Petraeus Throws Obama Under the Bus

Weekly Standard ^ | 6:05 PM, OCT 26, 2012 | WILLIAM KRISTOL

[Snuph]

Breaking news on Benghazi: the CIA spokesman, presumably at the direction of CIA director David Petraeus, has put out this statement: "No one at any level in the CIA told anybody not to help those in need; claims to the contrary are simply inaccurate. ”

So who in the government did tell “anybody” not to help those in need? Someone decided not to send in military assets to help those Agency operators. Would the secretary of defense make such a decision on his own? No.

It would have been a presidential decision. There was presumably a rationale for such a decision. What was it? When and why—and based on whose counsel obtained in what meetings or conversations—did President Obama decide against sending in military assets to help the Americans in need?

[IrishPennant]

We have plenty of evidence that shows the entire area around the mission was quiet...silent...up until the attach began.

[uncbob]

Two days after the attack, CIA Director David Petraeus briefed the House Intelligence Committee. Petraeus told lawmakers the best intelligence showed it was a demonstration sparked by the video that got out of hand, according to Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.), the panel’s ranking Democrat...

If this democrat isn't BSing then the general flat out lied to congress which I would assume can carry a jail sentence or should.

And also if true it says the general is a boob to think the truth wouldn't come out

[IrishPennant]

Petraeus told lawmakers the best intelligence showed it was a demonstration

We know now he lied...a military man LIED...breaks my freakin Jarhead heart. Where is my core country??????

[chessplayer]

A CIA spokesman made the statement, not Petreus himself. Once again, expect “clarification.” What I see is that the CIA is calling those who gave the story to Foxnews liars. They are not throwing obama under the bus. They are covering their, and obama’s, asses.

[b4its2late]

Biden old us there would be a time when this president would be tested. He was right. He forgot to add that he would fail the test miserably......

[RummyChick]

Nickarama ‏@Nickarama1 Rep Jason Chaffetz said WH sist rm saw in real time, Emails in real time. Military had capability, told him yes, were not asked. #StandDown Expand

[Girlene]

From Jennifer's original article, EXCLUSIVE: CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack, sources say

........Fox News has learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. consulate and subsequent attack several hours later on the annex itself was denied by the CIA chain of command -- who also told the CIA operators twice to "stand down" rather than help the ambassador's team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11. ..........

Petraeus says "No one at any level in the CIA told anybody not to help those in need; claims to the contrary are simply inaccurate. ”

So is there "no one at any level in the CIA" in the "CIA chain of command"?

These two assertions do not make sense otherwise.

[Delta 21]

Thats a keeper.

[PhilDragoo]

"Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me."

[popdonnelly]

Nobody told the CIA folks not to go to the ambassador’s aid? Did anyone tell them to go to the ambassador’s aid?

[cardinal4]

The Hussein regime is praying that hurricane is another Katrina, even if gets people killed, to get Libya out of the news. What happened in Benghazi was criminal. Hussein knew people were murdered and went calmly to bed in preperation for his Vegas fundraiser. He then blamed the video and even made one of his own apologizing to the freaking Pakistanis of all people! Get that man out of the Oval Office!!

[petitfour]

Wow.

[O6ret]

There’s still time for Petraeus to redeem his honor, if not by coming forward then by resigning.

[RummyChick]

Bob Woodward on Hannity: President’s statement that Benghazi is not what the election is about sets of alarms. #Obama

[Girlene]

Somebody forgot to tell Petraeus.

[upchuck]

There isn’t time for impeachment. We need to get him and his ilk as far away from the WH as possible on Nov. 6th - then hold hearings and indict them for treason.

I agree 100%. Unfortunately I can see nobama handing out blanket pardons like Mickey Dee coupons.

The days between Nov 7 and Jan 21 will be treacherous indeed.

[Paul R.]

MANPAD missiles...

I've been looking for a good point to bring those back up. Now, I'm probably not very good at conspiracy theories. But I can't help but think that those thousands of missing MANPADs figure into this. I'm just not sure how.

What if the CIA knows that large numbers of the MANPADs are in AQ / terrorist hands, in Libya? Might not that make close-in air support highly risky? Is that what Petraeus and Panetta can't say? Maybe if they say, it is considered too politically explosive to admit? Or it might blow an ongoing CIA operation?

[uncbob]

You are right
Something is screwy
Hope the reporter knows who and what and has it straight

[irgbar-man]

I agree with you, Hinck. Petraeus has been caught in a nasty spot for 6 weeks. We may well see him in the future testifying to Congress or some other finder-of-fact.

[petitfour]

The ongoing operation was already blown.

There are a lot of posts on the subject on FReerepublic. Maybe some of the knowledgeable posters will elaborate.