WASHINGTON — President Clinton believes that his White House
telephone lines are “tapped” by a foreign embassy, according to
testimony cited in the report by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.
“This raises the distinct possibility that Clinton’s sexual behavior
was being monitored by a foreign government for blackmail purposes,”
says Cliff Kincaid, president of America’s Survival.
In a startling revelation in the Starr report, Clinton is reported to
have told Lewinsky that “he suspected that a foreign embassy (he did not
specify which one) was tapping his telephones, and he proposed cover
stories” if they were ever questioned about their relationship.
Regarding “phone sex” between them, Clinton said that Lewinsky should
say, if asked, that, “They knew their calls were being monitored all
along, and the phone sex was just a put-on.”
“This is more sensational than the sex itself,” declared Kincaid. “It
suggests that the president of the United States, with access to our
most closely guarded national secrets, could have been under
surveillance by foreign regimes. Were these regimes hostile or
friendly? And who were they?”
Kincaid noted that in August 1995, just three months before their
sexual relationship began, Clinton signed Executive Order 12968 on
access to classified information, which said that individuals eligible
for access to such information must have a record of “strength of
character, trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, discretion, and sound
judgment, as well as freedom from conflicting allegiances and potential
for coercion. …”
“What else does Ken Starr know?” asked Kincaid. “Rather than giving
us too much information, it appears he has given us too little. We must
insist on complete disclosure.”
Kincaid adds that under national security guidelines, President
Clinton’s secretive and bizarre sexual behavior made him a security risk
who should not have had access to classified information. The guidelines
are part of the Code of Federal Regulations and apply to all civilian
and military personnel.
“This is more than sex, lies and audiotape,” declared Kincaid. “This
scandal involves
possible blackmail of the president. It is definitely not a private
affair.” He added, “Clinton’s defenders, who admit his behavior has been
immoral and reckless, have not yet considered the national security
implications of his conduct. At a time when Clinton’s friends are
suggesting he get counseling for what appears to be a sexual addiction,
we cannot afford to ignore this serious danger to our national
security.”
Federal guidelines (Title 32, Chapter 1, Part 147) state that sexual
behavior is a security concern if it is “compulsive or addictive” and
“self-destructive or high-risk.” They warn explicitly of sexual behavior
“which reflects lack of discretion or judgment” and which “serves as a
basis for coercion, exploitation, or duress.”
One factor that is said to disqualify an individual for a security
clearance is described as “Personal conduct or concealment of
information that may increase an individual’s vulnerability to coercion,
exploitation, or duties, such as engaging in activities which, if known,
may affect the person’s personal, professional, or community standing or
render the person susceptible to blackmail. …”
Don’t miss ‘Reagan’
Jerry Newcombe