Sandy Berger, someone whom I thought was a pretty good guy, has been accused of essentially stealing classified documents from the National Archive. From reading the news story, it sounds like he stuffed documents in his pants, his socks and his jacket, then left with them.
As the former National Security Adviser he knows better.
It turns out that he "lost" some of the documents that were stolen. I wonder what could've been so important on them. Sandy's been advising the Kerry Campaign and was also supposed to be reviewing some documents for the 9/11 Commission.
The full story is here: Sandy Berger Probed Over Terror Memos and a press release issued by Dennis Hastert is here.
Of course, this doesn't prove that he did anything else illegal but you have to wonder what was in those documents that was so important that he didn't want anyone else to have them?
I'm just guessing, but I bet we won't see nearly as much press coverage of this as we did of the now discredited Valerie Plame / Joe Wilson Story
Posted by jdmays at July 20, 2004 06:27 PM | TrackBackMaybe he mailed them to the Rose Law Firm for "safekeeping" or did I mean shredding?
Posted by: Norman at July 20, 2004 03:46 PMI think the bastard should be shot if found guilty. And this man should have known better than most what would constitute a breech of security.
Frankly, I could care less what the press does regarding this scum. But I do care about justice being served. Oh well, like most dems I bet he gets nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
Posted by: Guy S. at July 20, 2004 06:06 PMBecause only Democrats get off easy...that's the world I know. Sure.
Posted by: Flash Q. Fiasco at July 20, 2004 07:44 PMIt's always nice to get sarcastic comments from the masochistic libs (like Flash Q. Fiasco) that sometimes happen on this site. At least this one had the guts to leave a url. Usually they're just anonymous hit and runs.
Amazingly, the Democrats response to this is to get all indignant and question the timing of this revelation. Sure the timing is suspect. But there wouldn't have been any worries about the timing if good old Sandy hadn't decided he was above the law.
-jdm
They said he hid the documents over his body under his cloths.
With an article titled Sandy Burger probed over terror memos I have to wonder where else he hid them, and it sounds painful.
I keep hearing that Berger is being grilled about the documents. I swear I've been giggling all day.
I think he should be shot, like any spy.
Posted by: Deb at July 20, 2004 08:55 PMBerger perfomed an intentional criminal act... a CYA surgical cleansing mission on behalf of Clinton and an intel mission on behalf of Kerry. Kerry's anti-terrorist website disappeared as soon as this story broke as the info obtained girded his position. Unauthorized disclosure of classified info is a Federal offense. Who was Berger talking to... and WHY were cell phones allowed in the secure reading room? (There are those new picture taking cell phones formerly associated only with spies.) The classified 9/11 info has been compromised. I'd love to see Federal Marshalls raid the DNC with a Federal Warrant 'n lead Kerry 'n Clinton off the podium in cuffs. Bwahah! :P Berger knew exactly what he was doing... but he (like many liberal Dems) believe themselves to be above the law. Moreover... the absolute arrogance of destroying such documents as are part of the National Record... thereby attemting to erase/revise a piece of our history forever is beyond the pale. Berger should be impaled... then hanged.
Posted by: megashifter at July 25, 2004 10:21 AMI'm afraid it's as bad as it looks. This guy, the former National Security Advisor in the Clinton Admin., removed classified documents from a secure sight and says that it was "an honest mistake". I feel a sudden urge to defacate. I worked as a sub-contractor to the U.S. Air Force for many years and I was required to obtain a security clearance. No "Manhattan Project" caliber stuff only enough to allow me to work on computers that may be processing sensitive, defense related data. I want to make it very clear that the briefings, training, audits and security procedures established to safegaurd classified documents, files, etc. were so comprehensive that even though I haven't worked there for over 8 years, I can say without a doubt that I will always remember those procedures (forward and backwards) for the rest of my days.
The folks at Dod are very good at what they do and deserve our hats off.
Burger's explaination regarding "an honest mistake" in insulting, desperately lame and does not even begin to pass the smell test. This really reaks. Anyone familiar with security procedures would never have considered stuffing a document in his pants, pockets or anywhere. Let alone, the former NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR who actually MAKES THE POLICY! A mistake?!? Beleive it or not, the former National Security Advisor is about to lose his clearance. :-o
Why would a man like Burger, who had recently been consulting Kerry on National Security issues and was expected to play a big role in a possible Kerry Admin. (Secretary of State, etc.?), risk his reputation, his integrity, his slot in the "corporation", his livelyhood, honor and yes, freedom on somthing like this? Why? This is serious enough for federal criminal charges. At least, that's what would I or anyone of you would be facing if we did this.
Clearly, this was a premidated and deliberate act ordered for a specific reason and conducted by one of the few who could have pulled it off. I surmise, that Burger and the guys who broke into the DNC HQ in the Watergate Hotel, had almost identical orders.
This is far worse and infinitely more serious than Watergate. This situation is not merely for political gain or digging up dirt. This situation impacts the outcome of a current military campaign and the direction of domestic security measures that involve countless American lives. His actions have directly affected the future of how we deal with these new threats that are unlike any other threats this country has faced.
Yes it's true that although almost four years have passed since Clinton left the White House and amazingly, there are still people going down for him. (no pun intended) They're still playing C.B.A (Cover Bill's A$$)
Media indifference and lethargic coverage of such an important story occurs so often now but it still shocks me. The NYT buried this story in the back next to the bra ads. One article on one day for this story and the Abu Greab prison abuse story gets 45 days on the front page?!?
The question we need to continue to ask is, "What did Kerry know and when did he know it."
On the upside, this story has the potential of becoming a much better film than "All the Presidents Men". Gee, do you think they can get Dustin Hoffman and that other guy to play the guys that blew this story? Yea right. "When does Hell freeze over, anyway?"
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