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| Home Front: Politix |
| A new Berger scenario |
| 2004-07-25 |
| What was Sandy Berger up to when he "inadvertently" removed versions of a classified National Archives memo that critiqued Clinton administration intelligence and security efforts regarding the millennium celebrations? We still don't know. But a bigger question is being posed by some of the well-sourced wags with whom we regularly converse. In fact, one says the thrust of the federal investigation now looking into Mr. Berger's actions should center not necessarily on what was taken from the archived files but what was placed in them. Is this possible given the way documents are controlled and archived. Did he add margin notes? Berger has acknowledged removing his handwritten notes taken during a review of classified documents. That's a violation of National Archives policy. And he says he mistakenly took the copies of the aforementioned memo, different drafts written by Bush-bashing anti-terrorism coordinator Richard A. Clarke. Some of those copies remain missing. Lots of drafts. No action. But a new scenario has Berger, who only took notes on an initial visit last fall, placing material -- again, related to the millennium terrorists threats -- into the files on his second and third visits. This is whacked. And adding an entirely new layer of intrigue to the story is word that telephone calls made by Berger during those latter two visits may have been monitored by an "unauthorized agency." Wonder where those calls terminated. Berger is known to be fascinated by camera phones. The House Government Reform Committee says it will conduct a separate investigation into the matter. We trust it will press to learn not only what was placed in those files but to whom Berger was talking and what about |
| Posted by:JAB |