By Alan Kornman & Wallace Bruschweiler
The New York Times, Jan 9, 2015 reports, “At a news conference shortly after Mr. Petraeus resigned, President Obama said he had no evidence that Mr. Petraeus had disclosed classified information “that in any way would have had a negative impact on our national security…We are safer because of the work that Dave Petraeus has done,” Mr. Obama said, referring to his career in government. “And my main hope right now is – is that he and his family are able to move on and that this ends up being a single side note on what has otherwise been an extraordinary career.”
Behind the scenes, President Obama’s proclamation above betrays his ongoing political maneuverings against retired General David Petraeus. President Obama has successfully derailed any future 2016 run for the White House Petraeus may have had. Now President Obama must keep retired General Petraeus silent on what really happened leading up to and after the Benghazi massacre.
RT News reports, “The FBI and Justice Department are recommending felony charges be brought against retired Gen. David Petraeus for providing classified information to his former mistress when he was director of the CIA, according to officials.The announcement was first reported by The New York Times and follows an investigation into an affair Petraeus had with Paula Broadwell, an Army Reserve officer who was writing his biography. The investigation, opened in 2012, centered on whether he gave her access to his CIA email account and other highly classified information, much of which was found stored on Broadwell’s personal computer.”
We shouldn’t forget that Paula Broadwell’s background includes Military Intelligence, a security clearance, and author of “All In – The Education of General David Petraeus.”
“Petraeus has indicated to the Justice Department that he has no interest in a plea deal that would spare him an embarrassing trial.”
White House sources told Bloomberg News that the Obama administration has sought Petraeus’s advice on the fight against the Islamic State and that he still has his security clearance.
Rep Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said, “If he has done something wrong, charge him, if he has not, let him go,” he said. “At this point I don’t know what their motivation is. But I worry they will let this linger until the President leaves office.”
As Director of the CIA, General Petraeus, was in a unique position to know all details surrounding the Benghazi terrorist attack. Petraeus knows who was responsible for the now infamous ‘stand down’ order, why repeated requests for additional security at the Benghazi compound were ignored, and why was Turkish Consul General Ali Sait Akin meeting with Ambassador Stevens one hour before the attack on September 11, 2012?
Approximately one hour after the meeting with General Ali Sait Akin, Ambassador Chris Stevens, information management officer Sean Smith and former Navy SEALS Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed during an extended assault by more than 100 Islamic Jihadists.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) started their still unresolved criminal investigation on General Petraeus over two year ago. Last week Attorney General Eric Holder declared that a “final decision will be decided by him or his successor.”
Conclusion
Are we faced with a typical blackmail situation?
Is the Sword of Damocles over Petraeus’ head regarding his potentially damaging testimony at Rep. Trey Gowdy’s Benghazi hearings?
Would General Petraeus potentially implicate Hillary Clinton and the Obama Administration in a legacy destroying Benghazi coverup that cost four Americans their lives, amongst them a United States Ambassador?
