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 July 14, 2008 at 9:05 PM in Current Affairs
It would seem that David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker, does not have a career in comedy. It looks like he’s on his way to becoming the Michael Richards of journalism. The Barack/Michelle cover is all the talk of the internet. A friend of mine calls it the “GAFFE OF THE YEAR.” He writes:
The New Yorker matters in the intellectual, and dare we say moral life of the nation, and has since its inception more than 80 years ago. And the editor now knows he’s really really really made a mistake, presumably one fatal to him and to anyone involved in approving this cover…
His defense so far has been that it was intended to humorously call attention to, and thus to sarcastically make fun of the “he’s a secret Muslim, she’s a Black Radical” canards circulating in the blogosphere.
So insulated from the real world are the New Yorker’s elites that apparently no one considered that they had perpetrated the equivalent of a “cartoon” about Hitler tossing Jews into the ovens, in order to ridicule modern day anti-Semites.
And let’s remember that this was not just some wild and crazy idea dreamed up by Remnick after downing a bottle of single malt. Others on the New Yorker team helped cultivate the concept. This, boys and girls, is the elite’s “macaca” moment. Just ask George Allen how that worked out.
I am not shedding crocodile tears for Michele and Barack, however. They’ve been getting a free pass from most of the media. Conveniently missing from the Lizza article and the “cartoon” were the faces of those crazy clerics, Jeremiah Wright and Michael Pfleger, the homo hating minister, James Meeks, unrepentant terrorist, Billy “the Kid” Ayers, and last, but certainly not least, Tony “the Slumlord” Rezko. I love the irony–while trying to do a puff piece on Barack, his buddies at the New Yorker, create the image more powerful than that of Michael Dukakis, perched in a tank turret, wearing a goofy expression that reminded me of a stoned Howdy Doody. Now that’s funny. Unintended humor.
Sorry, but it’s hard for me to feel pity for Obama regarding this cover, when Hillary was the victim of continual and unending satire, misogyny and hate by all segments of the media… None of these pundits, anchorpeople, party leaders, et all who are decrying the New Yorker today ever once came to the defense of Hillary Clinton. I can name a hundred examples of despicable satire directed at her.
You are absolutely right Karen.
Frankly my dear I don’t give it dam…
I’m just confused. Why are they in the Oval Office? Are they visiting President McCain?
Obama’s chickens……are coming home…… to rooost.
George Bush never sent operatives to hound a magazine that satirized him!
Think you live in a political state now?
Just pray Barack Hussein Obama is never dear leader. Criticize his ass and you will be OUT OF BUSINESS in no time.
Funny thing: this isn’t even satire of Obama! It makes fun of the right wing smear faction.
Bush has been regularly caricatured as a chimp for years. Obama is running for POTUS, not dog catcher (now that would make for a funny cartoon). He needs either to grow a thicker skin, or to take his ball and go home. The latter choice would be more than fine with me.
The reaction on the blogs, especially Huff and Kos, is waaaaay over the top. This is the one article I’ve read that makes the most sense.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2008/07/15/new_yorker_cartoon/
If he’s going to take his ball(s) and go home, he better hurry up before Jesse catches him!
Perhaps we should take our cues from Barack Obama…
AND JUST SAY NOTHING.
We can express how badly we feel about how the Obamas are depicted on the cover…
Whenever it becomes politically expediate for us to do so. Hmmmm?
There is ONe place on this earth I would not have wanted to be - anywhere in the vicinity of this first-class crass couple when they first eyed this cover. Kabooooom.
They think they are so unapproachable. Good for the New Yorker.
I agree wholeheartedly. To hell with him. After what he has done to the Democratic Party, he can go to hell. I’m glad the New Yorker did this and it is not a “gaffe”. It was orchestrated for a particular reason. Millions of us out here are not shedding tears or feeling insulted by this cover. I think it brilliant!
I totally agree with karen and joel above. it’s satire and they have gotten a pass all along. so what’s a little humor. like obama said ‘get over it’ to the clinton supporters. laugh a little or a lot at the cover page of the obamas.
“None of these pundits, anchorpeople, party leaders, et all who are decrying the New Yorker today ever once came to the defense of Hillary Clinton.”
Actually, Karen, you’re wrong. Penn Jillette’s rancid “White Bitch Month” joke aimed at Sen. Clinton was roundly condemned by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC.
Not quite the same level of outrage, and notice the comments from those lovable scamps at the Huff Po.
The Clinton comment was sexist put-down.
This is clearly a jibe at the right wing smear machine. Not Barack Hussein asshole.
Exactly…….
Are you talking to me or UBM?
If there was a condemnation, then it was one moment of condemnation, and one thousand moments of deafening silence in re the horrid treatment that Senator Clinton received.
There was no end to the outrageous b.s. we all had to witness directed at Hillary throughout this campaign. Pictures of her being tied to train tracks. That awful picture/drawing of her in the Village Voice. Never mind all the disgusting misogynist comments: “Someone needs to take her out behind the barn.”
The list is endless. I could absolutely care less about Senator Obama’s reaction to this. He has truly advantaged himself at every turn by the media, his surrogates, his supporters, and even his own disrespectful and foul treatment of her.
The “funniest” aspect of the Mo-Bo cover is how nasty the New Yorker was to Hillary during the primary.
We sure didn’t see ‘White Bitch Month” all over the net and TV, did we now? Some outrage.
Penn Jillette’s “joke” was also condemned by a Daily Kos blogger as “ignorantly misogynistic” and “should be condemned by EVERYONE.”
Jeffrey Toobin on CNN called it “appalling.”
Bill O’Reilly labeled Jillette a “pinhead.”
Even Andrew Sullivan called the joke “offensive.”
MSNBC INvited him back again to appear and retell the joke
Now yer just makin’ shit up.
So in other words, you can count on one hand those in the MSM who came to Hillary’s defense.
Wow real impressive.
No, you special little guy. I’m just pointing out the obvious psychotic lie of the commenter who wrote that nobody “ever once came to the defense of Hillary Clinton.”
I hope there are hundreds more cartoons even more vile coming out for publication. Let his chickens come home to roost. What goes around comes around!
I agree. I have no sympathy for bo or mo, especially after all that was said, written and drawn to denegrate hillary. I also think the cartoon speaks very very accurately on how millions of people view the obamas. I don’t think all their fears are unfounded, in fact, I think some of their concerns are quite valid.
That’s why the cartoon failed, because the cartoonist was trying to make the opposite point. He was trying to make the point that you are ridiculous.
come out from under those covers and stop the hate.
When you and Howard stop trying to go against the will of the American people and the concept of one-person one-vote and crawl back under your rocks, we will all make kissy, kissy and lovey dovey. Until then the truth will continue to come out on you and the corrupt DNC!
Ms. Brazile, it’s way too late to “stop the hate” since you were a ring leader serving as a Clinton race baiter along with Rep. Clyburn of SC for the Obama Campaign while claiming uncommitted and later unannounced Super Delegates. While I have this opportunity, it is also too late for all the accolades you are now trying to bestow the Clintons’. It will not work! As a democratic party activist for years, once a national convention delegate, and a “very left” democrat as you said yesterday on ABC’s THIS WEEK”, an ardent Hillary supporter, I will not be persuaded to vote for your hand-picked, horrendously inadequate candiate. You, Ms. Brazile, along with your den of thieves at the DNC, have more to do with my decision than Obama. I will do whatever it takes to deny you this ill-gotten gain.
Donna - That’s Barry and MEMEMEchelle under those covers.
Is this that Donna Brazile? The one who was barking with foaming mouth about rules while tearing down those very rules?
Than welcome among us Ms Brazile! I assure you, I don’t hate you. My religion doesn’t allow me to do such a thing. I get only nauseated whenever I think of you.
It is good however that you want to stop the hate. I suggest, you start rightaway at the Obama camp to clean up their behavior. Than you can go on to stop the hate against Hillary Clinton at the republican party. There is quite a work cut out for you.
I think donna brazile is going through menopause. she’s very irrational.
Now that is sexist, mahaska, you need to find a more honest reason for brazile, there are plenty out there, racism, envy, sleeping with the enemy, self interest, mob mentality, back room money grabbing etc.
That is, indeed, the real Donna Brazile. She blogged today at CNN about her interactions at No Quarter.
The cartoon failed, because there is more than a kernel of truth to it.
I’d say the cartoon succeeded because there’s more than a kernel of truth to it. And admire their courage for they must have known they would take a lot of heat for this.
I’ll agree with you, too, though I’m not sure that was the magazine’s intent.
The reason it is so upsetting to the MSM and Obama is that they cant stand there might be some truth. If there wasn’t everyone would know its a joke.
And the reason for that failure is everyone already knows that you, Obama, and all the Obot cultists are the definition of ridiculous.
I mean really, when compared and contrasted to you “Folks”, squeegee men would look sane and saintly.
For millions of us out here this cartoon didn’t fail. It validated.
Undercover black man,
What you talkin bout fool? THE CARTOON SUCCEEDED. IT IS RIGHT ON TARGET IN EVERYWAY RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLAG BURNING AND THE SIMILARITY OF OBAMA’S NAME TO OSAMA’S NAME.
YOU CAN SEE OSAMA SMILING DOWN ON OBAMA FROM ABOVE THE AMERICAN FLAG BURNING IN THE FIREPLACE. HOW APPROPRIATE, BOTH OBAMA AND OSAMA WANT TO DESTROY AMERICAN AND WOULD IF THEY COULD, but they can’t now can they?
Too many of us are standing tall to prevent that from happening. I APPLAUD THE WORK OF THE NEW YORKER AND I WILL BE SUBSCRIBING TO IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Not only do I have no sympathy, I enjoyed it. Really I thought it was just about right.
Yep, the cartoon accurately portrayed everything the MSM has refused to investigate.
Should have included a shredder with his original Birth Certificate in it and a shelf with Rev Wright and/or Michelle Obama rants on video stored upon it.
Uppity: I agree. The only reason people are “shocked, shocked I tell you!” is that it was the New Yorker. Very Mad Magazine to me…
No pity here. You get what you give and Obama is a horse’s patoot.
Actually Terri he’s the refuge that exits the horses patoot!
I said the exact same thing earlier today. Where was the outrage then? Poor Bawack. Everyone rushes to defend and protect baby Bawack. Boo hoo. After they were behind the Clinton smears, it’s laughable that they are so offended by these awful tactics! What you sow…
Also, the hysteria around this is in itself extremely elitist. How many working class folks in PA give a damn about the New Yorker?
but the question should be how many covers of the New Yorker will be plastered behind the bar in all those working class watering holes.
TEHE!
Yes target practice by all those bible-clinging, gun-toting, typical white people! Yep they’ll be using that cover for target practice in those watering holes!
Funny, how the great leader always sounds like a VICTIM!
Yes, he’ll be ready to lead when he puts down the Kleenex and stops whining. Right. The man has no experience - and no resilience. He’s flattened by a G.D. cartoon.
I warned the Obamabots at the caucus who had told me that Obama was untouchable that he wasn’t vetted. The Republicans spent 40 million on the Clinton’s so Hillary was ready for anything.
Obamabots I feel sorry for you! This is only the beginning for your Faux Messiah.
I agree…. He is finally starting to get what he deserves.
LMAO…As someone said on another site, looks like the New Yorker people caught the Obomb family while they thought no one was looking. Guess the truth hurts.
Hillary said, “It goes with the territory.” She has so much courage, they should take a lesson from her. Wouldn’t you have loved to have been a witness to their initial reaction? I read they both use profanities so I’ll bet the air was blue.
I don’t see any problem with the cover. Political satire can get rough. Can’t take the heat…get out of the kitchen.
I agree. In fact, MeMeMechelle looks GOOD in that drawing. Had to be a cartoon to get her hips to be that tiny. They could have had her packin a lot of junk in her trunk. That would have been closer to reality.
I think it’s incredibly insulting to holocaust survivors…who were innocent victims of evil and madness, to equate that cover with Hitler and the ovens.
Obama has worn that get up at least once, proudly, and his close friend is a terrorist who stomped on our flag, proudly, and Michelle does fist bump, proudly, and most important, he’s given tens of thousands of dollars to an American hating, Hamas loving “church” when he’s otherwise been cheap with his charitable donations.
So, this is no different from what Hillary experienced on a weekly basis, it’s just that it’s happened to the anointed one.
And it is a flattering cartoon of Michelle.
wry: I agree the comparison to Hitler and the ovens is way way way over the top and off base.
This cartoon is nothing like it.
On the cartoon itself; I feel no sympathy for BO & MO on this. BO might learn a thing or two about freedom of speech and his FISA position.
Besides, everyone is rushing to their rescue and defense now is kind of absurd (poor defenseless child…). I have no clue why even McCain had to say “how tasteless and offensive” it was…
BTW why is everyone using the exact same “words” (tasteless and offensive)…
BO’s campaign “cue” ??
I think it’s incredibly insulting to holocaust survivors…who were innocent victims of evil and madness, to equate that cover with Hitler and the ovens.
I agree. That line struck me as being way over the top.
But then again, that is the typical Obama camp reaction to anything remotely critical of him.
ROFLMAO
That’s another thing. He wants to run in the big league but he wants to stifle the heat. Get out of the kitchen if you can’t take it, wimp.
Not scientific but they have been right quiet often.
AOL straw poll, McCain-74% Obama-26%
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/07/14/aol-straw-poll-july-14-21/
I have been checking this for over 1 month…MAC ALWAYS is winning by a BLOWOUT!
you wouldn’t think that would have something to do with the nature of AOL users, would it? lol.
How so?
And you don’t have to connect through AOL to vote.
Maybe. But McCain gained 6 points since I last checked about a week ago.
I think the analogy fails–because Hitler’s atrocities against the Jews were real, while the Right’s fantasies about Obama are not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Ro3TATqG8
Actually some of the Right’s “fantasies” are real.
right ON Perry about the Clinton Haters!!
Exactly!
but that beginning made me think I was having a vertigo episode! Yikes!
hehe
Or maybe Oblowme simply hasn’t taken control yet.
Hitler was just talker in the 20s just like Obama is now
Hitler in the 20s gave the German People Hope! sound familiar?
Maybe that is why Obama wants to have a rally in Germany. My thoughts exactly… Obama like Hitler was just a good speaker… and look what happened.
The problem is, the cover was not one of Hitler tossing Jews into ovens. It is not even close and to suggest it is, is an insult. Since when have Barack and Michelle Obama become revered saints for whom any criticism is blasphemy?
The worship of these two has gone too far and is much too dangerous.
Yes, and if he gets in the WH we’ll have to spend another term with a president who thinks he’s God and can’t be criticized.
I agree Joel. Exactly.
I am not saying the man is Hitler but the worship of this man is like it.The worship of any body in politics is very scary.
Because when you have a religious belief in someone you can do some very violent things
Exactly…..I guess all pictures should make him look like Jesus. LOL*
Oh well, the Huffington Post has 2 articles that scold everyone for overreacting.
that’s funny, up until now Huffy Poo has been willfully ginning up over reaction.
HuffPuff is a poor reference. Ariana Huffington has no moral high ground. They won’t post comments questioning Obama or challenging their lies. Whatever happened to “speaking TRUTH to power”? They practice censorship and won’t allow descenting opinion just like George Bush.
This is Chickens comin home to roost
This is Karma
This is cosmic destiny
This is what goes around, comes around
This is what you sow, so shall ye reap.
This is the other shoe dropping
This is beginning of the end
Amen.
If the shoe fits wear it!
Obama’s associations with radicals who hate the United States are fast catching up to him.
You mean…If the sandle fits wear it!
Right, if the flip flop fits, wear it!
exactly , if the suicide bomber vest fits, wear it.
BO and MO protest a little too much here.
It is all faux outrage… Who are they? The untouchables?
I heard an interview on NPR today of Remnick and I liked his explanation. He also pointed to all the cartoons we made on Bush all these years some pretty crude (which imo he deserved of course !!)
Who are they? Hopefully after November, NOBODIES!
It is all faux outrage… Who are they? The untouchables?
I heard an interview on NPR today of Remnick and I liked his explanation. He also pointed to all the cartoons they made on Bush all these years some pretty crude (which imo he deserved of course !!)
If you need to explain the humor, it ain’t no joke.
Yhe New Yorker has never been a well of giggles.
peaking of Michael Richards, remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine takes the cartoon around asking people, why is this funny? and no one can answer it?
LOL, prescient sketch
Was just thinking that, hit pagedown, and there you were
I love that one. “Cartoons are like gossamer, and one doesn’t dissect gossamer.”
I love the New Yorker’s dog and cat jokes. Their day book of cartoons is excellent.
I refuse to back down…it’s a great cartoon. No one would care if that were Condoleeza Rice being caricatured.
How funny. I was going to say they had a lot of cat and dog cartoons that are great.
You don’t get the joke Pat?
The joke is that Obama is the selection in a fixed and corrupt process who has associations and a background that leads to a cover like on the New Yorker
Neither have the Oblowme’s flag stomping Pentagon bombing buddies Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn.
And the Oblowme’s and Farakhan’s Black Liberation bring the walls down on whitey shit is a regular laugh riot too.
I don’t see a problem with it either. You’d think the O’s had never looked at a political cartoon before.
And yes, I saw the AOL poll. It’s not scientific but as compared to last week’s poll which was something like 64% McCain and 36% Obama, that’s a big change.