Berger: I made Honest Mistake

CNN Website ^ | July 21, 2004 | CNN staff

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

Just imagine what would happen to you or me trying to get something confidential out of that place? The guards didn't all of a sudden say, "Oh, that's Mr. Burger, he can take anything he wants out of here." I don't buy it.

Remember what happened to Ollie North and his secretary? Similar situation, except that they were removeing controlled documents under their own control from a government site. Remember the Dem's crying for his blood, and his secretaries (forgot her name)? What was Ollie, as Deputy National Security Advisor (or was he the NSA..can't recall), jumping out of helicopters in hot LZ's in Latin American, trying to save allied troops? Remember that Ollie was all about the National Security of the USA.

What was Berger's priority? He was all about saving the collective butts of Democrat politicians... past and present, ..the National Security be damned! Their priority is "beat Bush at any cost".

You know what just floored me?? It was that accountable agents of the US Government calling a PRIVATE Democrat lawyer when they "discovered" (more like confirmed) that Burger had stolen the second copies he was given . Maybe Lindsey had some official role on the Committee, but wouldn't the first call be to the FBI?!

What the h*ll???

As one who took the oath several times, I mad as h*ll at the government Archivists who let this float. Would they have reacted the same way if the person walking out the door were, for example, Ollie North? Or, maybe someone from the current White House?

Bush needs to flush the toilet in DC, and if Ashcroft and the FBI can't do the job, he needs to flush them too.

We've got guys in the field dying every day, so that Washington is still safe for "politics as usual", I guess.

SFS

[CyberAnt]

And .. x42 comment was, "we were all laughing about it".

And people wonder why we can't trust these people.

[FITZ]

Like Bill would say --- it all depends on what the meaning of 'honest' is, or what the meaning of 'mistake' is.

[BigSkyFreeper]

And .. x42 comment was, "we were all laughing about it".

Just further proof that The Bent One was never serious about terrorism of the global scale or national security. As long as he didn't get his tail in the sling by his own doing, he was yukkin' it up in the White House, siccin' the IRS on anyone that didn't like him.

[backhoe]

Crosslink:

Yes, Down My Pants. Oh, Like You Haven't? The Sordid Sandburglar Story

 

[Robert Taylor]

You wrote:

It's logical that Kerry would want to attack Bush's strength.

Not really logical at all. Kerry would be vastly better off to attack Bush as a wimp, declare that the Army needs to triple in size, and say that he would invade any country found to be helping the enemies of America. He should praise what Bush has done, but say it has not been enough.

This would then position Kerry to benefit from any terrorist attacks on American soil before the balloting, and neuter the Bush strong on defense advantage.

In fact, he can harp on how gosh awful the economy in Bloodsuckeddrybyunionsville, USA, and then repeat the message at Doneinbyhightaxesburg USA, stating that the closed Army based needs to be reopened for business. Kerry could go to every closed military base and proclaim loudly about how we need it back in operation to get the muscle up to wipe out terrorists wherever they may be found.

But, it would have a crediblity problem for Kerry since he never found a weapons system worthy of his support.

[BigSkyFreeper]

But, it would have a crediblity problem for Kerry since he never found a weapons system worthy of his support.

Yep, it's his innate ability to flip-flop that gets his credibility into serious trouble. Missing votes just compounds the credibilty problem. He's self destructing.

[Ken K]

In the high level security business, honest mistakes and sloppiness and inadvertent blunders can be fatal and disastrous and the penalties for these happening are severe. A National Security Chief cannot be excused when everyone else would be dealt within the most severe manner.

[CyberAnt]

"Just further proof"

Exactly!!

[maggief]

See ... nothing up my sleeve ...

[Publius6961]

How can a former National Security Advisor NOT know that is it a serious crime to steal documents from the National Archives?

Honest mistake my ass!
Burn him.

[tang-soo]

I called our local Clear Channel station the night after this story broke and spoke for about 10 minutes describing the procedures used to handle classified information. The following is a basic description of what I said ...

1) A person who wishes to review classified information at a given facility must have his/her clearance on file with the security office that has legal custody of the information.

2) Once they arrive to the facility, they must show their credentials to identify themselves, sign into the facility - maybe issued a badge indicating their clearance and access and escorted to the room where the material will be reviewed.

3) Once in the room, the container (probably a safe i.e. a very heavy duty file cabinet with heavy combination locks with different combinations on each drawer) is opened. This process should be logged by security personnel.

4) The documents are taken from the container. All classified documents are stamped (each page) with items such as a control number, date of creation, level of clearance (top and bottom), program name indicating what access is required and eventual dispensation (i.e. when the material is designated to destruction if applicable).

5) If the documents are classified "top secret", each document has a log on the cover sheet. EACH time a person has access to this information, they must sign and date it.

6) The material is not to be removed (ie stuffed in underwear, socks ... etc) without approval of security personnel. If this takes place, the transfer is documented on both ends of the transaction. If the material is top secret or above, it requires at least two cleared people as an escort.

7) If you travel overnight, the material is not to be kept in your hotel/motel room but instead must be taken to an approved facility. Arrangements are usually made in advance. Security people do not like suprise visits. They like to make them but not receive them.

8) No photocopies are to be made or notes copied without the proper security personnel logging this activity and making appropriate markings (mentioned above) on the documents.

9) This material is frequently audited by internal security agents and is subject to "suprise" audits conducted by military, FBI or other external security personnel.

10) People given access to this type of information are briefed and attend classes on how to handle this material - ie. no excuses for "honest mistakes".

11) As the NSA for the clinton administration, I imagine Berger was personally responsible that this protocol was designed, implemented and enforced by his staff - at least in an appropriately managed administration. This would apply to government employees, officials, military personnel and civilians under contract and extended clearances issued by the DoD, DoE or other intel operations.

12) As such, ANYBODY who has worked in this environment and heard Mr. Berger's comments yesterday about being "sloppy" and "an honest mistake" knows beyond any doubt that he was not only lying, but this was a premeditated act.

13) I left the aerospace business(as an engineer) in 1993 so these comments are based upon the security world of that time. Only Lord knows how the clinton adm changed things during his 8 years.

That summarizes what I mentioned to Steve Cannon of WTVN 610 AM (Columbus, Oh) last night.

The latest word I have heard from this morning is that this material was classified "Code Word Access". Folks, if true, this is "Above Top Secret" ie. John Pollard type material.

So the question comes to mind, why would anybody do such a thing under conditions where he knew he stood a huge chance of being caught? The mission must have been extraordinary for such a risk. The presumption is that he wanted to alter or remove and destroy material that implicated either himself, or quite possibly mr. clinton. The fact that some of the material is "lost" implies that regardless of the consequences, the mission has been accomplished with his current situation collateral damage.

Webb Hubbell's infamous quote "I guess I'll have to roll over again for Hillary" comes to mind. Another example of the clinton whirlwind leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.