Prediction: Petraeus conspired with GOP on Benghazi to undermine Obama for Election

[berni_mccoy]

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2012, 02:20 PM - Edit history (2)

I suspect this was a failed attempt to undermine the President in an election year.

Why? What do we know to date?

1. Classified documents were found on Broadwell's computer
2. Cantor was one of the GOP leading the charge on "investigating" Benghazi
3. Cantor knew about his affair with Broadwell.
4. Conflicting information came from CIA regarding Benghazi
5. Rove seen with Broadwell this summer at NCSL
6. FBI has known about the affair between Broadwell and Petraeus and has an active investigation on this incident.
7. Romney/GOP were looking for something equivalent to Iran Hostage incident to discredit Obama on foreign policy (Romney's recorded statements at a fundraiser).
8. Broadwell is well-connected with Bain-friend David Gergen.

I suspect the administration is all over this and we will learn much more about this failed attempt in the days to come. It could mean the resignation of those Republicans in Congress who knew of this information as well as criminal charges.

Update: consider this: Cantor knew of Petraeus affair (through connections in FBI). Cantor needed someone credible to discredit Obama on Benghazi, so he used his leverage over Petraeus to make a statement in late October to apparently counter statements from the administration (see here http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/petraeus-throws-obama-under-bus_657896.html).

This statement from Petraeus got little coverage due to the hurricane.

Update 2: Turns out, Broadwell is well connected with David Gergen, who as we all know is well connected with Bain Capital. See http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021798317

[yellerpup]

1. Hope you are right, berni_mccoy.

Nothing less than a hurricane kept this story from becoming the October Surprise of Grover's dreams.

[Coyotl]

119. Petraeus, Rove, and Paula Broadwell: I Smell A Rat

Last edited Tue Nov 13, 2012, 11:39 AM - Edit history (2)

Crooks and Liars has picked up on this!
November 12, 2012 10:00 AM
Petraeus, Rove, and Paula Broadwell: I Smell A Rat
By karoli - http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/petraeus-rove-and-paula-broadwell-i-smell-r



@KarlRove June 11, 2012
With @paulabroadwell at the NCSL Leaders Forum this weekend in Washington. pic.twitter.com/kWGXLBUD

Broadwell seemed to speak on behalf of Petraeus: “The challenging thing for General Petraeus is that in his new position he is not allowed to communicate with the press. So he’s known all of this, they had correspondence with the CIA station chief in Libya. Within 24 hours they kind of knew what was happening.”

Broadwell, herself a former military intelligence officer, began her discussion of the attack by referencing an exclusive Fox News report that had run that day.

The Fox News story referenced there is the story that spawned the "Obama lied; people died" meme they tried to smear President Obama with during the election. Their report claimed that despite requests by the CIA for backup, they were denied. That sent Fox News talkers into a tizzy about how terrible this administration was and how the blood of our diplomats was on their head.

Who else pimped that story all over Fox News, do you think? None other than Karl Rove.

ROVE: Yeah, you don't want to send people into harm's way without knowing what's on the ground. But you can at least begin to move assets to the fight -- to the conflict. You could have a C-130 gunship orbiting off of -- off of Benghazi, waiting for clarity. You can put a QRF, a quick rapid force into position. You could have them airborne. You can have them out there. The president says he ordered support to be given and, yet, support wasn't given.

Except as we know, support was given.

[Coyotl]

129. A Petraeus Puzzle: Were Politics Involved?

A Petraeus Puzzle: Were Politics Involved?
November 11, 2012 - Jane Mayer - http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/11/david-petraeus-paula-broadwell-were-politics-involved.html

The director of the C.I.A. has resigned over an extra-marital affair two days after a Presidential election in which the Agency’s role in Libya was of burning concern—what is really going on here?

There seem to be some potentially fascinating political aspects of this story that have yet to be explored. Why, for instance, did this news explode publicly when it did? Both the New York Times and the Washington Post report that the F.B.I. had found, after months of investigation, that neither retired General David Petraeus, now the former director of the C.I.A., nor the woman with whom he was evidently involved, his biographer Paula Broadwell, had broken any laws. ...

..... according to the Times, at the end of October, a week or so after the F.B.I. investigators confronted Petraeus, an unidentified F.B.I. employee took the matter into his own hands. Evidently without authorization, he went to the Republicans in Congress. First he informed a Republican congressman, Dave Reichert of Washington state. According to the Times, Reichert advised this F.B.I. employee to go to the Republican leadership in the House. The F.B.I. employee then told what he knew about the investigation to Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader. Cantor released a statement to the Times confirming that he had spoken to the F.B.I. informant, whom his staff described as a “whistleblower.” Cantor said, “I was contacted by an F.B.I. employee who was concerned that sensitive, classified information might have been compromised.” But what, exactly, was this F.B.I. employee trying to expose? Was he blowing the whistle on his bosses? If so, why? Was he dissatisfied with their apparent exoneration of Petraeus? Given that this drama was playing out in the final days of a very heated Presidential campaign, and he was taking a potentially scandalous story to the Republican leadership in Congress, was there a political motive?

According to the Times, Cantor said he took the information, and “made certain that director Mueller”—that is Robert Mueller III, the director of the F.B.I.—“was aware of these serious allegations, and the potential risk to our national security.” This is a strange way to explain his contact with the F.B.I. on this matter, because it is almost inconceivable that director Mueller was not already aware ....

[Justice]

190. this suggests that the FBI Agent knew Petraeus was involved - very odd twist

Original inquiry to FBI agent by Kelley was because of anonymous emails that threatened her.
If Kelley knew Petraeus was involved, Kelley would likely not have gone to FBI, Kelley would have just called Petraeus and
told him to tell Paula to back off.

But when the FBI agent went to Reichert and then Cantor, he is talking about national security, which suggests he knew about the identification and investigation of Paula and then Petraeus.

[Coyotl]

155. NY MAG: The Petraeus Investigation’s Rogue FBI Agent Mystery

The Petraeus Investigation’s Rogue FBI Agent Mystery
Today at 11:34 AM By Dan Amira - http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/11/petraeus-cantor-reichert-fbi-agent.html

...

Even though the FBI looked into Petraeus and Broadwell and found no evidence of crimes or security breaches, sometime in October this same FBI agent leaked information about the scandal to GOP congressman Dave Reichert of Washington (although why Reichert was chosen is unclear). Reichert then passed the so-called "whistle-blower" onto House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who did the responsible thing and relayed the concerns to FBI Chief Robert Mueller. According to a Cantor statement:

“I was contacted by an F.B.I. employee concerned that sensitive, classified information may have been compromised and made certain Director Mueller was aware of these serious allegations and the potential risk to our national security,” Mr. Cantor said in a statement.

The agent's outreach to these two Republican congressmen about an issue that had already been investigated by the FBI raises some questions. Over at The New Yorker, Jane Mayer asks them:

But what, exactly, was this F.B.I. employee trying to expose? Was he blowing the whistle on his bosses? If so, why? Was he dissatisfied with their apparent exoneration of Petraeus? Given that this drama was playing out in the final days of a very heated Presidential campaign, and he was taking a potentially scandalous story to the Republican leadership in Congress, was there a political motive?

These answers may not be easy to come by, ...

[Coyotl]

172. In the chain of command, Petraeus has a boss

Last edited Tue Nov 13, 2012, 11:34 AM - Edit history (1)

James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, finds out on election day, and the resignation follows in quick succession.

[leveymg]

2. Before or after the fact?

What exactly did the conspiracy involve, in your view? A high-level plot to make the Administration look bad? How so?

[berni_mccoy]

11. After.

An attempt to paint Benghazi as failed response. Petraeus had interview late in October to suggest Obama did not respond appropriately. He may have been pressured by Cantor who had leverage over Petraeus.

[zentrum]

79. The implication is more serious

... than anything I'm reading here.

The implication is that they knew the attack was coming, and did nothing, or even, fomented it by timing the release of the Muslim film. Isn't that what all this may mean?

It was more active than just slanting the story a certain anti-Obama way via Petraeus quotes.

The story right now to Amy Goodman interviewing Juan Cole. He's discussing how Petraeus boxed Obama in with the surge in Afghanistan. P is a real neo-con who wanted us headed into Iran, now that the 2 other wars are winding down. And with Romney-Netayahu--he'd have gotten it.

[underthematrix]

167. Yep. this is the dangerous backstabbing shit

President Obama has been dealing with since he took office. There is a highly secretive and complex civil war going on in this country between the neocons and the rest of the country.

[tyne]

25. I'm scratching my

head on that one too.

[OKNancy]

3. don't think so

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2012, 03:21 PM - Edit history (1)

1. If it was something bad for Obama, Cantor would have squealed.
2. Cantor got his information from a rogue FBI guy*.. who has since been disciplined. IMO, the FBI man HOPED it would be bad for Obama, but it turned out it was just a soap opera.

There is no there, there


* this was reported to be the case on MSNBC

[Dalai_1]

7. I think Cantor had hoped to protect Petraeus

and romney would win the election

[DURHAM D]

8. Agree

[OKNancy]

10. could be. If it would have hurt Obama he would

have leaked. Your theory is as good as any.

[berni_mccoy]

12. I believe Cantor used his knowledge of affair to leverage Petraeus.

[kiranon]

75. More probable than Cantor trying to protect Petraeus. Can't see

Cantor protecting anyone but himself.

[Cracklin Charlie]

90. So why is Petraeus under the bus wheels now?

Why not let him slide along until they can run him for President? Shouldn't they have protected him?

How/why did Petraeus get under the bus?

I think I can agree with you about what may have happened in Benghazi, but I don't understand how discrediting the general helps the neocon cause. Did he threaten to expose someone else's dirty deeds?

This story bears close watching.

[DCKit]

125. The Obama administration knows he's a rat, in so many ways.

No he's a sacrificial goat. They're covering their asses.

Gonna suck for Congressional (R)s if he thinks he got a raw deal.

[Coyotl]

133. Obama could have asked for his resignation, certainly should have if not offered

The Neocons like Patraeus as a future candidate, so don't look to them to dump on him. Patraeus IS a NEOCON, one of them, someone Bush promoted.

[Cha]

164. Fascinating story of how Patreeus is now under the bus instead of driving it..

I've gathered.. The FBI was investigating threatening emails sent to a 3rd party from Paula Broadwell and uncovered the affair between him and PB. Seems like Paula did herself in and her buddy, the General.

[BlueMan Votes]

64. Exactly.

They thought that rmoney was going to win- and he wanted Petraus unscathed for the repug administration.

[glinda]

104. One fact: Republicans protect their own.

[DURHAM D]

17. The only good thing that came out of this mess

was the exposure of an overly ambitious actor (crazy person) who had access to classified info and was using it in a partisan manner with hopes of reaching her goal of being the National Security Adviser in the next Republican WH with her General as President.

I assume she will be court-martialed.

[yardwork]

44. I agree with you. This is a story of spooks behaving badly.

Cantor didn't try to make political hay from the Petraeus info. He reacted like a scalded cat. In fact, it's possible that all the hysteria about Benghazi actually helped uncover Petraeus's affairs - which is hilariously ironic. The Republicans were trying to use Benghazi to take down Obama, and they ended up taking down one of their likeliest candidates for 2016.

[Z_I_Peevey]

48. Kinda like 'and they would have gotten away it too, if not

for that meddling crazy mistress.' If nothing else, this will launch a few spy thrillers.

And I suspect the GOP won't want to look too closely at this thing, despite all their faux outrage.

The FBI leak to Cantor's people was to tell the neocons to back off the Benghazi stuff, or the whole thing would be put in the public sphere. Geraldo tried to tell them, but they just wouldn't listen. They had their script and they were sticking to it.

Hoist, petard, etc.

[summerschild]

66. Have they already hung their 2016 star on Jeb Bush?

I think rank and file Republicans would have voted for Petraeus before they'd vote for another Bush and many independents would as well. Maybe even pick up some disenchanted Demorats.

Petreaus was very ambitious and I think he would have gone for it and given Bush a run for his money.
Knocking Petreaus out of competition and still being able to hound Obama with threats of impeachment sounds like a two-fer to me. And he and his ruthless supporters wouldn't blink over doing it.

That Petraeus messed himself up is perfectly believable. It's the circuitous route and timing of the exposure that fuels the "October Surprise" feeling about the whole thing. If they had had it in time it would have been used in the election instead of after.

[femrap]

77. That makes sense...

Karma has been sticking it to the bad dudes of late.

That's so sweet.

[riverwalker]

100. Spooks Gone Wild

I don't think they counted on Broadwell going all "Fatal Attraction" nutzo on them.

[Chef Eric]

72. A rouge FBI guy?

Sorry, but I don't see what skin color has to do with this!

[riverwalker]

102. J. Edgar Hoover preferred

Max Factor's "Pink Passion" powder blush, I believe.

[Chef Eric]

197. :-) nt

[OKNancy]

137. LOL - oops rogue, obviously

[Dalai_1]

4. I believe this 100%

thank you for posting!

[Horse with no Name]

5. I am not sure what exactly it is

but it almost appears like there were two forces behind the scenes...one trying to force it into view and one trying to obscure it from view.

However, there are too many holes in this story as it has been told to us.

IF this is the case, then Petraeus is a traitor to his country and should receive all the accoutrements thereof.

[rhett o rick]

37. Problem is that Petraeus probably has the goods on some important people himself and

can bargain.

[liberalmuse]

6. The entire thing stinks.

We already know that Petraeus had underminded the Obama administration in the past. I wouldn't be surprised if some or even all of your theory were true.

[tyne]

9. Bob Woodward

"1. If it was something bad for Obama, Cantor would have squealed."

I can't help but think that this has something to do with Bob Woodward claiming, the Sunday before the election, on Fox News that the Romney campaign had come to his home with info on Benghazi. Remember that?

[berni_mccoy]

16. Cantor probably couldn't do it (authorization) so he used his leverage

over Petraeus to give an interview to throw Obama under the bus in the last week of October before the election. The interview didn't get coverage due to the hurricane.

[speedoo]

69. What Petraeus interview in late Oct?

If it happened, where were the right wing mouthpieces yelling for Obama's head?

Do you have any links that discuss this alleged interview?

[Z_I_Peevey]

38. Bob Woodward also blamed the President's first debate performance

on preoccupation with some as-yet-unrevealed national security concern.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/must-read/bob-woodward-first-2012-presidential-debate-something-happened-obama

[femrap]

81. I remember thinking the

same thing as Michael Moore. I thought, "Someone just gave him some bad news right before the debate to rattle him....on purpose, of course. He even looked pale. And I don't mean that in any racist way. All people can lose 'color' in their face when bad news slaps ya upside the head.

[bluestate10]

116. Or there could have been an ongoing mission at that very moment where american lives were at stake.

Fortunately, we have a President who is seriously concerned about soldiers and/or CIA operatives in such a situation.

[femrap]

139. We'll

probably never know the real 'Truth.' But if you think there aren't fractions in the CIA, go look at Mr. McGovern's video posted here. He worked at the CIA for 25+ years. It's on the Home Page right now!

Given what the CIA did regarding Iraq and what the mercenaries did there as well, I think Benghazi has an odor about it.

And of course Obama cares about soldiers and real CIA operatives. duh.

You do realize that Evil exists in the hearts of some Repugnant agents and that they are capable of murder? You have been very lucky to have avoided evil in your life.

[bluestate10]

115. I am convinced that the CIA killed a major al quida operative in either an assault

or Drone strike and the President knows about it, but can't yet say anything because the the absolute need for exact confirmation that the person was killed. I am guessing someone like the al quida number 2 that became number one after bin laden was killed.

[Eddie Haskell]

121. Ah yes, #2.

He's been bumped off a dozen times or more.

[Dr. Strange]

142. Al qaeda number 2 is the Spinal Tap Drummer of terrorists.

[riverwalker]

110. me too

wonder if Woodward was supposed to be part of the plan.

[Justice]

191. you are exactly right - do you think it was the rogue agent?

[TwilightGardener]

13. Petraeus did not tell Cantor anything, to my knowledge.

That was a leaker from the FBI, and a congressman from WA. Both of whom should be in some hot water today.

[DURHAM D]

18. Agree

[berni_mccoy]

19. Thanks updated the post with this.

[LynneSin]

14. GOP tried to make this Obama's Iran Hostage Crisis

Because they knew that was one of the failings that brought down Carter with the other being the economy.

They kinda had the economy thing going (economy was rebounding but a bit slower thanks to the GOP) and needed their big foreign crisis.

EPIC FAIL!

[berni_mccoy]

20. Romney even made statements to that effect

at the fundraiser that was recorded (same one where he made the 47% remark).

[sandyshoes17]

22. I agree.

I believe this is what they were up to. It didn't work

[BlueCaliDem]

15. I believe your prediction will be true.

I don't recall which program I heard it on, but I heard that Secretary Susan Rice, before going on the weekend shows and claiming that the attack on Benghazi was because of the Yahoo clip, got her information from the C.I.A., the agency Petraeus was coincidentally, head of. The mention was just a blip, btw, so it went by quickly, but the reason why I remembered it was because I was debating a Rightwing troll on HuffPo regarding this very incident at the time.

Wasn't Petraeus a partisan Republican and huge Bush fan? I always wondered why President Obama retained him, but I believe I now see why since the president and Petraeus did not like each other from the get-go although Andrea Mitchell-Greenspan claimed that their relationship "warmed over the years". Really Andrea? Don't you remember your own claim as you chimed in with other journalists that, "if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog"? There are NO "warm friendships" in Washington. There are necessary acquaintances.

[tyne]

23. Why would Petraeus(CIA)

purposely give the administration "bad" info? That doesn't make much sense...to me.

It's like, "I'm going to give you crappy information so you will look crappy". No, the one who ends of looking "crappy" is the giver.

[WinkyDink]

26. Oh, right, because Obama would say, "Waaah! The General lied to me!" Cf: Cuba, JFK and.

[tyne]

43. No.

It's no secret that Susan Rice was commenting with CIA info. The President wouldn't have to say anything.

Just doesn't make sense that Petraeus would, again, purposely provide bad info...it's not like he could have ever kept it a secret. It's public knowledge where the intelligence came from.

[DURHAM D]

40. It is now common knowledge that the CIA gave

incorrect information to the WH right after the event in Benghazi and it has caused the administration all sorts of problems and in particular Susan Rice . The State Department is doing an investigation of mistakes made and that will include a full report of the communications from the CIA to State. The CIA has already admitted that they gave bad info to the administration.

I assume they will find it to be simple incompetence on the part of the intelligence community. Meanwhile, Petraeus went to the movies (Argo) instead of staying as his post as the events evolved into tragedy.

[yardwork]

46. I agree with you up to the "simple incompetence" part.

The CIA had reasons to muddy the water and blur the facts about something that happened at their Libyan consulate. Oh yes, they would have every reason to keep the facts confusing on that.

The revelation of Petraeus's affairs is collateral damage from the Republican Congressional attempts to use Benghazi against Obama. Now I would bet that Cantor and some of the others are getting a little nervous. The CIA does not like to have its business splashed across the headlines.

[femrap]

91. If RobMe

and the Repugnant Party wanted an "Iran Kidnapping Situation," would their friendly CIA dudes be so bold as to attack the Benghazi Consulate...a false flag operation? I mean it was 9/11 after all. And if the Consulate Ambassador (swiss cheese memory) was in fact gay (never did get that answered), would he be the one to go???

I'm just trying to think like Cheney....which has now given me a headache.

I always look at what the Evil/Rove/Cheney would do to win....and that would be anything.

Who was the General who really insulted Obama in the past...some General showed complete disrespect to him. I can't remember who??? Help.

[TwilightGardener]

99. McChrystal.

[femrap]

140. thank you! nt

[daughterofthedust]

177. The CIA's supposed "incompetence" is just a cover

They purposefully supplied bogus intel to the administration following that attack to cover the fact that they were holding illegal prisoners at the annex. They had to create a motive other than the fact that they were being attacked for holding illegal prisoners. So that's where the Youtube video crap came in. They muddied the waters to keep their dirty secret, secret, IMHO.

[AntiFascist]

183. Bingo, that's what I think also...and welcome to DU! n/t

[bemildred]

21. That might explain this:

Lawmakers press for Petraeus testimony on Libya, despite resignation over affair

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/12/lawmakers-press-for-petraeus-testimony-on-libya-despite-resignation-over-affair/

[frazzled]

24. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

Let's drop the conspiracy theories. Republicans hang out together and are seen in public together. People have sordid affairs.

[bemildred]

27. People do conspire too, you know. They really do sometimes. nt

[WeekendWarrior]

182. Actually, people conspire ALL the time.

It isn't exactly a rare occurrence.

[bemildred]

189. Of course, I'm trying to be polite.

People also like to think they are "honest" and so on too, and like to trust their political leaders, you don't want to jar their sensibilities too much or they stop listening. The appeal of having a Daddy figure to watch over and protect you runs deep.

[WinkyDink]

29. Et tu, Brute?

[frazzled]

34. Because I'm not ready to sign on to a conspiracy theory ...

you accuse me of being a traitor? That's really sweet. Shows how far the conspiratorial mind must go to insulate itself.

[WinkyDink]

117. No, because you said "conspiracy theories" PLURAL. My remark was not that YOU are Brutus, but that

even a Caesar can be wrong about a conspiracy's existence (he should've listened to his wife).

[rhett o rick]

41. I agree. Life is so much better if we live in the "no conspiracy" bubble. nm

[Coyotl]

149. Black box voting, no problem, what conspiracy?

Corrupt Republicans in Ohio, no way, Congressmen felons, never happen ....

[Crabby Appleton]

185. I agree nt

[Tutonic]

28. Thank you!

[DURHAM D]

30. #3 now works for me

[Hugin]

31. What a ludicrous prediction! Total fiction!

That Republicans in Congress would resign over something as trivial as TREASON!

They have no shame.

Anyway, aside from that, what you say is highly plausible and may be true.

[berni_mccoy]

35. lol, ok I may be wrong on that part of it.

[seabeyond]

32. broke up four months earlier. found documents on her computer when? a couple months ago?

obama hesitant to accept resignition when finding out about affair. next day accepted.

[Doctor_J]

33. I think seeing one of the modern day traitors

go for the Big Swing would do a lot for morale among the sane 60% of the country. Continually having these people get off Scot free while pot smokers go to jail is very discouraging.

[CoffeeCat]

36. I have always thought that Benghazi was a Republican political ploy...

The timing was so convenient for Republicans, during the election. And they jumped on Benghazi and tried to control the messaging so quickly. Clearly, they were out to destroy Obama with it.

I also saw the look on Hillary Clinton's face. It was more than sadness. It looked like resigned anger. She knows, better than anyone, what these mafia psychopaths are like and that no act is too terrible for them.

I believe the reason that Obama and his administration has been tight lipped--is because they are avoiding saying anything that would give the Republicans impeachment fodder. They are all insidious.

According to the Global Terrorism Database compiled by the University of Maryland National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), there were 64 attacks on American diplomats when George W Bush was President.

These events, while tragic and horrible, happen frequently. They occur, we analyze them and move on--and hopefully figure out ways to keep our people safe.

Leave it to the evil, manipulative Republicans to take this unfortunate incident, politicize it, lie about it and float half truths and conspiracy theories around it--all so they can attack "gate" to the end of it and try to destroy a political opponent with it.

Republicans are really just the most vile and psychopathic people on the planet.

[Horse with no Name]

42. They were on message...quick

this is going to be interesting to watch as it unfolds.

The one thing is...Geraldo seemed to back away from it like it was poison and urged Fux news to do it as well. Wonder why?

[loudsue]

83. I know. I wonder how Geraldo knew anything.

He must have had some inside info.

[Coyotl]

150. Some smidgen of common sense? Wouldn't take much!

Doesn't take much common sense to see the obvious, right? Just ask Occam.

[Coyotl]

55. They threw every kind of pasta in Italy at the wall, nothing stuck

Grasping at straws in their hour of desperation is the real reason that Benghazi was politicized.

[CoffeeCat]

158. It stuck over at Fox Newsville...

...ask any Fox viewer--they will be able to tell you all of the talking points. This is a cover up. The President lied. The President didn't help them when they asked for it. Blah, blah, blah.

So much disinformation, from the first hour of this.

There is no reality left on this issue, as far as Fox viewers are concerned. They've got their soundbytes. They ignore the 50+ attacks on our diplomats during the Bush years. They don't care. They're convinced this is a 10.0 on the political earthquake Richter scale.

And please don't try to tell them otherwise!!! You screw up the brainwashing that has happened in their feeble minds, and when you screw with the Hannity-induced hysteria--you'll only get screaming and yelling.

...it's nuttier than squirrel poop.

[ciking724]

67. Is it possible that they, through some of their mercenaries, planned and executed the

Benghazi attack in the first place? This is what I have come to believe. They seemed to be so confident about what had happened from the very first. If they did, this is really, really sick.

[kiranon]

82. They did seem to know too much too soon. Or think that they did. n/t

[femrap]

98. +1 nt

[Coyotl]

113. Ooohh Bullshit. You are really going off the deep end there.

Get a grip on reality!

The Rs were trying to make political hay from an American tragedy, trying to make Obama look bad to counter his Osama is dead accomplishment.

Leaking information to accomplish that would be treason, of course. There is your HUGE crime, if it is so.

Let's not distract from that possibility by trying to herd the DU lemmings off a cliff

[femrap]

96. +1

They are psychopaths and nothing is beneath their no-conscience behavior.

Plus....remember it was 9/11 when this happened. Anyone else remember that date?

Something isn't right here. The CIA in cohoots w/ the Evil of the most evil. Cheney would kill his own lesbian daughter to win an election.

[HooptieWagon]

39. If so, it backfired.

Bengahzi isn't that big a deal. Even republicans know this, they are just using it as political ammunition. Petreaus' military and political careers are over. Broadwell's military career and politicam ambitions are over. Probably both marriges are over. Would they have risked that just to take part in a circus side-show? I don't think so. Even if they thought Romney would win, there was still the threatening emails which weren't going to be kept hidden.
IMO, the affair was separate. Broadwell sent the threatening emails to Kelley because she either viewed her as a rival, or as revenge (if Petreaus had dumped her). Only possible Bengahzi connection is if Petreaus had passed classified information to Broadwell about the attack, or CIA operations at the Counselate.

[demhottie]

61. the murder of an American ambassador and the invasion of a US embassy is a huge deal

[HooptieWagon]

138. It wasn't an embassy,

It was a consulate, and apparently a CIA station.
Amd I'm not diminishing the death of an ambassador and diplomats in an attack on a diplomatic post... I'm diminishing the repukes allegation of a conspiracy or coverup. I think everyone can agree that matters of national security regarding the attack should remain secret. Other matters should be disclosed. It appears the administration has done that.

[Coyotl]

152. What IS a big deal, it seems to me, is that a consulate in a hot zone is endangered by CIA ops

That no one would foresee this overlapping/embedding as endangering the lives of actual diplomats functioning in the same space is where we should focus. In other words, on Petraeus' judgment/watch. Why wasn't the CIA activity happening elsewhere?

Why did this big deal happen? and Why wasn't it averted? are the questions that follow on the big deal parts of the story.

[daughterofthedust]

178. I'm reading theories on other sites

that the CIA had illegal prisoners held at the annex and that President Obama didn't know about it and that's why the CIA fumbled not only the response to the attack but also created disinformation to lead away from the motive for the attack...going as far to mislead the President and his advisers! They then decided to lay it all at President Obama's feet and make him look like the incompetent one in this fiasco in a last ditch effort to absolve themselves of any suspicion from the public. Whew!

This Paula Broadwell thing is just the straw that broke the camel's back and caused the whole house of cards to fall down. It seems someone in the intelligence community was trying to keep this under wraps for whatever reason, but not for a good reason. She had a big mouth and started acting crazily. Now they're trying to rush everything out like rats jumping off a sinking ship. The jig is up. I keep hearing conflicting stories of who knew what and when they knew it. They were investigating this thing for how long, but suddenly all of this blows up now? And the President didn't know anything about until AFTER the election THEY THOUGHT he would lose? Something don't smell right.

[BumRushDaShow]

45. Don't forget the Darrell Issa connection and releasing classified info

Cummings Condemns Irresponsible Handing of Sensitive and Classified Information at Partisan Libya Hearing

Thursday, 11 October 2012 12:20

Washington, DC (Oct. 11, 2012)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, House Speaker John Boehner, and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi raising serious concerns about the way classified and sensitive information was handled at yesterday’s highly partisan hearing on the attack in Benghazi.

“I have grave concerns about the way yesterday’s hearing devolved into a disorganized, partisan, and absurd spectacle when it should have been a serious and responsible investigation of the attack in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans,” wrote Cummings.

“As Chairman of the Committee—and particularly as a former Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence—you have an obligation and a responsibility to ensure that classified information is protected during proceedings before the Oversight Committee,” wrote Cummings. “Yet, it was obvious to anyone watching yesterday’s hearing that Committee Members had no way to determine what information was classified or unclassified.”

http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5798&Itemid=104

[ROBROX]

47. OLD FASHION HYPOTHESIS

This article has many ideas which could be FACTS, but there are no links to tie the ideas into facts. There are to many this person said to that person. Missing were dates and those true people who did pass the information. Watergate did sink NIXON. Today it takes much more to dent a dino GOP member.

The scary idea is that if this is true in a real world people would be going to jail for there crimes. Instead business will continue and the evil people will continue to do their evil ways AGAIN.

[ciking724]

108. "...business will continue..." - perhaps true if we were still under Bush/Cheney leadership,

but there's a new sheriff in town, and things will NOT continue as usual.

[alcibiades_mystery]

49. I would lawyer up if I was Dave Reichert

Cantor is smart enough to have given himself some cover by immediately reporting an FBI leak back to the FBI. Reichert was less smart, bringing the same leak to Cantor! There may be criminal liability in his behavior. Of course, we don't know the details yet, but it doesn't look good.

[riverwalker]

123. Dave Reichert something fishy

FBI freelancer "source" tells Reichert, Reichert blabs to Cantor who tells other FBI? Since we know how wacky and unhinged most RW congressmen are, should the FBI be running around blabbing national security issues to them?

The spokesman said the Oct. 27 conversation was arranged by Rep. Dave Reichert, a Washington Republican. Reichert had initially received a tip from an FBI source who was a colleague of the bureau employee who called Cantor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-majority-leader-cantor-heard-of-petraeus-affair-oct-27-from-fbi-source-he-didnt-know/2012/11/12/27a180ac-2cea-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html

[Enrique]

50. we need to be more humble when mocking Freeper conspiiracy theories

I make fun of their theories because of how unfounded they are, but this OP suffers from the same flaw, imho.

[berni_mccoy]

51. Two things

1. I'm saying this is supposition.
2. I'm reciting a list of supporting facts, not made up ideas or opinions.

Is this theory plausible. Yes. Is it likely? I don't know.

Key here is Cantor knew of the affair and said nothing. It could have been politically damaging to the Administration if released and used appropriately. "Protecting" Petraeus isn't in Cantor's playbook (that's an opinion based on his political past), especially when it means winning an election. So what other reason would Cantor have for keeping the affair under wraps?

[Enrique]

53. what did Petraeus do to undermine Obama?

the most damaging thing to Obama is first that the tragedy happened, and then that his administration gave conflicting explanations of it. How could Petraeus have arranged that?

[berni_mccoy]

60. See the update in the OP. Petraeus gave a statement toward the end of the campaign

in late October countering statements made by the administration on the topic. Was he pressured to make that statement?

[Enrique]

85. that's what I'm talking about

it was actually a CIA spokesperson, and she didn't say anything about Obama. Bill Kristol turns it into "Petraeus throws Obama under the bus!" and you are now using that unfounded framing as the basis of your own theory. You and Kristol are both stretching.

[protect our future]

94. What reason would Cantor have

for keeping the affair under wraps? Perhaps he (Cantor) feared something would come to light affecting his own reelection? For example, questions as to why Cantor knew about the affair prior to the Administration learning about it.

[femrap]

101. BLACKMAIL....

The General may have a conscience and didn't want his wife and family and career RUINED. So Cantor uses this to blackmail him. Finally, the General throws in the towel and comes clean about the affair.....and quits hoping he won't have to testify. Or he pulls a 'rove' and simply doesn't respond to a subpoena.

[Coyotl]

175. Petreaus Allowed Right Wing Think Tanks to Set Up Shop at his Afghan Headquarters

look who he hangs with

Petreaus Allowed Right Wing Think Tanks to Set Up Shop at his Afghan Headquarters+
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/12/1160890/-Petreaus-Allowed-Right-Wing-Think-Tanks-to-Set-Up-Shop-at-his-Afghan-Headquarters#comments

In Monday’s Washington Post, Greg Jaffe reports that in Afghanistan, “[p]rominent members of conservative, Washington-based defense think tanks were given permanent office space at [Petraeus's] headquarters and access to military aircraft to tour the battlefield. They provided advice to field commanders that sometimes conflicted with orders the commanders were getting from their immediate bosses.”

[amandabeech]

187. Shades of NYT and Judith Miller in Iraq.

The Pukes just never learn.

[Live and Learn]

52. Seems quite logical to me. nt

[plethoro]

54. I agree with some of this, but

I am not convinced yet on the affair.

[loudsue]

89. They've both admitted to it. And the threatening e-mails Broadwell

sent to who she THOUGHT was "the other woman" are already old news.

The affair isn't really in question.

[Coyotl]

56. Can you source this Bernie?

1. Classified documents were found on Broadwell's computer

[berni_mccoy]

62. Here

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2012, 02:11 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.businessinsider.com/classified-documents-paula-broadwell-2012-11

It's also been talked about here at DU in other threads.

(ON EDIT: Link corrected)

[speedoo]

74. That is hardly something do build your conspiracy theory on.

A tweet from Jake Tapper?. Totally unreliable, especially since there was never an actual story to flesh it out, apparently.

[berni_mccoy]

93. Sorry, pasted wrong link. Corrected now.

[Coyotl]

156. Important area to consider here: "The source of the classified documents remains unclear."

If the FBI determined neither had committed a crime. I'm betting they know who the source of the classified documents is by now, or none of this would be public yet.

The fact that this is public now means that investigators have proceeded to the point that it can be public now, in all likelihood. In other words, they have already determined their list of conspirators.

[Coyotl]

88. TTBOMK - the allegation of classified material release is just Fox talk

to coin a new term "Fox talk" for "spinning the facts in political propaganda"

better do the hashtagging #foxtalk

On edit, see above link to source = classified material found on her computer. I'm getting up to speed on this story, maybe??

[TwilightGardener]

57. This, I doubt. I never thought Petraeus was all that political.

I definitely think political shit against Obama is going on, between the CIA, FBI, and the Repubs--I think games are being played, I think the whole Libya attack is suspicious, I think Rove is in here somewhere. But I think Gen. Petraeus just really wanted nookie with a hot chick, and she learned some classified shit she shouldn't have learned, and spilled it.

[kiranon]

86. Do not get to be a 4Star General without knowing how to play politics IMHO.

Used to work for a General when I was in the service. It's rough at the top.

[TwilightGardener]

92. No, I don't mean political in that sense. I mean political

in terms of R vs. D. I think Petraeus is not so much loyal to any party--as he's loyal to himself and his own ambitions.

[Dont call me Shirley]

127. Don't forget the bush implants. And you don't get to be the head of the cia without

playing extreme politics.

[tblue37]

184. Petraus is VERY political--and planned on running for president as a Repeublican someday.

i don't buy him being involved in this sort of conspiracy, but the idea that he isn't political is way off the mark.

[EC]

58. You mean

that Cantor and GOP blackmailed him.

[truebluegreen]

59. Republicans don't resign...they have no shame!

It is kind of like Mittens and the Mormons and Lying for the Lord: anything that furthers the cause. IOKIYAR.

[femrap]

107. The General is

not a Rove/Cheney type. He has a conscience. He was being blackmailed and came clean.

And if the CIA/mercenaries attacked the consolate, The General didn't necessarily have to know about it. The Spooks in the CIA are just like the nation.....DIVIDED.

And again, it was 9/11.

[Coyotl]

157. Why would you say he was being blackmailed. More likely FIRED!

If he was being blackmailed, the FBI would have them in custody, given they have been all over him.

[femrap]

166. Surely the

General wouldn't want the affair to become public, right? Even if it was over. He was ashamed of that. Anything that a person is ashamed of in the CIA is a BIG no-no. It opens him up to Blackmail.

So someone could say to the General, "I'm telling about the affair if you don't do so-and-so." Even Broadwell could have blackmailed him. Or someone she told about the affair could blackmail him. What if Rove knew and wanted him to false flag something or other?

A friend of my father's worked at the CIA all his life. One could never be ashamed of anything. If you were gay and out of the closet, you could not be blackmailed. But if in the closet, yes. That's why the 'other side' was always trying to get our Spooks to do something embarrassing. And our spooks did the same thing. Here's an example of what spooks do...like putting Monica Lewinsky in the WH. In the spook world, she is referred to as a 'swallow.' Get it?

I just don't understand the threatening emails to Kelly from various email names that turned out to be Broadwell...of course I haven't seen what they say. And this is what started the entire investigation! Kelly's hubby is a la-ti-dah surgeon in Tampa...mansion, money, etc....and the Kellys knew The General and family.

I don't get why Boardwell sent them...there must have been some reason....right?

People get real stupid when they start thinking with their 'down there' parts.

[mojowork_n]

63. Pre-dating Benghazi, there's another possible side to the story

Not saying anything you've put together is necessarily incorrect.

This weekend on Bill Maher, the comment was made that the R's were looking,
hoping, and wishing for another fiasco like the Carter failed hostage rescue,
complete with helicopter crashes. So, not having an actual event like that to
point to, the attempt to manufacture a facsimile.

But there’s another big, over-sized combat boot out there, that might be waiting to drop.

The issue of “privatized services to the military.” Who’s been profiting, how have
those contracts been awarded and managed. Has that provided another whole
sphere of 'command and control' outside regular military channels and oversight?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1950262&mesg_id=1950262

[coalition_unwilling]

65. I've idly speculated elsewhere that I had this down for some sort of "7 Days in May"

skulduggery where McRaven blew the whistle and Obama fixers busted up the plot. The extramarital affair feels like a 'Bread and Circuses' type of distraction to use people's prurient interests to keep their eyes off what was really going down.

IIRC, there have been a couple other high-ranking staff officers bite the dust in the past month also, lending further weight to the '7DiM' idea.

Great novel by Fletcher Knebel and the movie adaptation was pretty good too (altho not as good as the novel, imho).

[tater_salad]

68. Totally agree.

Makes me wonder if Obama knew about this and that is a reason why he did so poorly during the first debate and chose not to make eye contact with Romney. Something was different about Obama at that first debate and that would have been the time that this !@#$ was bubbling up to the top.

[Historic NY]

70. Somebody was playing games.....was Broadwell the go between?

Were both she and Petraeus working together? Were they exploiting the Benghazi attack for political gain....perhaps thats how the now known informant came into being.

[Coyotl]

71. Wrap your head around this: "FBI continued to investigate and intercept Petraeus’ email exchanges...

Was FBI monitoring e-mail up until the resignation? Very likely.
Does this impact the timing of the resignation? What JUST happened?

What happened most recently? Was Petraeus e-mailing political people?

==================
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-mistaken-reference-to-corruption-led-to-petraeus-fbi-investigation-intercepted-emails-referred-to-sex-under-a-desk/

Ronald Kessler, the journalist and author who broke the Secret Service prostitution scandal, reported Friday that the FBI had been investigating Petraeus for “many months” when he abruptly resigned Friday.

The investigation began [late this] spring, but the FBI then pored over his emails when he was stationed in Afghanistan [in charge of U.S. forces from July 2010 to July 2011].

The woman who was having an affair with Petraeus is a journalist who had been writing about him.

Given his top secret clearance and the fact that Petraeus is married, the FBI continued to investigate and intercept Petraeus’ email exchanges with the woman. The emails include sexually explicit references to such items as sex under a desk.

Such a relationship is a breach of top secret security requirements and could have compromised Petraeus.

At some point after Petraeus was sworn in as CIA director on Sept. 6, 2011, the woman broke up with him. However, Petraeus continued to pursue her, sending her thousands of emails over the last several months, raising even more questions about his judgment.

[Z_I_Peevey]

87. Until there is a more reliable source for your linked story

I will doubt that Petraeus was merely a lovestruck teenager a-trying to woo back his lanky lady love.

Newsmax, The Blaze. Really?

[femrap]

120. Kessler says they

were having an affair before he left the military. The WSJ said it started after.

I believe it started before...and maybe this author had the affair so to get more info out of her 'subject'....especially if she broke up with him after he went to the CIA. Pursuing her leaves The General as a HUGE CANDIDATE FOR BLACKMAIL. That is a HUGE no-no at the CIA. If you are ashamed of something, you can't work at the CIA.

And gee, how many years was this woman in grad school at Harvard anyway?

[MissNostalgia]

73. Tears of joy & sadness

I would be devastated by the lengths people took to hurt this President but I would be happy with Republicans being exposed.

[patrice]

76. You think Cantor has a deal with Rand Paul? re: Paul's anti-UN legislation opposing controls on gun

sales to 3rd world countries, especially those in Chaos, like Libya . . .

Usually includes dead Americans too.

We're the biggest gun merchant on Earth, thanks MIC

.....................................................

U!S!A!

time to party for the Holiday Party, All.

luv local.

get out and party for your country and our communities'

families & friends.

Happy Holidays.

:p

[patrice]

132. PS: Rand has a Nordquist-style OATH/extortion for senators to vote against UN gun control

treaties about 3rd world countries in turmoil ...

including dead people and angry communities of locals.

effing war mongering Republicans never give killing a second thought, Evangels of Death and Hate.

My family has lots of military in it, Cantor et al Rovian parasites for power, fascists.

This IS about blood you're disrespecting there Prince of Tea taxes for others, but not "us" 53%

......................................

Whose soldiers? *O*U*R* Soldiers!

Party for the Holiday Party, all,
one wine-bar at a time.

USA!

p

[winstars]

78. if I say to my fellow Du'ers one more time to watch "Seven Days in May" again...

I am not saying coup d'etat tin foil hat stuff but.....

[Coyotl]

97. The "classified documents" angle, real or rumor

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/more-misdirection-white-house_659918.html

Gingrich told Fox News Tuesday evening that he'd been told by a “fairly reliable” U.S. senator that at least two news networks have emails “from the National Security Adviser’s office telling a counterterrorism group to stand down.” Gingrich qualified the statement, however, saying “I want to be clear, it’s a rumor.”

Time to go back and build the chronology of both facts and spin, I'd say. Who said what when in relation to the election?

[Z_I_Peevey]

106. Yes, a comprehensive timeline will reveal much, I suspect.

I can't imagine how this will play out. Special Prosecutor? Public hearings would seem to be an impossibility, given the players.

Once again, thanks Al Gore, for the internets.

[RedCloud]

80. Hopefully you are spot on and some repugs get kicked to the curb.

[DirtyDawg]

84. I fear...

...as I have come to believe over the years, that the 'C' in CIA does, indeed, stand for 'conspiracy'. This mess is so very similar to the, successful, efforts to discredit Carter and end his Presidency...Involvement of Republican nominee campaign, the CIA, Israel (so far the 'false flag' element of this and the Mossad's involvement this time has not hasn't been mentioned), Jihadists, et al. I'm with those that say Republicans better STFU on this cause if, or when, the truth does out every damned person with 'R' after their name will be running from it as if it said Nazi...and the bastards deserve it.

[grantcart]

95. love you Berni but having a hard time with this one.

If Petraeus wanted to hurt the President he could have resigned from the military and blasted him, hell he could have beaten Romney or been the VP candidate.

[berni_mccoy]

109. The supposition you raise does not contradict the possibility

that Petraeus might have been manipulated into doing it. His desire toward hurting Obama politically would be irrelevant if he was manipulated.

The connections of Broadwell to the political machine running against Obama are significant.

Cantor could have used the information publicly to damage Obama directly. Or perhaps he thought he could have a bigger impact using Petraeus to inflict it? The big question is why didn't Cantor say anything when he found out before the election?

[Coyotl]

160. "The big question is why didn't Cantor say anything when he found out before the election?"

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2012, 06:51 PM - Edit history (2)

Ongoing investigation? One might presume the investigation reached a certain point when this could become public, then Petraeus takes the microphone.

To what extent his affair isn't going as expected is part of what he did not mention to the public, to be sure.

==================
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/11/david-petraeus-paula-broadwell-were-politics-involved.html

As an official told the Wall Street Journal, “This investigation wasn’t about the C.I.A. director, it was about what looked like a cyber crime.” In this case, like any other, the official went on, “There are strict rules, there is a wall, about sharing information on ongoing criminal investigations.”

.....

The F.B.I. employee then told what he knew about the investigation to Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader. Cantor released a statement to the Times confirming that he had spoken to the F.B.I. informant, whom his staff described as a “whistleblower.” Cantor said, “I was contacted by an F.B.I. employee who was concerned that sensitive, classified information might have been compromised.”

[malaise]

103. I have one question

Was the Ambassador's death 'arranged'?

[berni_mccoy]

114. I highly doubt it. I don't think this was a conspiracy that was conceived prior to Benghazi

The Romney campaign was looking for an opportunity, certainly, and they tried to leverage Benghazi politically.

[Coyotl]

161. What did the Romney campaign do and when did it do it?

What did they know and when did they know it?

[glinda]

105. I think the things you point out are interesting.

[harun]

111. Cantor sure as hell didn't know and keep it quiet for no reason.

[bluestate10]

122. If it hurt Obama, it would have been made public. Cantor is scum. nt

[aletier_v]

151. what if Cantor suspect the winner would be Obama

would he antagonize a president with a mandate?

[Spazito]

112. I remember Drudge was supposed to break big news that would be an 'election changer'...

and then......nothing. The timing of his supposed three alarm alert is within the timeframe when Cantor knew. It certainly makes me go hmmmmmm.

[Eddie Haskell]

118. Doesn't this belong in the dungeon?

If not please explain why some speculation is OK.

[ksoze]

124. Intersting, but requires too many 7 degree calculations

The fact that Broadwell met Rove and that she did research for an organization headed by Gergen who had a connection to Bain is a little too much. In the D.C. power game, everyone is connected, so all must be guilty.

[patrice]

126. I just now put my dog-tags back on. Whose soldiers? *O*U*R* soldiers, our families! Never forget!!!

This is about blood.

p

[struggle4progress]

128. meh. maybe mr cia dude and his fuggbunny were just boinkin fer fun

[stevenleser]

159. That's what I tend to think. The conspiracy proposed doesnt work for me. nt

[DallasNE]

130. Romney's 2nd Debate Performance

Suggested that he had information not available to Obama but that he blew it by getting hung up on whether Obama called it "an act of terror" on 9/12, which he did.

From the beginning State seemed to have better information than the CIA. What we know is that the attack happened roughly 1 hour before the data filtered up to the decision makers and by then it was too late for help to do much good. Plus, the kind of assets available would likely have to come from some place like the UK with private security contractors rather than a Marine contingent and that adds a few more hours.

Keep in mind that the affair broke off a couple of months before Benghazi happened so had Petraeus already been blackmailed into breaking it off by Cantor and company. Regardless, this could get ugly fast as this is much more serious than mere political hardball. This is possible treason territory should it play out in this manner. For now, let's just let the chips fall where they may.

[Coyotl]

131. Your timeline is all wrong

[DallasNE]

136. Do You Have A Link

The only timeline issue is with Cantor, who has said he had know about the affair for "weeks". The other stuff has been published.

[unc70]

148. Romney's 3rd Debate Performance

Romney looked like he had learned something that had scared him big time. A few of us speculated at the time that he might have learned something in the week or so before from his intelligence briefings. As a candidate, he would usually get eyes-only information during the period prior to the foreign policy debate.

While everyone is speculating about what might have been going down, thought I would throw that into the mix.

[backscatter712]

134. This absolutely smells like a GOP/CIA attempt to repeat the Iran Hostage Crisis.

They wanted to hit Obama with Benghazi in the same way they hit Carter with the Iran Hostage Crisis.

My guess is Obama had some friends in the CIA and the military (by virtue of being a competent commander in chief, and the .mil and intel communities not forgetting the Bush-era clusterfucks), and someone tipped him off.

Now Petraeus gets the axe, my guess is a few more neo-con operatives are gonna get forced out too.

The GOP tried the same vile shit they try with every Democratic President, but it backfired on them. Now the Repubs are going to get a severe pimp-slap!

[heaven05]

135. I

retract all statements that intimated that this affair was innocent attraction to power/seduction ect. Something is not quite as it seems here. Will we ever really know?

[blackspade]

141. Bookmarked.

I'll be interested to see how this all pans out.

[crunch60]

143. Juan Cole: Real Petraeus Failure Was Counterinsurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan

snip'
JUAN COLE: I was opposed to General Petraeus becoming head of the CIA in the first place, because one of the CIA’s charges is to evaluate policy, and one of the big policies that needs to be evaluated is the troop escalation, what is called the "surge," in Afghanistan, the big counterinsurgency program that Petraeus put into place and then shepherded through as commander on the ground. And the CIA can’t properly evaluate that program if its head is the author of the program. And I’m sure the analysts tried, and maybe, you know, Petraeus tried to be objective and so forth, but it’s just not right. So I think that’s the real issue here, is why—why did the Obama administration put an actor in a military role, then as the head of the agency that will evaluate the actions?


http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/12/juan_cole_real_petraeus_failure_was

[Ganja Ninja]

144. There certainly seem to be a lot of familiar players on this.

I don't understand how Cantor can be connected to an FBI investigation without there being something rotten in Denmark about the whole thing.

[Mme. Defarge]

145. What if the the head of the CIA was outed by State?

As payback. Maybe Bill's passionate campaigning was as much, or even more, about defending his wife as supporting Obama.

[Coyotl]

162. More like State people were killed by CIA ops situation, seems to me.

CIA brings hostages to Benghazi situation, attack ensues, diplomats killed. #30#

[AnotherMother4Peace]

146. Proof you might be right - Rush is preparing his ditto heads for the "Democrat lies" that will

be coming out about this story. He is projecting, blaming, and laying the groundwork for a Repub scandal. His response is most telling - sounds like there's a Repub scandal brewing.

[ljm2002]

147. That's pretty much how I see it...

...especially since the FBI person went to Cantor and yet no one on the relevant committees was told, nor was the POTUS told. That smacks of some serious game-playing and I'd put money on them trying to pull an October surprise to affect the election. Also you make a good point that hurricane Sandy shoved Petraeus' statement out of the headlines. That's another reason why the rabid right can plausibly say that Sandy affected the election: more than they are willing to make public!

[patrice]

153. Traitor Evangels of Death and Hate, financed by War Profiteers. nt

[patrice]

154. This is about blood.

[Z_I_Peevey]

163. Cantor didn't tell Boner at all. The plot thickens.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/the-eric-cantor-angle-on-petraeus-broadwell-affair/

I hate to say it, but this speaks well of the Orange Man. He's out of their loop.

[Coyotl]

165. More timeline = Petraeus told biographer to stop harassing family friend in mid-summer

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2012, 06:35 PM - Edit history (1)

So, FBI has been on Petraeus since then?

Petraeus told biographer to stop harassing family friend, officials say
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/petraeus-told-biographer-to-stop-harassing-family-friend-officials-say/2012/11/12/6ccb325c-2d00-11e2-a99d-5c4203af7b7a_story.html

Former CIA director David H. Petraeus told the woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair to stop sending threatening e-mails to a family friend, Jill Kelley, after a federal investigation determined who was behind the harassment.

The move by Petraeus came in mid-summer after Kelley contacted a friend who worked as an FBI agent in Tampa, where she lived, beginning a process that would eventually force the former four-star former general to resign last week.

The new information, provided by two law enforcement officials, helps fill in a summer timeline when Petraeus’s e-mail account became the subject of a federal investigation into whether national security had been compromised during his affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell.

Broadwell, a former Harvard University researcher who focused her dissertation on Petraeus’s military career, hired longtime Washington criminal defense attorney Robert F. Muse, the lawyer said Monday. ....

=============

Ironic twist to this! FBI was using its subpoena power to access email accounts and discovers the anonymous e-mail account and busts the Director of the CIA. That is kinda funny

[aletier_v]

170. very interesting. so maybe SHE is the blackmailer

trying to force him back into the affair?!

[OverBurn]

168. I just want to see repukes go to jail, is that wrong? :-)

[libodem]

169. You got it

It was supposed to be Bronco Bama's 9/11.

Fail. Mo Fo's.

[amborin]

171. bookmarked for later; real quest is who is the FBI agent and why did he/she contact Cantor?

ny times reported today that said agent was frustrated with the
slow pace of the inquiry, unaware that other agents were proceeding
carefully and painstakenly so to be sure that they had enough evidence and
charges were justifiable. This agent did not know this, apparently, and
believed that the investitation was either halted or going too slowly.

But why contact Cantor?

[SaveAmerica]

173. I've felt this from the moment I read about Benghazi

It stunk to high heaven; Bush family connections with the CIA put this tragedy magically happening on 9-11 as suspicious to me.

I think this is a nice, neat clean way to get rid of people behind it. Their investigation brought Petraeus into the mix, his stupidity to have an affair was very helpful.

And I don't think Obama or Clinton can every mention anything that really happened or it would make them seem like conspiracy theorists (what was it that Hillary called the Republican attempts to bring her and Bill down during his Presidency? They made fun of her then, but we know now that she was right and it was just the beginning).

[2naSalit]

176. She called it a

Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, and you're correct, she was right.


A little more fodder, actually a lot:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#49798327

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#49798400

[SaveAmerica]

195. Thanks!! That's the term!! Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy

In this way I feel that it has been a bonus having the Clinton's on Obama's team; they've been there, they've done that and they know which rock a nasty Republican is under before they even pick it up. They know what they're capable of and I feel that they are working 5 steps ahead of them.

[Coyotl]

174. Wasn't the Romney campaign trying to place "an informant" with Woodward. Who?

Woodward found the person less than credible, hearsay conveying only.

Update: Added information about the effort to reach out to Bob Woodward by Romney allies regarding the Benghazi attacks. Woodward appeared on Hannity's show November 7th to talk about it, and said he was unimpressed with the quality of the information.

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/petraeus-rove-and-paula-broadwell-i-smell-r

[Hermes Daughter]

179. Spy vs. Spy

The story could have broken at any time -- and it's strange it didn't. If the purpose was to undermine Obama and the GOP was involved, no hurricane could have kept it out of the news. End of theory.

Something else was going on. I believe it has more to do with old CIA vs. FBI history. J. Edgar and his tricks. State department and many in diplomacy think the FBI is/are rogue criminals. The CIA are good guys. Just repeating what I've heard.

Remember JFK and J. Edgar? Biggest question in this entire thing is who is Mary Kelly and why was the FBI looking into her pathetic little emails? Start there... and the story will out.

[SweetieD]

180. You didn't mention it. But Romney's lightening fast response to Benghazi was suspicious

too. He was smirking. His conference was as if he already knew this was set up. It was very weird. I saw many people making comments about it.

[Lucinda]

181. I don't think Petraeus was a player in this. I think he got played.

And the Broadwell pic with Rove shows they had met, but it just could have been a picture taken at an event too.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

186. Dianne Feinstein has said for days she and her Senate Intelligence

Committee knew nothing about this. How is that possible?

Rep. Dave Reichert R(WA.) knew along with Cantor.

[Coyotl]

193. If FBI did not find a criminal activity, they cannot talk about ongoing investigations

They found out when Director of National Intelligence asked for the resignation. That is when something happened that falls under their need to know.

[sandyshoes17]

188. This story is getting stranger

Cantor's connection. fbi distancing themselves from so called rogue agent. All during a time the rw were trying to pin benghazi on PBO before the election.
All the players in this are right wing, all wanted a Romney win. Seems like starting an investigation into threatening e-mails can be an excuse to get other info they wanted. Something's definetly not right here.

[Lars39]

192. I think you're correct...seen this?

Last edited Tue Nov 13, 2012, 10:43 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021805333

[Logical]

194. No, and this is how the GOP thinks!

[Coyotl]

196. "FBI officials searched Paula Broadwell's home late Monday night. They left carrying several boxes.

Last edited Tue Nov 13, 2012, 12:17 PM - Edit history (2)

"FBI officials searched Paula Broadwell's North Carolina home late Monday night. They left carrying several boxes."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505266_162-57548836/details-of-petraeus-affair-emerge-as-scandal-engulfs-gen-john-allen/

Kelley was spotted Monday leaving her Tampa home. She's not commented on the matter publicly but she has hired a high-powered legal team, including John Edwards' former counsel Abbe Lowell.

.......

Broadwell was given unprecedented access to the top U.S. general.

"I thought it very odd that he would allow someone to have an extended embed with him... this thing morphed incrementally over time to where she was eventually almost considered a close member of the team," says Mansoor of the unconventional relationship.

...

... one of the reasons the FBI was so concerned about Broadwell's emails to Jill Kelley, was that they contained private security information about Petraeus' travel schedule.

At first, agents thought someone must have broken into Petraeus' files, but it turns out Broadwell was likely just forwarding information the general had shared with her himself.

=============

http://www.examiner.com/article/petraeus-sex-scandal-fbi-back-at-broadwell-home-investigating-tampa-agent

reports on Monday night that the FBI was back at Paula Broadwell's home--and they are now doing an internal investigation into the agent that first tipped them off about it all.

[B2G]

198. He could have just screwed him with his testimony on Benghazi

But he didn't.

So no.