Former Admiral James “Ace” Lyons, citing the substance of Rep. Peter King’s deferential assessment of David Petraeus’s recent conflicting statements to Congress about the Benghazi debacle, told Lou Dobbs last night (11/19/12),
According to Congressman King, Petraeus lied during his first testimony
Lyons’ blunt remark (starting at 1:25 of the interview, embedded, below) independently confirms Diana West’s analysis of the former CIA Director’s mendacity. Petraeus’s September 14, 2012 statements to the House Intelligence Committee were summarized by Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, (D, Md), immediately after the Committee’s hour-long briefing by Petraeus. West cites an ABC report, according to which Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intel committee, stated Petraeus laid out “a chronological order [of] exactly what we felt happened, how it happened, and where we’re going in the future.” Here is Ruppersberger’s concise appraisal of Petraeus’s September 14, 2012 testimony, during which Petraeus emphasized the centrality of a “spontaneous” protest lasting two to three hours:
In the Benghazi area, in the beginning we feel that it was spontaneous – the protest- because it went on for two or three hours, which is very relevant because if it was something that was planned, then they could have come and attacked right away. At this point it looks as if there was a spontaneous situation that occurred and that as a result of that, the extreme groups that were probably connected to al Qaeda took advantage of that situation and then the attack started.
Perhaps that is why incensed members of Congress considered charging Petraeus with perjury, as reported on November 12, 2012 by Jennifer Griffin:
Congressional leaders say privately they believe they were lied to by Petraeus when he testified shortly after the attack. Some of these members already considered charging Petraeus with perjury, but said they planned to withhold judgment until he testified this week.
The relevant statute under which Petraeus could be charged is US Code—Section 1001:
18 U.S.C. § 1001 : US Code – Section 1001: Statements or entries generally (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
