WASHINGTON (June 15, 2010) -- Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, blamed dehydration for causing him to take ill this morning during a Senate hearing.
Petraeus and Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, were testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee about military operations in Afghanistan when he suddenly became lightheaded and had to be ushered from the hearing room.
Petraeus returned about a half hour later, telling the senators he felt better after drinking several glasses of water and eating a banana. "I was just dehydrated," he said, joking that his temporary illness had nothing to do with the senators\' questioning.
Although Petraeus offered to continue the session, the hearing was cancelled for the day and rescheduled for tomorrow.
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