I’m sorry, but I am troubled by Sandy Berger’s claim that he inadvertently removed classified materials from a secure government reading room. Either he is lying, and he intentionally removed the materials, or he was reckless in his treatment of classified documents. Neither is remotely acceptable, particularly for someone who is a former NSA.
Well, maybe it was his first time dealing with classified documents
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Well, in his defense, the documents he removed were apparently things he himself had written. I can see how that stuff can be inadvertently removed.
Unless, the documents make him/WJC look bad. If that is the case I don’t think his claims of inadvertence are particularly convincing either.
Posted by ugarte on 07/21 at 03:48 PM
Even if convincing, his claims of inadvertence are dismaying.
It is conceivable, given the multiplicity of similar-looking dials, switches, and buttons in the cockpit of, say, a 747, that a pilot could inadvertently push the wrong one. However, we expect the pilot of a 747 to have the requisite training and to take particular care not to hit the wrong button.
To paraphrase the federal government training video for security clearance, violating the regs with respect to even the lowest level of classified material is like “taking a sledgehammer to the wall of national security”.
To overextend that analogy, Berger was in a room full of thermonuclear weapons. There was no room for inadvertence, and as a former National Security Advisor, he should know better than anyone.
Posted by Rick on 07/21 at 08:34 PM
Another Klinton staffer takes a hit to protect his Slickness. Who’d-a thunk it? It is only a matter of time until the truth finally comes out: Everything was Klinton’s fault. September 11th? Klinton. The Second World War? Klinton again. The 1918 flu pandemic? Klin-tin. The cometary impact of the late Cretaceous? You guess it! Klinton again.
Posted by Jeff on 07/22 at 07:34 AM