Posted on 07/20/2004 6:33:22 AM PDT by foolscap
Sandy Berger Not Front Page News in Some Major Newspapers
(CNSNews.com) - President Clinton's National Security Adviser Sandy Berger - who has been advising the Kerry campaign on foreign policy -- confirms he is the target of a criminal investigation for removing copies of classified terrorism documents from a secure reading room at the National Archives.
Some copies were never returned, press reports said. The documents reportedly discuss the Clinton administration's response to various terror threats.
Berger admits he walked out of the reading room with handwritten notes stuck in his pockets. Copies of classified documents were "inadvertently" removed in a leather portfolio. "I deeply regret the sloppiness involved," Berger said in a statement to the Associated Press on Monday.
The documents in question are said to be critical of the Clinton administration.
But Berger said he had no intention of withholding documents from the 9/11 commission. "To the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced," Berger said in the statement,
"In the course of reviewing over several days thousands of pages of documents on behalf of the Clinton administration in connection with requests by the Sept. 11 commission, I inadvertently took a few documents from the Archives," Berger said.
"When I was informed by the Archives that there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had except for a few documents that I apparently had accidentally discarded," he said.
Timing of leak 'suspicious'
David Gergen, a former adviser to President Clinton, told NBC's Today show on Tuesday that the situation is "more innocent than it looks."
He said Berger would never do anything to compromise national security.
In fact, Gergen called Berger "one of the heroes in the war against terrorism." He said Berger - as the millennium approached - led the effort to prevent a terror attack on the Los Angeles airport and other targets in the U.S. Gergen said Berger successfully thwarted the airport attack.
Gergen admits Berger violated Archive rules by leaving the building with notes on classified documents. But, he added, "It's not a serious violation."
Taking copies of classified documents is also forbidden. But, Gergen noted, the originals were never removed, and the 9/11 commission was never denied access to documents.
Gergen said the investigation of Berger started months ago, and he called it "suspicious" and "questionable" that the story was leaked in the same week that the 9/11 commission plans to release its report on the events and intelligence leading up to the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Gergen said the publicity about Berger has the "overtones" of being a distraction from the 9/11 commission's findings. "Let's let more facts come out," he added.
As for Berger's role in advising Sen. Kerry, Gergen said the revelations may force Berger to distance himself from the soon-to-be Democratic nominee.
"I think a lot depends on how it bounces in the press, what his opponents do to it," Gergen said. "So far it's not been given - The Washington Post played it inside the newspaper, did not play it on their front page today."
But, Gergen added, "If this suddenly becomes a front page story - and there's a lot of whoop-dee-do about it - then there will be some pressure on him to distance himself [from the Kerry campaign]."
The Washington Post played the story at the top of page 2. The New York Times played the story at the bottom of Page 16. USA Today was among the newspapers playing it above the fold on the front page.
Doublespeak. One does not "discard" classified documents. There are very strict requirements specifying the way classified documents are handled and destroyed. The information contained in "highly classified" material by definition is information which would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security if disclosed.
This man committed numerious criminal acts (not debatiable) and looks to have done so out of personal interest.
Not disagreeing - just adding emphasis ...
My head is spinning on this. There are storm clouds on the horizon, brewing and sparking violently overhead in regards to this affair.
This very BIG. Whew.
affectionately known as "big daddy."
Well I hope the DOJ comes down on this clown like a ton of bricks...
And since there are orginals/copies of documents Fat Sandy didn't return; so we'll know exactly what he was trying to hide...
Man, this idiot has less sense than a fence post...
They must give out those JD's out at Harvard to anyone who shows up!!!
WHAT...!?!?! Who woulda thunk?
In other words, when does "Former Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger" become "Former Clinton National Security Adviser and current Kerry Foreign Affairs Advisor Sandy Berger"?
I mean, we're talking about an act/crime that took place closer to the time that Berger began to advise Kerry than when he served under Clinton. The man hasn't been frozen in amber since January, 2001, you know.
Sure does.
As a former (repeat) White House employee, Gergen and Berger both would be familiar with "Executive Order 12958, As Amended, Classified National Security Information"
So Gergen in particular would know that what he's saying above is simply not true.
Presumably Berger would have been briefed by the National Archives on his access rights and responsibilities, and would have signed some kind of authorization document.
PART 4--SAFEGUARDING
Sec. 4.1. General Restrictions on Access. (a) A person may have access to classified information provided that:
(1) a favorable determination of eligibility for access has been made by an agency head or the agency heads designee;
(2) the person has signed an approved nondisclosure agreement; and
(3) the person has a need-to-know the information.
(b) Every person who has met the standards for access to classified information in paragraph (a) of this section shall receive contemporaneous training on the proper safeguarding of classified information and on the criminal, civil, and administrative sanctions that may be imposed on an individual who fails to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure.
[snip]
(d) Classified information may not be removed from official premises without proper authorization.
Sec. 4.4. Access by Historical Researchers and Certain Former Government Personnel. (a) The requirement in section 4.1(a)(3) of this order that access to classified information may be granted only to individuals who have a need-to-know the information may be waived for persons who:
(1) are engaged in historical research projects;
(2) previously have occupied policy-making positions to which they were appointed by the President under section 105(a)(2)(A) of title 3, United States Code, or the Vice President under 106(a)(1)(A) of title 3, United States Code;
This has nothing to do with Bush Sr's campaign, Clinton admin law breaking, or the campaign of President Bush/Cheney. Or even the Kerry/UN/Soros ticket.
This has everything to do with the elite NY media, Hollywood, the leftist worldwide media, and the infiltration of the leftists in our education, medical, judiciary, and our churches.
Their influence is complete, and 40 years in the making.
Face it, the American public is compromised, brainwashed, uninformed, ignorant, soft, weak, fearful, guilty, lack logical thinking, lack perspective, history and context.
No political campaign can cure our society of the need to "emote", and to "make it all go away". If the public chooses the Kerry/UN/Soros ticket, they will get what they deserve.
It is up to those who can still think, to work hard for the President, as hard as our soldiers do overseas.
It is simply not credible that Berger - former National Security Director - did not know that (a) his notes were derivative in the formal sense, (b) that he had "two or three" copies of the same document in his portfolio, and that (c) he had stuffed other classified materials into his pants and coat pockets.
Above all, it's not credible that he did this innocently or without premeditation.
"Sandy the Burglar
I like it, I like it!!!
May I use it?"
Sure thing.
The New York Times: (212) 556-7652
The New York Post: (212) 930-8000
ABC: 212-456-7777
CBS: 212-975-4321
NBC: 212-664-4444
CNN: 404-237-0234
Fox:1-888-369-4762
NY York Daily News (212) 210-NEWS
Whatever credibilty Gergen once had (not much in my book), has now gone straight down the toilet.
He worked in three administrations, he's obviously had clearance at various times (you need it for the WH), and he knows the classification rules.
What he's saying above is a set of bald-face, flat-out lies, and he right well knows it. Everyone who's ever had clearance knows it too.
Occurs to me that the good guys don't want to get snared in a rope-a-dope by going ballistic on Berger just as the bad guys unveil something exculpatory. The Clinton spin-meisters are counting on this effect to blunt the impact.
I've said it before, I think I think too much.
Apologize if I'm repeating, haven't read the whole thread yet, Philadelphia Inquirer has it on page A-5, sharing space with an almost full page ad for IBM.
If you or I or anyone with a clearance got caught taking copies of anything from Secret up out in our pants, we would have spent our lives busting rocks at the big L.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.