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Former assistant to ex-CIA director Petraeus says it was unusual for him to allow the kind of access that Paula Broadwell had
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To General David Petraeus break his own rules colonel Peter Mansour says yes he was General Petraeus is executive officer in Iraq -- -- -- joins us good -- -- Good evening Greta.
Nice CIA understand that General Petraeus sent to rules one is no overnight extended embedded reporters with him the other is no personality pieces -- him could be done something -- violated.
-- -- -- Well absolutely -- and I was one of the questions I asked him when I called them yesterday is.
You know we had these rules and Iraq they worked really well it kept you focused on your job what.
Why did you allow -- this.
Woman and to write a biography on you.
Should never written a book before she hadn't even completed her Ph.D.
training.
And he said that he wasn't aware right away that it was a biography from the beginning he initially took her under his wing as it.
As sort of elementary he does that with a number of officers both male and female.
And she was.
Came over to Afghanistan his understanding it was going to be a book about the war.
And it wasn't until some months into the process that he realized this is going to be a biography on him.
That -- he thought it she was too far along.
Not to help her out and sort of decided to help her finish it.
I take -- that he doesn't hold himself out as a victim when he had a conversation with them I'm in that that -- wasn't saying he wasn't haven't trapped by this -- he thought I was gonna be something announced it cannot be about me -- to -- into Supertramp -- -- -- -- in any sort of victim like way.
No not at all you know he he thought highly of Paula.
And he was soon helping her along as as up and coming up a young officer.
And as he does a number of -- other officers and you know he admired her in terms of her intellect her physical capability her.
Her ambition and -- you know that's good to a certain extent and in all people but.
You know she used leveraged her contacts with them to weasel -- way into his inner circle.
And it was kind of strange to me that he allowed it to happen but.
No he doesn't it he doesn't portray himself as a victim -- all -- trying to explain to me.
How was that he came to violate the two rules that we established for him and -- he established for himself.
Well there's there's a good curiosity not let -- and curiosity but in sense in terms of -- -- his responsibilities as CIA director.
Do you know what about when I don't -- fares are by the very nature say that when the affair began and whether it's even over.
Yesterday we talked about a half hour yesterday by phone he indicated the affair began.
A couple of months after he got to the CIA and ended about four months ago.
And I offered that perhaps one of the the reasons was this transition that you have to make.
From being -- military officer to being a civilian to make the transition for years ago.
And it can be difficult you leave behind the brotherhood and sisterhood of the close fight your comrades in arms people who have shared bonds and experiences with you.
He didn't take any of his team to the CIA and so you didn't have anyone he could confide in really hit on a personal level -- -- to run west.
And Paula Bravo made herself available to be that close confidant and no one thing led to another and they ended up in a physical relationship.
You know in his time of made -- turn to the wrong person for solace that's my view of what happened and yet he didn't -- that.
Do you know -- -- -- -- when he was an -- and active -- how a theory can head to the occasion to deal with adultery among about among colleagues and lows are lower down the military.
This chain of command and how he -- that.
No I wasn't too aware of any instances where he had to deal with that but I -- clarify something although adultery is city.
On offense under the uniform code of military justice it is almost never prosecuted.
As a standalone offense and it's always an add on charge.
To a more serious offense.
The last time the military tried to -- Charge someone with adultery was the Kelly Flinn case the united states air force.
Charging the first -- you know bomber pilot with adultery.
And it was thrown out in fact there were -- politicians in Washington who said this is this is a travesty wire we.
Actually prosecuting this woman so.
This affair according to General Petraeus that began after he left the military but.
Even if there -- some sort of indication that it occurred in Afghanistan.
I would be really surprised if anyone tries to prosecute him for it but I believe him when we began afterwards.
Would you I -- be disappointed in him if he told you in your phone call that it didn't and then if it turned out later that did.
That would surprise you are.
I'm disappointed in him right now and I made that clear and he's disappointed in himself he blames no one but himself.
For this affair it's morally reprehensible -- words he used.
And he he screwed up big time and that's also a direct quote from him.
And he realizes that what he did was wrong and he's gonna do -- best to repair his relationship with his wife -- and his kids and move on from here.
-- -- Thank you Greta.
