--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no way we can get to the bottom…" description: "\"There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.\" — Trey Gowdy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg" --- # There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi… ![“There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.” quote by Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg) > “There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.” [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Asserts that only Petraeus’s insight can uncover the truth about Benghazi. **In simple terms:** Petraeus needed to solve Benghazi mystery. Key Takeaway Seek expert analysis. Themes politics investigation accountability Mood skeptical serious Type analytical political When to use this quote - government oversight - media scrutiny - policy making - public trust Key Concepts intelligence leadership truth transparency Questions to Reflect On - Who else could contribute to the investigation? - What risks arise from over‑reliance on a single authority? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need multiple perspectives, not just one expert. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [General David Petraeus was so successful at getting on covers of magazines, having journalists fall in love with him, that in fact he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/general-david-petraeus-was-so-successful-at-getting-on-covers-of/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [I cannot and will not raise money on Benghazi. I also advise my colleagues to follow suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-cannot-and-will-not-raise-money-on-benghazi-i-also-advise-my/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [There's a reason that students don't grade their own papers. There's a reason defendants don't sentence themselves. And there's the reason the State Department…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-a-reason-that-students-don-t-grade-their-own-papers-there-s-a/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Benghazi matters because Americans deserve to know the truth from those entrusted to lead and govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/benghazi-matters-because-americans-deserve-to-know-the-truth-from/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I am not surprised that the president of the United States called this a phony scandal. I'm not surprised Secretary Clinton asked, "What difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-am-not-surprised-that-the-president-of-the-united-states-called/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [ I would say that \[David\] Petraeus and \[Hillary\] Clinton are being handled very difficultly by this administration over arguably exactly the same issue, which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-would-say-that-david-petraeus-and-hillary-clinton-are-being-handled/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I was in such a state of mental shock and quickly spiraled into a depression at the multitude of loss. My husband, I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-was-in-such-a-state-of-mental-shock-and-quickly-spiraled-into-a/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [General David Petraeus is an American patriot and hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/general-david-petraeus-is-an-american-patriot-and-hero/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [Replacing General McChrystal with David Petraeus was a good first step, but more will be needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/replacing-general-mcchrystal-with-david-petraeus-was-a-good-first/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and at Centcom, is probably the most decorated officer of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/gen-david-petraeus-commander-of-u-s-troops-in-iraq-afghanistan-and-at/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [“Now I wish I had pushed back hard on his question. I should have said, “You know, Matt, I was the one in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/now-i-wish-i-had-pushed-back-hard-on-his-question-i-should-have-said/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [I'm not in love with David Petraeus. But I think he does present a terrific role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-m-not-in-love-with-david-petraeus-but-i-think-he-does-present-a/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [In 2012 Roger Ailes, you know, desperately tried to get who into the race? Chris Christie, a somewhat moderate if tough talking from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-2012-roger-ailes-you-know-desperately-tried-to-get-who-into-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Despite the fact that David Petraeus is now very highly regarded in foreign policy circles because of his record in both Republican and Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/despite-the-fact-that-david-petraeus-is-now-very-highly-regarded-in/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [ I had been working on a second book with \[David\] Petraeus called Relentless. Obviously that book and the income that it would have generated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-had-been-working-on-a-second-book-with-david-petraeus-called/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) ## More by Trey Gowdy > [I can tell you this. It is not going to be evenly constituted and when she was Speaker Pelosi, she certainly showed no interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-can-tell-you-this-it-is-not-going-to-be-evenly-constituted-and-when/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Honestly, I have heard a lot in my 16 years as a prosecutor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/honestly-i-have-heard-a-lot-in-my-16-years-as-a-prosecutor/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I suspect that with men like General Petraeus, where honor means something - losing your life is secondary to losing your honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-suspect-that-with-men-like-general-petraeus-where-honor-means/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [No law can give Congress a backbone if it refuses to stand off as the coequal branch the Constitution made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/no-law-can-give-congress-a-backbone-if-it-refuses-to-stand-off-as-the/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Well, I certainly hope the Democrats participate. I continue to think that some things transcend politics like the murder of four of our fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/well-i-certainly-hope-the-democrats-participate-i-continue-to-think/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The same Constitution that allows her the right, if she wants to, to sit there and say nothing, allows these groups the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-same-constitution-that-allows-her-the-right-if-she-wants-to-to/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Unless your name is Jack Bauer, you cannot make people talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/unless-your-name-is-jack-bauer-you-cannot-make-people-talk/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [What do we do with a president who can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don't agree with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-do-we-do-with-a-president-who-can-basically-change-what-congress/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [When you go into public service, you understand you're trading something. You want to feel good about what you do, but you're not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/when-you-go-into-public-service-you-understand-you-re-trading/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I am not surprised that the president of the United States called this a phony scandal. I'm not surprised Secretary Clinton asked, "What difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-am-not-surprised-that-the-president-of-the-united-states-called/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The United States attorney in South Carolina was a Barack Obama appointee. Politically, he is to the left of Mao Zedong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-united-states-attorney-in-south-carolina-was-a-barack-obama/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I don't have an issue with whether - from a legal standpoint, with whether or not government can impose the ultimate punishment on people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-don-t-have-an-issue-with-whether-from-a-legal-standpoint-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [You may be less likely to pick on someone if you don't know what's in their briefcase or purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/you-may-be-less-likely-to-pick-on-someone-if-you-don-t-know-what-s-in/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The president already has a Nobel Prize for peace. I think he's shooting for one in fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-president-already-has-a-nobel-prize-for-peace-i-think-he-s/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) [Explore all 59 Trey Gowdy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) ## More Benghazi quotes > [With Benghazi, I don't see anyone saying, 'Hey look, I am overall responsible for this and therefore, I take responsibility for what happened. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/with-benghazi-i-don-t-see-anyone-saying-hey-look-i-am-overall/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“Recent disclosures by some of the combatants about the night of the Benghazi attack remind us that almost everything Jay Carney, Susan Rice, Hillary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/recent-disclosures-by-some-of-the-combatants-about-the-night-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My big problem with Hillary and the Department of State where Benghazi is concerned is there is just no accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/my-big-problem-with-hillary-and-the-department-of-state-where/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [Big mistakes were made in Benghazi, and people should be held accountable. But the brave officers who staff American posts in crisis zones know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/big-mistakes-were-made-in-benghazi-and-people-should-be-held/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [The Benghazi attack was one of the more confusing, chaotic days that we had at work because you had these multiple violent protests taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-benghazi-attack-was-one-of-the-more-confusing-chaotic-days-that/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [ I could be wrong about that, and \[Susan Rice \] may have really wanted \[secretary of state place\]. But now she has become a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-could-be-wrong-about-that-and-susan-rice-may-have-really-wanted/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ So Hillary \[Clinton\], "I do feel in some ways tired." And that's your leading Democrat presidential candidate for 2016. She's been tired for how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/so-hillary-clinton-i-do-feel-in-some-ways-tired-and-that-s-your/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think the debate was really some powerful moments of clarity. We saw that Donald Trump, substantively, has the same issues on issue after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-the-debate-was-really-some-powerful-moments-of-clarity-we-saw/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I am not surprised that the president of the United States called this a phony scandal. I'm not surprised Secretary Clinton asked, "What difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-am-not-surprised-that-the-president-of-the-united-states-called/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [“With the November election looming and the president’s campaign rhetoric about decimating al-Qaeda becoming laughable, the White House endeavored to defraud the American people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/with-the-november-election-looming-and-the-president-s-campaign/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Despite being briefed about the ongoing terrorist attack at the Benghazi facility very soon after it began, the president took no meaningful action as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/despite-being-briefed-about-the-ongoing-terrorist-attack-at-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [I agree with Donna Brazile who said about Benghazi: "We got to preven dis from hapinin agen. "](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-agree-with-donna-brazile-who-said-about-benghazi-we-got-to-preven/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [ Even in this case, whatever it is, it's about \[Barack\] Obama. "How did Obama do at the memorial? Did Obama come off well? Will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-in-this-case-whatever-it-is-it-s-about-barack-obama-how-did/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I am a career public servant. Until the aftermath of Benghazi, I loved every day of my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hicks/i-am-a-career-public-servant-until-the-aftermath-of-benghazi-i-loved/) Greg Hicks > [Benghazi happened a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/benghazi-happened-a-long-time-ago/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) Browse all 71 Benghazi quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Trey Gowdy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom-of-benghazi-without-david/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benghazi" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom-of-benghazi-without-david/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/trey-gowdy-11613_benghazi_there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom_601341.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.” — Trey Gowdy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Trey Gowdy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's no way we can get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom-of-benghazi-without-david/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom-of-benghazi-without-david/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```