Breaking: Petraeus collapses briefly in Congressional testimony; Update: Video added
posted at 11:29 am on June 15, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
He’s apparently okay now, but this certainly puts a fright into those supporting the war efforts in Afghanistan and the drawdown in Iraq. General David Petraeus had to be excused from Congressional testimony earlier today after briefly collapsing:
U.S. General David Petraeus, who briefly collapsed during a Senate hearing on the war in Afghanistan Tuesday morning, is alert and doing well, according to reports.
Petraeus, 57, had finished telling Sen. John McCain that he believes the planned 2011 drawdown of U.S. troops remains on track, and McCain was responding when the room fell silent and aides began crowding around the four-star general.
Petraeus, who oversees the war in Iraq and Afghanistan as head of U.S. Central Command, briefly put his head on the table, then rose, appearing dazed. He stood under his own power and was escorted from the room.
Sen. Carl Levin, the chairman, suspended the hearing until Wednesday out of concern for Petraeus’ health.
Petraeus recovered enough to joke a little about the incident:
Petraeus himself returned to the room briefly and told the senators he “was feeling a little bit light-headed there.”
“It wasn’t Sen. McCain’s question,” the general added.
Petraeus is widely regarded as a genius after rescuing the American position in Iraq in 2007. George Bush promoted him to command of the overall war effort in 2008, and his counterinsurgency strategies are core to the current US mission in Afghanistan. The loss of Petraeus, even temporarily, could mean serious setbacks in strategic efforts. As the most well-known general since Colin Powell, a temporary absence could also impact popular confidence in the war effort, which Barack Obama doesn’t need at this critical juncture in Afghanistan.
Hopefully, Petraeus just had a low blood sugar moment or a passing migraine, rather than anything more serious.
Update: CBS News has a video clip of the hearing and the collapse:
John McCain’s reaction is telling.









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Seems more like he hunched over. Hopefully he’s OK though.
Narutoboy on June 15, 2010 at 11:32 AM
It must have been all that hot air blowing in his face from the congressional blowhards.
eaglesdontflock on June 15, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Hope he’s taking care of himself. Hard-driving types sometimes forget.
cane_loader on June 15, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Seems like a case of sever fatigue.
Take the day off General! You’ve earned it!
catmman on June 15, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Will be praying for him. We need all the good leaders we can get right now, military or not.
Dark-Star on June 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM
I saw a quote on Drudge where he said, “Next time I’ll eat breakfast.”
If you don’t eat something, the blood sugar tanks and you will faint. Especially in a hot crowded room.
DaydreamBeliever on June 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM
He probably nodded off from all the boring questions.
sandee on June 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Can you even imagine the stress he is under?
redshirt on June 15, 2010 at 11:36 AM
Probably a tactical decision on his part.
Could you hold down breakfast after listening to those morons on the Hill bloviating for hours on end?
catmman on June 15, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Stay well, Petraeus, we need you more than ever.
Key West Reader on June 15, 2010 at 11:39 AM
It happens when you overdo it. He is probably fine and in better shape than most in the room of any age.
RobCon on June 15, 2010 at 11:40 AM
The general needs a mental health day……
cmsinaz on June 15, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Thanks in part to the fools at MoveOn & the ad that backfired.
itsnotaboutme on June 15, 2010 at 11:41 AM
He deserves a nice relaxing vacation. He should only be bothered to decide if he wants salt on the rim or not.
Grafted on June 15, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Hope he uses a food checker.
petefrt on June 15, 2010 at 11:43 AM
‘John McCains reaction is telling’
shxt yeah, he looked frakkin terrified
NO ONE wants O in charge without Petraeus
ginaswo on June 15, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Something must have contamined the General’s precious bodily fluids.
Emperor Norton on June 15, 2010 at 11:44 AM
You can hear him say “i need some sugar” just before standing up.
exsanguine on June 15, 2010 at 11:46 AM
RINO breath will have that effect on a patriot!
csdeven on June 15, 2010 at 11:50 AM
He’s had a bout of prostate cancer in the not to distant past. I imagine that cancer treatment would take the starch out of anyone.
Jill1066 on June 15, 2010 at 11:50 AM
I remember another General collapsing at a press conference in Iraq way back in’03-’04 somewhere around there.
clearbluesky on June 15, 2010 at 11:51 AM
He deserves a day or 2 off.
I believe Obama has racked up enough “frequent golfer miles”, perhaps he can help a brother out…
Odie1941 on June 15, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Is the General diabetic ?? That would totally explain the faint and the request for sugar.
Jerome Horwitz on June 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM
McCain just bored him to sleep.
tommylotto on June 15, 2010 at 12:03 PM
I am sorry to hear that he collapsed………….and, that he has prostate cancer. I wish him a full recovery and a long life.
SC.Charlie on June 15, 2010 at 12:03 PM
As usual, the classy trolls at Democrat Underground are having a field day with this one:
Del Dolemonte on June 15, 2010 at 12:05 PM
I am not so sure the Patraeous is OK, while his physical toughness is renowned, notice his hunched demeanor as he exits the room. This is not the General’s usual ‘military bering’ that he carries with great affect. I hope he recovers and all turns out well, but methinks this is more serious than is currently presented.
Archimedes on June 15, 2010 at 12:05 PM
You are such an ass. I am usually able to ignore you, but this time you are over the top. You could be 1/10,000th the man as the General only in your dreams.
Prayers out to the General.
bopbottle on June 15, 2010 at 12:07 PM
A hot room full of senatorial flatulence will take out anyone.
bloviator on June 15, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Back in Oct it was reported that he was undergoing treatment for prostrate cancer. I don’t know if the treatments are still ongoing but that with a lack of food and sleep all could have contributed. It’s a wonder it doesn’t happen more often given the nature of the man’s job.
Just A Grunt on June 15, 2010 at 12:08 PM
That did look scary – hope he is okay.
If he is diabetic, he should NEVER skip a meal!
Although I agree it would be hard to keep food down in that setting.
tru2tx on June 15, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Would anyone put a long-knives strategy past the thugocracy on Capitol Hill?
Western_Civ on June 15, 2010 at 12:09 PM
Him being so lucid directly after is a good sign. I wish him the best for both his and our sake.
Heralder on June 15, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Stay safe BIG GUY…. Prayers for you.
antisocial on June 15, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Next time load up on oatmeal and blow chunks on the Dems.
Inanemergencydial on June 15, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Makes you sick. Little people with little minds, pissing themselves from all the koolaid they guzzle. Pathetic
JusDreamin on June 15, 2010 at 12:17 PM
…which I won’t be watching. The man deserves his dignity.
CurtZHP on June 15, 2010 at 12:18 PM
I’d love to see a day by day comparison of the hours worked over the last six months by Gen. Petraus v. Obama.
LASue on June 15, 2010 at 12:22 PM
I’m no fan of McCain, but I didn’t see anything wrong with his reaction. He was clearly concerned, and remained level-headed enough to announce a break so others didn’t panic. Did I miss something?
Tanya on June 15, 2010 at 12:28 PM
hang in there sir.
ted c on June 15, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Maybe he just got back from a Obama speech
http://www.breitbart.tv/audience-member-faints-during-obama-rally/
hope he gets better
tommer74 on June 15, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Eating breakfast is important. I have fainted before for skipping breakfast. Sometimes I am okay skipping breakfast, but other days I get lightheaded. Plus, the general is in a lot of stress. He needs his nutrition. Prayers to General Petraeus. I hope the guy feels better.
cubachi on June 15, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Can someone please explain why it’s supposedly newsworthy to rush up and get a photo of the guy as he becomes ill? I don’t see how it’s the public’s best interest or their right to see a closeup of the guy, especially considering they had no idea what was happening- he could have been dying.
TheBlueSite on June 15, 2010 at 12:46 PM
And the classy trolls at Zsa Zsa’s site are all concerned too:
Del Dolemonte on June 15, 2010 at 12:48 PM
If the loss of one man could mean serious setbacks for a country’s strategic efforts something is very wrong.
Tav on June 15, 2010 at 1:02 PM
That’s what struck me about the clip. Mercifully, the collapse wasn’t caught in that video, but the photogs rushing up to catch a picture of it is in such unbelievably poor taste. Don’t know why their actions surprise me, I guess I still expect people to show some class… silly me.
jtownsley on June 15, 2010 at 1:16 PM
And, of course, the leftists come out from under the refrigerator and couch, crowing about how gleeful they are over his health problems. Truthfully, if anyone should be worried about being found out and exposed for what he truly is (the ‘jig’ being up), if anyone should be fearful of the handwriting on the wall, if anyone has disdain for the troops and Veterans, if anyone’s living high-on-the-hog while others suffer and couldn’t be bothered to care less about them, if anyone’s shown that he doesn’t care about the environment and Human life, if we should be making jokes about threats to the life to any president, if anyone should be just filled to choking on his own lies, if anyone exposes troops to unnecessary dangers, it’s Barack Hussein Obama, the Dalai Obama, himself.
The Dalai Obama has time & again shown himself to be a dishonorable, churlish liar that means America harm, and the handwriting on the wall is shown that he is seeing an American electorate increasingly turning on him, sickened by his ultra-leftist agenda. Obama’s shown such utter hatred, disdain and contempt for his betters – active duty troops and Veterans – that he’s had the gall and audacity to suggest they should be left to pay for their own health care, and when the government got around to it, they’d be reimbursed. He’s also left troops to be courts martialed and imprisoned, just for doing their jobs, and has not lifted a finger to help them. Cap that off with his snubbing of Servicemen and Veterans for America’s military holidays. This man-child has had the audacity to sit there and throw concert-after-concert, import international chef-after-chef in order to live his caviar dreams with his spiritually ugly wife, Michelle, and yet in all that time he couldn’t even be bothered, to this day, to even mention the historically bad flooding in Tennessee, the loss of life, and the massive property damages in that disaster area. Not to mention the fact that he waited nearly two months to even comment on the oil gusher in the Gulf, and almost 50 days to finally even mention the fact that 11 people died, thanks to his piss-poor policies that forced them into dangerous situations to do their jobs. That, and Obama has shown himself to be a man incapable of telling the truth, and being an effective leader. He’s literally the antithesis of General Petraeus, who has done nothing but work and make the tough decisions, while Obama has ignored terrorist attacks, natural and man-made disasters and the nation being dragged to the brink of absolute and total economic collapse, in order to play more golf than Tiger Woods in less than 2 months, and applaud foreigner that come to our country and bash us (Calderone, McCarthy, etc.).
This is yet another example of the absolute and utter lack of class and good qualities in the left. I’m sure there weren’t too many Conservative/Republican sites out there hoping Obama would drink himself to death and die of lung or throat cancer, when his doctor said he needed to do something about the apparently out-of-control smoking and drinking (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1254684/Barack-Obama-try-harder-kick-smoking-habit-doctors-say.html). I honestly and truly dislike Obama, his wife and his cabinet. They are all America and American-hating scumbags that do mean America and it’s people great harm on all levels. However, I do not wish him death or illness. I do wish him impeachment and imprisonment, for sure, but I do not wish him harm. It’s too bad the leftists can’t be as kind, but, then again, when have they ever been kind to people they knew were better than they were?
Never, I would imagine.
I’m not saying I would want the Centcom CG as president; no, never. He’s a RINO (“Rockerfeller Republican”), and just as big a one as McCain (a man I do not respect). However, he’s an incredibly effective Army general officer, and a true war hero, the likes of which America hasn’t seen for generations.
HIM, I wish well.
Virus-X on June 15, 2010 at 1:17 PM
+10
Exactly my thoughts too.
gaius on June 15, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about that, either. Remember, though: reporters are scavengers and carrion and dung eaters. They pick through garbage to find dirt on people. They tell lies in order to see what other people will tell them, thinking they’re telling the truth. They stalk people and even move next door to them, setting up their cameras and microphones, just to catch them doing something scandalous. They publish things, simply for titillation value. They make their living through slander and libel, and think nothing of it. They revel in evil, because evil is more exciting and makes better stories. Go back and listen to the song “Dirty Laundry“, by Don Henley. Refresh your memories about what kind of ‘people’ reporters, for the most part, really are.
Virus-X on June 15, 2010 at 1:28 PM
McCain bored him into unconsciousness? Finally, I’m not the only one! :)
Seriously, hope you feel better soon, General. Lord knows we need you out there.
Nethicus on June 15, 2010 at 1:33 PM
My attitude towards General Petraeus is the same as yours.
I find it alarming that he fainted, and I hope nothing is wrong. You are obviously way too young to remember Sterling Hayden’s performace as a General in the 1963 film, Dr. Strangelove.
Emperor Norton on June 15, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Sir spec 4 Easley reporting for prayer duty Sir!
HHQ 2nd 320th 101st Field Artillery Airborne Air Mobile 1972 – 1975.
KATDADDY on June 15, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Don’t forget, the Left had a field day in 1992 when Pappy Bush got sick in Tokyo. And that included the reporters.
Del Dolemonte on June 15, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Sir spec 4 Easley reporting for prayer duty Sir!
HHQ 2nd 320th Field Artillery 101st Airborne / Air Mobile 1972 – 1975.
KATDADDY on June 15, 2010 at 1:58 PM
sorry about the typo
KATDADDY on June 15, 2010 at 2:10 PM
For the first time in a long while, I will give a thumbs-up to McCain.
He looked very concerned, and even started to get out of his chair when Gen. Petraeus feinted.
God on you for that.
NavyspyII on June 15, 2010 at 2:25 PM
I find it telling that you relate this episode with what occurred in a *movie*.
I ignored your first remark, couldn’t pass on the 2nd, sorry.
NavyspyII on June 15, 2010 at 2:33 PM
So you think it’s “telling?” What does it “tell?”
I will remind you and bopbottle that, as Ed Morrissey pointed out above:
So, all I have to say to you two is what the Sergeant said in the film, Stripes: “Lighten up, Francis.”
Emperor Norton on June 15, 2010 at 2:46 PM
Currahee!
Noocyte on June 15, 2010 at 3:07 PM
I’m stationed at MacDill AFB, where CENTCOM is located. I’ve seen Petraeus doing PT in the cardio room at the base gym. He was on the elliptical machine going through a huge book of slides. This guy reviews the war effort even when he’s doing PT.
spec_ops_mateo on June 15, 2010 at 3:24 PM
The absolute ghoulishness of those camera people was quite disturbing.
The Ugly American on June 15, 2010 at 3:49 PM
I,for one, will not concede that the General fainted until we’re able to ascertain the identity of the cameraman who captured the footage, as well as said cameraman’s political affiliations/motivations.
rvastar on June 15, 2010 at 4:39 PM
I don’t like McCain either. However, his concern, his starting to even get out of his seat, as in apparently to go to the General’s assistance was telling.
Even the people I dislike in the Republican party are better than any in that band of traitors and fools in the other “collective.”
TiminPhx on June 15, 2010 at 5:11 PM
Now imagine how Obama would have reacted….
CarolynM on June 15, 2010 at 5:19 PM