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March 31, 2005

Sandy Burglar 'Fesses Up

Sandy Berger will plead guilty to stealing classified documents from the National Archives. I seem to recall when news of the Sandy Burglaries first surfaced, the Left treated it as if it was a silly mistake rather than a crime.

Mark it down: A former National Security Adviser knowlingly and with intent stole classified documents regarding the Clinton Administration's handling of the al Qaeda threat - and intentionally destroyed them - while serving as a policy advisor to then-presidential candidate John Kerry. [Hat tip: Blake Wylie]

UPDATE: John Hinderaker at Powerline says:

Former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger got away with a criminal cover-up today when he pled guilty to a misdemeanor in connection with his theft of sensitive documents from the National Archives.

It is undisputed that Berger illegally stuffed original documents relating to America's response to the threat of Islamic terrorism into his coat, pants and briefcase. Berger then destroyed a number of these top-secret documents, so that they will never see the light of day. The idea that this was "an honest mistake," as Berger now claims, is ridiculous. Obviously, he was trying to destroy documents that showed the negligence of the Clinton administration--of which he was a key member--in dealing with the threat of terrorism. Key documents relating to our government's inadequate reaction to the threat of Islamic terrorism prior to Sept. 11 are now gone forever, successfully purged from the historical record by one of Bill Clinton's most loyal servants. This plea bargain appears, on its face, to be a disgrace. If anyone can think of a reason why this is not correct, please let us know.

And Instapundit is pointing to today's WaPo story, calling it a "sordid story of deliberate misconduct."

From the WaPo:

The terms of Berger's agreement required him to acknowledge to the Justice Department the circumstances of the episode. Rather than misplacing or unintentionally throwing away three of the five copies he took from the archives, as the former national security adviser earlier maintained, he shredded them with a pair of scissors late one evening at the downtown offices of his international consulting business.

The document, written by former National Security Council terrorism expert Richard A. Clarke, was an "after-action review" prepared in early 2000 detailing the administration's actions to thwart terrorist attacks during the millennium celebration. It contained considerable discussion about the administration's awareness of the rising threat of attacks on U.S. soil. . . .

Berger's archives visit occurred as he was reviewing materials as a designated representative of the Clinton administration to the national commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The question of what Clinton knew and did about the emerging al Qaeda threat before leaving office in January 2001 was acutely sensitive, as suggested by Berger's determination to spend hours poring over the Clarke report before his testimony.

Reynolds summarizes: "Berger stole, and destroyed, classified documents as part of a politically motivated coverup. Let's be clear about that."

What did John Kerry know and when did he know it?

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Comments

John Kerry represented absolutely no opposition to Bush and the neo-cons but he committed no crime by being advised by Berger.

If Berger committed a crime then he'll get his due process and pay his debt to society.

George Bush was in office almost ONE YEAR before 9-11. Bush didn't assume office on 9-12. George Bush is the one responsible for failing to stop bin laden. George Bush ignored a PDB that said "bin laden plans to hi-jack a plane and crash it into a skyscraper".

George Bush and his family are close friends and business associates with the Saudis where most of the terrorists are from. The bin ladens have financed Shrub's business ventures and bailed him out everytime he drove them into the ground. George Bush has failed to find bin laden for FIVE YEARS. Colin Powell says everything Bush and the neocons said about WMD was a LIE.

George Bush was too busy carrying out the plans for the invasion of Iraq which was planned 10 years before Bush took office by Bill Kristol and the neo-cons who are members of the Project for the New American Century to prevent Al Queda from attacking us.

Bush has created more terrorists by his actions in the middle east and by his inept occupation of Iraq and he has brought down America by causing the threat he has created for the Dollar. The only reason the Dollar is still the reserve currency is because the whole world fears what would happen if the dollar fails. What a way to run a Government! Into the ground like he did his businesses.

Yeah you go get Sandy Berger! Concentrate on the small fry so you can divert attention from the downfall of America at the hands of the corrupt bunch who stole the White House not once but twice and who have done nothing but lie and scam the American people.

Posted by: yeula at March 31, 2005 9:16 PM

You must be kidding right?

Bush is no worse than Clinton, nor Kerry nor Papa Bush, etc., etc. They are all one in the same of the Federalist Party.

Now to Sandy Burglar. He is pleading guilty to stealing docs from the national archives and it's reported he will be charged with a misdemeanor.

Now what do you think good old Unca Sam would do with me if I waltzed out of the Y-12 weapons plant in Oak Ridge with one or 2 notes on security? I would be facing a felony and 5-10 with stiff fines as it's posted on the premises.

SB was a national security adviser for crying out loud and he stole information from the nation. Sounds to me like Tumblweed and Speedy cut him a deal for some reason.

Posted by: The Frog Gigger at March 31, 2005 11:41 PM

Hold on a minute, yeula. First, most of your comment sounds like it was lifted from the script of "Fahrenheit 9/11," which, remember, is a movie. (Yes, a documentary, but primarily a piece of entertainment. I really liked it, too.)

I don't like the fact that George W. Bush is President any more than you seem to. I happen to think, though, that the Democrats picked one of the worst candidates (and campaign teams) they could have found, and that the Sandy Berger story is not just an unrelated anecdote. Both major parties have recently engaged in multiple Watergate-like tactics, at national and state levels, all for the sake of winning the election. Political parties, and the corporations and special interests that feed them, have far too much power in the electoral process. Said process is supposed to be one that involves the People and the people they elect from among themselves. The act of forming a national caucus of some sort to solidify positions is a natural one, but it has gotten out of hand.

There, now I've gone and gotten off topic, too. Sorry. I despise the Bushies, but I likewise harbor no love for the DLC, the pre-Dean Dem leadership (and the jury's still out on Howard), or John Kerry. Campaign advisers who commit crimes, especially political cover-up attempts like this one, are to be detested and removed from positions of influence.

Posted by: august west at April 1, 2005 6:39 AM

I think we should leave Berger alone and allow him to go on with his life. The lifted documents episode happened a long time ago and we have all moved on. Move on and stop whining like lemmings over something that is done and in the past.

Republicans are so negetive. Everything is negetive and thats why you see WMD everywhere. Stop acting like lemmings and move on.

Posted by: yeula at April 1, 2005 8:08 AM

What gets me about this isn't "what did Kerry know", but "Why the HECK is Berger getting such a slap on the wrist?" - you can't even call it a SLAP!!

I work with classified documents, and rest assured, if I had walked out with classified papers down my pants and subsequently DESTROYED them, several things would happen to me.

1. I'd be arrested the instant they found out.

2. My security clearence would be immediately and perminately revoked, no questions asked.

3. I'd most likely spend a decent amount of time in JAIL.

The fact that this man gets his security clearance back bothers me a LOT.

Posted by: B. Minich, PI at April 1, 2005 9:08 AM

Would it be a crime for a memory expert to view such materials, leave the building, and then use the materials in furtherance of other work, with the information existing only in his mind?

Posted by: SemiPundit at April 1, 2005 3:01 PM

B. Minich, Pl, I'm sorry but you are just being so negetive. Do you hate America? Why do you want to be unpatriotic and hate America with all your negetivity and unamerican attacks on Berger? Lemmings should just move on and forget about what has happened in the past.

Posted by: yeula at April 1, 2005 3:24 PM

is this yeula character always here, or did she just blow in for this post?

Posted by: jummy at June 3, 2005 8:01 PM
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