[Wolfstar]

While I don't want to get my hopes up that the so-called mainstream media will really run with this story, I did a quick search on Yahoo News and found that it is circulating nationwide. Here's a quick list of some of the print and TV outlets that went with the story:

Associated Press
CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting)
CBS 4, Denver
CBS News
Fox News
KBCI, Boise
KHNL, Honolulu
Local6, Central Florida
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities
Reuters
Tacoma News Tribune
The Denver Channel
USA Today

From a news perspective, the essential facts at this point should be the following:

1. Berger is a former Clinton National Security Advisor.
2. He is now an advisor to the Democratic presidential ticket (perhaps with hopes of becoming Sec. of State).
3. The documents in question pertain to the hottest issue of our time, terrorism. More to the point, the documents were critical of the Clinton administration's handling of terrorism.

Key questions: Was Berger reviewing the documents for the Kerry campaign? Was it permissible for him to make notes? If he had a briefcase, why did he stuff the notes in his clothing? Which original documents did he take? Why did he put those in his case, but the notes in his clothes? What material did he take notes about? Is there videotape of Berger removing these materials? If not, how did the archivists know some documents were missing and how did they trace the documents to Berger?

Berger was obviously caught red-handed in some way. So his legal strategy at the moment seems to be "the best defense is a good offense." Admit to doing it, but say it was all "inadvertent." The key to the investigation will be to prove intent to steal the classified documents. If there was such intent, then the question becomes to what purpose?

Lacking further information, I don't think the purpose would have been to protect Clinton. Why? The information was already in the hands of investigators for the 9/11 commission. Whatever harm there might have been to Clinton was already done. If it was intentional, and it sure seems so from the first information we have, it's possible Berger wanted to give the Kerry campaign or possibly someone in the media the documents for some reason.

[BurbankKarl]

its on MSNBC too

[onyx]

If it was intentional, and it sure seems so from the first information we have, it's possible Berger wanted to give the Kerry campaign or possibly someone in the media the documents for some reason.








WOW.

[My2Cents]

Good rundown, Wolfstar. This is going to get interesting. We now have a liar (Wilson) and a felon (Berger) advising the Kerry campaign.

[okie01]

If it was intentional, and it sure seems so from the first information we have, it's possible Berger wanted to give the Kerry campaign or possibly someone in the media the documents for some reason.

Thanks for the ping and the insight.

According to Berger 9/11 Docs Reveal Clinton Security Lapse, it was the "drafts" Berger was apparently after.

Speculation would be that the "final product" minimized the actual threat and watered down the proposed response, so that the "drafts" would make it obvious that the Clinton administration wasn't as serious about terrorism as they claimed.

Don't know how that might fit into your Kerry thesis, which makes good sense, though.

[Grampa Dave]

Have the mediots running this story, blame GW.