Sandy Berger Shits The Bed; GOP Gets A Pass

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton's national security adviser, Sandy Berger, is the focus of a criminal investigation after admitting he removed highly classified terrorism documents from a secure reading room during preparations for the Sept. 11 commission hearings, The Associated Press has learned.

Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI agents armed with warrants. Some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of al-Qaida terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing.

Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed handwritten notes he had taken from classified anti-terror documents he reviewed at the National Archives by sticking them in his jacket and pants. He also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio, they said.

"I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced," Berger said in a statement to the AP.

What the fuck is this???

Now, Berger? You're not even in the damn government and you have to do something this shadey and stupid now???

You inadvertently took copies of classified documents? Inadvertently in your pants? What are you trying to do, get a job with the Bush administration?

This looks horrible. And, therefore, I assume it is horrible. And it boggles the mind why Berger would do such a thing. The Millennium attacks were thwarted. If there was some information that alluded to...whatever. Well, what the fuck? Turn it over. If it reflects poorly on you, be a man, for God's sake.

This, of course, is horrendous.

Though, I must tip my hat to the FBI, once again, for quickly getting all over Berger. Though, it's a year since Plame was outed, and we're still waiting. In fact, after Plame was outed, it took nearly three months for an investigation to even begin.

So, we see, the FBI still has its priorities straight.

If Berger broke the law, prosecute him. Convict him. Enough of this stupid crap in Washington.

But, hey, let's not see another Martha Stewart. If Berger gets indicted, if Berger goes to prison, let him go there shackle in shackle with whoever outed Plame. Why the fuck is federal justice only acting quickly and thoroughly with Democrats???

Comments

[anna]

Umm...dir?

Aren't election years FUN?!

[ricky]

This will not be fun.

This will be horrible.

My guess is the Republican Justice Department, led by the same fanatics who tried to impeach Clinton, will offer Berger a deal if he implicates Clinton.

And there will be all kind of talk and articles and a news orgy of speculation about impending indictments of Clinton and his wife and Gore and whoever, and it will, of course, reach a crescendo right around election time, and then, like the Starr investigation, it'll all turn out to be a bunch of nothing that involves nobody.

But CNN has already gone ballistic over the reports. It took them months to talk about Plame. But within an hour, they're running the Berger story every five minutes.

I don't know what it's about. But what an idiotic asshole Berger is for giving the GOP and the endlessly corrupt Bush administration this gift in July of an election year.

All of the incompetence, and dishonesty, and, frankly, criminal acts of the Bush administration will be brushed under the carpet now that our "liberal" media has another Clinton scandal!

These hacks and GOP shills have been starving for a Clinton scandal--any Clinton scandal.

So here we fucking go again. Pull up your pantlegs. The bullshit is going to get deep and thick.

[Ripper]

We can tie both Kerry and Clinton to this criminal, prepare to see your scummiest leaders go down the river.

And remember you supported them because in your heart you are a criminal too.

[ricky]

That's funny! It's stupid. But, at least it's funny.

If I were, in my heart, a criminal, I wouldn't have blown such a gasket at the first reports of Berger's actions, would I?

No, of course not.

But that little leap of logic escaped you, because you, in your heart, are dumb.

[anna]

Ricky - when are you going to tear me a new one? I may agree with you on most things, but I leave dumb comments all over your blog.

Bring it.

[Rox]

This is bad and the dems need to come out in full strength and condemn it ASAP.

[ricky]

Anna, I'm not going to rip you a new one because I enjoy your comments.

And Rox, I'm right there with you on that sentiment.

[Village Idiot]

How does someone "inadvertently" stuff highly classified documents down their pants and socks? An innocent "mistake"? Maybe someone blackmailed him into taking the docs. Or maybe he had "good intentions" of helping the Kerry campaign with the documents. He is the national security advisor for Kerry's presidential campaign (just resigned). Won't this make voters think twice about how much Kerry should be trusted with national security issues? Even worse, if Kerry did use these stolen classified documents for his campaign, it could snowball into watergate proportions. Trousergate?
Prediction: No charges for Mr. Berger. Media emphasizes "partisanship" when discussing the issue, sweeps it under the rug in short order.

[anna]

Gee, willickers, Ricky. You made me blush :)

I call total bullshit on him 'accidentally' removing the docs. Berger knew the rules and violated them. Just when our side is starting to look good to all the neutral outsiders...