Posted on 03/17/2007 12:32:37 AM PDT by conservative in nyc
Sandy Berger sent an email to Michael Barone, responding to Michael's column in U.S. News. As we have written extensively on the Berger affair and have been harshly critical of Berger, it seems only fair to reproduce Berger's email in full, as it constitutes his response to his critics. Here it is:
Michael: I screwed up. There was nothing sinister about it. I was under serious pressure to digest the entire Clinton record on terrorism for eight years so that we could testify fully to the 9-11 commission. I spent several arduous days at the Archives looking through the files. This document was interesting to me because I had commissioned it in 2000–a look at what we learned from the millennium terror threats that were avoided. Tired, stressed, I made a very stupid decision–to take the documents home with me so that I could review them in more detail and so that I could compare the apparent differences among versions. Since this document had been widely circulated to all the relevant agencies (State, Defense, CIA, Justice, etc.), I felt certain the commission would get it from one or more of these agencies.I don't buy it. Berger didn't make an impulsive decision--"tired, stressed"--to smuggle documents out of the National Archives. He stole documents on multiple occasions. On one occasion, he sneaked them out of the archives, went to a nearby construction site and hid the documents under a construction trailer, so he could come back later and pick them up. I simply don't believe that Berger engaged in this kind of cloak and dagger behavior just because he found the documents "interesting" and wanted to study them at home.
There were no handwritten markings on the documents (which were copies) or anything else unusual. I took no other documents–originals or copies–besides the ones specified in my plea agreement.
The DOJ has stated unequivocally that there is no evidence that I took other documents and that the commission received everything.
That's the long and short of it. I made a very stupid mistake. I deeply regret it. Top-level career Justice Department prosecutors investigated it aggressively for two years. We reached a plea agreement that they believed was fair. That was two years ago. Now I wish this thing would go away.
Best, Sandy
Maybe he was just inspired by my tagline....
;o)
Thanks for the ping!
Nice graphic Phil!
Yes Ma'am!
OH! That's VERY nice, Phil. Thanks for sharing!
In last week’s column, I noted that President Clinton had reviewed a document on the Bojinka plot that directly referenced plans to use airplanes as flying bombs, and he did so in the wake of the July 1996 destruction of TWA Flight 800, five years before 9/11. More damning, he left his own notes on these documents.
Berger’s task was likely to make sure all references to the Bojinka plot and/or TWA Flight 800 were purged from the Archives, especially any documents with hand-written notes that led back to himself, Clinton, and the architect of the TWA 800 “exit strategy,” anti-terror honcho, Richard Clarke.
http://www.cashill.com/twa800/why_bush_rolled.htm
KSM just reminded us of the Bojinka plot.
One can only imagine what would happen to any of us still under oath decades past our active military time if we did something like this.
Sandy, we don't buy it. If your intent was research not treason, those files would have stayed where they belonged.
Sandy, you are the typical Clintoon cult member. Your allegiance to these traitors was/is far more important than any loyalty to America and the American People.
Thanks!
The Peppermint Twist goes nicely with your new gif devolve.
Slippin and a Sliding, Peeping and a Hiding would also fill the bill.
Yes - "Peppermint Twist"
You've "captured" Sandy Burglar perfectly there
The diffence in movements and the tempo is Hillaryazz!
SHIFTY!
"SHIFTY!"
Exactly!
"Shifty Twist"? Lol
Gonna feel pretty 'shifty' with documents in your pants!
"Spin around - Spin around"
Lyrics sound familiar?
If we held Sandy over an industrial shredder, would he give up the Clintinos?
No, sorry, you would have to tell me the song. Is that in Peppermint Twist?
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