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Admiral James A. Lyons (Ret.) argues former CIA head David Petraeus is still a credible source on foreign relations.
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General Petraeus agreeing to testify on the big Gaza attack and -- -- -- from the House Intelligence Committee we have just learned us.
This Friday.
He will be doing so behind closed doors as we now understand.
How that testimony will go.
But the question is this in part has his credibility been compromise following the scandal that led to his resignation.
My next guest says this scandalous political cover and deception.
Joining us now admiral James Lyons retired commander of the US Pacific plate and -- good to have you back with -- And I severe -- let's go to the first question and that is has his has his credibility been compromised to the point that he can be a very little help.
To congress.
Well I think first of all -- hearing should be open.
And to really get to the bottom of what went on in the -- Ghazi consulate.
And why the ambassador had to be that.
We should grant them amnesty.
We need to get to the bottom of what really went -- and as you said leading -- The sex scandal is nothing mall of then.
Political cover and deception.
To divert the American public's attention from what really went on in that -- Ghazi consulate and why the ambassador.
Had to be there that night.
And and and -- just understand who created this deception this distraction.
Well it -- -- judge -- in my judgment.
This had been known for a number of months the timing.
Of when it was made public.
Certainly becomes very.
Suspicious.
One of the suspicious elements is that it followed in.
Our reporter the release of a timeline.
Are put forward by the CIA.
And you know that's going to be export for some time.
But going to your point about why the ambassador was -- -- Ghazi that the day and the night that he was that he was killed.
Could you give us a sense of what you think is behind all of.
Yeah Lou look -- -- here's the ambassador who feared for his safety.
We had the 16 August message.
From the consulate which said this place can't be defended right.
We have the Blue -- security manager.
Who sensed something wrong.
And we put out an alert in the afternoon of the eleventh over both radios.
And his cell phones something's wrong he gets on a plane he gets out have been -- Three hours before the attack.
We have the analysts are -- sure Maria terrorist group.
Setting up roadblocks and checkpoints.
That the Turkish consul general.
Had to pass through -- meeting with the ambassador.
Nobody can tell me that the Turkish consul general didn't say all of this to ambassador statement.
The alone should -- went off.
What I think -- happen who was a terrible.
Mistake on the and sour -- she read a terrorist group.
I speculate.
That.
Ambassador Stevens was supposed to be kidnapped.
Held hostage.
In exchange.
For the release of the blind -- that is where currently holding in prison.
That's the only thing that makes sense to -- otherwise he never would have stayed there that night.
And do you believe.
Then.
That he was doing so.
Voluntarily willingly knowingly.
Being put forward if you will as a is treating chapel for the blind Sheikh.
Well let's what's going to have to come out in the hearings.
And the only way we're gonna -- to the bottom of it -- probably have to have a special prosecutor of and we certainly have to.
General Petraeus.
Testifying.
Openly.
And with granted immunity.
Very -- were.
Out of time have more as always it's it's it's fascinating listening.
To your.
-- listening to your mind work.
Poverty the president today said on the night of the attack his orders were to his national security team to do whatever necessary.
To save American lives your reaction.
Well that didn't happen.
Very quickly we didn't use the resources we -- they and a you had that 130 man marine force recon team and -- -- they weren't used.
F sixteen aircraft which could have been there -- no matter and an hour and a half.
We had the Pentagon time line that said that.
They stood up our two marine.
Counter terrorist teams -- broad but the first deemed to have 23 hours.
The go 800 miles to get to Tripoli I can go around the world in 23 -- The second team was never sent.
Because they said all the Americans were out of the consulate.
That makes no sense we -- it opens where looters it should have been secured this -- US territory.
That prevented the FBI from getting in there for over three weeks.
And when they FBI did get they had they did a lousy job by leaving -- have to documents -- that -- that were left there -- screwed around.
-- reliance it is always.
Thanks -- up next.
