GOP Rep Admits CIA Approved U.N. Ambassador’s Talking Points On Libya

[DonViejo]

Source: ThinkProgress

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has admitted that the CIA and intelligence community approved U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice’s talking points before she made her much-derided Sept. 16 appearance on several Sunday news shows to discuss the attacks in Benghazi. King, one of the most outspoken critics of the Obama administration’s response to the attack, came to his conclusion following testimony from former CIA Director David Petraeus.
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:

Q: Did he say why it was taken out of the talking points that [the attack] was Al Qaeda affiliated?

KING: He didn’t know.

Q: He didn’t know? What do you mean he didn’t know?

KING: They were not involved — it was done, the process was completed and they said, “Ok go with those talking points.” Again it’s interagency — I got the impression that 7, 8, 9 different agencies.

Q: Did he give you the impression that he was upset it was taken out?
KING: No.

Q: You said the CIA said “OK” to the revised report –

KING: No, well, they said in that, after it goes through the process, they OK’d it to go. Yeah, they said “Okay for it to go.”

Watch King’s statements here:

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/11/16/1203921/peter-king-cia-approved-rice-libya-statements/

[loyalkydem]

1. McCain and Lindsey

You owe Ambassador Rice an apology.

[ffr]

19. ^^^ This ^^^

So humbled is King once he gets the facts. So fiery when he's slinging cow dung before the fact.

Yet more reason to disapprove of idiots who form an unscientific conclusion, THEN find evidence to form that conclusion.

[vlyons]

20. Don't hold your breath wait for apologies

Well maaaaaaaybe Graham, but McCain? Not gonna happen.

[malexand]

22. senate.gov...

Go to senate.gov and complete their "Contact" email form as it's easy and at least an aide for these two angry, ignorant, rude old men will read your demand for an apology.

We can make a difference.

[Hubert Flottz]

35. Mitt couldn't wrap his mind around that nasty word...

apology. The preemptive attack is the odor of the day with the GOPsters.

[CreekDog]

29. the only thing for them to do now is demand to fire the CIA

[malexand]

21. Great idea...

Thanks loyalkydem.

I sent both of the angry, ignorant, old men an email demanding they apologize to Ambassador Rice.

It's easy to do. Go to www.senate.gov and type in their state (Arizona or South Carolina) or name then click on their "Contact Me" link, complete the 6 or so fields with your name and contact information (phone number is not required) and submit.

[femrap]

32. Can't

we impeach McLame and the other dude?

Isn't that what they wanted to do????

[njlibguy_19656mm]

44. hear hear friend

though i wouldn't expect much.

[Supersedeas]

55. the Repigs left them to hang in limbo Limbaugh land

[AAO]

56. And SC & AZ owe them the door!

[LeftInTX]

2. Peter King looks deflated - LOL

[calimary]

6. Awww... poor widdle thing!

Must just kill him to have to reel it back in like this. Boo hoo.



Well, guess maybe you can't start your beloved impeachment proceedings today, can you, asshole? As Kathleen Parker once said - "put on your clown suit and go play in the street."

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121111/OPINION04/311110008/1004/rss12/Kathleen-Parker-GOP-reason-Romney-s-loss?nclick_check=1

End of first paragraph on Page 2. I don't agree with her on some things, here or elsewhere, but that particular line was PRICELESS!!!!!

[skydive forever]

49. You linked to Florida Today

I live in Cocoa, are you a local? I'm surrounded by RWNJ here, it would be nice to know I'm not alone here.

[calimary]

53. Hey! Welcome to DU, skydive forever!

Greetings from SoCal! So glad to have you with us! As you've probably discerned - you may feel alone there geographically, but you are NOT alone HERE in DU! You have hundreds of thousands of neighbors and friends here, of like mind, who will buoy you up and have your back and provide you with the solidarity and support you need whenever you need it. And it's a 24-hour operation, so you'll be among friends at any time of the day or night! They may be from across the globe, but they're as close as your computer!

[Chipper Chat]

54. Got a good story for you.

I went to the License Branch on Merritt Island and waited in line. Four people were ahead of me and answered 'republican' when asked which party they belonged to when applying for their voting card. When it was my turn and the clerk asked me if I wanted to register to vote and what party I said "Democrat" forcefully. About 7 people at desks raised their heads and looked at me as though I was from Mars. I loved it.

[LiberalFighter]

57. He was not a happy camper when he was questioned about the briefing.

He hated that he made a fool of himself.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, DonViejo.

[heaven05]

4. so

I was right. rethug tempest in a teapot. I hope they go the way of the whigs.

[Caeser67]

5. In Other Words:

There is nothing here to suggest that the White House is covering anything up, so we're going to go back to looking for the POTUS Birth Certificate.

[leveymg]

7. So, the story now becomes: CIA misled State Dept., intentionally or not.

Last edited Fri Nov 16, 2012, 09:37 PM - Edit history (1)

That's understandable, given that the State Dept had embargoed its own public statements (after contradictory reports were issued), the CIA wasn't making public reports (just contradictory closed door reports to Congress and the Admin.), so Amb. Rice essentially volunteered to carry the ball and take the heat by becoming the public spokesperson for the whole crew.

The dilemma the CIA had was that it was reluctant to reveal that the Benghazi compound was essentially a CIA station for coordinating local Jihadis traveling to Syria along with looted Libyan heavy weapons, including antiaircraft missiles.

Rice did articulate what was essentially a falsehood that the attacks weren't "pre-mediated" and weren't "coordinated." But, that's really a distraction from the larger issue about the CIA and Amb. Stevens were doing in Benghazi.

[amandabeech]

23. The CIA angle is what bothers me the most.

First, it was the prospect that the CIA might be involved in shipping arms and Jihadists to Syria, in contravention of stated U.S. policy on both parts.

Now, there are additional concerns that the CIA was operating some sort of prison or nasty interrogation operation in the Annex itself, again in contravention of stated U.S. policy.

I've been around long enough to distrust CIA operations. It seems that there is a tendency for CIA and other intelligence operatives as paramilitaries to do things for which no Congressional approval would be possible. It seems a real stretch on the Constitutional rule that Congress solely has the power to declare ware. We've been moving away from that as far as I can remember, and I don't think that it is a good thing.

I know from responses that I have received to my posts on the subject, that many DUers are focusing solely on the Puke attacks on Rice's statements. I agree that the Pukes are making far too much of this, but it seems that the Puke attacks on Rice's statements have diverted attention from what seems to be the more important question of what was going on in Benghazi in the first place.

[femrap]

33. I always

thought that McLame and Graham were trying awfully hard to divert attention...it made no sense to me. And they were talking the same points. Referring to Susan Rice as incompetent and not intelligent was just way OVER THE TOP. Someone was telling them what to say....I wonder who? It just seemed so staged. I started to think they were covering up some kind of false flag operation on 9/11 in Benghazi.

I would think that the CIA has all kinds of 'annexes' around the Consulates we have. And full of pallets of 100 $ bills...and/or torture devices. What those Spooks can do w/o any of us knowing....well, I doubt if my imagination could come up with the stuff they do.

I don't know. And now that Petraeus is behind closed doors...who knows what he's saying after all the attention he's received. Do we get to read what he says?

[leveymg]

38. That GOP distraction and diversions from the real issues are entirely intentional.

It's bipartisan Kibuki theater. Neocons are largely in charge of the policy, which both Parties support. It's a question of degree and who retains any sane awareness of the dangers of getting the US smack dab into the middle of a 1300 year old religious war between the two principle branches of Islam. Worse, we're seen to be taking sides in this historical insanity!

[libdem4life]

43. True. Add in Israel and it becomes 2 of 3 Abrahamic religions going back even further.

[amandabeech]

41. There are particulars here.

There have been allegations that arms are moving from Eastern Libya to the Syrian rebels through Turkey. Sending arms to the rebels is against stated U.S. policy.

There are also questions about whom we are dealing with both in Libya and Syria. The rebels may be Al Quaeda-esq. and come back to bite us elsewhere.

Personally, I could use some reassurance that the CIA isn't getting us into something that many people do not want.

[AntiFascist]

27. "local Jihadis" being Al Qaeda?

the reason this is probably such a hot potato is because the public can't handle the fact that looted Libyan weapons were known to be distributed to "the enemy". What complicates matters is that these weapons may have ended up in the wrong hands, including possibly Hamas (Gaza Strip)? It is speculated that when the shipments were cut back, once it became known that arms were going to the wrong destination, then Al Qaeda became angry and attacked Ambassador Stevens, known as the "go to man".

[AntiFascist]

34. FYI...

http://rt.com/news/libya-weapons-gaza-egypt-728/

The weapons found in two vehicles and several caches in the western port of Damietta included 120 surface-to-air missiles, 30 ground-to-ground missiles, 15 Grad rockets, 25 anti-tank grenade launchers, TNT and navigation systems.


The detained men say the weapons come from Libya and were meant to be delivered to the Gaza Strip via the Sinai Peninsula. Gaza is currently controlled by the Islamic resistance movement Hamas.


Libya’s ransacked weapon’s depots have remained a major security concern for the region.

[leveymg]

40. Great find from May. Libyan MANPADS in Egypt on their way to Gaza.

Last edited Sat Nov 17, 2012, 10:03 AM - Edit history (1)

Have you seen this reported anywhere else so early? Other reports of missile exports started in late August.

[amandabeech]

42. New front page article of the New York Times

basically announces that Israel will go into Gaza shortly.

If Hamas has MANPADS, I'm sure that we will find out shortly.



I pray that as few as possible non-combatants on both sides will be hurt or killed.

I also hope that our diplomatic missions in dicey areas are buttoned up.

[AntiFascist]

46. Oct. 25th report from Fox News...

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/25/was-syrian-weapons-shipment-factor-in-ambassadors-benghazi-visit/

Although what was discussed at the meeting is not public, a source told Fox News that Stevens was in Benghazi to negotiate a weapons transfer, an effort to get SA-7 missiles out of the hands of Libya-based extremists. And although the negotiation said to have taken place may have had nothing to do with the attack on the consulate later that night or the Libyan mystery ship, it could explain why Stevens was travelling in such a volatile region on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

...

"This is the Libyan ship ... which is basically carrying weapons that are found in Libya," said Walid Phares, a Fox News Middle East and terrorism analyst. "So the ship came all the way up to Iskenderun in Turkey. Now from the information that is available, there was aid material, but there were also weapons, a lot of weapons."

The cargo reportedly included surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles, RPG's and Russian-designed shoulder-launched missiles known as MANPADS.

[leveymg]

39. That theory makes enormous good sense. eom

[Wellstone ruled]

8. This whole Crap-House is nothing

more than McGrumpy and Little Lindsey's loss of Legacy. Grumpy loses his Chairmanship on January 1,2013,if he can make-up a fake investigation,then he can keep his Chairmanship until this issue is settled. McGumpy knows he is toast and is just being the vindictive asshole that is his reputation.

Notice King the Babble Mouth is trying his lying best to gain talking points with the limp media STENO's. They are scared to death of 2014 and how many seats they can save.

[rtracey]

9. Well

Lets see how long it takes McCain and Lindsay to come out and actually apologize to Ms. Rice. If they don't, then they are the utmost in arrogant, backroom dealing dirtbags.

[SoapBox]

10. Nope...there will be NO apology tours.

AND...the likes of Diane Sawyer and the Limp Media will NOT even mention this.

[CJCRANE]

11. I assume the public info was vague

to keep the perpetrators in the dark about the progress of the investigation.

That should be SOP.

[Ikonoklast]

12. Looks like King was forced to drink a quart of vinegar.

Asshat Teabag LIAR.


Grumpy and his Little Buddy now look like the fools they really are.

[John2]

13. So

what about sources that gave information about weapons, such as the ones King and even Petraeus are claiming was in existance among militia groups that over threw the Ghadaffi Government? They also claimed they watched it in real time. My question would be who were the people that came to Christopher Stephen's aid after he fled to the upper levels of the compound? Is it Petraeus's suggestion, there was no crowd, then how were these people on the scene so quickly? Is, he saying Christopher Stephens went from point A to B on his own after losing conscious? Just exactly where did the people come from that dragged Stephens and got him to a Hospital if this was planned? So Petrateus's testimony is there was no crowd around? Pull up initial reports on how Stephens was dragged out of the compound.

[struggle4progress]

14. We now need to ask who exactly has been misleading the public on this: I bet it's the usual suspects

like Lindsey Graham and Peter King and John McCain and Mitt Romney and such

[Roland99]

15. They're only doing it at the urging of Murdoch, Ailes, and Limpballs

[struggle4progress]

17. I don't think they need anyone to tell them to be pizzleheads: they're like that on their own

[2naSalit]

16. I guess it's because

the CIA knew that they gave her bogus talking points. Whatever their reason, I think it was intentional. And I also suspect that the head of the agency had a hand in it but has since lost his lust for the cover-up since he's been outed and forced to end his lackluster career by copping to the "affair". Whether the "affair" was just that or a more insidious series of events may not be known in our lifetimes but I don't buy that there was just an innocent affair. There were too many daggers and swords drawn before the event in Libya was even at the flash point to think that there was little more than has been stated. I think King got his ass handed to him and possibly the real events, both at the scene of the event and in the offices in DC, were told in that hearing that nobody else was allowed into without high security clearance. I still want to know the whole story though.

[rocktivity]

18. So it's official now? It absolutely was NOT Rice's fault

and the Rethugs have stepped in their own bullshit again? All together now:

And one other thing:

rocktivity

[tblue37]

24. Don't forget Joe Scarborough childishly chanting,

"Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi!" to drown out discussion of points he did not want to hear discussed on his show. He, too, owes an apology--which will, of course, never be uttered. Don't forget, IOKIYAR. ALWAYS! IOKIYAR!

[CTyankee]

37. well, he never ate crow over his Nate Silver idiocy, so why should he do it now on Benghazi?

He was HUMILIATED by the Nate Silver business and he STILL holds forth on his morning show.

And he's still talking about his wonderful victory in the House back in the 1990s. What is wrong with this man?

[olddad56]

25. Is it just that next week is Thanksgiving, or does that guy really look like a turkey?

The neck is the dead give-away, but he has also played the role of a turkey on this issue.

[barnabas63]

26. Now can we start working on things that NEED TO BE FIXED NOW???

In other words, shut up Mitch and McCain!

[angrycaveman]

28. Impeachment Plan B, find someone to give POTUS a blowjob

[rhett o rick]

30. I think there is a good chance the FBI has know about Gen P's affair for a while. It is their job.

When Gen P tried to screw Pres Obama, bingo-bango the affair comes to light.

[Schema Thing]

31. If this was closed door, and Petraeus has nothing to lose...

I bet they got a serious smackdown from him.


WHO THE HOLY FUCK do they think they are injecting themselves into the middle of a CIA operation just to help Mitt Fucking Romney score political points?

That's what I'd guess Mr. Petraeus had to say to them.

[are_you_serious_1234]

36. Wow

I bet that adds a bit of awkwardness

[mrf901]

45. what does this change?

State Dept is the responsible party,
or should be.

a non-responsible person says this or that.
what changes?

they all knew from the first minute
that there was no protest
before the bombs fell

[aandegoons]

47. He's pretty much a terrorist.

In my opinion.

[goclark]

48. MCshame is a has been

MCshame should be ashamed of his
dirty deeds but we know he is desperate for attenttion.
He will never say sorry to Susan Rice.

[daybranch]

50. sources and methods

Are you saying the CIA, other intelligence agencies, the Department of State , and the White House protected sources and methods in order to find the terrorists who threaten our country? How dare they do the right thing? Republicans are so desperate for anything to attack democrats on, how pitiful they are.
John McCain, how stupid you look, just like you rushed back to Washington to save us from financial disaster and did nothing. Republican strategy shoot the democrats and hope your lies stick.

[still_one]

51. I heard the report was changed because someone thought it would give them an advantage to find the

people who did the attack

[BigD_95]

52. Ihave never wanted a person to get that job b4

but I so want Susan Rice to get it


Just to shove it in McCains face