Posted on 04/01/2005 10:22:29 PM PST by CarrotAndStick
WASHINGTON: Former US National Security Advisor Samuel R "Sandy" Berger has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour and acknowledged intentionally removing and destroying copies of a classified document about the Clinton administration's record on terrorism.
Berger, one of former president Bill Clinton's most influential advisors and a leading foreign policy expert to the Democratic Party, made the plea on Friday before US Magistrate Deborah Robinson as part of a deal with federal authorities.
Under terms negotiated by Berger's attorneys and the Justice Department for an offence that could have landed him in jail for up to ten years, he agreed to pay a $10,000 fine and accept a three-year suspension of his national security clearance.
The details of the terms make clear that Berger spoke falsely last summer in public claims that in 2003 he twice inadvertently walked off with copies of a classified document during visits to the National Archives, and then later lost them. He had described the episode as "an honest mistake."
The document, written by former National Security Council terrorism expert Richard A Clarke, was an "after- action review" prepared in early 2000 detailing the administration's actions to thwart terrorist attacks during the millennium celebration.
It contained considerable discussion about the administration's awareness of the rising threat of attacks on US soil.
Rather than misplacing or unintentionally throwing away three of the five copies he took from the archives, as earlier maintained, Berger shredded them with a pair of scissors late one evening at the downtown offices of his international consulting business.
Ouch! my wrist hurts....!
Incredible. The man commits an outrageous act of treason and gets off with a wrist slap. Is G.W. still trying to make nicey-nice with someone?
And back to the private sector he goes...oh the humanity!
One good thing. Berger will not be anybodys Sec. of State.
I question what George Bush's "Justice" Department was thinking by agreeing to this sentence.
Sandy Berger admits to stealing Top Secret documents and 'destroying' them, and the Justice Dept., not even knowing if those documents are currently in the hands of enemies of the State, fails to prosecute him beyond taking some of his pocket change. This is a very serious national security breach and felony offense that ordinarily would find the perpetrator behind bars for quite awhile. Wonder what kind of deal he worked out with the Bush Administration?
LEADING GLOBAL BUSINESS STRATEGY FIRM ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF STONEBRIDGE CHINA
Stonebridge International Taps Key Asia Experts to Lead New Operation
Washington, DC, March 8, 2005 - Stonebridge International LLC, a leading global business strategy firm, announced today the establishment of Stonebridge China to enhance its presence in Asia. Stonebridge China will be led by Deborah M. Lehr, former Chairman of MBP Consulting. Lehr will be joined by her colleagues, Jin Ligang, former head of MBP Consulting in China, and Leigh Wedell, as well as others on their team in Beijing and Shanghai.
Stonebridge Chairman Samuel Berger said, "Companies require increasingly sophisticated insights and expertise to succeed in the China market. With the addition of Deborah Lehr, Jin Ligang and their group, Stonebridge will be in a unique position to offer full services to companies wishing to enter or expand in Greater China."
Stonebridge China will offer a full range of consulting services such as market access strategies, problem solving, government affairs, as well as strong capabilities in the provinces.
"Deborah Lehr knows how to get things done in China and will make an already strong team at Stonebridge even stronger," said Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Deborah M. Lehr has been Chairman of MBP Consulting for the past seven years, where she helped build a leading consulting business assisting Western companies doing business in China and Chinese companies expanding overseas. This follows a 10-year career in the U.S. Government where she led negotiations on intellectual property rights with China and was a co-negotiator on China's WTO accession while at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Lehr was also one of the youngest officials to serve as Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. Previous to that position, she worked on trade and security issues at the Department of Commerce.
Jin Ligang will join Stonebridge China as Senior Vice President. While at MBP Consulting he opened the Shanghai office, and ran its operations in China. Previously, he served as a senior official in China's Ministry of Commerce, including serving as a key member of China's negotiating team on every major trade agreement concluded with the United States. Wedell will join Stonebridge as Vice President. She brings unique experience running programs in China's provinces with the International Republican Institute, as well as overseeing corporate programs with the Asia division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
These additions will enhance Stonebridge's strong expertise and knowledge of the business and regulatory landscape in Asia. The team includes Samuel Berger, former national security advisor, who oversaw efforts to rebuild U.S.-China relations in the 1990s; Jeffrey Bader, former Assistant US Trade Representative for China and top China expert at the State Department and White House; Kenneth Lieberthal, one of America's foremost scholars on China and former Senior Director for Asia at the National Security Council; and Matthew Goodman, who served as Director for Asian Economics at the NSC until 2004. Also, Richard Celeste, former U.S. Ambassador to India, and Pete Peterson, former Ambassador to Vietnam, work with Stonebridge as Senior Directors, supporting the firm's work in India and Southeast Asia respectively.
ABOUT STONEBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL. Stonebridge International is headed by former National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Anthony Harrington and former Reagan White House and Commerce official H.P. Goldfield. Stonebridge is a global business strategy firm, helping U.S. and other multinational companies shape and execute strategies to solve problems and seize business opportunities worldwide. The firm has assembled the leading team of experts with deep knowledge and strong public and private sector relationships in key markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and beyond. Stonebridge assists clients with foreign acquisitions and investments, market access and regulatory issues, company positioning vis-à-vis key governments and agencies, facilitating and identifying new business opportunities, crisis management, risk assessment and guidance on key international developments for senior management.
http://www.stonebridge-international.com/News/release-stonebridge-china.html
I remember when John Deutch was caught too. Less than a slap on the wrist, (Bubba pardoned).
China?
Please tell me that this is an April fool's joke.
Sure, there are obvious reasons but we aren't seeing Peter Jennings ponder the question on the news! Ol' Sandy was on a suicide mission and is taking one for 'the team'.
It's a joke alright, and we are the fools.
Anybody could accidentally put top secret classified documents in his pants.
I am starting to have some serious issues with GW. From illegal immigration, the Terri Schiavo affair, lip service to pro-life and now this. I'll never vote for the dems but this cr#p is making me think that we may have to take some hits and support another party. I don't know who but...
I've said it once and will say it again. The US Justice Department is a joke. With this latest news, I recall a statement made by a black client of mine. He said the reason blacks referred to it as the "Justice" Department was it was "just us" who ever got sentenced to prison.
I do not know the legalities; but I personally think he should be hanged or shot.
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