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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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I assume that at least some of you have seen Soledad O'Brien's awesome "What the Heck?" interview (pun intended)...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/soledad-obrien-joe-heck-susan-rice_n_2138101.html
Watching that video, my first thought was "What the HECK are you saying, Mr. Heck??
@LongIslandJew, do not come here to pick fights. If you want to disagree, that's fine. What you're doing seems a lot more picking fights. I'm deleting your comments. If you want to play, play nice.
P.S. @Donna J. Edmond, I'm deleting yours, too. Mama said don't feed the trolls, cool?
I feel you Laura,
But really, you guys really need to curb the new socked trolls on this site.
Just sayin.
You're totally correct.
I'm now convinced that President Obama, after single-handedly finding the cure for every type of cancer in the world, would be hammered by Fox News and the right-wing noise machine with headlines like, "What Took Him So Long?" and "Obama Drives Up Unemployment In Laboratory Community".
You lack imagination, Token. It would be closer to "All cancer deaths in the past 200 years tied to Obama conspiracy to hide cure for cancer!"
Or perhaps "Obama committing government takeover of healthcare by implanting chips in cancer patients as part of "cure."
So the theory is in tatters and that matters how? It's not like the theorists care about reality or anything.
we really need to look into what information john mccain had when he returned from tripoli. he claimed on face the nation that stevens had raised concerns during his visit. mccain did not mention this in his statement after stevens had been killed nor did he call it an act of terror. if mccain went to tripoli on the tax payers' dime and spoke directly with our boots-on-the-ground, arabic-speaking ambassador about security concerns at the bengahzi consulate then it is mccain who should be testifying as to exactly what he did to secure our interests and protect those americans who served in this hostile territory.
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2012/11/mccains-benghazi-fail-was-vainglorious.html
Where was McCain's screams when in GWB era
6-14-02 Karchi, Pakistan: suicide bomber kills 12, injuries 51
10-28-02 Laurence Michael Foley Sr, Am diplomat assinated outside his home in Amman, Jordan
2-20-03 International diplomatic compound in Riyadhi, Saudi Arabia: truck bomb kills 17
2-28-03 US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan - gunman on motorcycle killed 2 consulate guards
7-30-04 US embassy in Taskkent, Uzbekistan - suicide bomber kills 2
12-06-04: US consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - militants stormed & occupied perimeter wall - killed 5 wounded 10
3-2-06 US consulate in Karachi, Pkistan: suicide car bomber killed 4 including US diplomat directly targeted by assailants
9-12-06 US embassy in Damascus, Syria: gunman attacked embassy w/ grenades, automatic weapons, & a car bomb (though 2nd truck failed to detonate. 1 killed 13 wounded
2-2-07 US embassy in Athens, Greece: rocket propelled grenade was fired at the embassy building. No one was injured
7-9-08 US consulate in Istanbul, Turkey: armed men attacked consulate w/pistols, & shotguns 3 policemen killed
3-18-08 US embassy in Sana'a, Yeman: Mortar attack missed embassy, hits nearby girls' school
9-17-08 US embassy in Sana'a, Yeman: militants dressed as policemen attacked the embassy w/ RPG's, rifles, grenades & car bombs. 6 Yeman soldiers & 7 civilians were killed. 16 more injured
Forget Country first McCain. He was not competent to be our President. Arizona needs to take a look at what they have given us and make a wise decision to have that space, he occupies used in their best interest and the best interest of the country. LOL (Country first)
MZ acu, To add a few word's to your post, The REAGAN Administration, was aware of an impending attack on the Marines in Lebanon 4 week's Prior to the tragic Bombing. Radio transmissions where intercepted by NSA, The Commanders on the ground recieved this info 28 day's after the Bombing. As you'll notice the repub types seem to have forgotten these Incident's yet 1 incident happen's under Pres' Obama and Cover up. It is what I call Selective Outrage. I guess the Victim's of these and 9/11 really do not mean anything to them.
After talking (or trying to make sense...) with my Christian-conservative-republican neightbors about all things Political (about Obama, Israel, etc.) it's encouraging to see on Rachels blog so many rational people. Keep it going.
Do you think that the right's conspiracy theories about the consulate attack is partially to cover up the ties the right had to that dumb anti-Muslim movie trailer? Didn't those riots cause deaths as well?
Yes, Petraeus is a Republican and there was no cover up. Having served both Republican and Democratic Presidents, he has put country first. All the pundits need to leave him alone for they have nothing to say.
He is also a Republican!
Petraeus is still one of the best. Two term mandate Bush selected him. Obama selected him and nothing has changed. So, Retugs, leave him alone; adding another woman into his life is nothing new (ask the mormons. Let him and his family move on. Because, we, the people have spoken and we are moving on. The future awaits all those who will walk together. FORWARD
Rachel, I’m sure you know that things like facts, truth, reason, and believability simply roll of the conspiracy theorists like water of a duck’s back. In their fantasy world, only their dreams are real all else is some evil plot against them.
Please give this blog post from Howie Klein a read... http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2012/11/mccains-benghazi-fail-was-vainglorious.html
John McCain is so sad. Like to see his daughter Megan try and defend him now.
Wow, Looks like Tyler missed one.
I saw today that McCain's daughter is thinking of changing political parties. She has seemed to have "a head on her shoulders" before this also.
GAH! Hit the "up" button instead of the ! button on hurrycan't. Dang it all. RETRACT!!
It doesn't matter that 'Petraeus' remarks have left the right's conspiracy theories in tatters.' All the Right has to do is say it. They don't have to mean it or believe it, it doesn't even have to be true. People will believe what suits them.
And how many MORE girlfriends of General Petraeus' are going turn up? And of course they'll try to impeach their Obamie nemesis, a true sacramental Devil symbol for the feeble minded anti intellectual rugged individualists on Christian radio, soul savin' Huckabees' IGNORANT Christian Masses.
Then after all that it really was just a bunch of yokels who were upset about a You Tube video?
The next question is who decided that the 4 dead guys were not in any danger but probably just tossing the football with the locals?
http://www.politicususa.com/mindblowing-hypocrisy-john-mccain-wmd-lie-good-repeating-intelligence-bad.html
Since when does logic and empirical evidence EVER stop crazy people from concocting elaborate conspiracy theories? This won't change anything. They'll find a way to keep being annoying. They always do. It's kind of their job.
My guess would be that it was the republicans that blackmailed the general because he refused to make more of a scandal out of the Bengazi attack to justify their conspiracy theory. I believe they also did it to Clinton and forced him to deregulate the banks. Of course we may never know, but they were throwing around Carters name before the attack and maybe had dreams of another hostage crisis (that went horribly wrong) to sweep Romney into office. At any rate, I smell a rat and it ain't the Democrats.
Why is the self-proclaimed left defending Petraeus? The real crime here is his role as chief leader of the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, not the lurid escapades he got into in Tampa. And here we have Rachel and others missing the real issue. Not to mention the semi-demented babbling that goes on at Fox News and other extreme-right outlets.
I recommend folks look at a more balanced reaction to the Petraeus sex scandal than you'll find on the mainstream media.
Hmm. So, Petraeus says they lied, just with a different motive. That could be hard to substantiate. And now, post-election, it's o.k. to tip their hand about what they knew? I don't want to believe the conspiracysts, but you're not making it very easy to dismiss them.
Ever time people, point me to listen to "FOXS NEWS", i get so very sick and nauseous. Please TURN THE Channel!!!!
has anyone looked up the voter files in Tampa to see the actual party affiliations of all the generals on the invite list to various parties in Tampa, as well as the party affiliation of the FBI agent who sent the "shirtless photo" to kelley? http://t.co/LAxXocTB
I don't believe a word of it. Won't stand up in a court of law
http://tinyurl.com/myprecedent
I think I've seen a story (maybe in NYT, maybe on Rachel Maddow, maybe elsewhere) that suggests that in fact somebody figured out who the terrorists were that attacked the embassy and that somebody bombed one of their compounds soon after the September 11 attack. That would certainly give credence to the idea that the official talking points were scrubbed of detail so that the attackers wouldn't know we were on to them. Anybody got a link to a story that's consistent with my theory?