Petraeus testifies on Benghazi attack

See updated story here: Dems, GOP spar over Petraeus testimony on Benghazi

Former CIA Director David Petraeus gave closed door briefings to Congress today that focused on not on his affair or his resignation, but on the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and when exactly U.S. officials knew there were terrorist elements involved.

After the hearing, Democrats and Republicans disputed whether Petraeus has been consistent in his testimony, and whether the CIA talking points on the attack were altered.

House Intelligence Committee member Peter King, R-N.Y., told reporters that the original CIA talking points regarding the attack clearly attributed the incident to al Qaeda affiliates, but that the talking points changed after being vetted by several agencies, including the Justice Department and State Department. "No one knows yet exactly who came up with the final talking points," King said.

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Petraeus testified CIA story on Benghazi changed, King says

"The original talking points prepared by the CIA were different than the final ones put out," King continued. Originally, he said, they were "much more specific on al Qaeda involvement."

Petraeus told lawmakers today that he consistently told Congress that there were terrorist elements involved in the attack, but King said he remembers Petraeus' Sept. 14 testimony differently.

"I told him... I had a very different recollection of that," King said.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., didn't agree with King's recollection of the Sept. 14 briefing.

Ruppersberger told reporters after the hearing, "My recollection was ... [Petraeus said] it was the result of the protest... but he also said in the group there were some extremists and some where al Qaeda affiliates."

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said, "Gen. Petraeus as director of the CIA has been completely consistent."

• Lawmakers get first look at Benghazi attack video
• Timeline: How Benghazi attack probe unfolded

Conrad, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that much of the confusion is due to the difference between classified and unclassified information.

"When people are talking in a classified setting, they can say much more than they can say in an unclassified setting," Conrad said.

The CIA talking points are a source of controversy because U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice used them to describe the nature of the attack on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sept. 16. Republicans have attacked Rice, who is considered a possible nominee to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, for suggesting the attack was the result of spontaneous protests.

CBS News obtained the CIA talking points given both to Rice and members of the House intelligence committee on Sept. 15, and they make no specific reference to "terrorism" being a likely factor in the assault. However, they did indicate that "extremists participated in the violent demonstrations."

Conrad said Rice "did completely the appropriate thing."

"She used the unclassified talking points that were signed off on by the entire intelligence community," Conrad said. "There are other things that are classified. That's a totally different subject."

King said the House hearing was "cordial" and that Petraeus' recent resignation, prompted by his extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell, was only briefly addressed at the beginning of the hearing.

It was "made clear at the start that would not be the focus of the questioning," King said.

Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., added, "The only thing he did in the beginning of his testimony is he did express deep regret to the committee for the circumstances for his depature" and reassure the committee that the Libya attacks had nothing to do with his resignation.

The original version of this article identified Rep. King as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He's the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

[napoliitalian]

Its funny how when Republicans lose they become so vendictive. They resort to dirty tactics. They will not let the Benghazi incident go. They seem to forget that over 3000 people died in the first 911 and it was on there watch. At that time counter intelligence head Richard Clark warned Secretary of State Rice of inpending damger only to be received on deaf ears and what did Democrats do? We didn't cause a political witch hunt on then President Birdbrain. No, instead we supported efforts to defeat Al-Qaeda' together. So take your licks like big boys and girls and put a candidate up that has half a brain

[ChrisLars]

Well. Looks like the Republican Party is going to continue to shore up the angry white vote. That was their takeaway from the last election, was that the angry white Fox News part of the base wasn't fired up enough.

Because let me tell you, coming out and blasting Obama like he isn't worthy of an ounce of respect, before they even know anything is really scoring HUGE points with all of the groups they might actually need to get more votes from.

Heading right back to the southern strategy. Great move.

[rksharma-2009]

The job of the CIA is to have intelligence and uncover such incidents before these events take place. However, this time there was a hand within US that provided the cover for this, which CIA failed to catch. Amazingly, the Youtube video was out there for a month, but got publicity just before 9/11. I guess, CIA did not think that a video could provide the cover for this attack and failed to inform the state department about this. Republicans had also decided to cut 300 million dollars from embassy securities, and amazingly all this had happened just few months before 9/11. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Election year, Obama's Libya success, 9/11, anti Muslim movie funded by hard core Christians who hate Obama, escalate publicity just before 9/11, and then have 4 Embassy guys killed, Romney goes out and criticizes Obama before learning all the facts, as if he knew how the entire thing was cooked and how the people were going to react. Now when CIA head told everyone that these were the talking points given so that they could catch the people behind these attacks, all the republicans are looking for a hole to put their head in.

[bluecashier]

This entire investigation is a witch hunt in which the details of certain statements being made or not made, is going nowhere. We knew more before this political hunting expedition happened. After Mitt Romney lost the election, a series of he-said, she-said discussions have occurred, resulting in "does this really matter." The deal with Petraeus and his affair is not really everybody's business. National security concerns do matter. That entire matter snowballs every day to include nonsensical info such as Miss Kelley having financial problems. Just how is that important to that investigation. In a nutshell, the GOP is attempting to gain their importance with US voters in the most absurd ways. This country needs to move on to more important matters, such as a world-wide recession.

[alanrobisch]

Gee I see what is important to you money. I guess you want the rest of us to ignore a lying president who wants to get along just like you do. this story is important. 4 men died because the president and his staff failed and he has tried to lie his way out of it and since when can't the congress do an investigation of such complete failure

[jamesellis2]

Everybody's gone south. No moral compass; the "truth" has become whatever serves you at the time. No morality anymore, no ethics, tragic. Our society is collapsing because our moral foundation has eroded away, built on sand now, no moral compass.

James

[iAceMadman]

"Memo to the GOP and Fox News: Romney lost the election."

Romney may have lost the election, but he is the model by which we need re-engineer our political environment, and his influence will carry on for decades to come. The best man lost, be he will live on with the great motivations he provided in his campaign.

[iAceMadman]

"She used the unclassified talking points that were signed off on by the entire intelligence community," Conrad said. "There are other things that are classified."

I wish she would have used the classified talking points on the news programs, then we could get her booted from her position for breaking the law--and prosecute her. She needs to go no matter what, and whatever we can say including having a Watergate type of Congressional investigation, will make this happen.

[crankyoleman]

All of these comments about a mass conspiracy and/or cover up are a bunch of BS. I agree this was poorly handled but it is a classic example of how a big bureaucracy can screw something up in a heartbeat.

[iAceMadman]

You are a cranky old apologist, with no teeth.

[Rafterman11]

wFw3536 says: A couple days ago in his news conference Obama said he sent Rice to tell us lies 5 days after everyone else knew it was terrorist, except the president and his administration.

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Everyone else knew? A MYTH. I remember the first day or two after the attack, I watched the news, I read the comments on the various news forums from people like you, including this one, and you know what? That "everyone knew it was a terrorist attack" is a load of garbage. The news and the forums were all attacking the movie and how those idiot Muslims would kill people over a movie. It wasn't until a few days later that the possibility of it being a terror attack was even mentioned, that people started to get it.

In fact, you know what, I don't have to remember. I can look it up. The Google cache is a be-yatch, isn't it?

[rdthis]

It's all about 'Save the King'. Notice the King isn't worried, he's off doing other things because he knows his Knights, Reid, Holder, Napolitano, Polosi, etc. will save him from all harm. The soiled Knight Petraeus will fall on his sword and honor to regain the spoils of his life long career and surely not enrage the newly emboldened King who calls himself Lincoln. Alas! This, too, will dissipate into the background, showing the peasants that politicians have nothing but their best interest and protection at heart. It's another day in paradise for King Lincoln.

[abbe91]

Still upset about the election results ?

[1pheasant1]

A Bush appointee (Patraeus) is going to fall on the sword for President Obama. Yeah, right!

The GOP wanted him to lie, and like Colin Powell, he refused. It is time for you to throw him under the bus, too.