It will do wonders for your nervous system.......
@madmax-2042034,
Naturally, you didn't trust BHO because you're a Republican. You were afraid of losing Coporate "free stuff" under his Presidency. Namely, Coporate tax cuts of 2001 primarily responsible for the deficit we face today. This puts you in the same group as Grover Norquist.
The GOP already knows there are publicly two versons of explaining any military action involving the US. The classified and unclassified versions. Susan Rice wisely chose the unclassified version for sharing within the U.N. Obama chose the classified version in the rose garden the next day reiterating it as an act of Terror. Would you rather Rice had shared classified information with all the Nations of the World within the UN (enemy or foe)???? The GOP is stupid........you're Party needs to stop playing word games.......