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In the week since former CIA Director David Petraeus announced his resignation, the right has come up with a variety of colorful conspiracy theories, all of which have been debunked. Was his sex scandal hidden from public view to boost President Obama's re-election prospects? No. Was the White House blackmailing him? No. Did he step down to avoid congressional testimony on Benghazi? No.
But over the last day or so, the right has stumbled upon a new micro-scandal: the original CIA draft materials referenced specific suspected terrorists, but their names were removed and replaced with the word "extremist" in the final draft.
"A ha!" the conspiracy theorists proclaim. "This proves Obama's people hid key details! It's clear evidence of ... something!" It's really not.
Ex-CIA Director David Petraeus told lawmakers Friday that classified intelligence showed the deadly raid on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a terrorist attack, but that the administration withheld the suspected role of specific al-Qaida affiliates to avoid tipping off the terrorist groups.
The recently resigned spy chief explained that references to terrorist groups suspected of carrying out the violence were removed from the public explanation of what caused the attack so as not to tip off the groups that the U.S. intelligence community was on their trail, according to lawmakers who attended the private briefings.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) noted that Petraeus "was adamant there was no politicization of the process, no White House interference or political agenda. He completely debunked that idea."
The names of terrorists believed to be involved were removed for reasons of national security, and all of the relevant intelligence agencies signed off on the edited text. As Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) explained to the AP, "[I]n an unclassified document you want to be careful who you identify as being involved."
Susan Rice then relied on the intelligence community's findings to update the public five days after the attack, and everything she said reflected the best information available at the time.
And before Fox News suggests Petraeus is still lying in order to protect the Obama administration, let's not forget that Petraeus is no longer part of the Obama administration. He's a private citizen, free to speak his mind -- and in this case, everything Petraeus is saying is consistent with everything the White House has said. Petraeus' remarks have left the right's conspiracy theories in tatters.
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Petraeus' remarks have left the right's conspiracy theories in tatters.
That will not slow them down.
When the Collective Anti-Wisdom of our illustrious FOX personalities catch wind that they can't continue their cockamamie conspiracy theories regarding Benghazi, they will simply pivot to their next perceived scandal. . . . .
See, President Obama will sneeze in public tomorrow, and FOX & FIENDS will be broadcasting within minutes, telling us that President Obama is conspiring to get the whole of American sick! -Kevo
All over the internet and on file in Hawaii.
and in the drawer under romneys real tax returns and cayman island bank account info
whose?
I could be crass and say something that sounds like "crass" to describe where it is. Get off it. He won, and the whole birther movement died after Donald "Made in China" Trump strangled it for the last time on Faux News.
Hopefully that will be the last blast from the Fart Wing of the Republican Party.
For some reason, I can't envision Obama sneezing ...
Patango hit a nerve....ouch!
On my coffee cup! Yes you can buy them! Awesome :)
Once more into the fray, the GOP will have to start turning over every rock to try and find a worthy scandal for this administration. They know from past GOP administrations there is bound to be one, Just remember Watergate, Iran Contra, Ignored intelligence "Al Queda determined to strike in U.S., Iraq's Missing WMDs and Valerie Plame; of course those were all GOP administrations. Now Dems did have JFK and Clintons womanizing, but that is hardly the same as violating the law, and failed governance..
John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte need to call a press conference immediately to publicly apologize for their irresponsible comments. They need to publicly state that they were wrong in promoting their politically-motivated conspiracy theories and they must make it clear that there was no wrongdoing by President Obama or anyone in the administration. And they must publicly apologize to Ambassador Susan Rice.
They rather eat s^^t and die than to apologize LOL, they all are in denial and has lost their mind , That Black President is driving them crazy, I love it, they have been in control sooooo long that they mind doesn't function without that power of control.
Actually the whole article is a fabrication. neither petraeus or any member o0f congress has discussed anything that was said in the hearing. The general was admitted and left under tight security, and all members of the commitees are sworn to silence till their investigation is done. Good imagination, bad journalism.
OK, you say that and then don't provide anything to back up your story. If you could back up your claim, might be an easier sell.
Obama must be threatening his wife, to get this fine upstanding General and outstanding public servant to lie this cravenly.
/snark
Huh? What a strange comment...
You are a lunatic just like the Teapubs TCinLA.
For the love of all that's holy ... when you see a tag that IDENTIFIES the comment as SNARK ... you really should not comment about the quality of the character of the poster. It makes you look foolish.
Whoa folks RT Mary724 & Glenda Jacobs. If you'll notice TCinLA wrote "/snark" at the very end.......and I'm afraid I agree. The Faux-news Entertainment Complex of Fox News will simply pivot to some other perceived tempest in a teapot & make a nuke out of it! They are pathological....
All that fix spews ever does, is twist lies to fit their agenda of laying blame somehow, obvious delusion or not, onto the shoulders of the Obama administration. If evidence doesn't come out saying exactly what fux and its deluded viewers demand to hear, then the evidence is false, it has been tampered with, any horse chit excuse they can make up.
No matter what the proof may show, it just HAS to be the fault of Obama. No other explanation is needed or believed, unless it fits into the already made up delusions of the fright wing, hate and fear filled babies. Facts and truth are nothing less than liberal bias in their tea brains.
Why don't you REPUBLICAN stop the witch hunt, there was no wrong doing in this Administration, Susan Rich or the President, get over it and move on.
Of course, the Obama haters will still say it's a lie. But then again, they believed Mitt Romney.
I'm waiting to hear what Gretchen Carlson says before I parrot her opinion and pretend it's mine.
The Republicans and Fox people must be going to Glenn Beck University.
Glenn Beck University for conservative college dropouts who want to be loud and famous.
But what were the names of the terrorists involved? William Ayers, perhaps? The Rev. Wright, hmm?
Wright is a former U.S. Marine. That means he earned the right to say whatever the hell he wants. Why are you so threatened by freedom of speech?
Relax Pedestrian, she was "snarking"!
...And I bet they're getting the scotch tape and craft glue at the ready...
Yes, and right after the sniff the glue, they'll tape up their rwnj theory and run like hell with it. ;)
Bad story-making is what Fox-GOP Inc. does. They're busy on the next episode of their soap opera.
Reality can't pierce their moronic bubble of misinformed rhetoric.
They are still trying....you gotta give them for persistence...but they are really getting desperate...
Never underestimate the conspiracy power of a tin foil hat wearer.
Too hilarious...Now, after the 1st of the year, what will John McCain do to stay relevant?
Was He ever?
He's starting a senior boy band with Murphy and King. The Coots on the Hill. They need a lead singer. And talent.
he will let you know as the next guest on every sunday morning news show for the next 100 sundays , he is the official spokes person for the fat old white gop dunderhead society after all
And they will suddenly start to care about the facts why? Also, if possible, this article would be a lot more convincing if just one Rep. were quoted as saying something rational. I know that's a tough quote to get, but you risk sounding like an echo chamber when you only quote Dems.
This is like living in a dis-functional family; crazy making. The lies, the half truths, the willingness to believe in crazy and avoid growth or a change of thinking.
If you scream long enough that the sky is orange, people will stop arguing, stop doubting you, even stop questioning themselves... they will go along, "Yes, the sky is orange"
At which time the screamer will stop hollering and call ya crazy for thinking the sky is orange.
American needs to see a counselor.
Jay, boy is this ever a true statement. I have one of those families, and it sounds just like this garbage, increasing ALWAYS as the holidays arrive. Tiresome at best.
Not so fast .....obviously the general is part of the conspiracy to............?
But.... I've learned on TPM that both Jill Kelley and Paula Broadwell BOTH VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE! THERE'S THE PROOF! (of course, never mind that the visits were for large group briefings at the Executive Office Building - not the residence - or white house tours or to visit a relative for lunch at the cafeteria.) THEY WERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE! Something MUST BE AFOOT! THOSE CHICAGO-STYLE THUGS ARE COVERING UP, AND THIS IS PROOF that the earth is flat.
Confidential means just that. We can't let them know everything. McCain and everybody else knows that. Their are still trying to screw up Obama's term. They lost get in where you fit and help get this country back in stride!!!
The right wing conspiracy theorists have done everything they can to make this into another watergate. john McMain and Darrell Issa need to forget about trying to find grounds to get rid of President Obama and start to assist in the big job of trying to help govern a country that could use their help. The tax payers of this country would appreciate it if they would start to earn their keep.
Sadly, people like McCain will never go away until they die. They come from dysfunctional states that therefore elect dysfunctional people.
I think we all know that facts and proof don't really influence the "feeling" and "belief" that the administration is lying. Because those are two things that cannot be disputed
Pathetic.
If only this were true....They still think our President is a Muslim and isn't an American citizen....You can't fix stupid.
no, you are mistaken. he's an honorable man who believes in the truth as well as loving his counry
Yeah, and he is perfectly patriotic and honorable enough to send more troops to Afghanistan to die at the hands of our allies. It is a war we cannot win but we can sacrifice our best young Americans in. I was in Viet nam in 68-69 and saw it first hand as a Marine. I
It is neither honorable, nor patriotic, nor does it show much intelligence.
If you scream long enough that the sky is orange, someone will shoot you. This is America, buddie!
Greetings! Rachel
It is good to have facts on your side to shut down the lies, slander, and outright craziness. I do hope that Senators McCain and Lindsey can apologize to President Obama and his ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice of whom I do pray that she is confirmed to the office of Secretary of State if she is nominated by President Obama.
Peace be unto you!
Marquest Burton
Republicants Dont apologize , they Blackmail, take hostages and kill the programs that their base argue in favor of!
Apparently, you didn't listen to his testimony Mr. LongIsland. For one, some of his testimony was classified anyway, nevertheless he testified that the report was changed, he didn't specify that the administration changed it. Representative King indicated the report went through a number of intelligence agencies and the reference to Al Quaeda was removed. It's not clear who removed it but in all likelihood it was an agreement among the intelligence community to remove it. Further, you appear to have missed that General Petraeus okay'd the final version of the talking points before Ms. Rice went on T.V.
After leaving the closed-door hearing, King spoke with reporters for several minutes about Petraeus’ statements. Rice’s television appearances were among the topics discussed, leading King to indicate that while Petraeus did not personally write Rice’s talking points, the CIA did approve them:
Dream on, Marquest.
Looks like a big "Ooopsie" for the right! I would just like to have anyone of these jokers answer this question for me: How can you hate one man so much that you would work actively to destroy our foreign service, block any progress toward jobs, talk about half of your fellow citizens like they are the dregs of the earth? How black is that heart.
Those seem to come with a disturbing and frightening regularity...
Note to the Obama haters--He's also half WHITE! ("But it's not about race"...Really?)
Clearly, we need to vindictively reveal a spy's identity in retaliation for this.
You forgot to include /snark. Remember, we have some low information readers here. :)