Berger won't resign
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Top U.S. Official Won't Resign Over China Scandal
By Caren Bohan Mar 14 4:35pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger
Sunday defended his handling of allegations that China stole U.S. nuclear
secrets and again said he would not resign, as some Republicans have
demanded.
Berger, appearing on NBC's ``Meet the Press,'' also dismissed as ``outrageous''
suggestions that Democratic campaign contributions linked to China might have
led to a lax approach in the espionage matter.
``You know, there's absolutely no truth to it,'' Berger said. ``No decisions that
were made in connection with a serious espionage or a serious breach of
security case were affected in any way whatsoever by politics ... It's outrageous
and not based on any evidence whatsoever.''
Calls by some Republicans for Berger to step down or be fired followed a report
this month in the New York Times that China, in the 1980s, obtained U.S.
secrets for making small nuclear weapons from the U.S. National Laboratories
in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
China has denied the allegations, which the Clinton administration said first
came to light in 1996 and 1997. Officials said the breach did serious damage to
U.S. security.
After the Times report, Republicans accused the White House of dragging its
feet in probing the matter and alleged that congressional leaders were not
informed. Two Republican presidential candidates called for Berger to resign.
Berger said there was no attempt to withhold information from Congress, and
the administration tried to balance its intent to be forthcoming with its need for
secrecy during the investigation.
``I think that we acted appropriately. I think we acted swiftly and I think we
continue to impose on China the strictest of controls,'' Berger said. Asked if he
intended to resign, Berger said, ``No, I don't.'' He has said that previously.
President Clinton defended Berger last week and said his administration ``acted
aggressively'' when the allegations surfaced. The president also said an FBI
investigation continued and he challenged assertions that Congress was not
informed, saying the relevant committees had been briefed at least 16 times.
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, speaking on ABC's ``This Week'' program,
said appropriate steps were taken.
``The administration did act. We set up a counter-intelligence effort, an
extensive counter-intelligence effort,'' Richardson said. In recent months, the
Clinton administration began using polygraphs on employees, stepped up
background checks and took other counter-intelligence measures to protect
security at Los Alamos, he said.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and presidential hopeful, said
he would not support Berger's resignation prior to a balanced inquiry.
But McCain called for a complete investigation that would cover not only the
allegations in the nuclear theft case, but technology transfers to China and a
possible link to campaign contributions from China.
``It's very serious and needs to be investigated,'' McCain told CBS's ``Face the
Nation.'' ``With some regret I also urge that the investigation be conducted by
some outside group.''
Several Republican-led committees in the House and Senate plan to hold
hearings.
Also, House (of Representatives) Majority Whip Tom DeLay said lawmakers
may vote within weeks to declassify a report from a committee led by U.S. Rep.
Christopher Cox, a California Republican, that is investigating the espionage
allegations.
DeLay, a Texas Republican, said there could be new revelations that could be
damaging to the Clinton administration. ``The Cox report will show that it's not
just Los Alamos laboratory. There's a lot of problems in this administration on
transferring technology to China.'' |
