Sandy Berger’s Heavy Lifting : The troubling details of the Archives document removal.

National Review ^ | July 21, 2004 | Byron York

[george76]

...what the former Clinton administration national-security adviser was trying to accomplish when he took highly classified documents from the National Archives.

Berger claims...he inadvertently put...thousands of pages of documents...

"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."

...evidence...casts doubt on Berger's explanation. First, ...Berger's admission that he hid the notes in his clothing is a clear sign of intent to conceal his actions.

Second, although Berger said he reviewed thousands of pages, he apparently homed in on a single document: the so-called "after-action report" on the Clinton administration's handling of the millennium plot of 1999/2000. Berger is said to have taken multiple copies of the same paper. He is also said to have taken those copies on at least two different days. There have been no reports that he took any other documents, which suggests that his choice of papers was quite specific, and not the result of simple carelessness.

Third, it appears that Berger's "inadvertent" actions clearly aroused the suspicion of the professional staff at the Archives. Staff members there are said to have seen Berger concealing the papers; they became so concerned that they set up what was in effect a small sting operation to catch him. And sure enough, Berger took some more.

It is not clear how many copies of the report exist. Nor is it clear why Berger was so focused on the document. If he simply wanted a copy, it seems that taking just one would have been sufficient. But it also seems that Berger should have known that he could not round up all the known copies of the document, since there were apparently other copies in other secure places.

[Ann Archy]

Hillary is tied to this, for sure.....Berger and Gorelick BETTER be just the FIRST of the Cintonistas to go to PRISON!

[Ann Archy]

Hmmmmm...ping me on the quote! SMOKESCREEN!!! Able or (ABEL) Danger and the Wall will be there Waterloo!!

[Sacajaweau]

Actually, I have found the "Originals" in the archives and copies elsewhere. No matter where anything is, it is accessable to someone and is subject to destruction and/or alteration. Being a "Guardian" is a big responsiblity. And a "Guardian" calling Bubba's attorney instead of the FBI tells me who's covering Berger's back.

[oldironsides]

Isn't it just like our justice system to put a woman that can cook, clean and do yard work in jail (Martha Stewart) and allow a criminal like Sandy Berger to walk off with a fine?

[CyberAnt]

I agree partly .. I think the name "Atta" was mentioned from the Able Danger discussions - and that alone would be worth risking trying to steal .. which Berger apparently accomplished stealing and destroying.

[shield]

When Able Danger info came out....it came immediately to mind the thief of classified docs by Sandy Burglar...I knew this was all connected...as in connecting the dots...

[Ann Archy]

Sandy Burglar has NOT been sentenced yet. Pray.

[Texas Eagle]

...I immediately returned everything I had except for a few documents that I apparently had accidentally discarded."

Ummm...errr.....just the same, do you mind if we have a look around your mobile home?

[Republican Red]

Interesting.

Byron York is scheduled to be a guest on "Meet The Press" tomorrow. I think he is just part of a roundtable discussion with various journalist but it will be interesting to see if Able Danger/Sandy Berger/Atta come up.

[Mike Bates]

[Tacis]

I love this statement: "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."

Now, visualize the black kid saying about the same thing, "When I was informed by the Best Buy Appliance Store that there were DVD players missing, I immediately returned everything I had except for a few DVD players that I apparently had given to homies."

The left wing media NEVER parses the words of the scumbag criminals!

[jimbo123]

Quote: "I returned everything but the Able Danger documents which I destroyed at a document shredding party with Bill, Hillary and Bruce."

[Marine_Uncle]

I appreciate why you called up an old article, due to current Able Danger issue. The ex National Security Advisor to the POTUS may end up being in hot water if Weldon's allegations on the overlooked intel data, can be tied into him directly or even in-directly. After all he was Clintoon's top dog on security. What a joke. That whole pack of goons had no business ever being in the executive branch. They will over a period of years, unless to much is suppressed to be found to have probably did more damage to this country then any previous administration.

[Ditter]

Martha? Cook? Clean? Yard work? LOL Surely you jest! There are underlings for that Ms. Stewart is MUCH too important.

[stylin19a]

I pulled this off another thread.

The missing copies, according to Breuer and their author, Richard A. Clarke, the counterterrorism chief in the Clinton administration and early in President Bush's administration, were versions of after-action reports recommending changes following threats of terrorism as 1999 turned to 2000. Clarke said he prepared about two dozen ideas for countering terrorist threats. The recommendations were circulated among Cabinet agencies, and various versions of the memo contained additions and refinements, Clarke said last night."

It appears the copies with the "refinements" i.e. handwritten notes in the columns etc.... could be damaging.
Plus, any version contrary to the published facts could be damaging.

I believe they hung Berger out to dry

[Ditter]

I don't think he has been sentenced yet. I hope they throw the book at him but I doubt that they will. I think he said it was a mistake and he was sorry, that makes ALL the difference IF you are a dim.

[george76]

Thanks.

We all need to put presure on MSM and/or our congress by writting letters/emails and attending meetings and speak up whenever the local senator or Congress person shows up.

[foofoopowder]

You said, "Makes me sick. We all know if this was a Republican who committed this foul deed, it would have been front page news"

This and other online sources ARE the new front page news. Newspapers and TV are considered reliable mainly by DemoRats and uncritical dimwits.

[backhoe]

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

Able Danger, 9-11 Report, Gorelick, and so much more...

Click the picture...

[Liz]

Granted, it really annoys the liberal elite when the "little people" speak up, but we must let it be known that we value our national security, even if Sandy Berger doesn't.

Face it, if this were a Conservative, liberals would be tearing their hair out, blue-staters would be marching en masse, the MSM would be following the story 24/7, the NYT and LATimes would be rife with damning op-eds. If Dr. Condoleezza Rice had been caught stuffing documents down her pantyhose, the story would be a feeding frenzy.

Everybody knows liberals are above the law because they are (sob) “tolerant and compassionate,” and they, and only they, know what's best for America (sniffle). These liberals think the "little people" should be silenced....that we should shut up about Berger breaking the law, that he should be allowed to shove documents down his pants and stroll out of the National Archives as he damn well pleases.

After all, onetime CIA Director John Deutsch co-opted national security secrets as well, but Clinton pardoned him. Then again, is there any lowlife Clinton did not pardon?

Now, since Sandy is a Clinton Dimocrat, he has only to wink at the judge and cop a sweetheart deal. No jail, maybe a ten cent fine, and a loss of clearance for 3 or years, just in time for the 2008 Cabinet appointments.

Has Hillary promised to make Berger Secretary of State?