Petraeus: CIA Knew Almost Immediately Terrorists Were Behind Libya Attacks

The general and former CIA head says intelligence agencies knew early who was to blame

Former CIA Director David Petraeus said intelligence agencies knew the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a terrorist ploy almost immediately, but the administration withheld the information to avoid tipping off suspected al-Qaida affiliates. Petraeus gave the testimony to Congress yesterday in a closed-door hearing and news was reported by the Associated Press, citing information from lawmakers who attended the hearings.

Petraeus also said it was not initially known whether the attackers had infiltrated a demonstration to cover their plot.

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Lawmakers who questioned the general said he testified that the CIA's first draft of talking points about the assault that killed four Americans called it as a terrorist attack. Petraeus said that reference was removed from the final version, but he wasn't sure which federal agency deleted it.

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