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Mike Baker, Bill Daly, and Tom Ruskin discuss the latest developments in the scandal surrounding General Petraeus.
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Let me break come back to the panel now I'm bringing -- hit list as well on the question on General Petraeus general Allen the -- FBI agent the socialite.
And anything else you want to -- into this.
With the witness in the studio Tom Ruskin -- NYPD.
Detective.
Joining Goji -- he's still here and ball right -- joining us from DC might make up for the CIA operative.
And right next and they looks a little known that bill -- all of whom had dogs and gentlemen good to see Judy let me come back -- you because you have you wouldn't.
And listening wedding dress to.
Intends position on this app and the very -- that the very real -- -- make that.
That there is wall.
You know I can be facetious about this there are serious issues involved in this one -- whatever the relationships tonight to be.
They were there are serious issues that need at least to be told to back.
Yes and we are going to do that and I have to compliment Jennifer on her own reporting on Ben Ghazi which has really.
-- and did unveiled some of the facts we need to say yes there is a story here that many in the mainstream media.
Studiously tried to ignore before the election.
Now that quote silver lining as some people have called it of this.
Terrible affair for General Petraeus and general Allen is that we are going to get a focus on Ben Ghazi I -- knowing that General Petraeus find it impossible to believe.
That anything would -- persuaded him.
To change testimony.
To a congressional committee that is just not the man I covered in Iraq that is not the man I have covered as head of the CIA.
But we need to put that allegation to rest it is not true.
And that's what's going to happen in the coming weeks I believe in the form of congressional investigations.
And it continued reporting into what is -- has been a legitimate news story which is what happened in Ben Ghazi.
Tell me your view of the way this is this has played so far and what it where we go from -- well I think -- the news is coming out let me will -- with.
We don't look at these people in and now want to know what they do and where they shop and everything else wanted to know too much about them I think the concern here is that.
One of these people as confident you know classified information in their home that they obviously stall which potentially is a crime.
I think that wall so I got there she still became the affair.
I'm not really interest in the affair -- truthfully we had a president who had an affair cool light -- bat to the American people and he was the president of the United States.
General Petraeus is a hero.
And I think that we have to look at his decades of service to this country and what he did for this country.
He made an error in judgment in having an affair with a woman who obviously took that a fair and capitalized on -- for her or benefit.
-- an -- my -- and Judy was just saying what we don't know we don't know exactly what kind of better classified materials.
Has brought will male made a lot of added we don't know.
If she did have -- exactly.
How she got -- the but the fact that.
If it turns out that she did indeed have classified materials -- that opens up a whole new slew of questions doesn't know.
Well sure it doesn't -- the problem here was this story is the same problem you have any kind of so so -- weapons which.
Which is an unfortunate -- that in.
Think it did he values the actual news of this story and by -- -- -- Yes there's -- there OK fine because at that site you've got on disclosed unauthorized access.
To the director of the CIA now I guarantee you if this was just.
Case officer our operations officer on the field some young fellow his first tour.
And he developed romantic relationship with somebody posts and didn't advise the security officers personalities -- utilization.
You don't let that be married to a big crawling up his backside it would it would be identical -- you can't you can't just say well it's an effect.
Do you remember what happened with the Russians ten Russians that we we sent back to Russia and what it all began this story rockaholic.
And we forgot.
The fact that the Russians and that's a great deal of time and energy in trying to steal our.
Secrets so.
He -- respect that he -- okay connections and they got the the whole idea that somehow you know this was designed to keep it going up on the hill that was that was really kind of ridiculous because of course -- going up on the golf course it's something he's gonna he's gonna -- that's it does not request it shouldn't be -- -- charge.
Well they -- love about bill ladies and a limited time you guys in DC.
Yeah well first of all I mean I think we we talk about the investigation I think you know what we've -- the FBI do and and there are some questions just maybe how the investigators started but.
I believe that everything we heard is that they followed -- protocol I mean they were investigating this as a potential.
Threat harassment over the Internet it just -- -- -- the bread crumbs I'm confident that they had all of the proper.
You know subpoenas and an authorization to place to check emails and all of a sudden they have this kind of -- stunning information I can tell you though but it.
First time they came across and -- nation.
Within ten minutes probably the FBI director was aware of it this is not something that anybody says well let's just wait and see and let's tell them later on we have more information.
They have a duty to alert.
That the FBI director reports into the attorney general is a dealer him to national security issue to Mike's point.
You never know we did an investigation about how well someone may have been.
Thought of in place before back to something known might be used against them by some foreign government to either dissuade -- or get information or do some.
-- -- Italian as a as a -- correctly I'll say that the the idea that this investigation.
Began in the because a woman who clearly had.
A relationship with the FBI agent what -- -- what of that nature that relationship a relationship and that does not implying necessarily physical.
But -- hate relationship with the FBI agent complained that another woman was sending me emails -- essentially managing to as far as we know hands -- my -- is that.
Really where an FBI eight investigation into the game and.
Well again -- first off I don't I don't know all of the details as to what the predicate was for the investigation however I would just tell you.
Is that the FBI doesn't take -- -- because somebody knows someone I mean there's a threshold there's a requirement.
-- supervises the local what you cages.
-- take it and who handles them what resources used against those cases so my view was is that.
You know if this was a harassment a threatening situation I'm not usually emails contain.
Is that the FBI who worked on it SA investigating -- federal law they have they have they have had to go through the approval jumpsuit get one of these cases going.
And I believe from there it just kind of let down to our -- of following these Fred -- Okay let me give me and my -- might try to let you guys -- I thought I was -- -- -- -- -- I believe I heard Tom making disparaging comments during the course there was also -- -- that black guy you know what I -- it.
This is a bit there's there's there's there's obviously there's a tragedy here in the sense of of what it means to sort of the reputation of Tom spoke to this I mean you can't.
You can't set aside.
As someone like Petraeus -- -- his experience and his it is credibility -- -- general Allen.
I would general on that's a different story -- you know you would like to think that the person in charge of prosecuting.
The war in Afghanistan might not have that the time on a chance to be able to send that many emails but again it's part of this is speculation we have to do that the further investigation I'm not a big conspiracy -- person.
I do agree with bill and -- others that we've been talking to about that timing.
Of this in terms of notification of the White House it is inconceivable that the White House did not know about this.
Well ahead of the election all right.
It's a busy day DC and apparently they need that studio back so let you guys go might make -- former CIA operative.
Bill Daley former FBI helped -- thank you very much gentlemen.
You -- very cozy there's lung -- so friendly.
I doesn't always happened between yesterday I was today.
-- broader relations or -- -- crossing right now.
How one would imagine.
Judy.
Did I -- again again on the on the on the question he all.
General Petraeus.
You know him pretty well you spend a good deal of time with him.
Do you think did I just want to get to your bottom line he do you think he -- to go.
Do you or do you think he was pressured to go.
What do you think happened and his.
Mind I think that General Petraeus made his own calculation.
About his own conduct and decided to offer his resignation which was the honorable thing to do.
And a -- soldiers and around people -- I.
I think it's a separate issue of whether or not the president should have accepted that resignation of interest and people come to different conclusions about that I think he is.
Such a talented and able man at a time when our country faces so many.
Very thorny CIA challenges and intelligence challenges that I probably wouldn't have left him let him go.
-- -- -- seem to be leaning in that direction -- and then she had a briefing and said.
She thought the president made this the right decision that she is after all -- Democrat human I'm an independent I'm thinking about.
Talented people and our ability as a as a country.
To keep them in public service and what he's gone on with these two man.
Distinguished.
Patriots.
Is got to be discouraging anyone contemplating a life into public service and that's my concern to.
Don't like to make -- long -- line and I agree with that.
I think the president couldn't turn down his resignation -- a private moment with him.
I don't think the president easily took that resignation we know we sat with a 24 hours.
And I'm sure it was a troubled decision for the president elect someone like General Petraeus -- To the other point if bill is right and the FBI director knew about this investigation didn't bring -- -- the White House I think that's another question I would like to know.
And the -- that -- -- -- full -- on the General Petraeus.
I mean it's it's a -- personal tragedy.
Yeah it is I think that the pointed their view which frankly I hadn't really thought about before more than enough that it the president should have accepted the resignations are really good point I mean I I think that's it.
-- very.
Valid.
-- of the very idea here of course is once this is that it -- and so long as he doesn't do this again.
Then it's no really there's not really any any damage from that presumably we know all the facts maybe we don't know all the facts.
But if we do that I think that would have been factored in pretty Smart idea because he is super talented he is somebody that we desperately need right and the last thing that we.
What President Obama needs to do right now.
He's focused on this economy and focus on the fiscal cliff and focus on that.
He doesn't need to be focused on international all clear yeah.
You -- -- like media all the resident and -- cost him nothing but questions of fact.
The generals.
This press conference that is coming up in about 35 minutes staying on the on the General Petraeus and the need for these kind of talented people.
In in these kind of positions Judy.
Do you -- -- way back.
The General Petraeus -- is -- is his career in public service dubbed -- and I certainly hope it's not done because they're just too few people that I've seen in my -- time.
Of covering national security who are as able and his talent to really see you then you've met.
Much everybody I talk to them all have just about everybody and there are very few people who have to offer what he has to offer and has already offered this country he.
His legacy will speak for itself I hope that there is away at the end of this -- probably Allen the end of these scandals.
That he can continue to serve I know that whatever he does wherever he goes.
He will continue to try and find a way to do that and I believe that the American people.
Have a very great capacity to forgive.
Personal miss Kenyans have incidents as someone I was we've -- many times I hope that it's not -- it's not over it maybe it's over as far as the CIA is concerned.
But there are so many.
Counterterrorism.
Intelligence challenges national security.
I challenges facing this country that I I see.
And a future for General Petraeus no matter.
One would imagine he would be a very.
-- -- popular pick at some point is a Defense Secretary told some you know downhill I actually -- you also may decide.
To go out and -- money.
Like I mean to -- the war started -- -- like General McChrystal has and certain other raw high ranking get a uniformed members of the armed service.
And start making money.
He would definitely be sort.
Right -- find out don't know all of this -- -- I need a -- maybe isn't as well you you say that the facts aren't as we know them.
Thumb and this is where it begins and ends but it.
This guy -- just strikes me that is -- -- -- unravel here right I mean whether whether it -- on whether it's personal stuff or political stuff I don't know but I think abysmal.
Will there there will be more I you know I really don't.
Think as is has -- is said several times here I think it's outrageous -- -- to suggest that the general would change his testimony.
Direct personal pressure -- everyone which everyone that he was agreed on -- -- lifesaving included micro -- up policies contributed Charles Krauthammer was the one who raised this theory.
Mom and every one have you.
Judy you in particular who knows General Petraeus very well said absolutely say absolutely no not and that's my view from.
And tell IC facts to the contrary I'm sticking to fit -- and honestly I think it without facts it's an incredibly responsible thing to allege I really do talk on the defensive OK but rice managing partner tangent capital Judy Miller policies contributed Tom Ruskin former -- -- Thank you very much.
Bull why there is a global to come -- alternates.
