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 March 2, 2008 at 2:24 PM in Current Affairs
Today’s press conference with some of the military officers and former senior Defense Department officials is worth your listening time. Taylor Marsh has the link.
I think it is striking that at least two of the endorsers are African American (e.g., Togo West). They are not hung up on the black/white issue. They are concerned about competence and the ability to lead.
Also noteworthy are two former Generals who have sons currently in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. As I have said before, Hillary understands the military and has a strategic vision of how to best use those assets. Her knowledge is deep and genuine. The men and women who spoke today in this press conference have had a similar experience with Hillary.
Why do all these military personnel hate Obama and, by extension, America?
Yuppies who have never served under the flag are unaware that each of these individuals has taken a sworn oath to
“that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” and so forth and so on
I did that more than forty years ago, when did you do it kid?
It might have been snark, the other point being Cheney, and Bush are suspected of treason, ie the whole FISA issue, and they bleed red right and blue, right?
Obama reminds me of Bush, financed by the same people.
Well, maybe their PR people wrote some of the same stuff, for them, originality, intellect and creativity not being a strong point…
Endorsing Clinton means “hating America”? WTF are you talking about gqmartinez?
Maybe gmartinez was just using sarcastic humor–I don’t think he means it.
Yes. He is a Hillary supporter. He was being snarky.
My apologies then to gmartinez above…
WHY NO-ONE in the MSM is even reporting on her military endorsements? These are top brass…
It is beyond everything they are not even mentioning it anywhere….
I only found a single article:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/03/former_joint_ch.html
AND NOTHING else.
What can we do so that they do this *before* March 4?
They may not, and that’s the point, the lord works in mysterious ways.
And the stupid republican ops, gaming Obama for a McCain preidency, don’t understand the bigger picture.
At all.
So, should we give up now then?
Larry, Susan, Mike: is it a lost cause already?
Larry, Susan, Mike: is it a lost cause already?
I can’t speak for them, obviously, but the lord does work in mysterious ways, meaning she could sweep, on Tuesday.
Personally, I never stop fighting, no matter what, even if Hillary does lose, Obama is still dirty, and I will continue to write, and research, until he is in prison, and men like Auchi are OUT of our government.
We very simply need to improve the level of talent that goes into our government. Obama, and Cheney represent the decline of the American empire, ie, aren’t talented enough to work yourself to the top? Then cheat. Want to betray the law, ignore it? Ok, you’re special, you’re connected, you can do anything you want. Want more money? Steal it, no one cares, it’s a jungle out there…
And then we lose wars, and wonder why.
We might as well be the Chinese or Russian bearaucracy, we will not stay competitive internationally until men like Obama and Bush are held accountable, to the law, just like everyone else. It’s not OK to take money from Saddam’s henchman.
America can’t survive as a two tiered society, one for the connected, and the no talents, and the other for everyone else.
And that’s what has happened, here. It’s already showing itself by the inability to win this war, as it’s being led by Cheney, and his group.
I think this will happen to Russia, too, btw, and China, without significant reforms. Corruption is a bad thing.
bureaucracy, sorry, I meant to go back and edit, and I forgot.
I think this is the $64,000 question. WTF is up with the fact that the military gets so little attention on such an important topic?
Mighty strange…
“Why do all these military personnel hate Obama and, by extension, America?”
Move beyond the meme.
Where has anyone in the military said they “hate Obama”?
This old dismissive attack has been so played in the Bush years. When someone criticizes Bush, they are dismissed as a “bush hater”. Its an ad hominem fallacy to engage in such a comment.
And to then accuse the officers, these military personnel of hating America…is fucking disgusting. They serve their country with courage. Obama hasn’t spent a fucking lick o time in the military, and you want to smear these officers as hating america?
How goddamn dare you.
This isn’t a game. This isn’t fucking American Idol. This is for real. There are real consequences. You demonstrate oh so well what is genetically flawed with the Campaign for Obama. At their core there is nothing but spite. At their core there is nothing but ambition.
You have run on a vast Appeal to Popularity argument.
You owe these service personnel an apology for your smear.
if gmartinez was being snarky, then pass this on to the schmuck being imitated.
snark over
An ad showing the names of all these military leaders endorsing Clinton should be run in Texas and Ohio. It clearly indicates that Clinton has the high respect of the military–actually more than her husband had. Obama has very little. Maybe he can give some of his magical speeches to win them over.
Key point there.
Maybe.
Isn’t that strange?
Maybe because the neocons/Obamas have proven themselves to be such big mouthed wimps (I’m sorry, but this is correct, swinging a big gun or a googlebomb out of cowardice doesn’t hide your fear of other’s aggression, people still know. It’s OK to be frightened, it’s another to cover your lack of masculinity by becoming an overly aggressive stupid shithead, out of your mind with fear).
But the good thing, is out of all of this, the military, at least that part of the military, progressed, recognized what was happening, and didn’t fall victim to the falseness, it stayed real, and ethical.
And that should make everyone feel a lot better, it is a strong harbinger for American defense.
I hope there are officers still serving who think like the men and women, mentioned.
Those generals.
They need to watch this inspiring video.
I’ve been touched now.
that video is creepy.
Sooo cheesy…. the “Obama Soap Opera”
SusanUnPC -
It was amazingly insipid, but with the right amount of Red Bull and Crack - it might seem less like the Dawn of the Dead? I’ll never know, of course, but that was scary! Zombie City!
10 seconds in my sane half started yelling at me.
“comeback Teak…Come Back…”
I saw this rope….
I thought this was really creepy too — the chanting of his name — it really did have the feel of religious fervor. I don’t see how this helps — if I weren’t already decided, this would really turn me off, it is totally overboard. Somebody else said this about some other aspect of BO’s campaign, but is this where they jumped the shark?
OK, ‘ole Jim finally figured it out.
He’s not Lonesome Roads
and not Chauncey Gardener (well not by much)
He’s Bob Roberts!!!
Actually, that’s his mask.
He’s really Nuke LaLouche, before Kevin Costner, and without the fastball.
“Never Underestimate The Power Of Stupid People In Large Groups”
We’re gonna meet’em at the shores with an invitation to American Idol.
Actually, we also sent some to Congress, others, to K street, still others to the Ivy Leagues, and the remainder to the American press.
And here we are, wasn’t that fun?
My father was a Reagan Democrat. He supported Bill Clinton and since has voted a straight democratic ticket.
He supports Hillary - but the poor guy is bummed. He hasn’t warmed to Obama and he has some serious questions about his readiness, the MSMs love affair and the lack of questions.
I’m sending him the audio of the this endorsement because I doubt he will hear about on CNN or MSNBC.
Because his gut is telling him intuitively Obama is a load of shit, a snake oil salesman, most likely.
And he’s right.
Amen to that, Simon. He really is a snake-oil salesperson.
Why do people fall for that crap?
There is a very good article in this week’s economist, picturing Obama as a COWBOY selling snakeoil.
Poor Europe, the thought of another American cowboy, with control of the US military (though spoiled frat boy would be the better picture, now) must be revolting.
Despite Saddam’s criminality, it truly is frightening to have to watch while a goofy, weak minded commander in chief BOMBS the HELL out of a sovereign country, which was no real threat to America, anyway.
Like it’s their right, or something.
And LOOK at the fucking mess they made…
Haha. Thanks, Tricia and Mike.
Sometimes its hard to tell sarcasm from reality when mentioning Barack “A noun, a verb and a 2002 speech” Obama.
You got me gqmartinez !! This whole election is turning so bad that I lost all my sense of humor at this point….Sorry.
Not me.
I love me some dumb boy.
lol, thanks gqmartinez, sorry for firing back atcha. I don’t tolerate smears on our military personnel.
sarcasm is hard to read sometimes.
Simon, you are right.
Pardon my ignorance, but what defines a flag officer?
A flag officer is a General or an Admiral
Thanks! Why are they called that though?
This audio is so impressive. Officer after officer gives not just an endorsement but an emphatic endorsement, by going into detail about her intelligence, her knowledge, her initiative, her character, her integrity, and how she surprised each of them by exceeding their expectations to what they’ve seen her do.
Many say it’s a privilege and honor to endorse her.
Any chance there will be a print ad with all of these officers tomorrow and Tuesday?
The Audio is indeed impressive; the shear amount of reasons as to why they trust her as Commander in Chief is humbling to hear.
But I must confess I am *f—–* angry there are NO articles on the MSM at ALL reporting on this. NADA
Can you believe the NYT has an article about Russell Simmons (some hip-hop mogul I couldn’t care less) endorsement of Obama in ‘The Caucus” this afternoon and NONE about H. Clinton’s?
They publish every fart of an Obama supporter …
It really enrages me. The endorsemenst of the top military brass couldn’t be more important : it goes to National Security and Foreign Policy.
Yours extremely angry…
Applause for Gen. Clark’s explanation of Clinton’s AUMF vote. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to explain those facts to people convinced that she voted for pre-emptive war and that she is responsible for the war. Of course, it usually comes out that those people are more interested in bashing Clinton than in understanding anything.
Clinton’s Webpage has the Testimonials one by one with the audio if you want to review who said what.
Each name is followed by the corresponding audio of
his/her statement.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6298
This is a nice clip of Togo West and Wes Clark making nice remarks about Hillary Clinton and here qualifications to be CIC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djnmyxzf7gc
[...] the difference. Those e-mails you sent telling your friends about Obama on NAFTA-gate and Rezko and the swelling number of flag officers rushing to support Hillary — those made all the difference. Every e-mail you’ve sent. [...]
Please go give this site some love and diggs.
http://vet4hill.googlepages.com/flags4hill.htm
share it round…
no resting on laurels
Right.
The pregnancy is the easy part, it’s raising the kid that’s hard.
The primary isn’t over by a long shot, I would think Obama’s lawyers are scrambling to mount a legal challenge to Clinton, right now, since Axelrod has xeroxed Rove.
In addition, there is still McCain, and the right wing, and all those problems that need to be resolved, since the wholly incompetent and whored Congress, and Republicans, took Washington.
Big big mess.