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Did Petraeus Mistress Reveal Classified Info About the Cause of the Benghazi Attack During This University Speech?

Nov. 12, 2012 8:32am

Editor’s note: We’ll be discussing this story and all the day’s news on our live BlazeCast at 1:30pm ET:

Gen. David Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell is making headlines for having an affair with the former Central Intelligence Agency head. While questions are swirling around purportedly threatening emails that Broadwell sent to another woman, a friend of the Petraeus family named Jill Kelley, more profound curiosities surround whether the writer revealed classified information in a recent speech she delivered at the University of Denver.

Considering her close relationship with Petraeus, it is entirely possible that Broadwell was exposed to a great deal of highly-classified material. In an October 26 speech at the university, which is her alma mater, she was asked about how Petraeus handled the now-infamous attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11. Her response was fascinating and potentially problematic, as it may have contained sensitive information about part of the motivation behind the terrorist attack.

Did Paula Broadwell Reveal Classified Benghazi Info During University Speech?

In this Jan. 15, 2012 photo, Paula Broadwell, author of the David Petraeus biography “All In,” poses for photos in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP

Broadwell told her audience that media reports have indicated that the CIA annex, a separate building from the consulate, was seeking reinforcements in Libya that fateful night. While this piece of information had already been widely reported, other details about alleged Libyan militia members being held prisoner and serving as a potential catalyst for the attack had not yet been.

“Now, I don’t know if a lot of you heard this, but the CIA annex had actually, um, had taken a couple of Libyan militia members prisoner and they think that the attack on the consulate was an effort to try to get these prisoners back,” she said during her address. “So that’s still being vetted.”

Watch video of these comments from her speech, below:

On October 26, Fox News reported that CIA officials in Benghazi had transferred three militia members to Libyan authorities on the morning of September 12, however there was no mention at the time that these men were prisoners and may have been part of the reasoning behind the attack. On Monday, though, following revelations of Broadwell’s potential leak of classified information, Fox News reported:

A well-placed Washington source confirms to Fox that there were Libyan militiamen being held at the CIA annex in Benghazi and that their presence was being looked at as a possible motive for the staged attack on the Consulate and Annex that night.

According to multiple intelligence sources who have served in Benghazi, there were more than just Libyan militia members who were held and interrogated by CIA contractors at the CIA Annex in the days prior to the attack. Other prisoners from additional countries in Africa and the Middle East were brought to this location.

The Libya Annex was the largest CIA station in North Africa, and two weeks prior to the attack, the CIA was preparing to shut it down. Most prisoners, according to British and American intelligence sources, had been moved two weeks earlier.

The CIA subsequently denied these detention allegations, claiming that they are baseless and that the agency has not had the ability to hold prisoners in such a form since January 2009.

Considering that Broadwell told her university audience that Petraeus knew almost immediately that the Benghazi situation was a terror attack — one potentially waged to help free the Libyans being held — there are a variety of questions to consider.

Aside from figuring out whether the author exposed classified details, another quest may be to explore why, if the aforementioned details are true, Petraeus testified in a closed session of Congress that Benghazi was a spontaneous attack spawned by an anti-Islam film.

In addition to the controversial, potentially-sensitive material, IsraelNationalNews.com has more of Broadwell’s statements that were issued during the University of Denver address:

“The challenging thing for Gen. Petraeus is that in his new position, he’s not allowed to communicate with the press. So he’s known all of this – they had correspondence with the CIA station chief in Libya, within 24 hours they kind of knew what was happening.” [...]

“If you remember at the time, the Muslim video, the Mohammed video that came out, the demonstrations that were going on in Cairo, there were demonstrations in 22 other countries around the world, tens of thousands of people, and our government was very concerned that this was going to become a nightmare for us,” she said.

“So you can understand if you put yourselves in his shoes or Secretary Clinton’s shoes or the President’s shoes, that we thought it was tied somehow to the demonstrations in Cairo. And it’s true that we have signal intelligence that shows the militia members in Libya were watching the demonstration in Cairo, and it did sort of galvanize their effort. So we’ll find out the facts soon enough.

“As a former intel officer it’s frustrating to me because it reveals our sources and methods, I don’t think the public necessarily needs to know all of that. It is a tragedy that we lost an ambassador and two other government officials, and [...] there was a failure in the system because there was additional security requested, but it’s frustrating to see the sort of political aspect of what’s going on with this whole investigation.”

Watch the speech in its entirety (potentially problematic section surrounding alleged cause of the attack can be found at 34:45):

Aside from the notion that Broadwell may have divulged sensitive information, a curious detail is released in the Fox News report. While family friends contend that Holly Petraeus had likely known about the affair, the FBI allegedly also knew about it as well.

“The FBI reportedly knew about it months beforehand and White House Counterterrorism advisor John Brennan reportedly was aware that there was a relationship in the summer of 2011,” Fox News reports.

This account is intriguing, seeing as one former aide told reporters that the affair didn’t start until two months after Petraeus became CIA director. If this latter account is true, Brennan couldn’t have known in the summer of 2011 (Petraeus took the job in September). But if it is validated, then the information was already known by the administration before the former general took the job.

Read the entire Fox report here.

–

Related:

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Comments (80)

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  • kruzer_mike
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 10:00am

    Just another glory hound who attached herself to someone important and hopes others will think she is important too. Unfortunately her legacy will be that of Monica Lewinsky…I just hate that the info was held till after the election.
    One other thing…since the CIA vets anybody including staff level positions before they assume position, there is no way you will convince me that they didn’t already know about this before he took the position. It was just an expedient “bullet” to keep in the gun for future use.

    Report this comment

    kruzer_mike  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 11:26am

      There must be a crime against the nation that she should be charged for. The general is no longer someone to admire. He betrayed his wife, his family, and his country. He is not an exceptional man, he is a weak man of no importance now except to testify.

      Report this comment

      NHwinter  
    • wordsofwisdom
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 4:29pm

      These people are so corrupt that the corruptions are being corrupted by CYA stories. Give me a break you are all a bunch of criminals like any other dirty government. We have arrived at the station of no hope. It is too late to correct the problem we are in the “The End Times” http://youtu.be/vgDkznPS4zI and the course is set. Better hang on it’s going to be a rough ride for sure!

      Report this comment

      wordsofwisdom  
  • arbeauchamp
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:40am

    Would love to see all these people’s bank balances in a few months….we will never get the truth, sadly. Let’s talk about the REAL story here – look what great ARMS she has!

    Report this comment

    arbeauchamp  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 10:00am

      “While at West Point, Paula Broadwell (Kranz), participated in a summer cadet exchange program in Israel.”

      Monica Lewinsky’s father is Bernard Lewinsky, an oncologist, who is the son of German Jews who escaped Nazi Germany and emigrated to El Salvador and later the United States.Her mother, born Marcia Kaye Vilensky, the daughter of a Lithuanian Jewish father and a Russian-Romanian Jewish mother is an author who uses the name Marcia Lewis.

      Golan Cipel, an Israeli citizen and veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces, whom McGreevey appointed New Jersey homeland security adviser. Cipel, who had joined the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994 as Chief Information Officer at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, subsequently left the United States and returned to Israel.

      Daniel Ellsberg was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1931, the son of Adele D. (née Charsky) and Harry Ellsberg. His parents were Ashkenazi Jewish and had converted to Christian Science, and he was raised in a Christian Science atmosphere.

      Just giving some facts.

      Report this comment

      The_Jerk  
    • barber2
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 10:11am

      Reminds me of Michelle. You know, what really counts ….spare us .

      Report this comment

      barber2  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 10:54am

      She’s from North Dakota. “Kranz” is a common name among families of German Lutheran descent. The gonad had way more to do with this than the Mossad.

      Report this comment

      Lloyd Drako  
  • major matt mason
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:36am

    Glen this is going to be so easy. First, its the woman who decides if their is going to be any sex. She strikes a pose in all these pictures, shes well aware of every move she makes. Very calculating, he is General Barney Fife with 4 stars. I have always thought he was a meally mouse man. The title all in is going to be to much fun, do you know what I mean. Its funny their is even a issue, I thought its a don’t ask don’t tell policy in the military. Its just sex and it was with a woman. Wait theirs the problem, no farm animals or young male corpsman men. Your never going to get the truth out of either one. I will wait for the movie,

    Report this comment

    major matt mason  
    • Zipit
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:55am

      Right you are MMM! And I was the proud owner of a Space Crawler when I was a little kid!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 12:37pm

      “The title all in is going to be to much fun, do you know what I mean.” Yes, I do, and no doubt so do Jon Stewart, Bill Maher etc. “Thank you for your service” has also become a double entendre.

      Report this comment

      Lloyd Drako  
  • TrueColours
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:32am

    I see the title of her book is All In. . .Barry’s campaign slogan.

    Report this comment

    TrueColours  
    • TEARS FOR AMERICA
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:54am

      What will they ever do with the ones who are not “all in”? Will Obama and Friends use William Ayers as the new Czar of Re-Education Camps? Just sayin’…

      Report this comment

      TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • barber2
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:29am

    Could she have been Gloria Allred’s October Surprise ?? But the White House, who didn’t know anything until two days after the election ( wink, wink ) told Gloria to ” stand down ?” Never did figure out what that “surprise” was all about, but we know Gloria and her female revenge bit, though ! And her obvious ties to the Obama White House and targeting of conservatives !

    Report this comment

    barber2  
  • raderby
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:28am

    boots on the ground, lies, lies and more lies.

    Sam Powers, Val Jarrett, Chillary Clinton – responsibility to protect –

    The above fame junkie would do anything to appear important – and her lecture is likely true, as far as she knew… who knows if if it is. The cover up is expanding at warp speed now, and this “woman” is a distraction – as is Patraeus.

    Benghazi, orders given that night from WH is all we need to know.

    Report this comment

    raderby  
  • FightingBear
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:26am

    I sure hope this woman spills the beans on Benghazi before they off her.

    Of course when the truth comes out….all will be forgiven by the Libs. It was nothing more than four little bumps in the road on the way to Obama’s coronation.

    We can expect another Nobel Peace Prize for Obama for his handling of the situation and giving the order to stand down so that four Americans could be murdered without any loss of life to the Muslim terrorists..

    Report this comment

    FightingBear  
  • barber2
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:24am

    Happy Veterans Day under the Obama Administration. Nice, huh ?

    Report this comment

    barber2  
    • TEARS FOR AMERICA
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:51am

      I honestly believe that most of our military were not for Obama…you hear too many stories of how they are gutting and desecrating our forces and reducing it to a violent, brown-shirt force…time will tell.

      Report this comment

      TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • grams09
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:21am

    Maybe Obama had his own Muslim video.

    Report this comment

    grams09  
    • barber2
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:42am

      Yes. and that mysterious video maker was whisked off to jail faster than those 10 spies ( one of whom taught at CUNY under an alias ) were flown back to Russia in 2009. Pattern here ?!

      Report this comment

      barber2  
    • 1proud_Texan
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 10:52am

      Isn’t it amazing the “anti-Muslim ” filmmaker is already sentenced and the Fort Hood shooter is not after 3 years. This country is screwed up.

      Report this comment

      1proud_Texan  
    • barber2
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 11:02am

      TEXAN: Yes, we have been screwed….

      Report this comment

      barber2  
  • 65Mustang
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:18am

    Obama’s latest development in slandering his enemies when they know too much. She is a cheap Democrat “ho” trying to earn a living.

    Report this comment

    65Mustang  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:17am

    Something’s rotten in Denmark. This is all just too coincidental. What happens to her when she’s outlived her usefulness to the regime?

    Report this comment

     
  • TexVet61
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:11am

    I love how now they talk about the things and laws this woman broke by telling how we do things etc… WHAT ABOUT THE THINGS OBAMA HAS GIVEN HIS LAP DOG PRESS?! the coverups, the lies.
    if they try the Gen. then they need to try Obama

    Report this comment

    TexVet61  
  • LukeAppling
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:11am

    With all the leaks and the media hotshots why can’t we get any reliable information? Obama is flying around wasting tax dollars and hiding to avoid the truth finally coming forth.

    Report this comment

    LukeAppling  
  • mikeisgus
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:10am

    Broadwell wasn’t intelligent enough to keep her mouth shut during this speech???…..Oh wait a minute, if she HAD kept her mouth shut, there would probably never had been an affair in the first place.

    Report this comment

    mikeisgus  
  • kathleenlee
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:07am

    Obama is the biggest threat America has ever faced. It is hard to believe that the ignorant electorate is so very stupid…thank you union teachers. Who care who Patreaus slept with? This is simply a way to discredit him before he testifies…and he will testify…What I can’t understand, is how a general, who loves his country so much that her served her for over 30 years, can allow a marxist to tell him what to do. If he really loved America..he would tell the truth to her, and let the chips fall where they may. We all know obama’s friends are radicals, communists, socialists, marxists, and his philosophy is the same as theirs…That’s what is coming to America soon..I believe Patreaus can stop it..but does he have the guts??? I don’t know, I pray he does!!

    Report this comment

    kathleenlee  
  • brtmchl30
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:07am

    Does anyone one else just think this is all to wrapped with a bow. I do think an affair happened. But i also think that this goldigger is being steered. Petraeus says the order to stand down did not come from the cia. Then he is called to testify. Now he resigns. The white house was shocked at the news and they didnt find out about about it until the day after the election. The directer of the cia, CIA, is stalking this woman through email. And now we find out that the mistress was email a friend of petraeus and thats how the FBI got involved. Now she is speaking out so she can do a book. She was bought and paid for by Obama to discredit the general. I wouldnt be suprised if the regime gave her some small detailed info to make it look like patraeus’ pillow talk was divulging sensitive info to further discredit his eventual testimony

    Report this comment

    brtmchl30  
    • barber2
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:23am

      BRT: Judging from the actions and Character Assassination tactics we’ve seen during the last 4 years , I think you are correct.

      Report this comment

      barber2  
  • barber2
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:03am

    She sounds like a White House apologist. Was she just an ambitious young ” journalist” who became part of his set up ? How did she pick Petraeus as a bio topic ? This entire unfolding story has more twists than Mr. Slinky.

    Report this comment

    barber2  
  • oldsoldier10
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:03am

    Did Petraeus Mistress Reveal Classified Info About the Cause of the Benghazi Attack During This University Speech? I HOPE SO BECAUSE SOMEONE NEEDS TO START EXPLAINING! Obama is satan and the TSA is the Gestapo!

    Report this comment

    oldsoldier10  
  • Nations
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:03am

    I am getting tired of some women screwing up our nation. We need to encourage some character in our daughters to show some class and honor. Women need to become practitioners of better ethics and men need it worse. If obama is involved in this somehow, then he needs an impeachment and pronto.

    Report this comment

    Nations  
  • BehindBlueEyes
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:00am

    This woman is a loose cannon. I suspect the Chicago thugs are going to pay her a visit.

    Report this comment

    BehindBlueEyes  
    • Stelex
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:10am

      She’ll have a heart attack walking around her neighborhood one night no doubt

      Report this comment

      Stelex  
  • In the O.C.
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 8:53am

    Now we start getting whatever can be said to discredit whatever it was that Patraeus could give testimony about. Discredit the man before he opens his mouth. Yeah, that works every time, doesn’t it?

    I don’t care one syntilla about Patraeus’ personal life, his girlfriends (why is it that those on the Right who have extramarital affairs are referred to in the press as having “mistressess”, but those on the Left’s are referred to as “long-standing, non-marital relationships and/or girlfriends”???) Yes, well, we’re back to that double standard, yes?

    Of course, Hillary is suddenly unavailable to testify. And Patraeus is discredited. And Obama is back in FOREVER. And Benghazi was all about a video. And none of the timelimes match, and everybody has a different story. You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say there’s some sort of conspiracy to stop the truth coming out about Benghazi. And as I said immediately after Obama’s election (of which I am not alone) – WE WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE BENGHAZI MURDERS. They are being covered up – brilliantly so but obviously so – from hill and yon. Welcome to the New Fundametally Changed America, courtesy of Barack Hussein Obama.

    Report this comment

    In the O.C.  
  • blanco5
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 8:52am

    If you’re going to screw around and ruin your marriage, why don’t you choose better looking people? You sacrifice it all for THAT?

    Report this comment

    blanco5  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 8:48am

    “WAS PETRAEUS BLACKMAILED BY WHITE HOUSE
    INTO BACKING “VIDEOTAPE” LIE? – FBI HAD GOODS
    ON GENERAL SINCE LAST FEBRUARY – NO WAY
    OBAMA DIDN’T FIND OUT ABOUT AFFAIR UNTIL DAY
    AFTER ELECTION”

    http://www.militarycorruption.com/petraeus.htm

    Report this comment

    Walkabout  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 8:48am

    The press is more interested in the lurid details of the affair than a dead ambassador. Sickening.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
    • Zipit
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:19am

      Bingo Gonzo! It is always unfortunate that someone’s “fifteen minutes of fame”, ends up as scandal, ruining the lives and careers of so many involved, not to mention the damage it does to the trust that we want in our government and its leaders! SAD!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
  • SaturdaysWarrior76
    Posted on November 12, 2012 at 8:46am

    More confusing every day! Can’t someone in the White House simply step up and tell America the truth? Oh… nevermind…

    Report this comment

    SaturdaysWarrior76  
    • Stelex
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:09am

      Thanks for that, that was good, still laughing……..the truth……..oh thats good. Obama and the truth are oil and water……..

      Report this comment

      Stelex  
    • willbedone
      Posted on November 12, 2012 at 9:23am

      It is now official government policy to lie about an issue even if the truth sounds better.

      Report this comment

      willbedone  
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