LIVE THREAD:FOX News Special Report 'Socks, Scissors, Paper: The Sandy Berger Caper'

FNC | 3/31/2007 | David Asman

[saveliberty]

Live thread to FReep about the Special

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Intolerant in NJ]

Excellent show, especially disturbing that Burgler's thefts were deliberately kept from the 911 Commission and his testimony before them accepted as credible......

[tang-soo]

The following is a comment about this case I made when it first happend. It constitutes proof that in no way was this incident an "honest or sloppy mistake". It was premeditated.

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) A quick sidebar on program access and document marking. The term "Access" refers to the concept of "Need to Know". The fact you have a clearance that matches the level required to have access to the material does not establish your "need to know". It must be determined by someone like a program manager or security personnel that your job function requires access to certain information. If you are granted access, you may be required to go through another level of investigation. Some levels of access (at least the ones I was exposed to) are known as "Special Need to Know" or SNTK (pronounced Snick) and "Special Access Required" or SAR. Programs with these designations require special prominent markings on each page of a classified document along with the classification level. Believe it or not, after all the markings (top and bottom) there usually is enough room for the content of the page.

4) I should also mention that each paragraph of the document starts with a designation indicating the classification level of that paragraph. This would look like (U), (C), (S), (S/SAR), (S/SNTK), (TS) or (TS/SAR). Every page is marked top and bottom based upon the highest level of any paragraph on that page. ie. it's possible to have an unclassified page in a top secret document. And as you might think, the overall classification of the document is classified at the highest level of any single page.

5) This next point is especially important in light of the current investigation. Every page is marked "Page x of y Pages". For example page 13 of a 32 page document would be clearly marked in the banner section of the page "Page 13 of 32 Pages". This is done for obvious reasons - if any page is missing, it can be accounted for. The page count is also part of the document's registration in the security catalog.

6) 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.

7) 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).

8) 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.

9) 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.

10) 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.

11) 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.

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

13) 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".

14) 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.

15) 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.

16) 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 administration changed things during his 8 years.

That summarizes what I mentioned to Steve Cannon of WTVN 610 AM (Columbus, Oh) the night after the story broke.

I should have added another issue that may pertain to the current case. The concept of "Working papers". This would be scratch material that is never intended to end up in a document being prepared. For example, preliminary drafts, graphics with various scales, handdrawn sketches, ... etc. Usually, this kind of material is kept in a folder or envelope which is marked as a regular document would be. This folder falls under the same criteria as a regular document ie locking up when not being used ... etc. Usually, this material is collected on a regular basis when the work is finished and tossed into a "burn barrel". The burn barrel is emptied periodically by cleared personnel and either burned or processed through an approved shredder (ends up as dust).

The latest word I have heard 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.

I've posted this information on several Berger-related threads the last couple of days. Thanks to all those that have made supportive comments.

I should stress that I'm no security expert - but I did work in that environment for nearly 12 years as an engineer in the aerospace industry (stealth technology). Amongst my duties, I was also the secured computer contact person during our department's audits with "The customer" and the FBI. This included things like proving procedures were being followed concerning the registering, cataloging and tracking of classified storage media, secured networks, hardcopy audit trails ... etc. It was not very exciting work - very boring but also needed.

Because of this work, I have a good idea of what that part of the world looks like. Who knows though after #42 and his crowd. I remember how O'leary (spelling) turned the DoE upside down with her wacky ideas of security. Remember the classified media supposedly found behind the copy machine during the Wen Ho-Li case? I have a friend who works for a private computer consulting firm that is contracted by the DoE and I think the DoD to perform inspections at government and contractor facilities. He told me the rules changed significantly during Clinton's years (to the worse) but I have no first hand knowledge.

[bobbyd]

bump

[holden]

...and then we have the airline tootsie, who let Algore and his entourage bypass TSA airport security with a swipe of her badge.

The most intricate, well-intentioned, carefully thought out plans can and will be swept aside for the elite, just as computer coders have long set up "back doors" for themselves in their programs. Such are then poised to do earth-moving, job-security-enhancing, ladder-climber favors for their benefactors.

HF

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Great post.

All we really have to do,

...in this new time of war with our own Freedom now directly at stake right here at home,

is FIND OUT WHY the devil all this is being allowed to go on with such reckless abandon..???

At such great risk to those we so deeply LOVE..?

.

[JerseyJohn61]

bttt

[CyberAnt]

4 pm eastern

[CyberAnt]

But .. it was the staff who was hiding all the info about "Able Danger". Gorelick knew about the project, but her staff refused to receive any of the information - surely at the direction of Gorelick.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. they chose to follow the 911 commission because it went against Bush .. and the dems are for anybody and anything that's against Bush.

It's just another example of the Bush derangement syndrome!

[CyberAnt]

"... what is President Bush protecting us from? ..."

I've been thinking that all night.

And .. is the Barrett Report also another instance where the information would be so damaging to the public that has to wait to be released (until the crooked scum can't be prosecuted)!

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm ..?? Wasn't it Rudy who recommended Fitz ..?? Or Rudy used to work with Fitz .. or something like that ..??

[freedom4me]

"You have holdovers from Clinton calling the shots in a lot of places here."

Bush's biggest mistake: not cleaning house when he took office in 2001. I believe he was sincere in wanting a "new tone", but didn't realized the hatred the Clinton holdovers at State, the Pentagon, and at the CIA had for him.

I watched the film, IN THE FACE OF EVIL tonight and in it is speaks about the way Bill Casey (CIA Director under Reagan) cleaned house at CIA when he took over. Thank you, Mr. Casey--that's how it's done.

[CyberAnt]

But .. Hillary has publically stated that no such events ever occurred. Which means she's saying 3 people lied and Bubba didn't.

[CyberAnt]

Not sure where to look for info .. but .. I'm sure it exists and it's on the internet.

And .. while everybody keeps saying it was President Clinton getting Burgler to do the dirty deed .. I can't help but wonder if it was Mrs. Clinton who was handling the ladies at the Archives. I mean .. after all .. Smith was more than chummy and cooperative to Berger.

[CyberAnt]

Don't be rude!

[CyberAnt]

I liked the reports from the guy who did the UN expose' over the oil for food scandal - Eric I think his name is. I can see his face, but I just can't remember his name at the moment.

He wrote a book about it!

[CyberAnt]

Actually, about halfway through this thread, I noticed the Bush-bashers showed up to pile on, along with several other types.

It's typical behavior for the dems - they always try to distract people from the real issue - DEMOCRAT CORRUPTION!!

[tinamina]

I've been waiting 6 years. 6 years ago Pres. GW Bush had a mandate. The first thing he blew was not prosecuting the Clinton administration for trashing the White House and, except for the WOT he has been a wimp ever since.
WHY????????
The Republicans in Congress were even wimpier and the lot of them have shown us that there is not one politician in this country that can be trusted to serve the people. What and who are they all serving? Filthy lucar is my answer and it will be interesting to see how rich Pres. Bush gets after his tenure.
I felt sold out from the beginning, but I voted for him again because I hate socialists and commies having a free run in the USA...but you know what? They do anyway.
We have no leadership anymore.

[CyberAnt]

Oh for pity sake .. go have your mad party somewhere else!! It's getting tiresome!!