Does Omar Bin Laden’s Tell-All Reveal the Contents of Sandy Berger’s Pants?

Osama's son is releasing a memoir telling of a failed Clinton attempt on his father's life.

September 18, 2009 - by Annie Jacobsen
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Nine months later, in July 2004, the DOJ made public the fact that it was investigating Berger for unauthorized removal of classified documents from the National Archives and that the investigation was a criminal one. It further came to light that a few months prior, the FBI had searched Berger’s home and office after he admitted that he’d also stolen handwritten notes.

The point of the theft, it was speculated, was to keep the 9/11 Commission from seeing certain Clinton administration errors that had contributed unnecessarily to the terrorist attacks.

Sandy Berger’s lawyers told the Washington Post that what he had “inadvertently” stolen from the National Archives were merely copies of memos on the millennium bomb plot. “I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced,” Berger said in a statement. In 2004, Berger quit his position as an “informal advisor” to the Kerry campaign. In 2007, he copped a plea deal with the DOJ, agreed to give up practicing law, and publicly apologized. One wonders if Sandy Berger maybe thought the case was closed?

In this new book by Osama’s son Omar, it seems the public may learn more clues about what exactly Berger was trying to steal. In its pages, Omar (and his mother) reveal that the Clinton administration failed in a major assassination attempt of Osama bin Laden, just days after the 1998 East Africa embassy bombings. This is something that has often been speculated but never confirmed. Former insiders like Richard Clarke say Omar bin Laden’s account of the assassination failure appears to be credible. And if this is the case, it might explain a little more about what documents Sandy Berger really had stashed away.

Other tell-all details in the book include Omar’s description of his father killing the family’s pet dogs in chemical weapons tests, as well as his advance knowledge of terrorist attacks — including the bombings in East Africa which killed 224 people. Omar bin Laden has said that he doesn’t consider his father to be a terrorist. When his father was fighting the Soviets, Washington considered him a hero, Omar told CNN.

Explanations of Sandy Berger’s heavy lifting aside, one question remains: will readers find Omar and his mom — who left Afghanistan on September 9, 2001 — empathetic or just plain pathetic memoirists? And if the bin Ladens’ book is a financial success, will Omar share royalties with his second wife and their young child — people he avoids mentioning but, as was reported in the Times of London, do in fact exist?

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Annie Jacobsen writes about aviation and intelligence. She blogs at TheAviationNation.com and is working on a new book for Little Brown and Company.

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38 Comments

1. BrianH:

If a former NSA from a Republican administration had done something like this, he would have been strung up by the cojones, and you’d have heard nary a peep about torture, etc.

I don’t know if it’s true that some in Washington (like Charlie Wilson, maybe?) considered OBL a hero until he started murdering Americans. But I’ve been convinced he became a hero to other people in Washington after he started doing so.

Sep 18, 2009 - 6:08 am 2. George S.:

Berger should have gotten prison time, in fact he should still be in prison today. where is the justice ?? Libby gets time for virtually nothing ?? and berger a slap on the wrist ??

the left has destroyed the USA.

Sep 18, 2009 - 6:19 am 3. alex:

What is the value of keeping that secret..? i cannot believe Mr. Berger would risk all to steal docs that would confirm President Clinton tried to kill bin laden. If anything they would be letting it be known he tried to stop the madman.

Mr. Berger was removing something that would either incriminate himself, or the entire adminstration. it would obviously be serious enough for the risk; illegal acts, corporate espionage (there were rumors the CIA was contracted as corporate spy for American companies under direction of the white house), evidence of securities violations which was rampant in the Clinton Adminstration, or related to the weapons trade.

Sep 18, 2009 - 6:30 am 4. tommyd:

And Berger was never prosecuted for a damn thing. Isn’t that nice.

Sep 18, 2009 - 6:45 am 5. BrianH:

@ #2 & #4:

Libby was prosecuted even though everyone involved (including the MSM, who tried to insinuate all along that he was the leaker) had known for years that it was Armitage. Armitage wasn’t prosecuted or slandered by the press because he was on the “right” side politically.

I imagine if Berger was the only one culpable, and the contents of his pants had showed that the mistakes were not Clinton’s, that fact would have been broadcast from the hilltops in early 2004, and we would know all about it today.

At the time, we had a Republican president and the Republican party controlled Congress, yet both the Berger and Libby-Armitage-Plame affairs show who was really in charge all through the Bush years.

Sep 18, 2009 - 7:38 am 6. Peter Warner:

I will never forget the cold fury of many of the posters commenting at Blackfive when the Berger burglary came to light.

In particular, one (former) defense contractor explained that if he even mentioned in conversation anything about what he’d been doing in the office to his wife at home, or even to an office co-worker outside that office, he would be violating his security oath and could be facing jail time… even years after retirement.

That commentator explained that his oath of secrecy was a constant limitation and constant companion in his daily life. Yet Mr. Berger stole original hard copy classified material and destroyed it, something far more serious than office scuttlebutt, and yet he and his allies acted like it was no big deal. They are thiefs, liars, and traitors to their country.

May we all find the justice we deserve.

Best regards, Peter Warner.

Sep 18, 2009 - 8:03 am 7. Bohemond:

“and she fathered seven of Osama’s children”

Maybe you should edit the verb?

Sep 18, 2009 - 8:06 am 8. George S.:

5. BrianH:

yes the republicans were in charge …sort of. but the right often goes out of it’s way to show they are imparcial to the point of a self-inflicted wound.

and as you point out the government is more then what is out front.. the socialists have controled the mechanics of government for a long time. they are entrenched in the non-elected roles.

Sep 18, 2009 - 8:29 am 9. Anonymous:

I would find it hard to believe that Clinton attempting to have obl assasinated would be something he would want covered up – especially in the early days after 9/11. You’d think he’d want everyone to know he at least *tried* to off the guy.

Sep 18, 2009 - 8:58 am 10. BrianH:

#8. George S.:

My point was precisely that the Left was in charge, even when we had a Republican Congress and a Republican executive.

Sep 18, 2009 - 9:19 am 11. George S.:

10. BrianH:

#8. George S.:

My point was precisely that the Left was in charge, even when we had a Republican Congress and a Republican executive.

AGREED 100% ….I visited your blog ..excellent work !

Sep 18, 2009 - 9:33 am 12. BrianH:

Thanks for the kind words, George. There’s much more to come.

Sep 18, 2009 - 9:41 am 13. ked5:

3. alex:

What is the value of keeping that secret..? i cannot believe Mr. Berger would risk all to steal docs that would confirm President Clinton tried to kill bin laden. If anything they would be letting it be known he tried to stop the madman.

Mr. Berger was removing something that would either incriminate himself, or the entire adminstration. it would obviously be serious enough for the risk; illegal acts, corporate espionage (there were rumors the CIA was contracted as corporate spy for American companies under direction of the white house), evidence of securities violations which was rampant in the Clinton Adminstration, or related to the weapons trade.

~~~~

I agree. I think it was something else he was stuffing down his pants. T

Sep 18, 2009 - 10:32 am 14. ked5:

I was going to add . . .

there were rumors of connections to the Chicom’s . . . . I would imagine they’d want docs that could confirm that to “disappear”.

Sep 18, 2009 - 10:34 am 15. Tristan Yates:

This is the best PJM article title ever. Maybe we can send those two Acorn-busting journalists to Sandy Berger’s underwear drawer?

Sep 18, 2009 - 11:33 am 16. Poor Citizen:

Good article. Stories of our government leaders in the clutch of the love of money and power over real values are legion. Left wingers have complained bitterly about the the bush and the cheney family being in the pockets of the arabs and the saudi royal family for years. No one listens. The Bush family were regular vistors and chums of those that supported terrorism, but because of their common bond of unbridled monetary, greed and wanton lust for cash…..the right wing in America falls uncomfortably silent about it. Blinded by money..while our soldiers pay the price. Shame.

Sep 18, 2009 - 2:26 pm 17. bibio44:

“Does Omar Bin Laden’s Tell-All Reveal the Contents of Sandy Berger’s Pants?”

Annie, Annie, you’re much to excited about the contents of Sandy Berger’s pants. Take a cold shower.

Sep 18, 2009 - 2:55 pm 18. Dred Scott:

Brian H: like your blog, but why not rename it:
“Celerity in Sinking” to sound more alliterative?

Sep 18, 2009 - 6:05 pm 19. TriGeek:

So bibio44, am I to assume that you are okay with what Sandy Berger did?

Sep 18, 2009 - 7:15 pm 20. seanmahair:

Osama had a son? Really? Is he a cross between a human and a goat or sheep or …………..? As always we hear the litany of Bush did………..Cheney is…………….. MONEY, POWER, MONEY! (yell, yell, screech, screech)

History still says (at least for now) that former Democratic President Bill Clinton had Osama in his sites several times and did NOTHING. Jimma’ Everyone is Racist” Carter, another weak, spineless, liberal weasel refused to deal with our enemies in the only way they understand. President Reagan was left to dealwith them and for a decade or more our enemies kept a very low profile.

The resident of the White House is a failure in Foreign Policy because he hates America and everything it stands for, except his and his friends ability to make money hand over fist.

Unlike most people though I love to say………..I told you so, because I did.

Sep 18, 2009 - 7:36 pm 21. BrainTrust:

For the Lefties it always comes down to hating Bush, doesn’t it. Those years of smoking pot, which destroys critical brain cells, are taking their toll on the right side of the brain. You know, the side that controls rationality and critical thought.

Like Obama being controlled by Soros, Goldman Sachs and the Fed isn’t about money. And then there is General Electric. Hope they all enjoy the barbecue someday.

Sep 18, 2009 - 10:09 pm 22. NC Mountain Girl:

It is an iron clad rule that when you go to assassinate a monster you had bleeping well better succeed.

People tend to write notes on documents during meetings. Berger may have been after his or someone else’s notes speculatiing about the consequences of taking a swing at Bin Laden and missing.

Sep 18, 2009 - 10:15 pm 23. Anonymous:

I believe before disgussing Omar Bin Laden’s book ‘GROWING UP BIN LADEN’ in all seriousnes, one should first of all know WHO is behind it and who wrote it. Right? Well, it’s natorious Jean Sasson. She who’s claim to fame are ‘THE RAPE OF KUWAIT’ and ‘PRINCESS’ Two books proven to be littered with untruths. So therefore, I for one, I will not believe anything written in that book either. You do’nt believe me? Try to get an interview with Omar, his mother or Jean Sasson to ask your own question. You will not get it. I believe Omar, not the sharpest tool in the box, might be surprised himself when he find’s out what’s is written in that book which seems to be a clever ploy to milk the guys Bin Laden name for all it’s worth and then some more.

Sep 19, 2009 - 2:45 pm 24. GClarke:

“Sandy, Did you just rifle the National Archive, or are you just happy to see me?”

Sep 19, 2009 - 6:36 pm 25. Subotai Bahadur:

I am not vouching for the accuracy of anything written by anyone connected with Bin Laden. However, I have to wonder if somewhere in the book there is a claim, justified or not, that the specific 9/11 attacks were retaliation for Clinton’s 1998 attempt to assassinate Bin Laden. Would not that claim at least shift some of the national discussion back to the failings of the Clinton administration? And would it not be worthwhile to the Clinton Administration to make an effort to see that no evidence of the assassination attempt was on the record? And this does not rule out Sandy Berger covering his own ample gluts, because he may have been part of the attempted hit.

Just saying. I have a suspicious mind.

Subotai Bahadur

Sep 19, 2009 - 8:31 pm 26. Charles Kirtley:

This article is pure speculation and makes little sense. Why was it printed?

Sep 20, 2009 - 1:33 am 27. Delia:

23. Anonymous,

The “Princess” series was not ‘fake’.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1EYJGKJGIOPCW/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0967673747&nodeID=#wasThisHelpful

Sep 20, 2009 - 1:09 pm 28. Anonymous:

25.SABOTAIN BAHADUR, I doubt you will find anything new in the Omar Bin Laden-book which has not already been made public at some time previous. For instance, lets take the story of Osama Bin Laden poisoning his son Omar’s beloved puppies with which Sasson wants to wet her readers apetite well in advance.
I do not believe this story because we have been shown a black and white video an T.V. a couple of years ago on which dogs were actually gassed. I remember well, it was broadcast in the News and we were told the tape which showed the dogs being gassed was found in some Al Qaeda bunker after they had left. Jean Sasson spiel is to research and dish up the most gruesome old news. Therefore, none of her books about the Middle East tell us anything we did not know already. She always comes up with recycles old stuf and knits it in with the Arabic Muslim herione or hero she writes about at the time, as if they had personally experienced it. For instance, in the book ‘LOVE IN A TORN LAND’ Sasson’s Iraqi heroine Joanna comes out of her hiding in Kurdistan and sees birds falling from the sky at which time she was blinded, no, not for ever, she could soon see again. This and likewise bizarre stories we had heard and read about a long time ago in connection with Saddam Hussain’s chemical Ali are some of her favourites.

23 Anonymous, you are wrong. Where is the proof to your statement? Can we see it? The Princess series was and still is a FAKE indeed.
Sorry to disaappoint. The ‘PRINCESS’ triology is indeed a 1st class BOGUS book project with which millions of readers worldwide have been duped. (CHAPTER NOT CLOSED !)
1,) This Saudi Arabian ‘Princess Sultana,’ which ‘author’ Jean Sasson claims was her best friend and gave her diaries and asked her to write those Princess books from, really, really does NOT exist. NEVER ever did exist. Jean Sasson had a courtcase over those diaries and her fake Princess. Guess what? Jean Sasson could not bring the slightest proof of a Princess to court, neither could she come up with one single sheet of a diary she said she wrote the three book’s from. The Lady who took her to court to reclaim her CINDERELLA IN ARABIA auto- biography from which the Princess books were written, had to stop litigating because at that time she could not afford further litigation fees which had already run well into three million $ollars. That’s the truth my friend.

Sep 20, 2009 - 2:52 pm 29. Delia:

28.,

Nope…

http://www.jeansasson.com/lawsuits.htm

Sep 20, 2009 - 5:33 pm 30. Anonymous:

29., Delia dont be taken in by the Jean Sasson article above, which is simply and merely written for: ‘the not to aware’ but surely not the thinking reader. Because it is not even the shadow of the truth. I am confident that ime will expose the HOAXER.

Sep 21, 2009 - 10:15 am 31. Delia:

30.,

I think you’re not too aware or you would see what a nutter that woman is who stalked two authors both physically and had her lawsuit dropped and was actually FINED for even bringing it. She also posts under different usernames all over the INTERNET in hopes of smearing J.S. any chance she can get. FULL ON LOONY TUNES.

Sep 21, 2009 - 12:11 pm 32. Anonymous:

31., DELIA, AKA: JEAN SASSON, your English is simply appalling as ever. Who exactly is actually writes the book’s with you’r name on?

Sep 21, 2009 - 12:48 pm 33. Delia:

32.,

LMFAO! Nice try there, Ms. ‘not to aware’.

I’m not Jean Sasson but I think I know who YOU are. Get yourself some help. You’re a little too obvious. ;)

Sep 21, 2009 - 7:12 pm 34. Anonymous:

Sure, and snakes have armpits.

Sep 23, 2009 - 1:12 am 35. Jackie Smith:

For Delia, I do not know who you really are, but you are right on. I am a British writer and I have had experience with Anonymous who also accused me and several other writers of stealing her unreadable material,material that when it came to light was so appallingly bad that I am surprised she thought she could write in the first plade. The woman used to call me and screech and shout all sorts of insane comments saying that I had stolen her writings, which I had never laid eyes on. This woman posting herself as Anonymous used to call and threaten me and then tell me that she was going into a house for the mentally ill. I would not hear of her for months and then she would be released and would start on me again. Later I heard that she had found other writers and began attacking them. No writers have stolen anything from this woman. She is clearly nutters. She should be locked away so that she cannot harass innocent people. I feel sorry for Jean Sasson but she keeps her dignity by ignoring this nutter. One day I hope to see this woman in chains being led away and locked up where she belongs. The irony is that if she spent all these years working rather than spending all her energy attacking other people, she might be a success. As it is, she is a total pathetic failure in life. You can see for yourself that she doesn’t make good sense. She is a toxic bag of waste who has done nothing in her life but hurt other people. No wonder she is so miserable.

Oct 15, 2009 - 11:19 am 36. Anonymous:

Jackie Smith darling. Oh sorry, British writer! The truth hurt’s and guilty dogs bark. Ofcourse you know who Delia is. Why play games, chicken out and pretend not to? Bird’s of a feather flock together. So Instead of going of the rails on this site, which is of course dedicated to poor lost sheep Osama Bin Laden’s son Omar and his ill advised book GROWING UP BIN LADEN, why not mention this mentally ill womans name honey? Or even better, why not take her before a court of law with your friend Delia where you can sort out your differences. Otherwise, people reading your posting might mistakenly get the wrong impression and think you are the mentally ill nutter who deserves to be lockt away.

Oct 15, 2009 - 1:53 pm 37. jane graham:

i personally know both omar and his wife zaina, plus read the books by the famed jean sasson, this book is true to life as are all her books other than esterschild that is a historical fiction, there is one simple reason that the pricess couldnt be named, her safety would be put at great risk, jean is a wonderful honest lady, who put the feelings of other first, she has and always will be a great and close friend of both omar and zaina, the revelations in the book have never been either spoken about or writen about before

Oct 21, 2009 - 4:52 pm 38. Anonymous:

Sorry for all who bought and read the Princess-triology, but the naked truth is that Jean Sasson’s Princess-book’s are indeed a fake. One BIG FAT lie. It is natures way that the truth always comes out, so lets wait a little longer.

Oct 25, 2009 - 8:59 am

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