By Larry Johnson
closeAuthor: Larry Johnson
Name: Larry Johnson
Email: larry_johnson@earthlink.net
Site: http://NoQuarterUSA.net
About: Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering. Mr. Johnson works with US military commands in scripting terrorism exercises, briefs on terrorist trends, and conducts undercover investigations on counterfeiting, smuggling and money laundering.
Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism, is a recognized expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, crisis and risk management.
Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He has lectured on terrorism and aviation security around the world, including the Center for Research and Strategic Studies at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France. He represented the U.S. Government at the July 1996 OSCE Terrorism Conference in Vienna, Austria.
From 1989 until October 1993, Larry Johnson served as a Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism. He managed crisis response operations for terrorist incidents throughout the world and he helped organize and direct the US Government’s debriefing of US citizens held in Kuwait and Iraq, which provided vital intelligence on Iraqi operations following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Mr. Johnson also participated in the investigation of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership the U.S. airlines and pilots agreed to match the US Government’s two million-dollar reward.
From 1985 through September 1989 Mr. Johnson worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. During his distinguished career, he received training in paramilitary operations, worked in the Directorate of Operations, served in the CIA’s Operation’s Center, and established himself as a prolific analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence. In his final year with the CIA he received two Exceptional Performance Awards.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He taught at The American University’s School of International Service (1979-1983) while working on a Ph.D. in political science. He has a M.S. degree in Community Development from the University of Missouri (1978), where he also received his B.S. degree in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1976.See Authors Posts (874) on January 28, 2008 at 7:53 PM in Current Affairs
Today’s arrest of slumlord Tony Rezko could be very bad news for Barack Obama’s presidential ambitions. Rezko was arrested because he lied to the Feds–he claimed in November 2006 he had no assets and was virtually broke, but in April 2007 he received $3.5 million from a company owned by an Iraqi billionaire who also happens to be a convicted felon . The man’s name? Nadhmi Auchi.
So what does this have to do with Obama? Well, buried in a footnote in the motion for an arrest warrant, we learn that Auchi was denied a visa to the United States because of his conviction in France on fraud charges. Auchi’s buddy, Rezko sent a request to the U.S. Department of State in November 2005 for a visa waiver. And Rezko asked unidentified “Illinois government officials” to ask for clearance as well. How much you want to bet one of those officials was Barack Hussein Obama?
So here’s the test. Was Obama smart enough, hell, let’s say brilliant, to just say no?
We may not find out until Rezko’s trial starts on 25 February. Imagine this nightmare scenario. Obama nails down the Democratic nomination for President on Super Tuesday. But then comes the Rezko trial and we learn Obama was doing favors to get an Iraqi felon a visa to the United States. You know, he is just helping out one of his major fund raisers. Will his story line about a new day in Washington still sound plausible? Will folks still believe he’s serious about not being beholden to “special interests?”
I don’t begrudge Obama trying to help out a buddy. I just wish he’d cut the holier than thou act. He’s playing the Washington game like many others. In this case, however, he may get dirtied up. And in that case he could take the Democrats with him.
$3.5 million is a lot of change…
Well said Larry and you’re right, MM.
Check out this link from the Chicago BBB on a Rezmar subsidiary - no complaints on file but it states mail sent to the address has been returned as undeliverable by the USPS. Beyond that - there’s some tips on heating contractors. I believe that’s a coincidence but it is interesting.
http://chicago.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=46&bbb=0654&firm=12008878
Iraqi felon and former best friend forever of Saddam Hussein.
more fodder: google alsammarae rezko
http://capitalfax.blogspot.com/2006/12/rezko-alsammarae-and-fleecing-our.html
Told a friend I wouldn’t put it past him to try recess appointments on his way to and from the speech tonight…
Do I understand this to say he will go to war with Iran, if he so chooses and Congress will get the Cheney Bird finger in there constitutional eye?
(Sorry, I have not read the relevant sections yet.)
Looks/sounds that way to me…
“Obama nails down the Democratic nomination for President on Super Tuesday.”
Don’t bet the grocery money. Obama is favored to get Illinois and Georgia but is on the short side of 2&3:1 odds everywhere else. And this before he becomes roadkill in the Florida primary and deflates the South Carolina win and the Kennedy endorsement. People are so fickle.
Yer man Nadhmi Auchi has an interesting resume. He served as quartermaster for Saddam’s flying column when the lads shot up General Qasim’s car.
Could someone give me another take on the Teddy Kennedy endorsement?
My take on Kennedy endorsement is the power struggle for control of the Party. Kennedy became a
mentor these past two years and Obama admits he’s asked Kennedy’s advice votes, certain bills, etc,
so it’s apparent they formed a bond.
Don’t forget that Kennedy knows all about knuckle politics as he talks “inspiration”. And I clearly remember the power plays and hardball Bobby played in Chicago prior to the convention, and at the convention Bobby was without a doubt, Jack’s enforcer.
Kennedy wants to bring the center of power to himself and has probably spoken with Edwards and others about cabinet posts and assignments, etc. Also, the black caucus in the House has been growing
in clout and extremely important to a democratic president. And extremely important as to how votes can be successfully achieved with them on your side.
Also, Teddy hates Clintons, yet Bobby’s family care for the Clintons. Ted Kennedy is now in his element, and considering how he snookered us with MedicareRxPlanD, he needs as much credibility
as he can get. Obama is his vessel.
I have no idea about Caroline except that she could dislike Hillary [and Bill] for any number of reasons. She is a smart woman so I assume[?] that she knows of his past Rezko dealings in Chicago, as well as his 2005 investing that took the same path as his donors. Whatever, she wants to see him president.
Far more damaging than Martha Stewart, but Obama so far has gotten away with this… New York Times 3/07 printed the whole story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/us/politics/07obama.html?pagewanted=1
Obama’s financial profile and stock buys are detailed along with the same buys of his donors and other details. Not terrific.
So Kennedy thinks that any of this can’t be overcome in the groundswell, as well as in the general. Obama will be propelled to President no matter what, as his supporters are so enthused and manic they’ll say it’s all racism.
I see a power grab pure and simple based on the opportunity Bush has presented the weak and fractured Democratic party this opportunity.
Despite the Democrats spinelessness and division, along with fear of Bill in the White House, has helped propel Obama’s path with the blessing of party elders to make a president. If it’s Kennedy’s guy he’ll finally have the power that eluded him regarding his own past behavior. And continue the Kennedy dynasty.
When somebody who was trained in politics by Joe Kennedy and knows how to work and move the system
with ferocity at all costs, I must confess that his talk about hope,change, and vision leaves me lost. JFK was a compelling figure, but he made some big mistakes.
Vietnam,Bay of Pigs,Marilyn, and lots more.
This now has become a political circus and it’s a fluid process that can move anywhere.
I forgot that in the Chicago equation we have the “Daly machine special” in Rhamm Emmanuel. Powerful in the House. Was on Clinton team in White House,but this is a bareknuckled Chicago pol who wants as much power as he can get.
The trouble with all of us is that we still have some illusions.
Thank you! Very informative!
Rahm Emanuel’s nickname in Congress is “The Killer”. It’s what his fellow Democrats call him. And it’s not meant as a term of endearment.
Couple of things. First off, what’s coming from the Oborg. First: Obama wouldn’t do that. Then: If Obama did it, there’s nothing wrong with it. Finally: You’re racist for mentioning it.
Kennedy has a big machine that’s been with him a long time and he’d like to staff a new administration with them. That won’t happen with Clinton because they’ve got their own people. So Obama is the one.
Good points, RalphB, but I’m still finding it hard to believe Senators Kennedy and Kerry are so desperate for more power–even second hand power–that they’d endorse someone as dirty and as much of a liability to the party as Obama seems to be turning out to be.
Caroline I can understand–she’s simply naive, and according to Olbermann (or maybe it was Craig Crawford) it’s her own kids’ enthusiasm for Obama that led her to endorse him.
But pols like Teddy, Patrick and Kerry should damn well know better. Bobby’s kids certainly seem to.
You’d think that established pols like that would be more hardnosed. But I don’t think you can ever go wrong in thinking that a politician wants power of whatever kind they can get. If you take a close look at Ted Kennedy’s career, it’s hardly putting the party first. His track record, back to ‘72, is at best questionable. There’s no doubt he helped elect Reagan in ‘80, by running a divisive primary fight against Carter. In ‘88 I believe the possibility of Ted entering the race held off some good people and we got stuck with Dukakis. The list goes on and on.
Yes, exactly. I meant to mention his run against a sitting Democratic president in 1980.
And as for John Kerry–well, I watched that SOB kick Wes Clark to the curb in March of 2006, and why? Because Wes had committed the unpardonable sin of uniting the Dems on Iraq, a unity which Kerry destroyed in a matter of hours.
I actually wondered briefly if there might not be something to all the Skull & Bones conspiracy theories, since Dubya and Kerry pretty much doubleteamed Wes over that.
But still–it is possible he and Teddy don’t know about Obama’s Rezko/Wise Guy eruptions? I don’t care how power hungry they are, how can they be so effing stupid??
Thanks for mentioning. Kennedy lacks the guts to make a serious run for the White House, but is always ready to act as a spoiler for any other Democrat who fails to earn his own, personal, “Approved by Ted Kennedy,” button.
After his pissing on Jimmy Carter in 1980 (giving us The Addled Puppet Reagan), you’d have to dearch far and wide among Limbaugh-listeners to find someone who despises Ted Kennedy more than I do.
His endorsement may be more like a Kiss of Death than a blessing outside Massachusetts and parts of NYC.
Too bad Ted couldn’t run himself. All he’d need is the endorsement of Joe and Gwen Kopechne…
LandOLincoln,
You are completely correct. This is a scuzzy Kennedy power grab. The set up is Kennedy will get to be the most powerful senator [even leader] and hold that old Kennedy sway in the tough politics
Teddy saw all his life. His dad Joe was one of the most ruthless politicians ever.
Imagine all that power! It’s now up for grabs and I can keep the black caucus in check and control & move votes my way, and finally as I could never before…..become important. Maybe like my brothers? Obama is a gift that keeps giving.
Hope, Change,Unity,Civility,Honesty,Clarification, and finally…..VISION! And can he give a speech!
After we get all the names of the people responsible for Visa Express and all of the people who were allowed to come to the US to engage in terrorist acts, then I’ll worry if Obama helped this Iraqi come here.
Not a day sooner.
Don’t think the GOP won’t use this, should Obama get the nod?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos&feature=related
Without question the GOP already knows about all the Rezko stuff, the “present votes”, the stock buys in 2005 exactly the same as his donors [see link above from NYTimes]..[what's a little inside trading?], and the Syrian/Iraq connection ala Rezko?
The GOP has so much real stuff they don’t even have to swiftboat.
But Obama will hide behind the race issue and his followers may perceive actual truths as being lies. This is all a matter of perception. Americans have sadly shown that calm, diligent thinking & homework does not matter in electing a President. Americans vote for icons that only exist in their imagination,
Can you imagine George Bush as a man you’d feel comfortable having a beer with? That’s one of the reasons he got elected even though he needed that push from The Supremes. But the public craves images, and Obama stirs them up bigtime.
It reminds me of the women who watch Oprah give away toaster ovens, towel sets, as they go beserk screaming and shrieking for their idol Oprah, Goddess of Merchandise and largesse.
UH-HUH!
It almost makes you think that the democrats endorsing Obama don’t want a democratic president. Maybe they need/like having someone to blame for their ineffectiveness.
Here’s some back story on Nadhmi Auchi from the CorpWatch site. Hmm. Things get hot for you in Europe, maybe it’s time to cultivate friends in the US?
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11894
At minimum, he does seem to have a colorful past. We’ll see if the unnamed Illinois official turns out to be Senator Obama. But if it does, look out. Ya think that the Senator’s rather tenuous Islamic ties won’t be exploited for all they’re worth if he is the nominee? Just remember what the Dubai ports deal did for Bush’s reputation, then multiply it be a thousand times. Yow.
You doth protest Obama too much …
Are you on Hillary’s payroll?
You sure sound like it.
Radagast,
Mr. Johnson will have to answer that one for himself. As for myself, I am concerned that we might wind up with a nominee for the Democratic Party who might have feet of clay. We just can’t afford to have an electoral disaster that would result in more time in the batter’s box for a Republican president. Senator Obama must be fully vetted for not only his policy statements, but also for his political track record and his past history. I can’t say that I am too enthusiastic about HC. I will probably cast my vote for John Edwards as I prefer his more populist platform. But whoever is ultimately chosen as the nominee, they must be able to defeat the Republican candidate. If there prove to be skeletons in the closet which can be exploited to undercut the prospects of any of the potential Democratic candidates, we need to be apprised of this NOW, not after we are locked into their candidacy.
That’s very true. Makes one long for the good old days when candidates were selected in smoke-filled rooms instead of in primaries by TV-led groupies.
I like Larry Johnson. He has always been (to me, at least) a great help in understanding the inner workings of the CIA. It’s just that this constant drum beat of negatives against Obama has become a bit suspect. All of the prospective Democratic nominees for President have weaknesses. However, IMHO a well working two slice toaster could beat whoever the Republicans put up in November.
I also support John Edwards but beating up on Obama in the manner in which Larry has chosen does not serve anyone’s interests except Hillary Clinton… and, of course, the two slice toaster that may be running against Obama in November if he becomes our nominee.
Larry is not beating up on Obama. Obama talks in platitudes and generality driven catch words that have no meaning unless he can articulate his positions clearly.
He must be able to let us hear his
ideas and strategic policies that allow us to really see whether he’s qualified beyond the repetitous rhetoric. Great oratorical skills are not enough. We need to know how and what he thinks about the many serious issues confronting us.
His background presents some problems, and if there is nothing wrong, it should be easy for him to reply to the many questions about his ties to Rezko, a sweetheart Rezko land deal while a senator, and stock trades made in 2005 that exactly mirror his donors trades. NYTimes carried this in 3/07. And now the Rezko Iraq questions. There’s more.
He will have to defend these totally to his GOP opponent, or it will be over for Obama.
Besides, we are asking for clarity and the longer it takes, the more the perception will exist that he’s specious and evasive. No one running for President can expect not to be vetted. Larry has been more than fair.
gotta love that old ‘projection’ don’tcha.
Just because Larry J uses his sense, logic, and reason to conclude his position, you come here to impugn his decision with ad hominem blah blah.
Have you ever considered a rhetoric coach so you can elaborate on your view instead of simply casting aspersions?
And this conversation was going soooo….well
Compared to the crap the Clintons weathered, this sounds like pretty small potatoes.
The Clintons weathered it all to a pretty good outcome, since there was no there. We’ll see about Obama. It’s not that he won’t do the same but we should know before he gets killed with it in a general election.
Larry,
Maybe you should cease and desist with these sort of hit pieces while you still have some professional integrity intact. You’re obviously a bright man and have an impressive resume, and you have every right to be critical of a candidate like Obama. But it’s a shame how much you’ve jumped the shark and made mountains out of molehills, and if you never get another interview again, you’ll have only yourself to blame.
Please pay attention. Larry is mostly quoting the Chicago papers, which are all over the story.
Maybe instead of giving Larry grief, you should ask youself why it’s Obama’s hometown papers and only the hometown papers digging into this story? and why, despite their revelations, the notoriously rightwing Chicago Tribune endorsed Obama–and John McCain?
Sweetheart land deals are a payoff. and unless Obama can do better than say it was a “mistake”, his plea of ignorance of slums in his own district going to pot by Rezko have to be looked at. We are talking thousands of apartments that were subsidized by government,state,city, funds and given to Rezko….thousands of apartments. Rezko did no repairs, was cited for not supplying heat for weeks, and instead of rehabbing which is what he got paid for…he stopped paying the mortgages, and put them into foreclosure. Many of his buildings became crack houses at taxpayers expense.
Obama’s boss Allison Davis was involved in financial preparation for these subsidized loans,and later joined Rezko in business. Rezko was under investigation for corruption, kickbacks, and fraud by Patrick Fitzgerald [Libby's prosecutor]‘ and Feds were all over him. Obama knew this..all the papers had the story, but Obama continued to get involved with a real estate favor of material significance inspite of Federal investigations. Greedy.
Rezko was indicted for fraud,corruption,kickbacks, etc this past year,and he was to come to trial in Feb.2008/ But he was arrested today because of monies back and forth that involve lies about his finances as well as ties to Iraq/Syria. This is a Muslim connection, and the trial will reveal details.
Antonin Rezko was Obama’s original donor when he ran for state senate, and for 17 years one of his biggest patrons, including donations made for his run as US Senator. Obama worked for Davis, Miner,Barnhill&Galland law firm who handled financing and all matters pertaining to Rezko’s real estate rehab deals. Davis ultimately became
Rezko’s firm Rezmar as partner.
This is a mountain out of a molehill? Yes, if Obama can start explaining the questions. He has consistently mis-stated, and avoided Chicago SunTimes, Herald Tribune, questions that he will be compelled to answer to GOP or forget it. The longer he avoids this the more legs it will have.
>>> Sweetheart land deals are a payoff…
Remember how the moonbats tried to make hay out of a Harry Reid sale in Las Vegas a couple of years ago?
What will the flying monkeys do with Obama’s little arabaesque on this lot deal?
gotta love the condescention, “you’re obviously a bright man”….
Counter his points, counter his info. Its a shame to see such laziness in writers. The rest are doing so well even when they disagree.
Obama’s getting the light treatment over this, what the hell would you call what the Republicans will have in store come July and August?
I’m tired of people begging to play softball on their candidate. He’s getting more than a fair hearing.
This Rezko stuff has been in Chicago papers for two years. In March 2007, Tim Novak and investigative reporters at Sun Times had pages on Obama’s ties to Rezko. The sweetheart real estate deal was not the only issue regarding Rezko. Rezko was friend and main patron for 17 years.
he New York Times in March 2007 articled the story of Obama’s stock trades in 2005 after becoming a senator. The article, “In ‘05 Investing, Obama Took Same Path as Donors”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07obama.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.suntimes.com see Obama archives
Obama has avoided answering some simple enough questions posed by the Sun Times, and if there are no ethical problems he should not have difficulty
doing so. Also, Chicago Tribune carried stories of some of Obama’s Rezko connections.
Obama knew at the time of his sweetheart deal that Tony Rezko was under investigation by Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald [of Libby trial]. Every newspaper knew about the investigation and Rezko was subsequently indicted for fraud,corruption, and kickbacks. His trial is set for Feb.25th, and he was arrested several days ago for lying about his income, and has been held without bail.
This is not a hit job on Obama. But he is not above being asked to respond to questions that have kept surfacing. Larry has not been the first person to ask questions. This is not a new story but keeps arising as it has never been dealt with by Obama.
Keep it up, Larry. There is some very bad stuff there that has yet to come to light, so my Chicago friends tell me.
Looks like the Chicago papers are all over the story. As for the rest of the MSM, they don’t want to find the fire–yet.
The media has opted to give him a pass. They did the same thing with Bush.
I nearly threw up when Keith Olbermann who I have respected, tossed off any negative story about Obama as insignificant. He’s avoided dealing with it. He’s been critical of Hillary, but hands off on Obama.
They may be afraid of backlash and be called racists.
They gave Bush a pass for years into our national horror.
At some point this will be addressed as it must. NYTimes re: stock buys, and Sun Times [liberal paper].will certainly hone in on Rezko trial.
Larry must really be shaking in his boots after that order to cease and desist from Chris.
Keep digging, Larry!
Obama nails down the Democratic nomination for President on Super Tuesday. But then comes the Rezko trial and we learn Obama was doing favors to get an Iraqi felon a visa to the United States.
Obama was almost certainly approached by the family of Ayham Alsammare before Alsammare was busted out of jail with the alleged help of Blackwater per PM Maliki http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/19838.html
Blackwater now with a campus in northern Illinois.
Obama should explain if Alsammarae’s family approached him for help and what if anything he did in response.
Larry Johnson, you are correct sir!
.
I have been speaking and writing about this ad nauseam. The MSM and of course the repubs want Obama as the democratic nominee. Hillary’s dirty laundry has be on the clothesline for years. Seen that, done that. The repubs have screwed our country up–both foreign and domestically. Even repubs are unhappy with where the country is headed. The only way the repubs can win is for the democrats to present a weak nominee,ie. OBAMA.
Another thing,
You don’t think the repubs with their wiretapping do not have concrete evidence of this, if true? UH-HuH.
Plain and simple - If Obama is our nominee, a repub will be in the White House.
“I don’t begrudge Obama trying to help out a buddy. I just wish he’d cut the holier than thou act.”
You know that you have a lame candidate when your argument is, “I already know that my candidate is corrupt as fuck, but your guy has some dirt on him too!” How pathetic, from a guy who looks like he uses a bowl to cut his hair no less.
Not Fair!
Larry inherited his barber from Pete Rose…
Jay: What part of Obama’s Holy Roller motif is genuine?
Hannah Arendt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Arendt
Why are you so angry Jay?
Mitt has made billions, was everyone of those dollars squeeeeeeeky clean? McCain has been in politics for decades, is all of it kosher? Rudy? No dirt there, right? Everybody on the other side is going to be super pristine, right? We are a nation of saintly canidates, aren’t we? I have to assume all of the Billaryites here are only “vetting” Obama for the good of the Dem Party, right? To protect the Party nominee from Carl Rove…??? Thanks for the laughs. This is gettin’ so down n dirty Carl Rove is probably lurkin’ just to pick up pointers. May I suggest all of you people who live in Mayberry confess & be saved.
Anyday now I expect to find a 20% discount coupon for a cruise on that beautiful oceanliner Swiftboat. 4 mo’ yrs of shuffleboard & assigned seating.
http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/obama012808.htm
Thanks Larry, Excellent blog,
RG the POTUS (50% may be, if Bernie Karik happend only after NOV 08.
Hello, what is happening in this primary is quite frightening! Obama may very well win the Primary’s and has not been vetted. It quite simply is Rezko and the Republican spin machine when they start playing football with Obama in the fall, Obama will be the football. Need I say more! McCain takes the game oops the election as Honest Abe!!
[...] you’ll recall, Larry Johnson wrote an article — “Will Rezko Blow Up Obama?” — about another item in today’s Times: “According to prosecution documents [...]
[...] it is Larry Johnson who has done much of the reporting and analyzing on this, including “Will Rezko Blow Up Obama?” (more Auchi-related NoQuarter stories are here): Where does Nadhmi Auchi fit [...]
[...] venture involved convicted Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi. See Larry Johnson’s story, “Will Rezko Blow Up Obama?. Rezko In Debt $50 Million; How Did He Afford Obama Lot? Court Transcript Says Rezko Depends on [...]
[...] is also the possibility that Obama may have asked the State Department to get an Iraqi felon a visa to the US at [...]
[...] Will Rezko Blow Up Obama? [...]
[...] Will Rezko Blow Up Obama? [...]
[...] We warned readers of No Quarter of the problems convicted slumlord and political fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko would create for Obama during the final stretch of the Presidential campaign, and now we have confirmation. I quote the Associated Press: CHICAGO (AP) — Federal prosecutors have asked to delay the sentencing of convicted fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko indefinitely. [...]
[...] Will Rezko Blow Up Obama? [...]
[...] Will Rezko Blow Up Obama? [...]