Petraeus: Resignation has nothing to do with Benghazi

In off-camera and apparently rather poignant conversations with Kyra Phillips of CNN and Headline News, David Petraeus has made it clear that his resignation as CIA director has everything to do with his own personal failings, and nothing whatsoever to do with the tragedy in Benghazi and its aftermath:

As Phillips recounted the conversations:

“He has said this has nothing to do with Benghazi and he wants to testify. He will testify. He has maintained to me all along this was a personal failing, Robin, which, as I said, to me was quite stunning and to many other people. He’s not the type of person that I’ve ever known to fail at anything, knowing [him] as long as I have over the years. And so he has made it very clear that this was about an extramarital affair and not over classified information or Benghazi.”

Of course, there is no expectation that such statements will quell the conspiracy theorists. The hunger to believe overwhelms rationality for some. But there it is nonetheless.

– Jay Bookman

555 comments Add your comment

HoyaLawya

November 15th, 2012
10:39 pm

Right on, Buffett. Clinton/Warren 2016!

TaxPayer

November 15th, 2012
10:43 pm

One trillion dollars to get saddam. Too bad we didn’t get any wmds or bin laden or even any oil or a democracy of bushes making for that yet to be paid for war. Not to worry though. The tax hikes needed to pay for it are finally coming.

TaxPayer

November 15th, 2012
10:49 pm

Democrats passed math. Republicans failed. Democrats know that government expenditures are funded through taxation. Republicans have faith that democrats will eventually gain control and fix the messes that republicans create.

Jm

November 15th, 2012
10:53 pm

“And Democrats will have the privilege of actually paying for the welfare state. Have fun.”

I wish….

Oscar

November 15th, 2012
11:30 pm

I’m beginning to think it may be better to go off the cliff. Raise the taxes back to where they were when Clinton was President. All the cuts were supposed to be temporary in the first place. That was Bush’s plan. And time is up.
Temporary is over.

JKL2

November 15th, 2012
11:33 pm

oscar- Their job is to follow his orders, not to think. There was a reason the writers of the constitution put the civilian government in control of the mili.tary.

Spoken like a true coward who never served. No wonder obama’s your hero…

JKL2

November 15th, 2012
11:42 pm

joe mama- Soldiers and veterans are also told and trained to be truthful, even when the truth is difficult or will cast the soldier or his/her fellows in a bad light

So what’s your excuse? Parent’s fault , inability to learn, or are you blaming it on ptsd?

With all this crying and whining you’re going to have to change your name to” joe baby”.

Uh-oh

November 15th, 2012
11:44 pm

It looks like our President is preparing to throw seniors under the bus in this avoiding the fiscal cliff thing,

JKL2

November 15th, 2012
11:49 pm

getalife- You speak for the troops?

Since I am one, every word that comes out of my mouth is “for them”.

getalife

November 15th, 2012
11:51 pm

jk,

Some voted for our President.

You don’t speak for them.

JKL2

November 15th, 2012
11:51 pm

taxpayer- Democrats passed math. Republicans failed

Is that why Demwits always call tax increases “spending cuts”?

Oscar

November 15th, 2012
11:56 pm

Since I am one, every word that comes out of my mouth is “for them”.

____

Like I said, your job is not to think. Good thing, since you can’t manage to.
That’s the reason civilians are in control. To protect the country from people like you.

JKL2

November 15th, 2012
11:57 pm

getalife- Some voted for our President. You don’t speak for them.

What part of “vast majority think he is a POS” do you not understand? joe baby says the way to tell if someone is a good leader is to talk to the people under them. Unless they are the president, then the people are too stupid to have an opinion.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
12:03 am

oscar- That’s the reason civilians are in control. To protect the country from people like you.

My job is to protect sheeple like you from yourselves. You’re like one of those parents who kills their kid because “they love them too much”.

getalife

November 16th, 2012
12:05 am

jk,

President Obama won.

Move on private.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
12:05 am

joe- I don’t know if JKL graduated from a service academy, but given his behavior this afternoon, I can’t imagine that he did.

Didn’t graduate there, but I was an instructor.

getalife

November 16th, 2012
12:07 am

“You’re like one of those parents who kills their kid because “they love them too much”.”

That is weird.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
12:12 am

getalife- obama won

I would call him a lame duck, but I don’t know how he could get any lamer than he already has been. You can only golf so much.

getalife

November 16th, 2012
12:16 am

jk,

Peace and prosperity are coming.

Chin up.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
12:23 am

getalife- Peace and prosperity are coming.

Keep dreaming. Nothing but rainbows and unicorns here in obamaland…

Oscar

November 16th, 2012
12:28 am

My job is to protect sheeple like you from yourselves. You’re like one of those parents who kills their kid because “they love them too much”.

____

Earlier today you so much as called President Obama a POS.
And you claim to speak for the troops and to wear a uniform. That makes you a disgrace to the uniform and to the country.
I don’t think you have a brain, much less know how to use it.

Oscar

November 16th, 2012
12:28 am

My job is to protect sheeple like you from yourselves. You’re like one of those parents who kills their kid because “they love them too much”.

____

Earlier today you so much as called President Obama a POS.
And you claim to speack for the troops and to wear a uniform. That makes you a disgrace to the uniform and to the country.
I don’t think you have a brain, much less know how to use it.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
12:34 am

oscar- Earlier today you so much as called President Obama a POS. And you claim to speak for the troops and to wear a uniform. That makes you a disgrace to the uniform and to the country.

No, just embarrassed to have an idiot for a boss. I have lawn furniture that shows more leadership than obama. The great orator doesn’t have any interpersonal communication skills. I would have to kick him out for an honor code violation after that last press conference.

How come Mr Transparency took 8 months to hold a press conference?

appleseed

November 16th, 2012
1:03 am

Ackerman went on to say that Republicans had “the audacity to come here” when the administration requested, for worldwide security, “$440 million more than you guys wanted to provide. And the answer is that you damn didn’t provide it! You REDUCED what the administration asked for to protect these people. Ask not who the guilty party is, it’s you! It is us. It is this committee, and the things that we insist that we need have to cost money.”

Fred ™

November 16th, 2012
2:25 am

No, just embarrassed to have an idiot for a boss. I have lawn furniture that shows more leadership than obama. The great orator doesn’t have any interpersonal communication skills. I would have to kick him out for an honor code violation after that last press conference.

If you really WERE military, you would be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Military Justice for that statement. But you aren’t military and you have zero honor and integrity.

seabeau

November 16th, 2012
4:59 am

I wish Obama would resign over bengazi,fast and furious,telling the justice dept. not to prosecute the laws of the land(Per his oath of office) .

stands for decibels

November 16th, 2012
5:51 am

mornin’.

>>As it was stated before several times on this site, Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama. Maybe y’all should’ve nominated him instead.

>Now Kam, I don’t know about Elmer Fudd, but Bugs Bunny, definitely.

If memory serves, Bugs Bunny *never* lost to anyone.

Common Sense isn't very Common

November 16th, 2012
5:56 am

sfd

Elmer Romney will go down in history along with John McCain as getting their butts kicked by a Kenyan Marxist

:-)

Wake up

November 16th, 2012
6:21 am

Who would tie his resignation to Benghazi? You would not resign from something like that until enough damning evidence was put out there. We are still in the coverup and CYA phase of this one. Give it a few months…..

JamVet

November 16th, 2012
6:26 am

Since I am one, every word that comes out of my mouth is “for them”.

What an arrogant, childish little man.

Republicans and their post-election meltdowns are always fun to watch…

Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think

November 16th, 2012
6:44 am

Good, good Friday morning all y’all…I do love sleeping in on a Friday morning!

Saw this and squirted coffee out my nose…

http://cheezburger.com/6767471872

Georgia

November 16th, 2012
6:44 am

W just tweeted: Fiscal Cliff: the war tax cuts are set to expire. There’s still a war, aint there? Then keep the war tax cuts which will support the troops, and then we catch the dictator who perpetrated the second 911, Castro. #W

Jay

November 16th, 2012
6:50 am

That’s well-done and witty, Corbin.

Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...

November 16th, 2012
6:56 am

JAY

You gonna put something out there about the obligatory renewed killing in and around Gaza today?

I for one, would like to see a significant change in our postioning with Israel…can we expect another 60 years of killing? If so, we should no longer de facto have any more blood on our hands..

gtt

November 16th, 2012
7:04 am

Mrs. Broadwell is lovely.

sirwinston

November 16th, 2012
7:25 am

John McCain started a fire that he himself did not show up to put out! Then he fail to meet the President challenge by telling him or wanted to accuse him he knew about the accident. Then he went at Susan Rice talking about not support her if she is elected or recommended for the position as Seceretary of State. McCain is like a little wind trying to create a lot of dust but when it start he somehow make excuses and don’t show or fail to deliver. He want to be a big person but the public have seen how he manage to not follow through. McCain cannot brush off his defeat trying to be the president of the US. Really, he want’s to blame Sarah for his lost and but take’s it out on other women. We all agree that it is time for McCain to go and not serve this country again for he is not in his right mind.

Finn

November 16th, 2012
7:29 am

and the attack was all about a video.

Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette

November 16th, 2012
7:31 am

McCain….When questioned about missing the Benghazi briefing blew a gasket.

He asked the reporter “Who the hell are you …..?”

The reporter, like me, like all of you, pay his freaking salary.

That’s who the hell we are, you (@#^$#^#$$%~~!!!!)

Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette

November 16th, 2012
7:32 am

(@#^$#^#$$%~~!!!!)= Mr. Silly Pants

stands for decibels

November 16th, 2012
7:35 am

That’s well-done and witty, Corbin.

“We hold our inability to accept the truth to be self-evident…”

[golf clap]

St Simons - he-ne-ha

November 16th, 2012
7:37 am

Corbin, I know who you were…
my sixth sense took too long. i’ll have to see josef for a tuneup

stands for decibels

November 16th, 2012
7:37 am

stands for decibels

November 16th, 2012
7:40 am

Clinton/Warren 2016!

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I was wondering about the next Supreme Court vacancy.

Is Alan Grayson too old?

stands for decibels

November 16th, 2012
7:41 am

jeez, dead-threaded by lunacy SHEETZ.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
8:31 am

fred- If you really WERE military, you would be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Military Justice for that statement. But you aren’t military and you have zero honor and integrity.

If I was doing this in public while wearing a uniform you would be correct. Guess that makes you 0-2.

Please continue to lecture me on topics you are totally clueless on. I will keep defending your right to remain uneducated and proud of it.

Jay

November 16th, 2012
8:52 am

Well, this thread has given me a depressing answer to my question. Why don’t GOP leaders denounce — and instead encourage — this kind of nonsense? Because it’s what its base wants to hear.

Joe Hussein Mama

November 16th, 2012
9:20 am

JKL — “So what’s your excuse? Parent’s fault , inability to learn, or are you blaming it on ptsd?”

Since I’m not being dishonest and you are, I require no excuse. You certainly could do with one, though.

“With all this crying and whining you’re going to have to change your name to” joe baby”.

And we’ll change yours to “Stuck Pig,” because a stuck, dishonest pig will certainly squeal its chitlins out, just as you have done. Besides, the only crying I see here is your own, clearly due to the fact that your patent dishonesty and fabulism’s been called out for what it is and you’ve got no defense for it.

When you’re ready to strap on a pair of stones and admit that your 98% figure was total bullspit, I’ll be glad to accept your apology, concession and surrender. (laughing, pointing) :D

Joe Hussein Mama

November 16th, 2012
9:22 am

JKL — “Since I am one, every word that comes out of my mouth is “for them”.

So am I. And you’re unauthorized to speak for anyone except yourself.

Joe Hussein Mama

November 16th, 2012
9:23 am

JKL — “Didn’t graduate there, but I was an instructor.”

Pugil dummy. (giggling) :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pugil_sticks

Joe Hussein Mama

November 16th, 2012
9:25 am

Fred — “If you really WERE military, you would be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Military Justice for that statement. But you aren’t military and you have zero honor and integrity.”

This. JKL’s military like I’m married to Christina Hendricks. :roll:

Joe Hussein Mama

November 16th, 2012
9:31 am

JKL — “If I was doing this in public while wearing a uniform you would be correct. Guess that makes you 0-2.”

Wrong. All that’s necessary is for you to be on active duty or in a Reserve component — which you’ve already claimed to be — and *identifiable by name.* So that makes *you* 0 and 3.

“Please continue to lecture me on topics you are totally clueless on.”

How ironic of you. (laughing, pointing) :D

“I will keep defending your right to remain uneducated and proud of it.”

I love when cons get caught out lying and go all indignant on you. It’s like one of those Australian hissing lizards with the big ruff that pops out around their neck. :D

DownInAlbany

November 16th, 2012
1:35 pm

Former CIA Director David Petraeus stoked the controversy over the Obama administration’s handling of the Libya terror attack, testifying that references to “Al Qaeda involvement” were stripped from his agency’s original talking points — while other intelligence officials were unable to say who changed the memo, according to a top lawmaker who was briefed.

And, the saga continues…will we ever know the truth?

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
5:09 pm

jamvet- Republicans and their post-election meltdowns are always fun to watch…

I said for months the 47% and party of handouts would win. Stop trying to project yourself onto me.

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
5:14 pm

joe baby- When you’re ready to strap on a pair of stones and admit that your 98% figure was total bullspit, I’ll be glad to accept your apology, concession and surrender. (laughing, pointing)

You already proved my point as valid. Why are you still whining?

Putting smiley faces behind every line does nothing for your credibility. Do you do that because you get your news from Comedy Central?

JKL2

November 16th, 2012
5:27 pm

joe- All that’s necessary is for you to be on active duty or in a Reserve component — which you’ve already claimed to be — and *identifiable by name.* So that makes *you* 0 and 3.

Completely wrong. I’ll be kind and blame it on your brain injury.