"Nobody, nobody inadvertently picks up classified information and walks out with it. It isn't done," Kuby told his WABC Radio partner Curtis Sliwa.
"You cannot do this accidentally," he told Sliwa. "You can do it arrogantly, being so used to your top security clearance that you figure the rules don't apply to you - and I've seen that in Republican and Democratic administrations alike. But you don't do it accidentally."
Kuby insisted that even if Berger had simply removed the notes he made while viewing the secret Clinton administration terror documents, it would still be a crime.
"If you're taking notes about classified information, those notes are now classified. They're placed in a secure area. You can have access to them only while being viewed by a security officer. Nothing gets removed."
"It's a crime to remove classified information or to deal with it in a manner that potentially compromises it," he said.
Kuby said he learned about the security procedures first hand, when he was permitted to view classified information during his involvement in the trial of the first World Trade Center bombers.
"The rules are very strict," he said. "There's somebody monitoring you. The notes that you take on classified material themselves are deemed to be classified. You leave everything there."
"You're not permitted to remove anything from that room - period," he emphasized. "It's a crime to remove classified information or to deal with it in a manner that potentially compromises it."
If Ron Kuby is not buying into Berger's story, why would anyone else? Here is Doc's fine article on this. - Sailor
Sandy's Super-Secret Skivvies Story
Written by Doc Farmer
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Sometimes a story comes across your computer screen that just seems too weird. You know the ones I’m talking about. Woman lifts Volvo off trapped puppy. Man in Superman costume beats up motorists. Politician keeps promise. Columnist starts anti-defamation league for fat, bald, ugly guys. That sort of thing.
How about this one? High government official hides classified documents in his underwear.
I’d have an easier time coping with a story like this if it came from an august journalistic body like the Weekly World News (sample headline: Cheney Is Actually a Robot!) or the New York Times (sample headline: Rumor Has It Cheney Will Be Dumped – For a Robot). Nevertheless, when you see it even in (relatively) reliable news sources, it starts to weird you out a bit.
What’s weirder still, unfortunately, is the truth.
It would appear that Sandy Berger, the former National Security Advisor under Clinton, spent some time in the National Archives reviewing documentation prior to his testimony before the 9/11 Commission. No problem with that, refreshing your memory is allowed (indeed encouraged) so that the evidence you give is accurate.
However, it’s not encouraged that you take the documents home with you. In fact, since the room is high security it would appear that such action is actively discouraged. Despite this, Mr. Berger (by his own admission) took several highly classified documents and shoved them in his jacket, his socks and, yes, his underpants.
Ick!
I’ve worked in banking for a good part of my career. Security, mainly. As such, I’ve spent a good amount of time in vaults and secure cash areas. I know that you have to verify the contents of the vault, but I also know you have to put some level of trust in the people who work in those areas. It’s the old Russian saying ''Doveryay, no Proveryay'' (Trust, but Verify). We would put cameras in the vault areas, not just to prevent theft but also in case of accident or illness (vaults are enclosed, remote places with few visitors).
But in all my years in security, I would never had thought it possible to check an employee’s drawers (the non-desk variety) for stolen cash.
When security types such as I gather for conferences, we always regale ourselves with the story of the really stupid criminals (fact is, there aren’t many smart ones) who rob a bank and stuff the money down the front of their pants. They run out, not realizing that they also have a ''bait'' pack that includes an exploding dye pack. We always suggest ways to update those dye packs--usually involving Tabasco....
Who would have thought we would have to consider such a thing for classified documents? Especially from people who were supposed to be in a position of high trust?
The news media’s coverage of the Sandy Berger case has been surprising. The fact that they’re even mentioning it at all is the surprise. You can bet your sweet bippie that if Dr. Condoleezza Rice had been stuffing documents, the media would be all over this like Clinton on an intern. However, the media is doing their best to excuse Mr. Berger’s actions. So in that way, they’re staying true to form.
Some are even going as far as saying that what Mr. Berger did wasn’t really a crime. Despite that some documents are missing. Despite his protestations of no ill intent.
If I go into a jewelry store and start stuffing diamond necklaces down my drawers, I’m pretty sure that’s a crime. If I visit a vault and line the inside of my trousers with presidential portraits, I’d wager that I’d be spending the better part of a decade inside a 8 by 8 apartment with steel bars, steel beds, a steel toilet, and a roommate named ''Killer.''
However, if I’m a lib/dem/soc/commie who worked for Slick Willie, and I stole classified documents, apparently I would get sympathy from an understanding news media and a number of Democratic National Committee representatives.
What is wrong with that picture?
It’s a good bet that those ''missing'' documents will never be found. In some ways, this is most unfortunate, because that data may have shown just how much the Clinton administration knew about Al Qaeda in the run-up to the 9/11 attacks. Perhaps incriminating, perhaps vindicating, it’s impossible to know at this juncture.
However, it may also be quite fortunate that the documents are gone forever. At least, it’s fortunate for the clerk at the National Archives, who would have to receive them. If they are found again, I hope they give the poor schmuck some rubber gloves...
About the Writer: Doc Farmer is a writer and humorist who is also a moderator on ChronWatch's Forum. He formerly lived in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but now resides in Indiana. Doc receives e-mail at docfarmer9999@yahoo.co.uk.
This Article Was First Published On ChronWatch At: http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=8401
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