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Subscribe to RSSJust-resigned CIA Director David Petraeus says he will testify this week at congressional hearings looking into the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, as new details emerge about the emails that helped end his career. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated at 4:44 p.m. ET: President Barack Obama on Wednesday spiritedly defended U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice over her response to the September attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead, assailing Republican criticism of her as "outrageous."
At his first news conference since winning re-election, the president said Rice has done “exemplary work” and accused GOP critics of trying to “besmirch” her reputation.
President Obama defends U.N. ambassador Susan Rice against criticism from Sen. John McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham over the Benghazi attacks in Libya.
“I don’t think there’s any debate in this country that when you have four Americans killed, that’s a problem, and we’ve got to get to the bottom of it and there needs to be accountability. We’ve got to bring those who carried it out to justice. They won’t get any debate from me on that,” Obama said sternly.
“But when they go after the U.N. ambassador, apparently because they think she’s an easy target, then they’ve got a problem with me.”
Two of Rice’s main GOP critics refused to back down.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) discusses the Obama administration's handling of the aftermath of the Benghazi attack, accusing the president of "either a cover-up or incompetence." McCain also vowed to block any nomination of UN Ambassador Susan Rice for secretary of state to replace Hillary Clinton.
Sen. Lindsey Graham said shortly after Obama’s news conference that he had “no intention of promoting anyone who is up to their eyeballs in the Benghazi debacle.” Sen. John McCain added: "We owe the American people and the families of the murdered Americans a full and complete explanation, which for two months the President has failed to deliver.”
Bebeto Matthews / AP file
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice speaks during a meeting on Syria in the United Nations Security Council, Aug. 30.
Rice has been mentioned as a possible successor to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has said she will not continue to serve in Obama's second term beginning in January.
Senior Republican senators vowed earlier on Wednesday to block any future promotion of Rice, questioning her initial description of the Sept. 11 violence on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi as a spontaneous outburst rather than a planned attack as unfathomable. Killed in the violence were U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American officials.
“My judgment at this time is that four Americans were killed, and the information that our U.N. ambassador conveyed was clearly false," McCain, R-Ariz., the top GOP senator on the Armed Services Committee, told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference. "There was overwhelming evidence that it was completely false. And she should have known what the situation and circumstances were and not tell the world on all Sunday morning talk shows.”
Graham, of South Carolina, supported that stance at the same news conference, saying of Rice, "I don't trust her. And the reason I don't trust her is because I think she knew better, and if she didn't know better, she shouldn't be the voice of America.”
The two lawmakers along with Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire are pressing for a special, Watergate-style select Senate committee to investigate the Benghazi attack. They complained that separate inquiries by various Senate panels will fail to get to the bottom of the deadly incident.
Sen. John McCain took to the Senate floor to protest the potential appointment of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. At issue are Rice's comments that Benghazi was triggered by a video maligning the Prophet Mohammad. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Rice has been the focal point of accusations that the Obama administration misled the public about the nature of the Benghazi attack. Five days after the attack, she appeared on several news talk programs and said the attack stemmed from outrage in the Arab world over an anti-Muslim video, not an act of terrorism. The White House later corrected that claim.
Obama wouldn’t comment on whether he’d nominate Rice to replace Clinton on his Cabinet. But he said of Rice: “She has done exemplary work.”
“She made an appearance at the request of the White House in which she gave her best understanding of the intelligence (on Benghazi) that had been provided to her. If Sen. McCain and Sen. Graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me – and I’m happy to have that discussion with them," he said animatedly.
“But for them to go after the U.N. ambassador, who had nothing to do with Benghazi and was simply making a presentation based on intelligence that she had received, and to besmirch her reputation, is outrageous.”
Shortly after the president’s remarks, Graham issued the following statement:
“Mr. President, don’t think for one minute I don’t hold you ultimately responsible for Benghazi. I think you failed as Commander in Chief before, during, and after the attack.
We owe it to the American people and the victims of this attack to have full, fair hearings and accountability be assigned where appropriate. Given what I know now, I have no intention of promoting anyone who is up to their eyeballs in the Benghazi debacle.”
McCain said initial Obama administration statements the the Benghazi attack was triggered by a spontaneous demonstration and a hateful video “clearly did not comport with the facts on the ground.“
In a statement issued after Obama’s news conference, McCain repeated his call for a select committee to be appointed “to obtain a full and complete accounting which would be credible with the American people."
Not all Republican senators agree with the the need for a special select committee.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she did not “see the benefit” of such an approach, noting the Homeland Security Committee has governmentwide jurisdiction and “a history of producing comprehensive bipartisan reports.”
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn, said assigning the matter to a select committee at this point would be “premature.”
David Petraeus, who stepped down as CIA director last week after acknowledging an extramarital affair, has agreed to testify before Congress on the Benghazi attack. He'll go before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday and the House committee on Friday.
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that he would like to hear from Petraeus but has yet to formally request a meeting with him.
NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell and NBC News Associate Producer Catherine Chomiak contributed to this report.
More from the news conference:
- Obama: 'No evidence' of national security harm in Petraeus scandal
- Obama: 'Seize the moment' on immigration
- Obama claims mandate on taxes
President Barack Obama holds his first press conference at the White House since being re-elected to a second term.
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Go back to your cartoons, Porky. Ba-dee, ba-dee that's all folks. And take Yertle the Turtle with you. These wing-nuts are not going to be satisfied until they reduce us to a third world country. Get on board or get the @#$^%$$ out of the way.
It is amazing to watch how Obama's White House is falling apart. All of this crap is going on because they do not respect their boss.
I think you are speaking for yourself and your ilk.
You're right, DesertKing, the republicans have no respect for the people who voted them in.
The "outrage" about Benghazi from the party that has sent so many of our brave men and women off to the killing fields in the Middle East rings hollow. Should Rice have speculated about the cause of the attack on the consulate, probably not, but these guys act like SHE pulled the trigger. Let's get a full investigation, implement better security ... and maybe even consider getting out of that powder keg area of the world.
Someone told her to pull the trigger, and there in lies the question who?
@ George B,
Not to mention the same "patriots" that cut the security budget for our embassies and consulates - now they want to look for a conspiracy. Look in the mirror RWNJs...
BobbyG - When you don't have all the facts, maybe you should just STFU. FYI, more democrats voted to cut the security budget than Republicans. Further, the State Department has stated "we had, in our opinion, enough security in Libya".
@sfcret,
obviously, since there are 4 Americans dead - we didn't have enough security... FYI, only Republicans are blaming the President for security failures in Libya - are those enough facts for you??
p.s. please don't tell me to STFU when I am expressing my opinion - it only makes you look like a political hack and a moron... thanks...
BobbyG - I see you didn't address the fact that more Democrats voted for cuts than Republicans. Yes, we are blaming the President for security failures, after all he is the Commander-in-Chief. Also the State Department does come under his direct control. But, I guess in your feeble mind, people are not allowed to blame the President for anything.
Last time I checked it was the Lybian terrorists, not the Obama administration, who were to blame for killing Americans. Rather than play the who-knew-what-and-when game, why don't we find and kill the people responsible?
We should do both!
No one is blaming them for the incident. They were warned and asked over and over for support and protection a month before it even happened and were denied. Support was actually reduced by the administration in the weeks before the attack. that is why, We need to find out what happened, why it happened so it does not happen again. Brushing it under the rug does not help anyone.
Dandit, please post the source for your claim.
what matters is that The President of the US LIED to the people. He covered it up for two weeks and keep blaming that video for it and made that man's family fear for their life and he's in jail and what it all comes down to this lier and coward of a president is suppose to protect us.
vicki, The "man" is in jail because of a parole violation. Please educate yourself.
Wrong, It helped Obama get re-elected. The rest of us got screeeeeewed!
Nobama, you suck. You always have and always will. No Mr. President, you have a problem with the American people over Benghazi! Were you MIA on this deal? Are you getting the speech ready to blame Bush? You're such a loser...
How very articulate and insightful.
The Republicans don't give a @!$%# about those people who were killed. They just want to score some political points and try to slam Obama, especially since they just got their asses spanked by him in the election, and desperately want some payback. These same losers weren't so hot to launch an investigation of why Bush sent Colin Powell out with false information about "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. That little misadventure cost over 5000 Americans killed ( instead of 4), tens of thousands wounded, and more than a trillion dollars of desperately needs tax dollars. Never saw any outrage over that. Hypocrites.
How many times are you going to repeat the same ole post Michael?
Michael, don't forget the 100 thousand Iraqis that died at the hands of the Bush Administration, many of these women and children. What about them? Why are the lives of 4 Americans more important than those hundred of thousand Iraqis? Where's our investigation? Where's the impeachment of Bush?
The TRUTH HURTS doesn't it Dandit61?
gee i am sorry but the Vietnam war we lost 50,000 and they did not have the choice because you @!$%# liberals drafted them, stop blaming us for everything, we at least new what would happen if he got elected again, you jackass's still have your heads up your ass. It did not bother you in that war that women and children were killed.
Another tea party republican nut bagggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enyoy FOUR MORE YEARS and crawl back in your whole....Cant wait for MID TERM elections goodby repulcan majority!
.
Next.
The whole Benghazi / conspiracy thing has about as much credibility as the birther thing. 1st hand accounts have documented that it was a bunch of locals who were pissed off about a video, with no real affiliation with Al Queda. Hell, read the Kirkpatrick article.
I look forward to Lindsey digging himself into an ever-collapsing hole on this one.
Even as dozens of rockets are fired at Israel, the Obama administration has yet to say anything. The Obama administration, by contrast, couldn’t shut up about a YouTube video even as Americans were slaughtered in Benghazi. And Obama continues to tout the Arab Spring as an awakening for freedom and liberty rather than for Islamism.
No wonder Israel’s neighbors in the north (Syria) and south (Gaza and Egypt) are getting aggressive. They have a friend in the White House.
Even as dozens of rockets are fired at Israel, the Obama administration has yet to say anything. The Obama administration, by contrast, couldn’t shut up about a YouTube video even as Americans were slaughtered in Benghazi. And Obama continues to tout the Arab Spring as an awakening for freedom and liberty rather than for Islamism.
No wonder Israel’s neighbors in the north (Syria) and south (Gaza and Egypt) are getting aggressive. They have a friend in the White House.
@Dandit61 Until there is an investigation with actual, you know, FACTS and testimony from the, you know, actual people involved, there's nothing to comment on. I'm watching, I'm listening, I'm reading as much as I can, but as with any investigation the things we're hearing now may be grossly distorted or not true or true, we just don't know. So, in the meantime, to amuse myself, I like to point out the gross hypocrisy of the right to remind them of what they DIDN'T do in a similar situation with horrific results when their guy was in office. Makes them squirm.
I am pretty sure that investigation is on going today. I have been reading about what happened there for weeks. It is time the facts come out. Trying to get ones Goat so to speak by bringing up bush is childish. I dont see anything being a game here. Lives were lost and we need to find out why they did not have better security there. This story has been interviewed over and over by actual people involved for weeks, It was only covered by fox, Cnn and Msnbc slid it under the table because of the election, and now they seem to think its ok to cover the story. That is distorted.
I don't think it's childish. I'm from New York and I'll NEVER forget what happened that day and the outrage I felt when I learned later that Bush admin had been WARNED. So please don't insult me or the people I knew who died by saying it doesn't matter now. It does matter and will always matter, never forget that, you too, are an American. No one tried to hide the attacks or the deaths of those four Americans in Benghazi. What was said after and why is still not entirely clear.
"bringing up bush is childish" tell that to my ptsd nephew, dead cousin, thousands of dead soldiers, 100's of thousands of dead iraqi's and billions in squandered resources. You lack of perspective is sickening.
Even as dozens of rockets are fired at Israel, the Obama administration has yet to say anything. The Obama administration, by contrast, couldn’t shut up about a YouTube video even as Americans were slaughtered in Benghazi. And Obama continues to tout the Arab Spring as an awakening for freedom and liberty rather than for Islamism.
No wonder Israel’s neighbors in the north (Syria) and south (Gaza and Egypt) are getting aggressive. They have a friend in the White House.
It's pretty clear that we're going back to gridlock and that the Republicans have no intention of changing their stance on anything no matter how the election was determined.
This has nothing to do with gridlock. I voted for Obama. We need to understand what happened in Libya. If you were related to the dead guys, would you want to know?
Because he's the puppet master...er..puppet.
The CIA operation in Libya...long term: secure Med as a oil route...short term: stabilize Libya by controlling the many militia's, and their weapons...experienced some blow-back. It happens, from time to time. I'm interested in the pillow talk of Petraeus' girlfriend. Was there prisoners in the compound? Who had detained them? Was the attack an attempt to liberate them? Who will make the movie? How long before it's in theaters.
Obama incriminated himself in that answer regarding Susan Rice. He says she went on the shows with that false information at the request of the White House. In the 2nd debate he famously said on Sept. 12, 2012 he was in the Rose Garden telling the nation that the Benghazi incident was a terrorist attack. Candy Crowley backed him up to the dismay of Mitt Romney. Obama is guilty of out and out lying to the American people. Impeach him immediately.
Furthermore, Obama says Susan Rice had nothing to do with Benghazi so then why was she on the talk shows at the behest of the White House telling the nation definitively Benghazi was not a pre planned terrorist attack. Out and out lie told by her on behalf of Obama and the White House.
He told McCain and Graham to come after him. They have said on several occasions they have sent him more than one letter of inquiry. Obama won't answer. So there is another lie. Impeach the liar. Now.
Susan Rice has about as much chance getting this job as Big Bird.
Don't hold your breath! Or better yet, do hold your breath...
Obama's fingerprints are all over this one. I can't wait until all the facts come out. I hope this is an impeachable offense. Obama has no shame, just an enormous ego. What an arrogant smuck he is.
Can anyone trust the credibility of a so-called Rhodes Scholar that can't spell 'schmuck'?
Obama's fingerprints are all over this one. I can't wait until all the facts come out. I hope this is an impeachable offense. Obama has no shame, just an enormous ego. What arrogance.
when there is "al queda" in the white house..
we will never get to the truth!
You're an idiot!!!!!!
I love you Nazi Republicans. You make me more proud to be an American.
Nazi Repulicans we did not vote to have a socialise preident you did jackass, thats what obamacare is, making people take it. Obama's the one that had all his nazi friends . Go back to school and get educated.
vicki, You must be forestgirl under a new name, semi-literate and uninformed.
Look at all the liberals defending the actions of this corrupt administration. Over 30 states want to secede from the US because of his socialist agenda. Now THAT's a mandate Hussein Obama.
He is so dense that he doesn't realize that McCain and Graham ARE going after him.
See you at the impeachment hearings....
First of all, "over 30 states" is a bit of a stretch, pal. A bunch of right wing loons in 30 states posted petitions, their states haven't voted on or approved of secession as a policy or a goal. Wow, since this election, I never new there were so many damn drama queens on the right.
Hudson, once again you're missing the point. No one expects those states to really secede, but the very fact that's it's being talked about shows you how bad things are in this country, and it's going to get MUCH worse. When was the last time you heard of that many people in that many states so fed up with an administration and their policies that they would rather be independent from the United States. I'll answer my own question.....NEVER!
If that doesn't send red flags to this administration, then nothing will.
The only message being sent and received is the fact that in the 21st Century we still have a segment of the population who are still living in the past. These people can no longer count on voter suppression, People are no longer fearful or intimidated by these right wing teabagger nuts. You hear them, you see them, you read their comments and feel sad for them. As this Country moves forward they will be left behind or dead. Either way we will not suffer a loss.
Good luck with that impeachment thing. Well, they say that anticipation is even better than the actual event, so enjoy yourself while you wait . . . and wait . . . and wait.
It's closer than you think Nerino. You just keep your blinders on, and sleep through it like you have the last 4 years. Let the real men and women handle this.
what is outrageous sir is that despite months and months of warnings, george bush decided that obl was not a threat and then 3,000 people died and bush went on vacation. that is outrageous. these gop senators are beneath contempt.
Nothing you said is even remotely true. Your boy Slick Willy Clinton knew that Bin Laden was planning an attack. Their training camps literally had targets with Clinton's face on them....not George Bushes. All he could be bothered to do was lob a handful of cruise missiles at empty tents in the desert. George Bush never decided that Bin Laden wasn't a threat. That's your reality...not actual reality. George Bush did not take vacation after we were attacked. He handled the whole situation with grace...as a good president should. Contrast that to the Benghazi cover up that will eventually cost Obama his job.
Two senators are beneath contempt? Really? For holding the government and namely Obama accountable for his decision to cover up an attack on Americans for political gains? The truth is already out there, it's already on record. Media outlets such as NBC and CNN who refuse to inform the public of anything regarding this will be found in contempt. The truth is out there...already in writing. Members of all these organizations such as the CIA, FBI, State Department have already proved that Obama knew what was going on. He knew about the requests for help, and he denied it. You have no idea what the meaning of contempt is until you learn how to discern the truth.
Two senators, and millions of Americans want, and are waiting for the truth. That's not contempt...that's commendable. At least Richard Nixon had the decency to resign over something far less serious than this. The hole Obama is digging for himself is getting deeper by the day. The deeper the hole the more it hurts when you fall into it. Good luck with that. See you at the impeachment.
Dear fundamentalist GOP-ers, it will not serve you well in the future to blame easy targets and the President. Your comments remind me of the guys in row Z or 50 at a football game, who know exactly what the players have to do and that the coach is just lucky or an idiot! As one People , we have to stand behind our nation and accept our mixed culture and origins. We cannot have a divided opinion and slam our own attaches in front of the whole world. Not only are you a shame for this Great Country, but a laughing stock for the rest of the world.
The GOP isn't blaming Susan Rice. They are blaming Obama...and will be investigating his actions and handling of the attack. Susan Rice was complicit. She knew exactly what was going on that night and choose to tow the line of the Obama administration and blame it on a video that few people even knew of in the middle east let alone here in the US. She knew it was more than that, and Obama knew that as well. Obama's tough guy act is laughable and tired. It's the media that protects him by covering up the truth. They can't do it forever without bringing down their own ship. All McCain and Graham are saying is that they will not support Rice for the position of SoS due to the occurrences in Libya and the administration attempt at covering up the truth. That somehow translates into an attack on her in Obama's eyes causing him to puff up his chest and use big boy words. It's comical. He's nervous, and has reason to be. The people WILL get to the bottom of this. He will be held accountable for his lies. The whole Petraeus drama unfolding now designed to take the attention off the real issues will not work. He will testify. Hillary Clinton will be out of town now and won't be able to testify? Don't count on that tactic working either. Both will talk, and both will throw Obama on the bus like he deserves.
Just want to point out that this likely would not have come about without Libya's overthrow of Gadafi. The total cost of spreading "democracy" in Libya was 4 dead americans and very little treasure. Contrast that to the cost of spreading democracy in...lets say Iraq.
Those who were in support of that war should be held financially and legally accountable for every wrong doing done in our name. It's called perspective, you might want to get some of that.
The Muslim Brotherhood is NOT democracy....NEWS FLASH!
When exactly is the President going to conclude this investigation he keeps talking about. Its been over 60 days and we keep being told that there is an ongoing investigation. Sound like they are waiting for everyone to forget.
3000 Americans died on 9/11 and the former President and his staff knew the attack was coming and did nothing to prevent it from happening. The 4 Americans lives lost in Benghazi were just as important, but there is no one who could have for told this would happen. Not the President, or Lindsay Graham. Let's find out what happened before pointing fingers..