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The intelligence community - not the White House, State Department or Justice Department - was responsible for the substantive changes made to the talking points distributed for government officials who spoke publicly about the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, the spokesman for the director of national intelligence said Monday.
The unclassified talking points on Libya, developed several days after the the deadly attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, were not substantively changed by any agency outside of the intelligence community, according to the spokesman, Shawn Turner.
Former CIA Director David Petraeus told lawmakers in a closed door hearing last week that the CIA’s original assessment on the Sept. 11 Benghazi attack was that it was carried out by al Qaeda affiliated groups. But he reportedly said that analysis was later taken out after an interagency review in favor of a more general assessment that “extremists” carried out the attack to broaden the scope and not tip off terrorists to U.S. knowledge on the matter. And despite the fact that Petraeus said the CIA approved the change, Republicans, led by Republican senators John McCain (AZ), Lindsey Graham (SC) and Kelly Ayotte (NH), have accused the White House of stripping the language for political reasons.
But Shawn Turner, the spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence, told CNN that it wasn’t the White House’s decision:
Quote:
“The intelligence community made substantive, analytical changes before the talking points were sent to government agency partners for their feedback. There were no substantive changes made to the talking points after they left the intelligence community.”
Another anonymous intelligence official echoed Turner, saying that the changes were made based on legitimate intelligence and for legal purposes:
Quote:
“First, the information about individuals linked to al Qaeda was derived from classified sources. Second, when links were so tenuous – as they still are – it makes sense to be cautious before pointing fingers so you don’t set off a chain of circular and self-reinforcing assumptions. Third, it is important to be careful not to prejudice a criminal investigation in its early stages.”
Indeed, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told the New York Times last week that in his closed door briefing, Petraeus “was adamant there was no politicization of the process, no White House interference or political agenda.”
Yawn. It took them long enough to remember, didn't it? Maybe they were all on vacation and missed the news. We'll see how long this story holds any credence. New story in three days as the WH tries to shift blame...again. IMO Colonel Mustard did it in the study with a candlestick.
The "intelligence community" is just another ambiguous term right up there with "Senior intelligence officials".
At this rate we'll never get any names.
I guess it's true..it "takes a village" and we are the village idiots for putting up with this.
Exactly. The President gets intelligence briefings (in writing) EVERY SINGLE DAY.
EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
"Intelligence officials" don't sneeze without asking permission and without the President knowing what they're doing.
If there was no cover up, this would have been cleared up on Day 1. But no. There was an election to win. We had to keep saying Al Qaeda is on the run.
Your President stood and lied to your faces about this, four Americans are dead, and you're all OK with these actions.
This says a lot about the ethics and morals of our country and the left. It's more important for a man to win his popularity contest, even if it means he's lying to your face.
These are the very same career intelligence people who have been working for the USA for years. The ones who inform all administrations and tell every POTUS what's up.
Do you seriously expect them to disclose information to satisfy idle curiosity.
Enough of this speculation. Let them do their jobs. The middle east is about to blow up.
Exactly. The President gets intelligence briefings (in writing) EVERY SINGLE DAY.
EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
"Intelligence officials" don't sneeze without asking permission and without the President knowing what they're doing.
If there was no cover up, this would have been cleared up on Day 1. But no. There was an election to win. We had to keep saying Al Qaeda is on the run.
Your President stood and lied to your faces about this, four Americans are dead, and you're all OK with these actions.
This says a lot about the ethics and morals of our country and the left. It's more important for a man to win his popularity contest, even if it means he's lying to your face.
No intelligence analyst produces a report or summary without first running it by the president? BS.
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