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Geraldo Rivera on why mentions of Al Qaeda were stripped from CIA's talking points on Benghazi terror attack
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Thanks for staying with -- I'm Greg -- and for Bill O'Reilly and in -- Fridays with Geraldo segment tonight there's still many questions surrounding the timing of General Petraeus -- resignation.
Including why didn't President Obama know about the investigation into the former CIA director earlier.
Attorney general Eric Holder attempted to clear that up.
He made the determination as we were going through the matter that there was not a threat to national security.
Had we made the determination that a threat to national security insisted.
We would of course have made that known to the president.
You know also to be appropriate members.
-- on the hill.
With us now the legendary -- Rivera but before we get to the Petraeus investigation -- want to get your thoughts on this -- -- testimony today.
It's pretty amazing stuff about this removing this line.
-- to al-Qaeda.
When you see that's the opposite of transparent.
Well I think they had that.
You could make a reasonable argument that they were trying to package this tragedy in a way that was least harmful to the president in the -- to the election I don't have any proof of that how blend I didn't expect from you did -- you know I think that you could reasonably argued I don't know that that's a fact but I think that you can and as you know infer that may be -- they decided the -- first -- yes I -- -- -- she had just that was -- I was gonna say that I -- you're gonna bite my -- off now but here here let me just back up with the line they allegedly took out was the al-Qaeda reference.
Al-Qaeda.
This is not your mother's al-Qaeda running in Libya that what is al-Qaeda Qaeda is the you know kind of the you'd be most militant aggressive.
Now yeah deadly.
Radical Islamist group in the world and they obviously the perpetrators of 9/11 then the cold disaster and so many other of the worst terrorist attacks against us.
Al-Qaeda since the death of bin Laden certainly but after the attacks by our drones and our our -- in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Has become more of a generic almost the branding so I think it's entirely reasonable to assume that these militiamen.
-- A year ago we just radical Islamist militants anti American yeah killing dogs.
Now so -- themselves as Al -- I think it's it's it's it's not unreasonable.
To think that they were looking at this why do we have to say al-Qaeda.
When the president already killed -- -- kill bin Laden General Motors is alive bin Laden is that.
You know why don't I don't you know let's just go back to the generic you rather than the brands -- that I think.
I mean they played with language that's -- this -- well I think that there is an allegation to that I'm not suggesting that that's the truth but I think that it's a reasonable possible I think it is too and we think about the fact that Fort Hood is still workplace violence.
Well for good -- you know why you said here with O'Reilly and we debated and I said listen I I think that until unless and until you prove a connection with the -- -- Qaeda operative that's what it is then they prove the connection and then I'll -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I want to get back to open -- and I'll allow else yeah.
Do you think.
Holder told the president about this affair of the practically joined it to hit when a mom -- Paul's -- holder -- -- I have a much higher regard for Eric -- than most in this building I really think that he tries to do his job and I think he was unfairly besmirched in the fast and furious investigation having made that very unpopular and gratuitous remarks let me and -- hasten to add.
He's like best friends with the president right.
And you know if it was my best friend and we were talking about the man who was the American Napoleon this figure larger than life.
Who saved -- behind in Iraq and then answer the call of duty in Afghanistan and then went to the CIA rather than run against the president for the -- you know as the Republican nominee for the presidency of the united this and twenty -- I think that I would if it -- me if I was there are -- -- -- you know boss.
You know like you know General Petraeus and I got caught with his pants down in this thing and you know I visit investigation doesn't look like there's anything to it -- -- national security.
But I'll keep you informed you know I had that think that that's entirely possible but the other curious question -- Greg in fairness why didn't Eric Cantor -- house majority leader why didn't he say something.
He he had that he had these this skinny on this -- thing as I understand it before the month of October was up so well in advance.
Of the of the presidential election why didn't can't hurt someone's gonna politicize -- why didn't -- yeah.
Do you think this do you think the affair had any relationships have been doesn't start absolutely -- I spoke with colonel Peter months who -- who was the executive officer.
For a General Petraeus -- IE one of the many -- -- few General Petraeus in theater.
This was in 2007 when General Petraeus was brilliant -- leading the surge in Iraq so I met months -- I know my trust them.
He has spoken several times the General Petraeus since the scandal broke since the resignation he swears to me and I asked the question six ways to Sunday.
Dead General Petraeus told him.
Absolutely nothing to do -- -- the yeah just about my -- honoring.
My own principles.
And cheating on my wife.
They -- -- because I violated my own principles I have no I had no choice but to resign from public -- don't.
Think there's any connection between -- two although I do think it would have a psychological impact on a winning answer to what he's talking about Ben -- oh now your shrink yes I -- my.
And I've been practicing psychology if I had to privately in my own house for many years and I had never -- holding a number -- number finally out of thirteen by the way to think about -- I was looking at a profit over the fact is if he wants to keep his job yes until the lights it was just us out flash mob in the beginning and then maybe change -- general all of -- David Petraeus I'm telling I've been with this guy when he had to start doing -- great guy North Korea Forsythe is more than a great guy he's a brilliant general the best since Eisenhower.
And to suggest that this man -- and all anyway altered testimony.
For a political result -- because he feared somebody might blackmail him I think that someone who represented in August and smoke and something fidelity Colorado Washington State how did you know all right so I wrote this -- college -- Ha -- totally unnecessary all right I like your book I thank you had very good and I -- just say what I liked about Scott joy paid by the way joy if you know they're really tough tough tough path.
Which is so you yes.
And you know what I liked about it I I liked the the exposing of the double standard in media specifically as it results in the as it affected the two main.
Kind of populist uprisings we've had in the last couple years on the one hand the Tea Party in on the other hand the occupy -- movement.
And you've.
Correctly portray I think in a very humorous way.
How the occupy I was kind of romanticize by the mainstream media while the Tea Party portrayed as -- -- and do yeses and you know people who just uncool.
And I -- I also think that you point out very correctly.
That the president has a cool factor that Mitt Romney did.
Yeah I do think that the media contributed to Obama's election but through this duopoly of the cool tyranny over the -- cool.
And and the Tea Party is almost seen as your parents.
Whereas Occupy Wall Street for reporters they see themselves we've got to move on -- -- -- thank you for plugging my book that was a very nice of them had a quick note bill currently.
Has two books.
On the New York Times best so let's I think -- that did know about that have Internet 56 minutes yet killing Kennedy.
Kelly Kenny is number one in killing -- -- and number three quite an accomplishment both books.
Make a great Christmas gifts and if you want signed copy simply go to Bill O'Reilly dot contest ahead is a man.
