BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated

Subject: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 12:20 AM

I heard of this on NPR this morning, when Daniel Schorr appeared on Weekend Edition with Scott Simon. (You can hear the audio at NPR's website. The discussion of this topic begins exactly 7 minutes into the 9-minute segment.) After describing the article, Shorr says, "And you know what? That story remains in the Wall Street Journal. I can't find it anywhere else. For some reason our colleagues, when they're wrong on something like that, seem to be very slow about saying, 'Oops! We goofed.' "

From the Wall Street Journal, Friday, July 30, 2004, page A6:

Berger Cleared of Withholding Material from 9/11 Commission
By Scot J. Paltrow

    Officials looking into the removal of classified documents from the National Archives by former Clinton National Security Adviser Samuel ["Sandy"] Berger say no original materials are missing and nothing Mr. Berger reviewed was withheld from the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
    Several prominent Republicans, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, have voiced suspicion that when Mr. Berger was preparing materials for the 9/11 Commission on the Clinton administration's antiterror actions, he may have removed documents that were potentially damaging to the former president's record.
    The conclusion by archives officials and others would seem to lay to rest the issue of whether any information was permanently destroyed or withheld from the commission.
    Archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper said officials there "are confident that there aren't any original documents missing in relation to this case." She said in most cases, Mr. Berger was given photocopies to review, and that in any event officials have accounted for all originals to which he had access.
    That included all drafts of a so-called after-action report prepared by the White House and federal agencies in 2000 after the investigation into a foiled bombing plot aimed at the Millennium celebrations. That report and earlier drafts are at the center of allegations that Mr. Berger might have permanently removed some records from the archives. Some of the allegations have related to the possibility that drafts with handwritten notes on them may have disappeared, but Ms. Cooper said archives staff are confident those documents aren't missing either.
    Daniel Marcus, general counsel of the 9/11 Commission, said the panel had been assured twice by the Justice Department that no originals were missing and that all of the material Mr. Berger had access to had been turned over to the commission. "We are told that the Justice Department is satisfied that we've seen everything that the archives saw," and "nothing was missing," he said.
    Mr. Berger's lawyer has said his client returned all of the photocopies after he was questioned about missing items by archives staff. But officials have said they are still looking into whether some of the photocopies may have been destroyed. It is illegal to remove classified material in any form from the archives.
    Late last year, archives personnel called in investigators when some classified materials were discovered missing after Mr. Berger reviewed them in response to a 9/11 Commission request for Clinton-era national-security records. Staff members became suspicious that Mr. Berger had removed items during a first visit, and on a second visit secretly numbered copies given to him and determined afterward that not all hand been returned. By some accounts, Mr. Berger had been observed by the staff stuffing papers into his clothing, although Mr. Berger's lawyer, Lanny Breuer, has denied that.
    So far no charges have been filed. Mr. Breuer has said that on two occasions his client had inadvertently removed several photocopies of the Millennium after-action report, but later returned them.

I searched for the WSJ article, or references to it, with Google News, and found nothing but a couple of blogs. (The online WSJ article is available only to subscribers. The text above was transcribed by me from print at the local library.)

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Amos
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 01:40 AM

Thanks -- this is significant as the national press has been having a field day with jokes about stuffing papers into his pants and so on. A lot of hysterical finger-waving, it now seems.


A

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: GUEST,Displaced Camelotian
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 08:18 PM

I won't believe it 'til I hear it on FOX.

(Joke)

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: DougR
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 09:06 PM

I won't believe it until I hear it on Fox.

(No joke)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 09:27 PM

You're not going to hear about it on Fox because it is the truth. Better stick with NPR.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Aug 04 - 11:22 PM

Don't hold yer breath waitin' on FOX... This is no longer a news source but a tabloid entertainment network which wouldn't know reality if they tripped over it in the dark, which is where they spend most of their time: in the dark...

Next thing Iwould expect out of FOX is something along the lines of "Bill Clinton Newest Squeeze- His Daughter Chelsea"... I mean, FOX is reducing itself to that level but....

... ya' know what, just like the National Observer, there are plenty of dumbed down folks who believe the crap that comes out ot it!!!!!?!?...

Go figure????

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Aug 04 - 12:14 AM

Thanks Jim I enjoyed the article and the interview.

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Aug 04 - 09:18 AM

When the mainstream media finally do report this, watch for headlines that say "Spokesman says it doesn't matter that Berger was exonerated; he's still a crook."

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: GUEST,Clint Keller
Date: 02 Aug 04 - 03:17 PM

Pretty good, Doug. It makes a lot of things clear. I think you should put that over the door of your home, on your letterhead, and on your tombstone.

And have it tattooed on prominant part of your anatomy.

clint

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: Greg F.
Date: 02 Aug 04 - 06:23 PM

Yup. Invincible ignorance.

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: curmudgeon
Date: 02 Aug 04 - 06:50 PM

Remember Doug, that Fox News is really spelled "Faux" but is mispronounced by its fans who don't know any better.

But you're still the most pleasant Republican on Mudcat -- Tom

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: DougR
Date: 02 Aug 04 - 07:29 PM

And I thank you Tom for that kind remark.

Clint: how do you know I don't?

Greg F: and a hello to you, sir.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: WSJ: Samuel 'Sandy' Berger exonerated
From: GUEST,Clint Keller
Date: 03 Aug 04 - 02:38 PM

I don't know you don't. I just thought it'd be suitable, and I do hope you do.

clint