Sandy Berger's Taking Out the Trash

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Dec 21 2006, 08:52 AM) [snapback]365053[/snapback]</div>

This is an amazing story. Just think this genius was our National Security Advisor. Makes me feel pretty safe. This guy should be tarred and feathered on the Capitol steps. As far as what was in the documents: My bet would be on something involving National Security and Hillary. Would not want anything making her seem unpresidential!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Dec 21 2006, 11:36 AM) [snapback]365080[/snapback]</div>

(Yawn). This is an old story. Reported in 2004. 2005. And now 2006. It was a Richard Clarke memo. If you missed it the first time around, you can read all the fascinating details below. The document is not "missing." It is not listed by the national archives on their lost and stolen documents list http://www.archives.gov/research/recover/m...-documents.html

The document was an "after-action" memo on the millennium 2000 terror plot authored by terrorism expert Richard Clarke.
http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20050404-084700-5791r.htm

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2004Jul19.html
>>The missing copies, according to Breuer and their author, Richard A. Clarke, the counterterrorism chief in the Clinton administration and early in President Bush's administration, were versions of after-action reports recommending changes following threats of terrorism as 1999 turned to 2000. Clarke said he prepared about two dozen ideas for countering terrorist threats. The recommendations were circulated among Cabinet agencies, and various versions of the memo contained additions and refinements, Clarke said last night.

Clarke said it is illogical to assume Berger would have sought to hide versions of the memo, because "everybody in town had copies of these things." He said he could not recall most of the recommendations, but one that he did remember -- having FBI field offices send wiretap material to Washington for translation instead of translating it locally -- still has not been accomplished.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice testified to the Sept. 11 panel that she did not recall being briefed on the report during the transition period to the Bush administration, and she said she did not read it until after the Sept. 11 attacks, when Vice President Cheney distributed it.

Rice characterized the report as concluding that Ahmed Ressam, later convicted in a plan to blow up Los Angeles International Airport, was caught by chance. "I think it actually wasn't by chance, which was Washington's view of it," Rice testified. "It was because a very alert customs agent" who was suspicious of Ressam as he attempted to cross into Washington state from Canada, she said.

April 1, 2005- FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SAMUEL BERGER PLEADS GUILTY TO KNOWINGLY REMOVING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/April/05_crm_155.htm

Berger fined $50000
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/08/berger.sentenced/

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Dec 21 2006, 07:52 AM) [snapback]365053[/snapback]</div>

What say I? Well in typical fashion you didn't bother to link anything that would indicate what you're talking about exactly. The full investigation was conducted some time ago and Berger pleaded guilty. (Having no choice with his pants stuffed with documents). What the content (although not the classified details) of the documents was has been well known for some time. The only thing new is the AP story yesterday about the details of exactly what Berger did with the documents. (Hid them under a construction trailer for later retrieval, shredded three of four documents, and later tried to recover them from the trash collector. Since you don't attribute anything to your source information, I have no idea what the "destroyed all five copies" means. AP story is here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pogo @ Dec 21 2006, 11:14 AM) [snapback]365099[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the documents were the individual original copies of specific officials, which had hand-written notes in the margins.

The issue is not the contents of the typed pages, but the notes on the discussions that we will never know, and that's clearly what he was trying to erase.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Dec 21 2006, 12:22 PM) [snapback]365163[/snapback]</div>

They were copies of an After-action report about the foiled “millennium plot†to bomb the Los Angeles International Airport and other sites. The discussion was about what to do to prevent future attacks.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Dec 21 2006, 09:52 AM) [snapback]365053[/snapback]</div>

The author of the memo, Richard Clarke has only praise for Clintons terrorism efforts, but faults Bush for being grossly negligent and indifferent .
Dr Berman you are totally wrong in your assessment .
Read Clarkes book or read his statements to the 9/11 investigation.
Probably, there were notes on the memos which embarrassed Berger personally .

 

This is hilarious. The guy trying to stir up the Berger story is Representative Tom Davis. And as can been seen from his investigative record, he obviously isn't partisan. Actions he chaired against Democrats: 1052. Against Republicans: 3. Partisanship: Priceless.

From wiki:
Davis chaired the House Government Reform Committee from 1998 until 2007. The Committee is the chief investigative and oversight committee of the House, and has been granted broad jurisdiction. This Committee was very active during President Clinton's term; it issued 1,052 subpoenas to probe alleged misconduct by the Clinton administration and the Democratic Party between 1997 and 2002, at a cost of more than $35 million, which resulted in no convictions. By contrast, chairman Tom Davis and the majority permitted three subpoenas to the current administration, including one to the Defense Department over Hurricane Katrina documents.