Posted on 07/20/2004 7:30:23 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
All three morning news shows gave prominent attention to the news that former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger is under investigation for alledegdly stealing classified information from the National Archives.
Pierre Thomas handled Berger duties for 'Good Morning America,' Pete Williams for the 'Today Show, and Bill Plante's piece on CBS Early Show actually focused on the 9/11 Comission's report in general, not on the Berger news.
David Gergen a former Clinton Democratic advisor vouched for Berger on NBC's Today program calling him a 'hero' in the war on terror, a man of 'utter integrity' and saying that is was 'suspicious' that this would leak just before the release of the 9/11 Commission report.
'It is not even clear to Berger that an investigation is still under way, Gergen said, 'and no charges have been brought against him.'
When NBC's Katie Couric followed up and asked Gergen if he was suggesting that this story might be coming out now as a 'distraction' from the 9/11 report, Gergen said, 'It has those overtones, Let's let more facts come out.'
Gergen said that he doesn't think the Gergen story 'refelects on Senator Kerry.' He did say however, that 'what would hurt the Kerry campaign would be if Sandy had to withdraw' from his role as an advisor to the Kerry campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
What's even more "suspicious" is the timing of the theft of the documents.
Okay....yeah.....right.....uh..huhh.....
I just had a flashback to the "plumbers" and the Watergate break-in.
gergen is such a p*ssy. "Moderates" like him are whats wrong with this country. He's a tool.
CBS radio was also trying to spin the timing angle. Interviewed some dem who said it was to blunt the 9-11 report.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200407%5CCUL20040720a.html
...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.
And if you cut "Fat Sandy" off the twinkies for a day under interrogation he will probably sing like a canary on the Klintoons. LOL
But then, now that I think about it, W probably already has the "goods" on Slick Willie and his wife but probably has an understanding not to prosecute since they're both "Bones"...
The only thing suspicious about this that Berger hasn't been tried and imprisoned by now.
Nice poem. Doctor Seuss would be proud.
I had trouble with this at first, too. As I've scanned through these articles, I think the answer to you question is:
1. Burgler claims (and the press has faithfully reported) that all the 'relevant' Clinton-era documents were sent to the 9/11 commission. That all he took 'inadvertantly' were copies, so 'naturally,' the 9/11 commission was not deprived of the originals.
2. In his account (and what the press has reported for him) this means that 'all' the documents were sent to the 9/11 commission.
3. What the press is having trouble 'decyfering' is that what he stole from the room were draft reports of what became the actual report which was sent to the 9/11 commission.
4. The press is just reporting his claim and has not yet had time to ask him, "Well, if you 'inadvertantly' took draft copies, of which no originals may be available, and then 'mistakenly' discarded them when you washed your socks, them how can you claim that 'all' the relevant documents were delivered to the 9/11 commission?"
In other words, the reporting is focusing on 2 things -- what was sent to the 9/11 commission (everything, Burgler claims) and what he returned to the archives after he was caught.
The question now becomes, what was in the draft reports that made him take them. I'm betting PC stuff, and as usual, what was in the draft reports will not be as damaging now as the cover-up.
Berger is only trying to win one for the Flipper.
Oh, I totally agree with you. But I'm agog that the NYT would so boldly mischaracterize what happpened!
Hey, you never see them together!
And, lest we forget, Berger was observed removing classified documents not once, not even twice, but FIVE times. Also, this investigation has been going on since last October. I guess that means the GOP hatched the "distraction plot" 10 months ago. Helluva planning job, if you ask me....
There are minimum standards for classified storage facilities. If the material is SECRET or what we call "straight" TOP SECRET (i.e., doesn't involve intel sources and methods), the material is typically stored in a vault, with restricted access, a heavy steel door, no windows, and a security system--at a minimum.
However, because the 9-11 material deals with intelligence sources and methods, this "reading room" is probably a SCIF (pronounced "skiff") short for Sensitive Compartmentalized Intelligence Facility. It's basically a building within a building with strict access control (you usually need a scannable badge to enter/exit, plus the proper security clearance and a bonafide need-to-know); closed circuit TV cameras, motion detectors, an alarm system and elevated floors.
There is typically an armed guard outside the SCIF, and outgoing personnel are routinely searched for classified documents/media--that's probably why Sandy was stuffing material down his socks and God knows where else. But here's the obvious question: were these the only copies of the documents--or the only copies that Burger thought existed? I'd love to take a look at those documents, but I imagine Burger's copies made a hasty trip through his office shredder.
Suddenly, the words of Web Hubbel come to mind: "Well, I guess I'll have to roll over on this one." I wonder who sent Sandy on his fishing expedition--Hillary or Bill?
Not only caught--ADMITTED taking them--didn't even KNOW he had inadvertantly taken a folder full plus what he stuffed in his pants and jacket--these Dems need to get a life. They do everything they accuse conservatives of doing.
vaudine
Well, Gergen, I think that smuggling classifed national security documents out of a Top Secret facility rises to the level of whoop-dee-do.
At the very least, it's a la-dee-da offense.
You girlyman fathead.
The last time I recall such talk about a Clintonoid was when WEbster Hubble was testfying for the Whitewater investigation.
Gergen is the prototypical "girlie man"
Did he accuse the leaker of wanting a book deal? Remember how that was the biggest sin during the Clinton administration -- anybody who told the truth about Clinton was angling for a book deal? Now, Joe Wilson, Richard Clarke, etc. have book deals, and nobody bats an eye over it.
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