AP: Clinton Adviser Probed in Terror Memos

[wiin]

Democrats target Bush on file theft.

 

[burnedout]

Trousergate Update:

First, from the Washington Post:

Last Oct. 2, former Clinton national security adviser Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger stayed huddled over papers at the National Archives until 8 p.m.

What he did not know as he labored through that long Thursday was that the same Archives employees who were solicitously retrieving documents for him were also watching their important visitor with a suspicious eye.

After Berger's previous visit, in September, Archives officials believed documents were missing. This time, they specially coded the papers to more easily tell whether some disappeared, said government officials and legal sources familiar with the case. . . .

The government source said the Archives employees were deferential toward Berger, given his prominence, but were worried when he returned to view more documents on Oct. 2. They devised a coding system and marked the documents they knew Berger was interested in canvassing, and watched him carefully. They knew he was interested in all the versions of the millennium review, some of which bore handwritten notes from Clinton-era officials who had reviewed them. At one point an Archives employee even handed Berger a coded draft and asked whether he was sure he had seen it.

At the end of the day, Archives employees determined that that draft and all four or five other versions of the millennium memo had disappeared from the files, this source said.

The "inadvertence" defense begins to look less plausible.


More suspicious sounding behavior:

WASHINGTON - Former national security adviser Sandy Berger repeatedly persuaded monitors assigned to watch him review top secret documents to break the rules and leave him alone, sources said yesterday.

Berger, accused of smuggling some of the secret files out of the National Archives, got the monitors out of the high-security room by telling them he had to make sensitive phone calls.

Berger also took "lots of bathroom breaks" that apparently aroused some suspicion, the source added.

It is standard security procedure to constantly monitor anyone with a security clearance who examines the type of code-word classified files stored in the underground archives vault in the building where tourists view the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Asked if guards left Berger alone in the classified reading room while he made calls, archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper replied, "I'm not going to say I haven't heard that."

 

[conjur]

unnamed sources?

hearsay?




And the Bush supporters bitch like mad when something like that comes up critical of Bush or the administration?? :roll:

I admit there is some suspicion surrounding the actions but the investigation has been going on for MONTHS and nothing has come out. No charges, no on-going questioning of Berger, nothing.

Was he preparing for his testimony before the 9/11 Commission? That's certainly not out of the realm of possibilities.



No, let's drop the tinfoil hat stuff and focus on actual criminal activity:

Medicare cost cover-up
CIA operative leak
Illegal campaign donations for promises (DeLay)
Prisoner abuse

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: conjur

No, let's drop the tinfoil hat stuff and focus on actual criminal activity:

Ah yes, the desperate postmodernist's cry of frustration. Insert strawman, change subject, rinse, repeat. No conjur. This one ain't going away.

Now, if you would, please get back on topic and get the hell out of my face.

 

[conjur]

oooo...an e-thug!!

Impressive.....NOT.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: conjur
oooo...an e-thug!!

Impressive.....NOT.

Indeed, we've grown to anticipate such shallowness from thee.

Admittedly though, the "e-thug" moniker sounds more impressive than postmodernist net kook.

 

[Moonbeam]

It's going to be fun to see how this plays our. I gotta put it in the file with who's the anthrax killer.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
who's the anthrax killer.

It's all of us.

 

[CaptnKirk]

About this probing of Sandy Berger . . .
Is it going to be available on video as a sequel to 'Girls Gone Wild' ?

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
About this probing of Sandy Berger . . .
Is it going to be available on video as a sequel to 'Girls Gone Wild' ?

Should they call it Funch at the Beach or Silicon Dioxide Sandwich?

 

[Chris A]

The guy admited to taking the documents. He knew the rules yet he chose to break them. My question is What did Kerry know and when did he know it?


Senators link Kerry to Berger scandal

WorldNetDaily
July 21, 2004

Excerpt:

Two Republican senators yesterday demanded presidential candidate John Kerry explain the role of Sandy Berger in his campaign, following revelations the Justice Department is investigating the former national security adviser for taking highly classified documents related to the Sept. 11 terrorism investigation out of the National Archives.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., accused Berger of "taking highly classified documents, stuffing them in his trousers, using them for the Kerry campaign, and then admitting to destroying those documents."

"He says it was sloppy," said Smith. "I will admit to you, when you stuff classified legal documents in your briefs, it looks sloppy. But it may be worse than that. And in fairness to the president of the United States, it's important that this be followed and pursued so that the American people can know that the predicate of many of the charges made against George W. Bush are based upon lies and deception. And the American people need the truth on these matters."

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said he found it coincidental that the missing documents had to do with security at airports and seaports ? areas in which Kerry has been critical of Homeland Security policies.

"Now, I would hope that, number one, the Kerry administration would immediately disavow any connection with Sandy Berger, that they would come forward with any documents, whether legal or illegal documents, that have been presented to them by Sandy Berger, and that we can bring this matter to a close very quickly," Chambliss said. "No accusations are being made about how they used or if they used these documents, but this is extremely sensitive, folks, and this involves a significant breach in our intelligence community, and the Kerry campaign needs to come forward with the answers to this."

Chambliss went on to point out that after the documents were taken, "John Kerry held a photo-op and attacked the president on port security. The documents that were taken may have been utilized for that press conference. They were then destroyed, according to Mr. Berger."


full story.

 

[heartsurgeon]

I believe we should give Mr. Burgler the benefit of the doubt...OH MY, i meant to say Mr. Berger...i apologize for the slip up.

I also don't believe that the fact that Sandy Berger once was a lawyer-lobbyist representing firms owned by the Communist Chinese military should have any bearing on his truthfullness.

I also condemm those who would revisit the fact that Sandy Berger's "e-mails" in the clinton White House when he was NS advisor to Clinton, were misteriously "lost" due toa computer "glitch"

I'm also sure that Mr. Berger's opposition to a law proposed in 2000, that would have made "leaking" classified documents a felony, was strictly based in his desire to preserve the Consitution.

In summary, i believe it is extremely low for anyone to suggest that Mr. Berger inadvertantly removing 50-90 documents from a secure archive room, including all drafts of the "Millenium" after action report (written by Richard Clarke, providing a critique of U.S. security at that time), over multiple trips to the archive, including handwritten notes, observed to be stuffed into his socks by archive personnel...is some sort of big deal.

It was only sex....errr....papers...
Everyone has misplaced or inadvertantly removed papers which are classified, from someone else's office...for heaven's sake it's just papers..

smells like another vast right wing conspiracy again....

those nasty Republican's......

 

[conjur]

Hmm...a scandal involving a Democrat and heartsurgeon crawls out from under his rock.


He's been deathly silent on the multiple Bush administration cover-ups and scandals.



Hmmmm....

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: conjur
Hmm...a scandal involving a Democrat and heartsurgeon crawls out from under his rock.


He's been deathly silent on the multiple Bush administration cover-ups and scandals.



Hmmmm....

I don't care what party they are from, if they violate national security and get caught they need to pay the piper. T
And while I sincerely doubt that the arrogance of the powerful can't be prevented by deterrence, the function of law needs to complete its cycle. He can serve time if guilty and do public service washing toilets in prison or some such skill appropriate task. Even those to martyr themselves out of higher conscience need to pay the piper or their martyrdom is a sham.

 

[burnedout]

Heh, don't be a stranger, heartsurgeon. This campaign should become considerably more exciting as we approach November.

John Kerry to Tom Brokaw regarding the Berger investigation: I didn't have a clue.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: conjur
Hmm...a scandal involving a Democrat and heartsurgeon crawls out from under his rock.


He's been deathly silent on the multiple Bush administration cover-ups and scandals.



Hmmmm....

I don't care what party they are from, if they violate national security and get caught they need to pay the piper. T
And while I sincerely doubt that the arrogance of the powerful can't be prevented by deterrence, the function of law needs to complete its cycle. He can serve time if guilty and do public service washing toilets in prison or some such skill appropriate task. Even those to martyr themselves out of higher conscience need to pay the piper or their martyrdom is a sham.

I agree. *IF* Berger is found guilty of a crime, he'll have to do the time.

I just wanted to point out heartsurgeon's hypocrisy.

 

[burnedout]

Footnotes, page 482 of the 9/11 report:

6. NSC email, Clarke to Kerrick,?Timeline,?Aug. 19, 1998; Samuel Berger interview (Jan. 14, 2004). We did not find documentation on the after-action review mentioned by Berger. On Vice Chairman Joseph Ralston?s mission in Pakistan, see William Cohen interview (Feb. 5, 2004). For speculation on tipping off the Taliban, see, e.g., Richard Clarke interview (Dec. 18, 2003).

Well, what does footnote (46) refer? On p. 117, Chapter 4, we find this:

Later on August 20, Navy vessels in the Arabian Sea fired their cruise missiles. Though most of them hit their intended targets, neither Bin Ladin nor any other terrorist leader was killed. Berger told us that an after-action review by Director Tenet concluded that the strikes had killed 20?30 people in the camps but probably missed Bin Ladin by a few hours. Since the missiles headed for Afghanistan had had to cross Pakistan, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was sent to meet with Pakistan?s army chief of staff to assure him the missiles were not coming from India. Officials in Washington speculated that one or another Pakistani official might have sent a warning to the Taliban or Bin Ladin. (46)

Hmmm, interesting.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: burnedout
Heh, don't be a stranger, heartsurgeon.

On the contrary, please be a stranger heartsurgeon. Go back to minding your bridge. We have Rip now to troll these boards, you are no longer needed for that job.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Officials in Washington speculated

Golly, Gosh - I hope they don't get into that habit.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: conjur
Hmm...a scandal involving a Democrat and heartsurgeon crawls out from under his rock.


He's been deathly silent on the multiple Bush administration cover-ups and scandals.



Hmmmm....

I don't care what party they are from, if they violate national security and get caught they need to pay the piper. T
And while I sincerely doubt that the arrogance of the powerful can't be prevented by deterrence, the function of law needs to complete its cycle. He can serve time if guilty and do public service washing toilets in prison or some such skill appropriate task. Even those to martyr themselves out of higher conscience need to pay the piper or their martyrdom is a sham.

I agree. *IF* Berger is found guilty of a crime, he'll have to do the time.

I just wanted to point out heartsurgeon's hypocrisy.

Yup, I know, I wasn't directed to anybody in particular.

 

[wiin]

Kerry Anti-Terror Plan Removed From Campaign Web Site After Berger Revelation

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: wiin
Kerry Anti-Terror Plan Removed From Campaign Web Site After Berger Revelation

Key portions of the policy removed from the web site included the following three passages:

-- Increase Port Security and Accelerate Border Security. Currently, 95% of all non-North American U.S. trade moves by sea, concentrated mostly in a handful of ports. John Kerry believes improvements in port security must be made, while recognizing that global prosperity and America's economic power depends on an efficient system. Kerry's plan would develop standards for security at ports and other loading facilities for containers and assure facilities can meet basic standards. To improve security in commerce, John Kerry believes we should accelerate the timetable for the action plans agreed to in the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico "smart border" accords as well as implement security measures for cross-border bridges. Finally John Kerry will pursue modest safety standards for privately held infrastructure and will help owners find economical ways to pay for increased security.

Oh?

What's this then?

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/homeland/plan.html

DEFENDING OUR SKIES, SEA, AND LAND
Currently, 95% of all non-North American U.S. trade moves by sea, concentrated mostly in a handful of ports. Everyday we import millions of cargo containers, any one of which could contain deadly threats to our people such as a deadly disease secreted in a shipment of foreign fruit ? radioactive material hidden in frozen seafood. If an explosive device were loaded in a container and set off in a port, its results could be catastrophic, not just in terms of the immediate loss of human life, but on the impact on global commerce. John Kerry believes improvements must be made, while recognizing that global prosperity and America?s economic power depends on an efficient system. He believes we should:
Improve Port Security. The Maritime Transportation Act of 2002, which primarily focused on the physical security of ports, is essentially an unfunded mandate, receiving only $200-$300 million extra since 9/11. John Kerry believes we need to develop standards for security at loading facilities for containers and assure facilities can meet basic standards. He also believes America should be researching and developing containers that will be technologically transparent ? capable of being inspected instantly by detection and identification equipment. Technology could also improve accuracy and timing for transmitting and sharing data about contents, location, and chain of control involving a container shipment.

Secure Bridges and Tunnels. Only five major bridges and one tunnel link Ontario to Michigan and New York, and account for 70% of all the trade between the U.S. and Canada. To improve security on this important commerce, John Kerry believes we should accelerate the timetable for the action plans agreed to in the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico ?smart border? accords. America should also work with Canada to implement adequate security measures for cross-border bridges and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel.

Protect Private Infrastructure. At least 3/4 of the country's major infrastructure is in private hands. However, if even one large facility is hit, with a biological agent or an explosive that releases toxic fumes, thousands ? even millions -- could die. The economy could also take a huge hit, as emergency measures were taken to figure out how to prevent a repeat and shut down whole industries for weeks or even months. The Bush Administration says we should leave it to big business to make these security improvements themselves, even though they are unlikely to make real changes. Others might want to mandate protective measures with an expensive one-size-fits-all Federal solution. John Kerry believes should work to develop modest, minimal safety standards for certain kinds of industry and infrastructure, look at requiring private terrorism insurance, and helping owners find economical ways to improved security.

 

[MidasKnight]

Originally posted by: burnedout

Originally posted by: conjur

No, let's drop the tinfoil hat stuff and focus on actual criminal activity:

Ah yes, the desperate postmodernist's cry of frustration. Insert strawman, change subject, rinse, repeat. No conjur. This one ain't going away.

Nor should it till we find out what the hell he was doing.