Outrage: Something that offends one's sense of propriety, fairness, or justice (Sandy Berger)

mensnewsdaily.com ^ | 4/3/05 | Geoff Metcalf

[bitt]

Stupidity, outrage, vanity, cruelty, iniquity, bad faith, falsehood—we fail to see the whole array when it is facing in the same direction as we. --Jean Rostand

Bill Clinton’s national security advisor (predecessor to Condoleezza Rice) has pled GUILTY to stealing classified documents and destroying some of them.

Notwithstanding his initial claims the incident in which he secreted documents in his pants and socks was an “honest mistake”, Sandy Berger copped a plea and got a dainty slap on the wrist.

Berger’s theft and lying were neither honest OR a mistake. He willfully, with malice of forethought, and full knowledge of the severity of his crime, stole classified documents and destroyed some of them. The act is outflippingragous. The arrogance of Berger in presuming he could (and did) get away with it is way beyond aggravating. The sentence is infuriatingly absurd.

Once upon a time men where executed for less egregious offenses. Berger was sentenced to:

No prison time. A measly $10,000 fine (less than one speaking fee). Three-year revocation of his security clearance. This travesty of justice is sufficient to gag any maggot

Judge Earl Johnson Jr. once observed, “Poor people have access to the courts in the same sense that Christians had access to the lions.” The collorary is also true. Wealth and/or power mitigate (or tarnish) justice in ways and means mere mortals can only observe with unbridled annoyance.

Berger was the guy who was reportedly slated to be John Kerry’s Secretary of State if the unthinkable had occurred and Kerry had won the presidency. As Bill Clinton’s National Security Advisor this guy was at the nexus of the malfeasant, incompetent intelligence gathering and analysis that contributed to 9/11.

The sentence he received is an insult to every American (military and civilian) ever issued any security clearance. Chuck Colsen went to jail. Gordon Liddy went to jail. Sandy Berger goes on the speaking circuit and waits for Hillary?

The three-year suspension of his security clearance suggests that if (perish the thought) the Bush administration is succeeded by a Democrat, Sandy Berger could again find himself in the position of access to highly classified documents.

It challenges credulity that during the hearing no one even bothered to asked why he destroyed classified documents?

Initially Berger claimed his outrageous actions were “an honest mistake”…now he begrudgingly admits, “It was a mistake, and it was wrong.”

Normally, government is severely strict in matters dealing with security. A reasonable person might anticipate that in this ‘War on Terror’ environment, we might be reasonably stricter.

As a student at the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Fort Benning I recall a fellow student being denied entry to a class because it was classified (only SECRET) and his security clearance had not been approved. As a Special Forces Operational Detachment Commander I recall an Army advisor being denied entry to the Tactical Operations Center because his security clearance could not be confirmed. Berger’s plea agreement has to be approved by U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson, and sentencing is scheduled for July 8. Don’t do it Debbie!

There remains the serious question of whether Berger was ‘trying’ to cover up Clinton Administration anti-terrorism policy and action embarrassments. Duh?!?!?

Despite the Berger criminal obfuscation attempt it is a matter or record that Sandy had rejected three plans to go after Osama just prior to 9/11.

Sandy’s sins were not unique. Former CIA Director John Deutch also was caught removing highly classified defense docs on his personal computer in 1999. He too ‘should’ have gone the way of Liddy and Colsen but Clinton blessed Deutch with a pardon.

By the way…Berger and Deutch both plead guilty to a ‘misdemeanor charge’. What is THAT? Abuse of power under the color of authority is a misdemeanor? Stealing classified documents and destroying them is a misdemeanor? A handful of marijuana scores a felony but stuffing your socks and boxers with classified documents barely rates a ‘bad dog’? As John Stossel might say, “Give Me A Break?!?”

The Brits have ‘The Official Secrets Act. During the Clinton Administration there was an effort to enact official secrets legislation. Clinton eventually vetoed it.

When the investigation of Berger’s theft became public last July, Democrats (who have a lot of experience at defending the indefensible) claimed the investigation was ‘politically motivated’. Where are they now that he has pled guilty and confirmed that his grossly inappropriate and criminal actions were neither “honest” OR “a mistake”?

Berger ‘should’ go directly to jail, do not pass go, and do not collect a single flipping penny….

Geoff Metcalf

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geoff Metcalf is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host for LIBERTY BROADCASTING originating on 50,000 watt WMET in Washington D.C. He is a veteran media performer with an eclectic professional background covering a wide spectrum of radio, television, magazine, and newspapers, A former Green Beret and retired Army officer he is in great demand as a speaker. Visit Geoff Metcalf's Web site at http://www.geoffmetcalf.com. He may be contacted at geoff@geoffmetcalf.com.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks, Endangered Mindz. Very good. :)

Welcome to FreeRepublic.com.

[hosepipe]

[ You mean ....it's Bush's fault? You're on the list now. ]

No... the Burglars, burgling is not Bush fault..
BUT letting the Burglar off WILL BE Bush's FAULT.. Its his watch..
And if he does, I hope he strangles on, "I'm a Uniter'er not a divider"..

[writer33]

Thanks for the ping. Good stuff.

[driftless]

I see a whole Watergate-type investigation going on with all the lib papers headlining stories about Deep Throat types, and Woodward and Bernstein-style reporters working around the clock to get at the truth, and all the alphabet networks deluging us with nightly stories about the goings on in the Clinton White House....ok, so I'm hallucinating.

[Czar]

It's Bush's DoJ isn't it?

[altura]

Can I wish Hillary on both of you all without wishing her on me as well?

[Czar]

Look, DoJ is part of the Executive Branch which means Bush is El Bosso. There is no way, NO WAY, this kind of CYA courtesy would ever be made public without White House approval.

Bush continues to waste what little political capital he has left by going weak on matters requiring a strong principled stand. In case the White House hasn't figured it out yet, as far as conservatives (at least 30% of the base) are concerned, we don't give a rats ass about "compassionate conservatism" and "new tone in Washington". What we want to see is no bullsh** strong action being taken on the issues that matter.

Sandy Berger, like most everyone associated with the Clintons, is a felon just waiting for an indictment on a wide assortment of charges. They are all treasonous scum and deserve the harshest possible treatment.

[hosepipe]

[ Can I wish Hillary on both of you all without wishing her on me as well? ]

May that witch lift her dress and fan the odor in YOUR direction..
as you toast her campaign run with anchovy wine.. d;-'~ Nyah

[altura]

Your reply was way more classy than that of the other guy.

But I think you people expect way too much of Bush. He's getting there. He can't be a dictator. He's been a lot kinder to the Clintonistas than I would like, but there is probably method in his madness.

I love Bush and I just get really sick of the Bush bashing that's been prevalent lately. I should probably just ignore it.

[Czar]

Nobody is saying Bush is not a good man. He is a good man, with honorable intentions, and a good sense of ethics and integrity. He conducts himself as the President should, providing a stark contrast with his despicable pathological liar of a predecessor. That isn't what conservatives are complaining about.

He has shied away from some hard issues (e.g., CFR), made some bad decisions (e.g., supporting affirmative action; defacto amnesty for illegal aliens) and has pushed big government (e.g., education bill, greatly expanded Medicare entitlement, etc.). All of this continues to grate on conservatives who feel they've been sold out.

Now, he's making it worse--much worse--by giving Sandy "Burglar" a wrist slap instead of throwing the book at this disloyal criminal. If some hapless aerospace engineer had done the same thing, he would have lost his security clearance, his job and been criminally prosecuted in the toughest possible manner, winding up with more than a few years in federal prison.

This is another case of Washington protecting Washington insiders. It's disgusting and it's wrong. It diminishes trust in the federal government and makes a mockery of the rule of law that Washington is forever pontificating about. And it is valid to criticize the Bush administration for going in the tank for this worthless skunk.

[altura]

Obviously you have valid concerns and I share some of them.

It's just that there seems to be a group of people on Free Republic now who never liked Bush and who are using the Terri and immigration stuff as an opportunity to bash him on every thread.

I can't even read some of the threads I would ordinarily enjoy because when I see that, it hurts me.

I know he's not perfect, but I just hate so much criticism here on Free Republic. The MSM and the dems do that so constantly, I guess I would just like a haven from it.

But thanks for taking the time to give a good explanation of your views.