Posted on 08/05/2004 5:36:31 AM PDT by yoe
Conflicting reports tell us that Mr. Berger will be “cleared of all charges” (WSJ) and "In spite of what the Wall Street Journal said, the National Archives really isn't commenting on this case because it's under investigation," Susan Cooper, chief spokeswoman for the Archives, told NewsMax.com. Ms. Cooper went on to say that there are two key issues under consideration: Whether or not information was “permanently” destroyed and/or withheld from the 9/11 Commission. WSJ reported that Archives officials said that “no original materials are missing” and “nothing Mr. Berger reviewed was withheld from the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.” This report was denied by Ms. Cooper on Friday July 30.
Let’s assume (by no means proven at this point), for the sake of argument, that WSJ’s report IS accurate. Does that mean that Mr. Berger’s covert document-stuffing shenanigans (Archives’ monitors observed this), his (supposed) destruction of document copies and his advising National Archive monitors to “leave the room” while he (ostensibly) made an important and “private” phone call were and are acceptable by Archives officials? Each one of those actions is criminal and not just a “mild breach of protocol” as many would have us believe. One of my original questions from my July 22 article (“Sandy Berger Stuffing Documents Down His Pants [Part 3]”) was: “Will dems continue to be given a pass and allowed get away with criminal behavior (or the appearance thereof) whenever they decide it’s necessary?”
The real problem and danger of this fiasco is that it impacts each and every one of us. Our country’s national security is in extreme jeopardy from off-shore terrorists. These terrorists will use any and all advantages to attack and kill each and every one of us. The have said so. Could the Wall Street Journal be correct and is Berger going to be given a wink and a nod? Are we, as citizens of the United States, going to allow appointed and elected officials to continue to get away with these charades? If we do, it will maintain the mockery that security is our most important consideration. Our lives and the continuation of the US as a sovereign and ethical nation are at stake. Too much has, already, been lost.
If they let this turkey walk, I can't see how DSS can enforce any laws regarding disclosure of classified information.
bttt
Now look at it fading from the front pages and into distant memory (as so many cynical Freepers predicted).
All with a Clintonian wink, nod and laugh from the Democrats. Corrupt to the core.
Shame on the Republican Administration for not going forward on this. Are they in cahoots with each other? Maybe they frequent the same Georgetown bars or go to the same bipartisan N.W. D.C. cocktail parties...and this would be, so, you know, crass to arrest and convict anyone.
What a scam. Is there no check and balance in our government on such issues of national security?
It may be a crime of theft, or it may be attempted subversion of original documents/files by adding to them or otherwise changing them. Or a combination thereof.
We have to assume that a proper investigation is proceeding - and must understand that it can not be, or appear to be, partisan-driven. Any suggestion of the latter will be seized upon and utilized for diversion by Berger's defenders/henchmen.
If there is a whitewash of this, the whitewash will assuredly be examined by the pertinent Congressional committee(s). This is serious. It will proceed.
Our part: to help keep the heat on.
Coincidentally, the Dems are screaming today (through the Washington Post) that Richard Shelby has illegally released classified info to Fox News and CNN. I smell a quid pro quo whitewash of the allegations against Berger and Shelby.
Keep in mind that Berger could be charged with crimes other than the obvious contravening of Ntl Archives rules and laws.
Section 1102 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act: "Tampering With a Record or Otherwise Impeding an Official Proceeding" makes it a crime for any person to corruptly alter, destroy, mutilate, or conceal any document with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding or to otherwise obstruct, influence or impede any official proceeding. Individuals involved in such acts are liable for up to 20 years in prison and a fine.
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