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Subscribe to RSSPresident Barack Obama answered a range of questions Wednesday at the White House in his first press conference since being re-elected. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Ex-CIA Director David Petraeus speaks to members of a Senate Intelligence hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 31, 2012.
President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he has seen no evidence that a scandal that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus harmed national security.
“I have no evidence at this point from what I’ve seen that classified information was disclosed that in any way would have had a negative impact on our national security,” Obama said at a White House briefing.
Petraeus, a decorated four-star general who received widespread praise for the surge strategy in Iraq, resigned as CIA director on Friday, citing an extramarital affair.
Numerous federal government officials have told NBC News that the married general had a relationship with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, 40, who authored “All In,” a book about Petraeus’ leadership philosophy.
Obama brushed aside questions about whether he felt he should have been notified sooner of the investigation of Petraeus.
“Obviously, there’s an ongoing investigation. I don’t want to comment on the specifics of the investigation, Obama said, “The FBI has its own protocols in terms of how they proceed. … I have a lot of confidence in the FBI.”
The president was not informed of the FBI investigation that revealed Petraeus’ affair until Nov. 8, one day before he accepted his resignation.
FBI investigators who looked into a series of anonymous threatening emails sent to Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley later determined they were authored by Broadwell, multiple government and law enforcement officials have told NBC News.
Investigators have looked into whether Broadwell violated cyber-harassment laws or improperly possessed classified information, and Obama indicated that the investigation was “ongoing.” Law enforcement officials say they have developed no evidence indicating that Petraeus improperly provided classified information to Broadwell.
Earlier on Wednesday, NBC News confirmed from a veteran senator that Petraeus will testify Thursday about the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The Thursday hearing will be the first formal congressional inquiry into the September attack that killed U.S. Ambassador in Libya Chris Stevens, information management officer Sean Smith and security personnel Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Petraeus is also scheduled to appear at a closed hearing of the House Intelligence Committee on Friday.
As FBI investigated Petraeus, he and Allen intervened in nasty custody battle
Republican lawmakers have criticized the administration’s evolving explanation of what triggered the Benghazi attack. Officials early on said it was a spontaneous reaction during a protest about an anti-Islamic film. Later, it was termed a planned terrorist attack.
Commenting on the scandal involving General Petraues, President Obama says he's not aware of any breaches of national security resulting from the scandal.
Questions have also been raised about whether the consulate had adequate security and whether the State Department responded appropriately to requests for more protection.
Military analyst Col. Jack Jacobs (Ret.) said the sex scandal will affect the way Petraeus is questioned by Congress, because members were kept in the dark about the FBI inquiry that led to his resignation.
Defense official fires back, denies Afghanistan commander exchanged 'inappropriate' emails
“It will be interesting to see what tenor it takes and what the senators and congressmen, assuming he gets before both houses, have to say before talking to him. As you know, these hearings have a tendency to be less a question and answer period than it is an opportunity for the members to vent their spleen or talk about what they want to, so that part will be very, very interesting,” Jacobs said.
“In terms of extracting real information about what actually took place and what role the CIA had in what took place in Benghazi, I believe that investigation will determine that they had no role, that by the time the CIA could do anything, it was all over.”
NBC's Michael Brunker contributed to this report.
President Obama says he will "cooperate in any way that Congress wants" in an investigation around the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi while saying his administration did "everything we could to makes sure we protected our people."
NBC's Chuck Todd discusses the political fallout from Petraeus-Allen scandal, noting that the White House national security team is probably more worried about wobbly leadership at the CIA and in Afghanistan than political damage.
Related content from NBCNews.com:
- Emails on 'coming and goings' of military officials escalated FBI concerns
- Sen. Feinstein: 'We will need to talk to David Petraeus' about Benghazi
- Video: FBI agent search Broadwell's home
- CIA Director David Petraeus resigns, cites extramarital affair
- Video: Petraeus' stunning fall from grace
- Petraeus' biographer under FBI investigation over access to his email, officials say
- David Petraeus a battlefield 'hero' and savvy Washington insider
- Video: A ‘painful’ admission from Petraeus
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What in the world does this say about the training and abilities of the CIA, when the man in charge does not know how to have an affair...and NOT GET CAUGHT?!
It says nothing? thats the generals personal life, stfu. what does it say when 4 americans die and your president goes out to chill with letterman?
@Tina: ...Unless he got caught on purpose to help save King Obama.
Which Rupert Murdoch outlet will have the exclusive video of the Ménage à Trois of the general and the Kelly twins in Tampa? I would bet on Faux News. They can always justify it as an investigation of Benghazi.
typical libs covering their *ss
Chuck Todd from MSNBC is having an affair with Nancy (no soup left in the kettle) Pelosi
Sounds like capital punishment
...Arrrgh! ...Pelosi is even uglier than King Obama's manly wife.
sharky,
Maybe you should knock one with Pelosi. She seems like your type. STUPID!
getagrip - you shsould get a grip. Michele Obama is one of the most gorgeous first ladies we're had. Well, I also just got a note that your hood and robes are back from the cleaners.
Why are we wasting time with this unfaithful looser. He's a Bush boy. Let's cut our lost and move on. The Commander in Chief should know he cannot trust this clown. If he's not loyal to his wife and family after 38 years, surely he's not loyal to his couintry or the Commander in Chief. Let him and MRS Broadwell ride off into the sunset.
...LMAO!!! ...I KNEW the Obamasites would find a way to blame this on GW! ...LMAO!!!
Commander in chief............What a joke
Id like to hear you call him a clown to his face lol. Obviously Obama is not loyal to the American way of life with his socalist bullsh*t. Or the military who stand to protect our country, apparently obama was to busy campaigning and kickin' it with letterman to do anything about the 4 Americans who are now dead. And your gonna call the General a looser, HA! I pity you.
I really doubt if Obama is capable of flushing the toilet after himself. We have to get rid of the electoral voting system and find a method that will be fool proof against the Libs. being able to cheat in elections.
38 years of wearing the Uniform and not loyal to his country what are you smoking? A lot of politicians cheat on there wives he's twice the man they are he had the balls at least to admit it when did Obama serve?
ignoring the sex during hearing is akin to ignoring the 500# gorilla in the room
Robert Vesco should have hired these 10th world Dune Coon's. To hide the money he embezzled. The FBI, CIA, Homeland Security are clueless to these Master Minds ? It would of cost him a few virgin sheep and camels ! LMFAO
Hilarious! The same buffoons who said Patraeus resigned so he wouldn't have to testify are now saying he'll lie for Obama (no time to stop & eat their words - too busy fabricating propaganda). Do they think he'll lie the same way Ollie North lied for Reagan? Remember, Patraeus is a card carrying Repubican, and they don't lie - they just forget the truth - a lot.
Libs wouldn't tell the truth if their sorry hides depended on it.
@Average: ...What's "hilarious" is that you don't seem to realize that King Obama is Petreus' boss. ...LMAO!!!
Get--In what way is Obama Petraeus' boss? Petraeus has resigned from government service and retired from the military. You seem to be completely clueless.
This is what happens when right wing nutjobs live in an information bubble.
"Petraeus was pressured to resign so he couldn't testify!"
"Oh, wait.. Petraeus IS testifying.. must be so he lie for his boss Obama and get him off the hook!"
"Oh, wait.. Obama ISN'T his boss anymore.. The president must be blackmailing him with more dirt!"
Geez.. what a bunch of freakin' idiots.. Nutjobs: come out of your bubble! Join the rest of us in a reality-based society!
Now that I know this guy likes to have sex with young attractive women he has lost all credibility with me on CIA operations or anything else for that matter. He must have been thinking about her when our embassy was overrun. Either that, or he is a Muslim sympathizer.
...Obamasites would prefer a "same-sex" relationship.
Why should he lie? He's got nothing to lose now by telling the truth. I'm more concerned about the guys who are asking the questions. Will they go off on stupid tangents that skirt the issue. But I have such a low opinion of our government officials that I'm not very hopeful that we'll get to bottom of this anytime soon.
Or ever. It is the Transparent gov. we thought we had. I am angry that Obama, Clinton and Rice lied to the families of the fallen, the citizens of this country and have no regrets.
And for you geniuses who claim Obama wasn't responsible for tracking down Bin Laden, you must think that the SEALs acted on their own then, without anyone authorizing the mission? True, Obama didn't pull the trigger, but let's face it, he actually dedicated the resources to getting the job done, as opposed to his predecessor who figured the best way to hook up an old family friend was to divert America's attention away from Afghanistan by launching a completely unrelated war in another country altogether. Funny how some of the same members of congress who sought to impeach Bubba for lying to the country about getting head from an intern couldn't find the good sense to impeach W. for lying to the nation about why our troops were unjustly sent into harms way to forward the agendas of his cronies. Guess they were too busy looking into the use of steroids in baseball at the time.
...@Average will do ANYTHING to, somehow, shift blame to GW. ...LMAO!!! ...Get a grip!
...Now, @Average, please tell us why King Obama should receive credit for the killing of the man believed to be Bin Laden and not, likewise, accept responsibility for the assassinations in Benghazi. ...Please?
Can you tell us how Bin Laden was found ? Please tell us when & how the Intell. was done to find him. Bush couldn't be impeached by Congress because they all voted going on the same Intell. reports that Bush was. Your a complete Loon. By the way, I bet you think Bush blew the NO levies up in Katrina too, don't you?
Get--President Obama has already accepted responsibility for the loss of American lives in Benghazi. See http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/17/obama-takes-responsibility-for-issues-around-benghazi-attack/. Unlike some, he knows where the buck stops. As to why Obama gets credit for taking out bin Laden (and, Dude, to use the phrase "believed to be Bin Laden" marks you as someone who has dropped his tinfoil hat), Obama gets credit for bin Laden's death in the same way that Eisenhower gets credit for D-Day, MacArthur gets credit for victory in the Pacific, and Lincoln gets credit for winning the Civil War.
You made two statements, both of them wrong. Good average.
AverageJoe72 is just another Obama sheeple and an idiot. What is more important to the American citizens, Petraeus having an affair or the deaths of Ambassador Stevens and the others that were tortured, raped and killed in Benghazi?
Why was Obama trying to cover up what actually happened in Benghazi by blaming it all on a video, even though it happened on the anniversary of 9/11 and there is proof that Ambassador Stevens requested more security at the embassy? What is Obama hiding, other than his REAL birth certificate, college transcripts, passports, and his bank accounts?
Old Vet - why did they let this fight go on for 7 hours and be told to stand down? Obama wanted to get back in office so bad he didn't want the American people to know that the extreme Muslim's are growing in strength in more countries. Getting bin Laden was just revenge for 9/11 attack on the twin towers. And I give the seals credit for doing their job - one Obama knows nothing about. Eisenhower - general, MacArthur - General, Lincoln - Civil War deaths and gave best speech ever at Gettysburg. Obama - watched on big screen, never been to war, never seen what his drones have done to innocent people, can not tell the truth and take responsibility by admitting he lied straight face to the Country that hired him
Wyo--So you won't give Lincoln credit for winning the Civil War, even though he was a Republican. How about Churchill getting some credit for the allied victory of World War II? GHW Bush credit for the victory in the First Gulf War? It's simply pathetic to deny Obama credit for killing bin Laden. You really sound like a poor loser. No one likes a poor loser.
I am not Republican. I voted for Obama - the first time, this time I just couldn't vote for him. As a leader - he is weak. We need someone to work all this stuff out and he just blames Bush - Blame the Banks - Blame anybody but him. Pathetic to not give him credit? Did he help the 2 seals calling for help in Benghazi??? Has he released autopsies on the Seals to their families? Has he had one transparent moment in his administration. I'll give him respect when he shows the american people respect - by not flat out lieing about something like Benghazi or F&F.
Oh my! I thought that adultery was the standard of conduct for our exlated leaders in Washington, D.C. Any smoke screen to try and get our minds off of the murders in Benghazi....good work obama! I STILL want to know why 'our' president stood by and allowed our men to be slaughtered by muslims....anything to appeases them.....obama makes me sick to my stomach.
Nobody is going to stand by and watch people murdered. Get a grip. Obama is not God He don't have the ability to forsee terrorists planning their next move. The government is like an orchestra, someone will hit a bad note sooner or later. Bengazzi is only one of hundreds of places something like this could break loose. The republicans, of course will try to make political hay of this. So it was planned, its not the end of the world. If it could have been prevented it would have. Just like the boys with the boxcutter knives that took down the planes. We didn't have no idea it was planned when the first plane struck. Don't you think we would have prevented it had we known?
Could this be OBAMA's Waterloo? He has been "lying" about Benghazi for 2 months
We did not know??? Both Obama and Biden!!
@Coal: ...You fail to realize that the folks who support King Obama are ZOMBIES (some of them paid via Welfare, Food Stamps and legalized illegal citizenship). ...King Obama's lies are their commands.
Get--Your side lost. Man up and get over it. No one likes a sore loser.
@Old: ...And which brand of free government payment does King Obama send you each month to maintain your zombie-like loyalty?
Old Vet
Wrong !! With Obama in charge, our country is losing. Every American citizen will lose and our country will be under Obama's dictatorship, if we allow it. Unfortunately for you and your ilk we WON'T allow our country to be ruled by the terrorist as long as we have a breath left in us. Obama is a communist and has been trying to destroy us and our country like his REAL father Frank Marshall Davis taught him to do.
Our country has had to face hardships and battles before but has always been able to claim victory and we will again.
Range--That delusional talk was rejected decisively by the American people. To accuse Obama of being a communist is absolute bull@!$%#e that shows how completely out of touch you are. Good luck getting over your loss. On the other hand, keep it up so that the Republican party never wins another national election.
Get--Your comment is as insipid as the rest of your commentary. One wonders how much the Koch brothers send you each month to keep up your hate-filled remarks. Be a true American and accept the results of the election.
GEN Petraeus will be lucky if he makes it to the Benghazi hearings alive. He is probably going to have an accident.
Now that he's testifying (as anyone with a brain knew he could do), what will the conspiracy theorists do? Oh, that's right, somehow weave his narrative into their latest conspiracy theory. There seems to be a shortage of tinfoil hats.
Dear MSN. Just wanted to point out that you accidently allowed this article and the one about the terrible weather in the East to leak onto your headline section that was filled with "much more important" celebrity news. Please be careful in the future about putting actual news worthy stories on your top spot.
I was under the impression that the affair was ended and behind him. Now this girl decides she don't want to end it She is worried that someone else beat her time so is now causing trouble for everyone. What price is she going to pay for all this disruption? She doesn't have our countrys best interest in her priorities. She needs some jail time. More serious than Lindsey Lohan.
Absolutely nothing will come of these hearings. It will be an exercise in covering one's butt. And of course, another grand exhibition of posturing and photo ops for our illustrious politicians. A grand show for the media. They apparently find it better to waste time and money on this circus than to address any of the serious problems facing the country. Disgusting!
Petraeus could stand to take the fall for what happened in Benghazi just like Ollie North, but this time the 'moral of the story' lesson is not to have an affair.. all agenda driven.. pfft.. some are so drunk with power and control..
AverageJoe72
Is that 72 the score you got on your IQ test? Obama had nothing to do with the capture of Osama bin Laden. Thanks to President Bush and his methods of gathering information from the captured terrorist, the CIA and Navy Seals were able to prepare a plan for his capture long before Obama was even elected. It was Obama that decided to create Osama bin Laden's death, which still has NOT been proven actually occurred. As far as we know he could have been transferred to a secret place. Obama will NOT do anything that will upset his Muslim brothers.
@Range: "72" is the number of times @Average voted for King Obama using phoney names in this last election. ...LMAO!!!
Ah, you two!
Your bitterness is as sweet as honey! You're going to be very pissed off for a very long time, and you deserve it!
Have a nice ulcer. ;-)
I guess you refuse to believe Bush is not the president now. Bush had 8 years to "smoke hin out of his hole and didn't. Hes a woosy. You and allen west need to pull your head out of the sand.
ralph
Obama knew exactly where Osama bin Laden was for over a month before he did anything. He was forced into making a decision or just be ignored. I'm sure he was hoping Osama would move to a different place before he had to do anything. Obama was playing golf when the attack was being carried out and had no knowledge of what was going on. Do your research guy and pull your head out of Obama's ass.
Obama Admits Being A Muslim
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCAffMSWSzY
Range--You're full of it. According to those who actually in the Situation Room at the time of the raid, Obama was informed that the chances of bin Laden being at that compound were around 50/50. There is video of Obama in the White House watching the attack being carried out. It's OK to be hateful; it's OK to be stupid; it's less OK to be caught telling lies--and you've been caught and called out.
Old Vet
Yes, he was in the room watching the attack, after they called him in off the golf course. Old Vet, where have you been hiding? This was all common knowledge. Look at the clothes he was wearing, his golf clothes.
Take the wool off your eyes and start paying attention.
Sorry, getagrip, you're right. Mission accomplished! - LMFAO!!! SMFD!!! Not blaming W. for what happened in Libya. Just responding to the statement that someone made about how Obama wasn't responsible for the capture of Bin Laden. I had friends who died in the towers & friends/family who fought in both Afghanistan & Iraq - some killed, some injured, some who made it back in one piece. The one's who went to Iraq can tell you they weren't there to find WMD's. In fact when none were found, instead of saying, "oops, our bad," your boy W. just simply changed his mission statement & told the rest of the world, well now we're there to free the Iraqi people - since we're in the neighborhood anyway. Not really LMFAO about that.
You do realize Democrats in the House and Senate voted to go right????? They had to have democratic support to go to Iraq. You need to read.
What a complete, total waste of time and effort. The hearings are nothing but political finger pointing and posturing for absolutely no useful purpose. Nothing will change what happened. No Congressional committee from either House or Senate can change what happened. Whatever is said or done the pin-headed Obama haters will go on hating and ranting. With so many important things to be done why this?
@JR: ...Yes! ...We need to concentrate on King Obama's priorities, like pardoning millions of illegal immigrants so they can take jobs from American citizens and legalizing gay marriage so gays can get the same tax breaks and other benefits that married heterosexual couples do...NOT!
getagrip
You failed to mention Obama releasing the terrorist at Gitmo so they will be returned to their countries and start plotting against our country again. Obama has also pledged to give the Muslim's 1.5 billion dollars. More weapons, ammunition and explosives to be used against our troops and us?
Range-That releasing of folks from Guantanamo who returned to the terrorists ranks began under the Bush administration. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_former_Guantanamo_Bay_detainees_alleged_to_have_returned_to_terrorism The money you spoke of is foreign aid, some of which goes to our allies who happen to be Muslim. Can you get any facts right?
Great timing for the Obama administration- they can blame the whole Banghazi mess on General Betray-us. With all the emails makes you wonder if these higher-ups actually do any work. And now Diane Feinstein is calling for an investigation- goodbye General Scape-goat take pension and find nice hot woman in Brazil.
just remember murder and death is permenant and is only driven my one of the worst kind of hatred.. to what an affair? which is more about love than most married relationships out there..and the goodness still left in people..after the agenda driven world tries to manipulate.. I don't even personally feel he should have been made to step down or that the public needed to address this sideline of his life.
Rangewolf,
Love it! You're a hoot. Nothing like a little racism to forward intelligent debate. His name doesn't sound Irish or Italian enough to be American. Must be a muslim. If I were to lower my IQ to meet yours & throw the same kind of prejudice back atcha, my guess is you've probably made out with a cousin or two & can still find the time to play banjo with your toes while typing here. I hope the second coming lands in your mouth.
...@AverageJoe needs to change his handle to "@AverageObamasite"! ...LMAO!!!
...He offers nothing more than the average, cliche Obamasite dialog, i.e., "It's Bush's fault!", "racist!", "hater!". ...LMAO!!! ...Get a grip!
No, you're totally right. Calling someone a Muslim who isn't actually a Muslim just because of the slant it carries isn't racist. It's totally intellectual. LMAO!!! LAMO. I suppose you're bitter because lost your affluent fruit-picking job to one of those lazy illegals?
If everybody would start tagging this idiot's (getagrip) posts as either no value or inflammatory, he'll get his posts collapsed and hopefully he'll be kicked off the sit. getagrip, you are so bitter and pathetic. Just keep watching for the mailman for your welfare check and stop making an ass of yourself.
Let's stop attacking one another and focus on the issues.
@Pat: ...That's right! ...Censor anyone who dares disagree with the Obama Zombie Lifestyle! ...Forget Freedom of Speech!
AverageJoe72
If you did your research you would know Obama has admitted being a Muslim. He can speak their language as well or better than he can our English. He praises their accomplishments while putting Americans down. You are a foolish idiot.
Frank Marshall Davis Bio - Barrack Obama's REAL father
Frank Marshall Davis (1905-1987) was a Communist Party USA (CPUSA) propagandist in Chicago and Hawaii, as well as a writer and poet. The FBI had Davis under investigation or surveillance for 19 years, compiling a 600-page FBI file. He was on the FBI's 'Security Index A', meaning he would be arrested in the event of national emergency.
In 1930's Chicago, CPUSA recruited journalists to help spread Soviet influence in American public opinion. Frank Marshall Davis was one of them. A graduate of Kansas State Journalism School, Frank Marshall Davis joined the Communist Party and began writing for The Chicago Star. He was a colleague of journalist Vernon Jarrett, father-in-law of Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett. Davis also taught at Chicago's Abraham Lincoln School, a Communist run training school run by CPUSA. Davis authored three major volumes of poetry, and later an autobiographical sex novel under a pseudonym.
In 1948, the Kremlin ordered CPUSA to facilitate a US withdrawal from the Hawaii as US naval forces were considered an obstacle to Soviet expansion in Asia. CPUSA assigned Frank Marshall Davis to Honolulu where he began writing for the Communist Newspaper, theHonolulu Recordin 1948. In his columns, Davis flawlessly mirrored official Soviet propaganda - he blamed American capitalism for starting World War II, denounced the Marshall Plan, preached wealth redistribution, nationalization of industry and government healthcare, while bashing Wall Street. Davis also helped organize the Communist controlled ILWU (union) in a failed effort to take over the Hawaiian government in 1949. The Hawaii NAACP chapter complained to its national office, "Comrade Frank Marshall Davis suddenly appeared on the scene to propagandize the membership with the purpose of converting it into a front for the Stalinist line." In 1956, Davis was subpoenaed by the Senate Subcommittee on Un-American Activities and pleaded the fifth. Dreams from My Real Father makes the case that on August 4, 1961, Frank Marshall Davis became the father of the future 44th President of the United States and indoctrinated him with a Marxist ideology during his formative years.
Obama Admits Being Muslim
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCAffMSWSzY
Range--On the previous page, I called you out for other lies. Obama a Muslim. Yep. He was baptized into the United Church of Christ in 1988, was married in that church, has had his two daughters baptized in that church. Those baptized Christians are the worst kinds of Muslims. Yep. Oh, yes, he drinks alcoholic beverages, too. By the way, the "Obama is a Muslim" lie has been called false by virtually all fact checkers. See http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_barack_obama_muslim.htm; http://www.politifact.com/search/?q=Obama+a+Muslim; http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/foxvideo.asp.
I expect the general was asked by someone in the administration to help in the cover up and he refused so knowing about the sex scandal(?) they tried to cower him. He will tell what he knows and/but will not lie.
Sex is a powerful force. A general would have balls. This administration should have been thoroughly investigated before the election, especially Fast and Furious and Benghazi. It likely would not have changed the results. Too many people were bought with welfare for some, added power for unions and promises of amnesty ,health care, etc. The election was bought. Early voting creates many opportunities for cheating. Demos will do anything for power. Evil won.