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 (758) on April 14, 2008 at 4:01 PM in Current Affairs
If Republican 527 groups are still puzzled over what ammunition to onload on Barack Obama in the fall, they got a gift today. The prosecution’s witness, Stuart Levine, tied Barack Obama to Nadhmi Auchi and Tony Rezko way back in April of 2004. I can feel another Obama memory lapse coming on. But I can also see the Republicans loading up to “prove” that Barack was taking money from the same guy who one time allegedly did the bidding of Saddam Hussein. According to the Chicago Tribune:
Stuart Levine, the prosecution’s star witness, said he and Obama were at a party Rezko threw at his Wilmette mansion on April 3, 2004, for Nadhmi Auchi, a controversial Iraqi-born billionaire who Rezko was trying to get to invest in a South Loop real-estate development.
Auchi, now a citizen of the United Kingdom, has faced criminal charges in Europe. He also figured in the revocation of Rezko’s bond early this year after attempting to wire him more than $3 million. Upon learning of that attempt, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve declared Rezko a flight risk and ordered him held in a federal jail in the Loop.
The Rezko party in 2004 was designed to induce Auchi to pour money into the South Loop investment. Obama’s presence at the party was not previously known. At the time, Obama was fresh off a surprise win in the Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and was riding a crest of national publicity.
Here’s the bottomline. Auchi, who some claim was a money man for Saddam Hussein, sent money to the Rezko family. Said funds in turn were used by Tony Rezko’s wife to help the Obama’s buy their house (she paid for a vacant lot that enabled the Obama’s to qualify for the loan they could afford at the time).
Susan UnPC put up a great story on the Auchi-Rezko-Obama ties in February. And we already know, thanks to the Times of London, that Auchi’s Panamanian company sent money into Obama’s political coffers. At a minimum, looks like Barack has got some more “splaining” to do.
To date, both Sen. Obama and Mr. Auchi have denied having met, although Sen. Obama has said it is possible that he dropped in at the Four Seasons reception dinner hosted by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Karen,
The Four Seasons event was in June 2004 - 2 months after Obama met Auchi at Rezko’s home.
Of course according to Obama he did not remember meeting or talking with Auchi in June 2004.
Obama “just happend” to stop in and doesn’t ever remember meeting Auchi.
I think we need to be bold about saying Rezko’s purchase of a slice of the property Obama wanted to buy looks like a bribe - because it does look like a bribe and Rezko is currently on trial for bribing people. We’re all so polite about this stuff and don’t want to make accusations. Well, I’m not accusing Obama of accepting a bribe but I am willing to say that it sure as heck looks like he did because I can’t come up with an innocent explanation for this purchase otherwise.
For comparision, look back at what happened when people went after Harry Reid on his property transaction. He simply explained that he was moving prpoerty into a trust and it all made sense. There is no explanation as to how or why this would be discussed between Obama and Rezko and how Rezko, in 2005, was going to hope to profit.
Pay attention to what Obama says as opposed to what his campaign says. It seems to me there are aspects of this transaction that have only been addressed by his campaign and for which he can’t be held responsible.
There may be a problem with the http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/2008/04/follow-money-who-owns-rezko-lot.html record to the lot also.
Make that deed record.
Every time that I have brought up this lot I have been shouted down on other sites. Now it appears that it was transferred in total to Obama. Why won’t the press search the deed records. The remarks on the linked site are most interesting but not sure if accurate.
Damn it Larry, got to keep the heat on Obama, watch the man crumble and prove he isn’t what he claims to be!
Kool Aide anyone??
Larry Johnson. Packing Heat.
Koz decries him “Masculine and Deadly”
Airie yawn-a(rgh!) says “seempleee scahree!
And he doesn’t come aloe. Meet …
The Bitter Gang.
(coming SOON to a Blog year you.)
————————————- Obama’s on the run ….. Annie’s got her gun…
You know what Larry? This explains Obama’s almost manic performance today. He was particularly cynical and edgy. Yes, like his adrenaline was laced with fear. We can certainly see why. He had to have known this was coming.
It also explains why he went “uncloaked.” He was missing his smooth operator filter. The effect gave me second-hand embarrassment for the man in a moment of Presidential sentimentality. Blame the chimigangas if I ever understand that one.
Even Chris “Pass Me a Bib Honey” Matthews managed to drool out a quip about Obama crossing the line during one of his wildly popular, live audio laughtrack, impromptu stand-up routine at a rally when making fun of Hillary’s beer drinking.
(Stand-Up Politics is all the rage with the Pimp-My-Vote crowd didnchakna?)
‘kay, like, I’m from like, Caleefornya, like? ‘Kay?And, like? Dude? we like, can’t afford like anything else but beer? ‘Kay? Like are you making fun of like us beer bellied chicks?
I bet he drinks Pink Zinfandel. (snort:::,,,hic)
The FBI should do an expanded background investigation on BO. Some type of background check is done on anyone applying for a government position that entails working with sensitive material. Why not for a presidential candidate who has an unusual history that has not been fully explained by the candidate or vetted by his political party?
Background checks are also done on family members — if the clearance needed is super highly classified.
It is AMAZING to me that Obama’s life and people in his life have not undergone a high level background check. However, we can be sure that the GOP has done the detective work. So if the slimy bastard is the Dem nominee, I’ll bet the GOP will have field day with all the garbage they’ve come up with.
Seems like a President of the US would need the highest security check possible. Obama seems to have been so completely unVETTED — and there are so many holes in his story that we really have no idea about what sort of security risk he might pose.
Also, there is the little detail that Obama is a LIAR — so everything he says must be verified.
Sally,
Does that background check apply to people elected to Congress? And can you cite Federal Hiring guideline Rules to check for hiring Congressional Staffers?
Obama is a sitting US senator and is on the Foreign Services committe…Yeah they Background checked him, but he is duly elected so what can they do? Let me think….Hmmmm! The repubs were in charge when Obama win his 2004 senate seat….let me think….Hmmmm!
If BO is the democratic nominee, GWB will get his 3rd term.
So are the Democrats going to sit on this until the fall when it is too late to rid themselves of this creep?
Thank you for bringing this up again. It’s beyond shameful that themedia is sitting on this, no doubt salivating over the GE election cycle where they do not have to rehash Clinton scandals to a fatigued public.
Auchi’s wife also has ties in this:
UPDATE 2:
http://talismangate.blogspot.com/2008/02/obamas-saddam-connection.html
According to The Times:
The Times has, however, discovered state documents in Illinois recording that Fintrade Services, a Panamanian company, lent money to Mr Obama’s fundraiser in May 2005.
Fintrade’s directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr Auchi’s wife. Mr Auchi’s spokespeople declined to respond to a question about whether he was linked to this business.
But according to this Middle Eastern business site
http://www.zawya.com/cm/profile.cfm/cid1001554
that had profiled Auchi’s General Mediterranean Holding Company, Nadhmi Auchi himself is directly associated with Fintrade Services of Panama! That means that there’s a direct money trail between Barack Obama and Nadhmi Auchi!
This is huge!
Look, it’s hard to believe that Obama is tainted with Auchi’s money; how would he even consider running for the presidency while knowing that something like this lurks in the closet? But this doesn’t look good at all…
Why?
Governments of the world are tainted with Auchi’s money, just ask the English.
And Sarkozy.
And the Germans.
Auchi just doesn’t seem to pick the bright ones, though, all this money for sub par political merchandise…
He lives in London, Saddam’s ex bagman man, and it’s always been my impression he wants so badly to be English, to be accepted, and admired by the titled British.
Never gonna happen, but his money?
That, they will take.
Not to worry, if Florida and Michigan are not counted, Barack Obama leads by several hundred thousand votes, two thirds of which come from Cook County, IL.
Maybe Michelle’s father the Daley apparatachik has helped make her proud of America for the first time in her life. She loathed the Chicago machine her dad was part of, until it boosted hubby’s election “mandate” he claims?
That’s if you don’t count two other states.
We’re playing chess here, not checkers. We have Obama’s king in a corner, moving in for checkmate
with the bittergate stuff. Beware moving a pawn
and wasting a move! You don’t know what the defense attorney is getting at. Remember Rezko is a friend of Obama’s. You really think he’s going to let his attorney do something to hurt Obama? And besides this defense lawyer has already been laying into this witness to discredit him. Come on, don’t fall for something here. This doesn’t smell right.
It is a trivial thing right now, but it combined with everything else affecting Obama right now, it just compounds, doesn’t derail things, Rezko’s lawyer is the one asking the question, not the Government, and there is a lot more ties that it will simply bring it to the media’s attention, for Obama to answer to also, and done 2 days before the Pennsylvania debates is going to have questions asked of it, after the question of Obama as to if he needs anything and is comfortable enough is taken care of, plus it won’t be Tim Russert asking the questions this time of his favorite candidate!
Hell hath no fury like a bagman scorned.
good one Simon!
Hey Mel, I hope you’re right! I’m worried for a few reasons. Remember when Wright was in the limelight– Obama used that opportunity to dump
his taxes, the fact that he mis-reported contributions from Rezko, and it seems one or two other items. I don’t want to let the scumbag put up a smokescreen here, if that’s what’s going on. It worries me that it is Rezko’s defense attorney asking the questions about Obama’s presence at the private function.
I would be much more comfortable if it were the prosecutor asking the questions. It is not in Rezko’s interest to help the downfall of Obama.
He needs Obama to have as much power as possible–so Obama can get his creepy ass out of the vise it’s in. Rezko’s lawyer must know this–his job is to promote Rezko’s best interests. Already
the defense attorney has been pounding Levine’s credibility. Why are of the sudden ask if Obama was at some function? How does that benefit his client, Rezko. It doesn’t make sense to me. My cynical way of seeing it– Obama makes a call to Rezko to help him get out of the Bittergate crap,
“Tony give me a smokescreen here…” Tony tells his lawyer to bring out the stuff on Obama. What if this is the one bit of information they have that will destroy Levine’s credibility altogether. What if Obama and the sweet-natured
Michelle have a perfect alibi for that time period… See what happens? Obama is vindicated as having told the truth in not being at said private party; bittergate gets buried in the excitement over Rezko; witness Levine is undermined completely.
That’s what has me worried…
I also see it playing out the way you mentioned..
drip by drip of corruption and lies hitting Obama’s campaign. Just the mention of Rezko and corruption turning voters off. But I don’t know.
I keep wondering, why would Rezko’s own attorney
get Obama involved in this way? I was really enjoying the fallout from bittergate. I would hate to see it overshadowed by something that might fizzle. Like I say though, I hope you are right.
That is assuming Obama will even acknowledge him.
The illusion and the truth are two different things, you’d think, but it’s surprising how much denial certain people are in. I guess it’s a coping mechanism, how else do you get through the day?
If Rezko feels scorned, or replaced by Axelrod, say, if it’s apparent all Obama has now is smoke and mirrors, and K**, and if Fitzgerald goes after the whole IL-Arab crew, Rezko may rat out Obama to save his own skin. Jealousy does strange things, these men are subject to pettiness, everyone from Auchi, to Rezko. And they don’t seem to be able to project ahead, for all the projecting they do, they’re very much in one moment.
But you know, it’s not like Fitzgerald doesnt already know the depth of Obama’s involvement.
We act as if none of the feds know how dirty this crew is, and that’s simply not true.
So it’s simply a matter of how the information is handled, when it’s released.
I’ve got to think that Rezko will hold out until he realizes that Obama has no realistic shot at winning the general. As long as Obama has a shot then he thinks he is going to get a pardon even though Obama, if elected, surely wouldn’t pardon Rezko because he’d lose all credibility. Rezko will flip when the timing is right and he gets his head out of his ass. He surely won’t be the only person to take the fall when they were all playing together.
Do you think Rezko, being the ball of snot that he is, wouldn’t throw Obama under the bus if it meant he would not spend too many years as a cell mate to Bubba?
Even if the defense are fishing to see if Fitzgerald will bite,considering there is not much downside in dragging Obama’s ill repute into the daylight, Fitzgerald MO is to squeeze the lower rung.
Obama…Obama…yells a lone press person…Why are you lieing about meeting Rezko and now Auchi?
Well.. I guess this explains why Obama’s campaign has a resident sitter in the court every day. And no wonder Obama cannot provide his papers and records from his time in Illinois Senate.
The DNC refuses to face the facts about Obama’s unsavory connections, and people like Brazille get pissed at us for bringing it up. As if our ignoring it will make the General Election Faierie sprinkle magic dust on these things so they are invisible to Republicans.
I have no doubt that the GOP has stuff on OBama that they’re holding close right now — that makes our blog posts look like small potatoes.
Perhaps because are complicit in the “unsavoriness”?
As are their republican counterparts.
Ah rezko…how I have waited for you
This Rezko trial just gets more interesting by the day. I wonder how long it will be before the team of WORMs come out to explain what Obama was doing at this party? Any bets?
That is easy to answer, Obama was there to explain how Iraqi’s are holding onto guns and religion and anti-immigrant feelings because they are bitter over the treatment that Saddam was never listening too!
I don’t even think that the GE Faerie has enough magick dust to cover all of BOs lies, misdealings, and memory loss!
The trolls will be here soon — right now they’re busy on the Obama is unelectable thread.
Obama was just a poor kid raised by a single mom — the trolls will bring up this dis-information again.
Change the subject — oh add in “Well Hillary blah blah blah did that TOOOOOOO.
Yes, Rain, you’re right, but it’s such a beautiful day today, I thought I’d bake chunky cheddar potatoes, with onion and bacon, for the meat eaters in my family.
Maybe add some sour cream, served with roast beef, and biscuits.
If I could just get rid of this burning ulcer pain.
Too much diet coke, I guess.
Are you high? or just scared that the republicans are losing?
The republicans have already lost three wars, which loss are you referring to, now?
We’ve got to get this to Fox News - it’s sad, but they are the only one’s who will report anything about Obama these days. I bet you if this gets out, CNN and MSNBC will go out of their way talking about all the “good Saddam did.” They’ve totally become a joke.
Email this stuff to Fox:
hannity@foxnews.com
oreilly@foxnews.com
-Greta Van Sustern
-Their morning show
OK, so now Obama was in cahoots with Saddam? What next, he had a homosexual affair with bin Laden?!
Actually, I just came by to tell you that I have arrived safely in Damascus where I am ensconced in a small but comfortable apartment across the hall from my hosts, a young journalist who drives a taxi when he is not writing for such publications as Newsweek Arabic edition, and his wife, who is a freelance writer for TV, and just signed a contract for a TV serial - aka soap opera, of which the Syrian are the best.
But the really pertinent part is this: My host in Beirut, who is politically very experienced and astute, is convinced that if Obama is nominated McCain will be president, and for that reason favours Clinton. My host here in Damascus, however, is an Obama fan. Time will tell.
Be well Shirin,
I read today that Syria has put more tank armor on the border with Lebanon and Israel.
Stay safe.
Okay, it’s official - between this story and your obsession w/ the “Annie Oakley” comment - it’s clear that you’ve lost all objectivity (if you ever had it) and are clearly into the “crazy” territory you used to deride the GOP for Larry.
Wow… pretty sad.
PS - before you start throwing around nonsense like this - perhaps you should pause and remember just who some of the business partners, direct and removed, the Clintons continue to be associated with sport.
What have the Clintons got to do with Rezko. Kevin, how old are you?
Hillary did it. Hillary did it.
Answer the question then…
Or what Kevin,the bright lights come out? and things get rough?
It is not ONE comment Kevin, it is a a WHOLE bunch of em’. More than Annie O would care to shoot at.
Um, Kevin, Larry is quoting the Chicago Tribune. He’s not making this up. This is news from the Tony Rezko trial which is going on right now. You might try googling it yourself. Rezko was a pay for play politician who is on trail for bribery and fraud. Many of the most important political figures in the state, including the governor are implicated. He gave money and supported Obama for 20 years, including helping him buy his house (his wife bought the adjoining land and sold part of it back to Obama, who could not have done this deal any other way). Obama acknowledges this and says it was “stupid” of him to do that. It was stupid, especially since Rezko was already being investigated for fraud at the time of the deal. There are lots of other sordid details, including Rezko’s association with this guy Auchi. Please do some research. Or maybe it isn’t necessary. Just close your ears and eyes and let Obama get the nomination and you’ll hear all about it from the Republicans before November.
BTW, Hillary really had nothing to do with this, although that may be impossible for you to believe.
and as I said before - though not a question, Hillary and Bill are so much deeper in similar crap.
Is it not possible that Rezko’s attorney expected the answer to his question to be, “No, Obama was not there?”
Never ask a question you don’t know the answer to.
Looking at my comment above I realize I did not communicate my thinking. The thought occurred to me about Rezko’s attorney when you were discussing why Rezko’s attorney brought this up to the gov’s star witness. My thought was that maybe he asked the question because he was expecting a no obama answer and perhaps he was asking the question with that no in mind to help bury this story for Obama who probably at this moment does not particularly want anything else flying around.
As for Larry’s information to us, he has been an amazing source to bring us all kinds of news that we certainly can not get from other sources. So I say, keep on keeping on Larry. Let the chips fall.
Kevin are you getting paid the same hourly rate to troll this blog as the Obama’s are paying their Nanny.
Oh I don’t think he’s getting paid, deke. I think Kevin’s a true believer. He truly believes in the evil of Hillary Clinton. It’s not about the precious for Kevin. It’s about Hillary Clinton.
just goes to show how silly and narrow minded your are then. Please - point out any post or comment I’ve made where I “decried the evils of Hillary”
The DNC and Obama are unworthy of my vote. I will NEVER be suckered in to being made to feel that I HAVE to vote for him.
It stops now. I refuse to vote for someone that is so undeserving of my vote. And the DNC??? No money from me!
I have never been so disgusted in my life…
You are not alone. I’ve never been this disgusted with Democrats, ever. I want them to stop the disenfranchisment of Florida and Michigan and I want several prominent Dems to speak out against the media’s sexism. But I’m not holding my breath.
Wow Wow Wow
Good trial. Good prosecution. Good reporting. Good blogging. Good comments.
This is how truth in justice, and truth in politics, and truth in reporting truth, should be.
wow. This could be a election bombshell.
Wow. I used to come here a lot during the Plame affair. I used to have a lot of respect for Larry Johnson.
This “Hussein” attack is right out of the Republicans playbook. What is your goal?
I just can’t believe this place has turned into a hate Obama site. Your insane hatred of Barak Obama has unhinged the lot of you. It’s unreal.
You people need to get a grip.
Was Auchi involved in the assassination attempt on Iraqi Prime Minister General Abdel-Karim Qassem, led by Saddam Hussein in 1959 as a young Ba’ath Party cadre? I have seen allegations of such.
This smells like blackmail..Rezco’s lawyer giving a warming to Obama camp?? Could be..Speaking about the Purple room, with all night drug parties..Special K, Crack-meph, Cocaine..Now Larry Sinclair story is beganning to make more sense. Where is the MSM??’
Larry -
Why is Obama going to any party for a convicted criminal? (Conviction in November, 2003 - party in April, 2004).
I can just see Obama raising a glass: Cheers to our visiting felon!
If Auchi made it possible for Obama and Rezko’s wife to close the deal on the property on the same day, was this in fact a return favor for Obama securing the passport for Auchi?
I mean, Auchi wants a passport, Rezko wants the money, Obama wants the house. Or is that only a part of the whole thing? All these Middle Eastern acquaintences of Obama , what else is there?