Posted on 07/19/2004 5:07:42 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos
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By JOHN SOLOMON
WASHINGTON - President Clinton (news - web sites)'s national security adviser, Sandy Berger, is the focus of a criminal investigation after admitting he removed highly classified terrorism documents from a secure reading room during preparations for the Sept. 11 commission hearings, The Associated Press has learned.
Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI (news - web sites) agents armed with warrants. Some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of al-Qaida terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing.
Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed handwritten notes he had taken from classified anti-terror documents he reviewed at the National Archives by sticking them in his jacket and pants. He also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio, they said.
"I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced," Berger said in a statement to the AP.
Berger served as Clinton's national security adviser for all of the president's second term and most recently has been informally advising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites). Clinton asked Berger last year to review and select the administration documents that would be turned over to the commission.
The FBI searched Berger's home and office with warrants earlier this year after employees of the National Archives told agents they believed they witnessed Berger put documents into his clothing while reviewing sensitive Clinton administration papers, officials said.
When asked, Berger said he returned some of the classified documents, which he found in his office, and all of the handwritten notes he had taken from the secure room, but said he could not locate two or three copies of the highly classified millennium terror report.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
The sleeze never ends.
So this freaking a**h**e traitor steals, then stuffs classified papers in his pants. I guess he'd seen Clinton stuffing his pants often enough.
He wants the rest us to believe this was an "innocent act" on his part? Duh.
Not likely, pantload bergermeister.
...."end up like Vince"...
....and Ron Brown....
....and.....
And the Chinese Embassy was bombed on May 8, 1999!!!!!!!
Tie this in with the story about the Tides Foundation funding the rioters that are coming to New York for the Republican Convention, THEY ARE DONE, WELL DONE!
Personally, rather than having some sympathetic reporter ask him about it, I'd like to see Kerry deposed by a mean, tough prosecutor. (I know, I know. In my dreams.)
Breaking on Fox NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is it Mondays that he's always on with Batchelor?
Hannity just broke with it.
Hugh Hewitt was on this most of his show..........he said Berger knew what he was doing........
Whoa! Hannity is just reporting it as a Fox News Alert!
"Berger is the second high-level Clinton-era official to face controversy over taking classified information home. Former CIA Director John Deutch was pardoned by Clinton just hours before Clinton left office in 2001 for taking home classified information and keeping it on unsecured computers at his home during his time at the CIA and Pentagon."
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-sept.-11-berger-probe,0,3003437.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines
The question then becomes why this was allowed to be leaked, and why the media is running with it. Sounds like this one has been sat upon for a while. Maybe the commission report is still harshly critical of Clinton, despite the best efforts of bin Veniste, Gorelick, the Jersey Girls and Teresa Heinz Kerry and all their friends in the media. In that case, they may have decided to torpedo the report now with this, just completely demolish it (as if this kangaroo court hasn't already been thoroughly discredited). Berger takes one for the team and "leaves government service" by means of a seven-figure consulting gig at some leftist think tank.
Later, assuming Kerry wins in November, another "independent panel" can be commissioned for the express purpose of ensuring that 100 percent of the blame for the 9/11 attacks is assigned to George W. Bush.
" combating terrorism is good but this is a tough race and it never ends"
U.S. Counter-Terrorism Policy and Organization (archive)
Roger Cressey, Director, Transnational Threats
National Security Council
September 27, 2000
The foundation of current United States counter-terrorism policy and organization is found in three recent Presidential Decision Directives (PDDs). PDD-62 addresses the weapon of mass destruction (WMD) threat, PDD-63 is concerned with the cyber threat and PDD-67 focuses on continuity of operations and government contingency planning.
The rationale for PDD-62 is that in the future the United States will face asymmetric threats in the form of attacks with WMD or attacks on our critical infrastructure. US counterterrorism policy is composed of ten elements:
Apprehension, Extradition, Rendition and Prosecution of Terrorists
Disruption of Terrorist Operations
International Cooperation
Preventing the Acquisition of WMD
Consequence Management
Transportation Security
Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Continuity of Government
Countering Foreign Terrorist Group Threat in the US
Protecting Americans Overseas
Most of these elements relate to law enforcement or intelligence community functions necessary to combat terrorism. The CIA, for example, has established a Counter-Terrorism Center (CTC) that integrates intelligence and operations personnel working in this field and coordinates international cooperation against terrorists.
A key aspect of the counter-terrorism program management is the designation of specific organizations as lead agencies for implementing different parts of the US counter-terrorism program. The lead agency concept is intended to create accountability in a system not known for this characteristic.
In addition, PDD-62 established a National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism within the National Security Council (NSC) who integrates the efforts of individual agencies, identifies and resolves issues, and is responsible for crisis management coordination. The National Coordinator also reviews departmental budget submissions and works with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to make adjustments as deemed necessary. This type of authority is rare within the executive branch and is similar to that exercised by the director of the Office for National Drug Control Policy.
The National Coordinator is also one of the few non-Cabinet officials to be a member of the NSC's Principals Committee composed of the heads of various departments and agencies with a role in national defense. During a crisis, the National Coordinator chairs the Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG) that reports directly to the Principals Committee.
The day-to-day coordination of counter-terrorism programs is conducted through four interagency working groups, all chaired by the National Coordinator. The threat of a WMD terrorist attack within the United States has led to the inclusion of several agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Transportation, into the counter-terrorism decision-making structure.
The NSC divides primary terrorist threats into three categories. The current Tier I threats are bin Laden's Al Qida organization, Iran, and Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The priority threats include the PKK in Turkey, 17 November in Greece and the FARC/ELN in Colombia. The FARC and ELN are being closely monitored because these groups reportedly view United States’ $2 billion in aid to Columbia as a declaration of war against them.
During the countdown to the millennium, the US was confronted simultaneously with domestic and foreign terrorist threats, a unique situation. A major terrorist plot was disrupted in Jordan while an individual carrying explosives and affiliated with a terrorist group was intercepted at the US-Canada border crossing in Washington. In response to these threats, the US issued public warnings and warned the Taliban. In addition, the US deployed crisis management teams overseas and alerted domestic and military response assets. Lastly, the United States drew up plans to respond to any terrorist attack with the use of force.
The United States drew several lessons from the millennium experience. First, greater international cooperation is required to disrupt bin Laden's Al Qida. This organization has a global reach thanks to a network of Sunni extremists in over 50 countries recruited from the jihads in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Chechnya. Second, enhanced cooperation among domestic law enforcement agencies is needed to address the presence of foreign terrorist groups within the United States. These “cells” are engaged in widespread criminal activity to finance a support infrastructure within the United States as well as to provide funding to terrorist groups abroad. In response to this challenge, the FBI is expanding the number of cities with Joint Terrorism Task Forces to improve the coordination of counter-terrorism efforts among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Third, the events surrounding the millennium demonstrated that border security between the US and Canada, while effective, needs to be strengthened.
Another area that has received increased focus within the NSC is disrupting the financing of terrorist groups. These groups have developed sophisticated fund-raising mechanisms employing legitimate non-governmental groups and non-bank financial entities that greatly complicate US law enforcement efforts. To rally international support for its initiative, the US supports the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Funding-Raising.
There has been a distinct shift from state-sponsored terrorism to diffuse networks of activists. Generally, state-sponsored terrorism is easier to deal with. Afghanistan has become the epicenter of terrorism by providing sanctuary to bin Laden, among others. Al Qida is more than just bin Laden. The removal of bin Laden from the organization will not cripple it. In a manner similar to a corporate CEO, he has installed good mid-level management that could carry on without him.
This new type of terrorist group is also quite sophisticated. Computers captured in Jordan when the terrorist plot there was foiled contained documents and disks with sophisticated encryption. These groups are also becoming more lethal. The terrorist plot in Jordan that was disrupted shortly before the millennium involved simultaneous attacks on multiple tourist sites with truck bombs, grenades and automatic weapons. With the hardening of military and diplomatic sites abroad, terrorists are turning to soft targets that are even more difficult to defend.
Iran continues to pose a potential terrorist threat. The Iranian intelligence agency and Islamic Republican Guard Corps have developed contingency plans to conduct terrorist attacks against US targets in the event of a US-Iranian conflict in the Persian Gulf.
Overall, the United States record in combating terrorism is good but this is a tough race and it never ends.
Now I know why the Lame Stream Press is falling over each other to "expose" the Iran Al Qaida connection. It's just a friggin diversion from the bigger story of Burger wiping Clintoons butt...
and he thinks nothing was wrong with that???
Throw the p.o.s. in jail.
Unless he gives up the big fish.
How do you "inadvertently" put pieces of paper in your jacket and pants' pockets ..??
Those actions sound pretty purposeful!
I wonder if this has anything to do with Albright's statement that the Clinton administration's action during the millennium celebration kept everything quiet. They even took credit for the border guard at the USA/Canada who (from instincts) kept a terrorist from blowing up the LA terminal.
I think the Clinton house of cards is about to come tumbling down .. drip, drip, drip.
From your lips to gods ear.
Didn't slick willie pardon Deutch?
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