Samuel R Berger

When the history of the Clinton administration is written, the dominant figure for foreign policy will no doubt be national security advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, the senior official who most closely reflects the beliefs and instincts of the president he serves. Over the last seven years, none of President Clinton's other top foreign policy aides has turned out to be so influential.

When the history of the Clinton administration is written, the dominant figure for foreign policy will no doubt be national security advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, the senior official who most closely reflects the beliefs and instincts of the president he serves. Over the last seven years, none of President Clinton's other top foreign policy aides has turned out to be so influential.

These have not been easy times for President Clinton's three-member foreign affairs brain trust. The "ABC" team--Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, National Security Advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger and Defense Secretary William S. Cohen--took a broadside of verbal hits first at a public meeting in Ohio as they steered the United States toward armed conflict with Iraq, then from congressional Republicans when they accepted an ambiguous, eleventh-hour agreement brokered by U.N.

These have not been easy times for President Clinton's three-member foreign affairs brain trust. The "ABC" team--Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, National Security Advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger and Defense Secretary William S. Cohen--took a broadside of verbal hits first at a public meeting in Ohio as they steered the United States toward armed conflict with Iraq, then from congressional Republicans when they accepted an ambiguous, eleventh-hour agreement brokered by U.N.

Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, national security advisor under President Clinton, was fined $50,000 for taking classified documents from the National Archives. U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson handed down the punishment in federal court, stiffening the $10,000 fine recommended by government lawyers. Under the deal, Berger avoids prison time, but he must surrender access to classified government materials for three years.

The March 1 paper refers to the Clinton administration's team supporting its Iraq policy as the "ABC" team, referring to [Madeleine] Albright, [Samuel R.] Berger and [William S.] Cohen. It seems to me that in dealing with the American public as well as their other comments on the policy, ABC should stand for Arrogant, Brazen and Contemptuous. With Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, now reneging on commitments made to receive massive loans in the recent bailout, and with President Suharto staging the vote for his seventh term rather than stepping down (at age 76)

Israeli-Palestinian talks are to resume today in New York, a Palestinian Cabinet minister said Wednesday, following an invitation from Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat met with his negotiations steering committee to discuss the invitation, described by Information Minister Yasser Abed-Rabbo as a "surprise." He said Palestinian negotiators Saeb Erekat and Mohammed Dahlan are to arrive in New York today.

The comings and goings in President Clinton's Cabinet: * CHANGING *--* Department Coming In Leaving State Madeleine Albright Warren Christopher Defense William S. Cohen William J. Perry CIA Anthony Lake John M. Deutch National Security Samuel R. "Sandey" Berger Anthony Lake Commerce Bill Daley Mickey Kantor U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson Madeleine Albright Energy Not yet named Hazel O'Leary Housing Not yet named Henry G.

On the April 2 front page was a non-story about former national security advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, "Top Clinton Aide Admits He Pilfered Documents" -- a criminal case that was politically driven by the GOP to embarrass a Clinton appointee. The Times says that Berger "pilfered" documents. But the main point was buried: The documents were available to the 9/11 commission. Marilyn Levin Los Angeles It is amazing to me that Berger admitted that he stole classified documents, destroyed some, lied about it and the recommendation for sentencing is only a fine and being stripped of his security clearance for three years.

Today "John McLaughlin's One on One": Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah); Arnaud de Borchgrave of the Washington Times; author Peter de Jager, 1:30 p.m. (28). "Evans & Novak, Hunt & Shields": Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. "Reliable Sources": Steven Brill, Brill's Content; Ann McDaniel, Newsweek; Bill Plante, CBS News, 3:30 p.m. CNN. "Capital Gang": Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), 4 p.m., 10:30 p.m. CNN.

The White House has proposed an overhaul of the nation's counter-terrorism strategy that would concentrate greater power in the National Security Council and shift key assignments among federal law enforcement agencies, according to administration officials.

President Clinton sounded a more aggressive note against Iraq on Thursday, saying that Baghdad must comply immediately with U.N. demands and that military force is a live option. The president issued an angrily worded written statement after the U.N. Security Council, in a resolution approved by a unanimous 15-0 vote, condemned Iraq's decision to stop cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors.