This is piers morgan tonight. Good evening, the reelection celebrations seem a long time ago for book, one week after defeat egg governor romney, staring down reporters white house fielding questions on the petraeus scandal, benghazi, the fiscal cliff and a long couple weeks with many waiting for answers. Jay tapper is an abc correspondent. Jay, welcome. Thank you, great to be here. Almost perfect timing, this book. Discussing before we went on the air that its it concern he is two great generals. Mcchrystal and petraeus and they are both gone before the book has hit the streets come you have ever imagined when you were thought embedded with these troops that would happen . No the book mainly about the grunts on the ground but does look a lot at how people like president bush, president obama, secretaries of defense and how these celebrity jones, how their decisions end up affecting these guys at this very vulnerable outpost at the bottom of three steep mountains just 14 miles from the pakistan border. One of the things that emerges in the book that mcchrystal and his aides are obsessed with the idea of the celebrity general, as petraeus has become. Petraeus, if you read his press clips, believe he was the savior of the war in iraq. They wanted mcchrystal to be that and there is this hubris that takes over celebrity jones. Hence the interviews with Rolling Stone, hence the biography petraeus did, which in the end brought him down in many way, putting anymore contact with this woman. They start to believe their own press clippings that is the danger. Start to play the media game in a game you and i know normally ends in tears, doesnt it . Wary fickle bunch, arent we, piers . One day we are nice to you, the next we are no mcchrystal, from the beginning of the time he was appointed to the head of the forces in afghanistan, is from the very moment of his confirmation hearing, he and the white house are in this back and forth. Long before the Rolling Stone story with michael hastings, getting his aides to bash the administration, it has disastrous consequence for the men at the bottom of this hill. Must be a huge distraction all this, my brothers fought out there you dont want of the generals involved in scandal and mayhem and media stuff. It is just a total distraction, isnt it . It is. I have to say, i mean, with the petraeus story breaking, we had a book launch saturday night, a lot of the soldiers came, moms, gold star moms, gold star wives, when petraeus was mentioned, it was just this incollege louseness, these menner is informed an area of the country where they would not see a woman for months because every time they went into an afghan village, the woman would hide or be hidden from them h boss having an affair. Got so bad, a scene in the book, like they are on a planet where women do not exist anymore a female helicopter pie throat would buzz over them every now and then they would all run to the communications shed to listen to her voice, they were convinced she were absolutely gorgeous. Meanwhile what is petraeus doing in afghanistan a fuel years later . It is madness. There is a theory that, look, we had great generals, macarthur, patton, eisenhowers, jfk, clinton, so on, all had affairs. Modern digital era unraveling all this stuff that is the problem . What do you sty that . I dont think the idea, the problem is that general petraeus had an affair. The idea and the big problem is that he was director of the cia and he walked right into one of the most blackmailable situations that you can v good that the fbi found out about it before the russians or the chinese. That is the problem. Not that he is a general mess egg around and certainly even though according to the uniform code of military justice, thats not allowed, thats not what the press is focused on. The press is focused on the director of the cia having this problem. Perhaps the biggest story today is benghazi, blowing up again. Republicans, john mccain and Lindsey Graham and others pushing very, very hard now, getting very vicious in their rhetoric toward ambassador rice and so on. What do you think, at the central plank of this do you believe ambassador rice is at fault or is she as barack obama said, she was merely passion on intelligence . She was not a key player in all of this, therefore, if he wants to make her secretary of state, he can do it. What do you think . First of all, i was substituting for George Stephanopoulos that sunday as host of this week. We were trying to get secretary of state Hillary Clinton, all of the shows were trying to get secretary of state Hillary Clinton to talk about benghazi. For whatever reason, she accident go out them put out dr. Susan rice are the u. N. Ambassador. Very interesting that today, president obama says, you know, susan rice had nothing to do with benghazi, i dont know what she was doing on the show. Didnt she make her safe key player or a person put up by the administration to launch the defense. She could have said, we believe there are a number of possible theories but she didnt take that option. She was a good soldier did what the administration told her to do. She read the talking points. She had more did she act in good faith, do you think . I cant get inside her brain. I dont i think that she was repeating the intelligence and what the white house told her to say. What she was saying is similar to what everyone in the white house and the state department was saying at the time. So, i dont think that she was doing anything other than what she had been instructed to same the big question not whether this was one of the prominent theories, it was all a spontaneous protest from the antimuslim video, it was, obviously, one of the prominent theories but on september 14th, the white house briefing, i said to jay carney there are other people in your government who say it is probably not the video, that it is Something Else in benghazi and you whatever reason it seems like i had better intelligence and sources in the government than the people in the white house did, cause they were leaning heavily into this videotape theory. As john mccain would have us believe, and he has got very strong point about this, it may well just have been the narrative for the white house running to the election of we are defeating al qaeda is not end in it looks like an al qaeda type of resurgence was up against the ambassador in benghazi and indeed led to his death . Without question, as somebody who was covering the benghazi story in the months leading up to the election and also covering the election, it was so politicized with the white house and the administration in a defensive crouch because they thought every word they said would be twisted and unfairly attacked and didnt want interfere about the positive narrative about al qaeda and republicans put out conspiracy theories, some of them not rooted in any facts or evidence, that it was tough to report on this because both sides are not acting normally you as one would hope they would. Jay fascinating book, the outpost, untold story of american valor, a rivet egg read about this extraordinary battle but more about the people on the ground doing the hard stuff for their country. Good sigh. Thanks, piers, good to be here. Coming up next, a woman who has seen her fair share of fallen idols, kitty kelley on the petraeus sex scandal and her new book on the kennedys fam lot. Ppuu merchants and missionaries came here to build bonds of faith and commerce and friendship. Our pilots flew into china and many of our troops gave their lives. Both of our nations emerged from the British Empire and the United States was among the first countries to recognize an independent union of berma. We were proud to found an American Center here and to build exchanges with schools like this one. And through decades of differences, americans have been united in their affection for this country and its people. Above all, i came here because of americas belief in human dignity. Over the last several decades, our two countries became strangers. But today, i can tell you that we always remain hopeful. You gave us hope and we bore witness to your courage. We saw the activists dressed in white visit the families of Political Prisoners on sundays and monks protesting peacefully in the streets. We learned of ordinary people who organized relief teams to respond to a cyclone, and heard the voices of students and the beats oh of hiphop artists projecting the sound of freedom. And we were inspired by the fierce dignity of aung sung suu chi as she proved no human can be truly in prison if hope burns in your heart. When i took office as president , i sent a message to those governments who ruled by fear. I said, in my inauguration address, we will extend a hand if youre willing to unclench your fist. Over the last year and a half, a dramatic transition has begun. As the dictatorship of five decades has loosened its grip. The desire for change has been met by political reform. A civilian now leads the government. And a parliament is asserting itself. The once outlawed league for democracy stood in an election and aung sung suu chi is a member of parliament. Hundreds of prisoners have been released and forced labor banned. Preliminary ceasefires have been reached with ethnic armies and new laws allow for a more open economy. So today, ive come to keep my promise and extend the hand of friendship. America now has an ambassador in rangoon. Sanctions have been eased and we will help rebuild an economy that can offer opportunity for its people and serve as an engine of growth for the world. But this remarkable journey has just begun. And has much further to go. Reforms launched from the top of society must meet the aspirations of citizens who form its foundation. The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extingu h extinguished, but must become a shining northstar for all this nations people. And your success in that effort is important to the United States, as well as to me. Each though we come from different places, we share Common Dreams to choose our leaders, to live together in peace, to get an education and make a good living. To love our families and our communities. Thats why freedom is not an abstract idea. Freedom is the very thing that makes Human Progress possible. Not just at the ballot box but in our daily lives. One of our greatest president s in the United States, franklin roosevelt, understood this truth. He defined americas cause as more than the right to cast a ballot. He understood democracy was not just voting. He called upon the world to embrace four fundamental freedoms. Freedom of speech. Freedom of worship. Freedom from want. And freedom from fear. These four freedoms reenforce one another. And you cannot fully realize one without realizing them all. So thats the future that we seek for ourselves and for all people. And thats what i want to speak to you about today. First, we believe in the right of free expression. So that the voices of ordinary people can be heard. And governments reflect their will, the peoples will. And the United States, for more than two centuries, weve worked to keep this promise for all of our citizens, to win freedom ebb slaved, to win the right for women to vote and for africanamericans. To protect the rights of workers to organize. There is no question that your country will be stronger if it draws on the strength of all of its people. Thats what allows nations to succeed. Thats what reform has begun to do. Instead of being repressed, the right of people to assemble together must now be fully respected. Instead of being stifled, the veil of Media Censorship must continue to be lifted. And as you take these steps, you can draw on your progress. Instead of being ignored, citizens who protested the construction of the dam were heard. Instead of being outlawed, Political Parties have been allowed to participate. You can see progress being made. As one voter said during the parliamentary elections here, our parents and grand parents waited for this but never saw it. And now you can see it, you can taste freedom. And to protect the freedom of all the voters, those in power must accept constraints. Thats what our american system is designed to do. America may have the Strongest Military in the world, but it must submit to civilian control. I, as the president of the United States, make determinations that the military then carries out. Not the other way out. As president and commander in chief, i have that responsibility because im accountable to the people. On the other hand as president , i cannot just impose my will on congress. The congress of the United States, even though sometimes i wish i could. The legislative branch has its own powers and prerogatives. And so they check my power and balance my power. I appoint some of our judges. But i cannot tell them how to rule, because every person in america, from a child living in poverty, to me, the president of the United States, is equal under the law. And a judge can make a determination as to whether or not i am upholding the law or breaking the law and im fully accountable to that law. And i describe our system in the United States because thats how you must reach for the future that you deserve, a future where a single prisoner of conscience is one too many. You need to reach for a future where no child is made to be a soldier, and no woman is exploited. And where the laws protect them, even if theyre vulnerable and weak. A future where National Security is strengthened by a military that serves under civilians. And a constitution that guarantees that only those who are elected by the people may govern. We use our assistance to empower civil society, by engaging your military to promote professionalism and human rights and partnering with you as your connect your progress towards democracy with economic development. So add vancing that journey will help you pursue a second freedom, the belief that all people should be free from want. Its not enough to trade a prison of powerlessness for the pain of an empty stomach. But governments of, by and for the people are far more powerful in delivering prosperity. And thats the partnership we seek with you. When ordinary people have a say in their own future, then your land cant just be taken away from you. Thats why reforms must ensure that the people of this nation can have that most fundamental of possessions, the right to own the title to the land on which you live and work. When your talents are unleashed, opportunity will be created for all people. America is lifting our ban on companies doing business here, and your government has lifted restrictions on investment and taken steps to open up your economy. And now, as more wealth flows into your boarders, we hope and expect that it will lift up more people. It cant just help folks at the top, it has to help everybody. And that kind of economic growth, where everybody has opportunity, if you work hard, you can succeed. Thats what gets a nation moving rapidly, when it comes to development. But that kind of growth can only be created if corruption is left behind. For investment to lead to opportunity, reform must promote budgets that are transparent, an industry that is privately opened. To lead by example, america insists that our Companies Meet high standards of openness and transparency if theyre doing business here. And well work with organizations like the world bank to support Small Businesses and promote an economy that allows Small Business people to thrive and workers to keep what they earn. And i very much welcome your governments recent decision to join what weve called our open government partnership, so that citizens can come to expect accountability and learn exactly how moneys are spent and how your system of government operates. Above all, when your voices are heard in government, its far more likely that your basic needs will be met. Thats why reform must reach the daily lives of those hungry and ill and those who live without electricity or water. And here too america will do our part working with you. Today, i was proud to reestablish our Usaid Mission in this country, which is our lead development agency. And the United States wants to be a partner in helping this country, which used to be the rice bowl of asia, to reestablish its capacity to feed its people and to care for its sick and educate its children and build its Democratic Institutions as you continue down the path of reform. This country is famous for its Natural Resources and they must be protected against exploitation. Let us remember that in a global economy, a countrys greatest resource is its people. So by investing in you, this nation can open the door for far more prosperity, because unlocking potential depends on empowering the people, especially the young people. Just as education is the key to americas future, it is going to be the key to your future, as well. So we look forward to working with you, to extend that opportunity and to deepen exchanges among our students. We want students from this country to travel to the United States and learn from us and we want u. S. Students to come here and learn from you. This truth leads me to the third freedom i want to discuss. The freedom of worship. The freedom to worship as you please, and your right to basic human dignity. This country, like my own country, is blessed with diversity. Not everybody looks the same. Not everybody comes from the same region. Not everybody worships in the same way. In your cities and up tos, there are temples and mosques and churches standing side by side. Well over 100 ethnic groups have been part of your story. Within these boarders, weve seen some of the worlds longest running insurgencies, which have cost countless lives and torn families apart and stood in the way of development. No process of reform will succeed without national reconciliation. [ applause ] you now have a moment of remarkable opportunity to transform ceasefires into lasting settleme