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{{Short description|American blogger and former analyst at the CIA}}
'''Larry C. Johnson''' is a decorated veteran of the U.S. [[Central Intelligence Agency]] as well as the [[State Department]]'s [[Office of Counterterrorism]].[http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing23/dorgan.pdf] He is the CEO of [[Berg Associates]], LLC. According to Johnson in sworn testimony that was never challenged by Hatch, he got his start in the CIA in 1985 through a letter of recommendation from Republican Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] (R-UT).[http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing23/transcript.pdf] He left the CIA in 1989. A registered Republican who supported [[President Bush]] in [[2000]],[http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/23/dems.radio/] Johnson has since broken ranks with Republicans over the scandal surrounding the outing of CIA operative [[Valerie Plame Wilson]]. Johnson testified at a special U.S. Senate hearing on [[22 July]] [[2005]] about the consequences arising from the [[Plame affair]].[http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing23/transcript.pdf] In addition to his differences with Republicans in the Plame matter, Johnson is also an outspoken opponent of the Iraq War.[http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/7/13/04720/9340] On July 23, 2005, he spoke to the nation on behalf of Democrats in the party's weekly radio address[http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/23/dems.radio] and was featured in the 2004 political documentary ''[[Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism]]''.[http://www.outfoxed.org]
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'''Larry C. Johnson''' is an American [[blogger]], [[political commentator]] and former [[intelligence analysis|analyst]] at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. He is the co-owner and CEO of Business Exposure Reduction Group (BERG) Associates, LLC, and the co-founder of [[Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity]] (VIPS).
== Pre-9/11 assessments of Islamic terrorism threat ==


==Background==
After Johnson's testimony to the special Senate forum, conservative pundit [[Richard Schmitt]] of the ''[[Weekly Standard]]'' made reference to an op-ed piece Johnson wrote two months prior to the [[9/11]] attacks, claiming that Johnson argued that the US had little to fear from terrorism. Ten days after the 9/11 attacks, [[Slate Magazine]] said, "Johnson's analysis, we now see, was bold, persuasive, and 100 percent wrong."[http://www.slate.com/id/1008336] Johnson's column, titled ''The Declining Terrorist Threat'', was published 10 July 2001 in the ''[[New York Times]]''. Johnson had written:
Johnson worked at the CIA for four years as an analyst, then moved to the [[United States State Department]]'s [[Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism|Office of Counterterrorism]]. In 1993, Johnson left government work to join the private sector, "going on to build a dual career as a [[business consultant]] and a [[pundit]] on intelligence issues".<ref name="Weigel">[[David Weigel]], [http://prospect.org/article/larry-johnsons-strange-trip Larry Johnson's Strange Trip], ''The American Prospect'' (June 23, 2008).</ref> He appeared on television programs such as ''[[The News Hour]]'' and ''[[Larry King Live]]'', giving his commentary.<ref name="Weigel"/>
:''Judging from news reports and the portrayal of villains in our popular entertainment, Americans are bedeviled by fantasies about terrorism. They seem to believe that terrorism is the greatest threat to the United States and that it is becoming more widespread and lethal. They are likely to think that the United States is the most popular target of terrorists. And they almost certainly have the impression that extremist Islamic groups cause most terrorism.... None of these beliefs are based in fact.... While terrorism is not vanquished, in a world where thousands of nuclear warheads are still aimed across the continents, terrorism is not the biggest security challenge confronting the United States, and it should not be portrayed that way.''[http://www.slate.com/id/1008336]


==Views==
In an expanded version of this argument, Johnson argued that while overall terrorism was declining, the threat from bin Laden and al-Qaeda should be the focus of American counterterrorism policy:
===Early 1990s to 2008===
In numerous writings and interviews in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Johnson de-emphasized the threat stemming from [[terrorism]].<ref>Gail Russell Chaddock, "Why Terrorists Pick On the French," ''Christian Science Monitor'' (5 December 1996) p. 1.</ref><ref>Larry Johnson, "Terrorists Among Us," ''New York Times'' (20 August 1996) p. A19.</ref><ref name="JohnsonDeclining">Larry C. Johnson, [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/10/opinion/the-declining-terrorist-threat.html "The Declining Terrorist Threat"] ''[[The New York Times]]'' 10 July 2001: A19.</ref> In 1998, he commented on [[Osama bin Laden]], saying that bin Laden was possessed by "hatred and craziness", and if left unanswered, "he would continue to terrorize Americans around the world. He has no compunction about killing women and children. He's a complete egalitarian in his murderous attitude."<ref>Lee Michael Katz, "The Hunt for Bin Laden," ''USA Today'' (21 August 1998) p. 1A.</ref> In later interviews (1999, 2000), Johnson said Americans exaggerated the threats stemming from bin Laden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/interviews/johnson.html|title=Interviews - Larry C. Johnson - Hunting for bin Laden|website=[[PBS]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/08/getting_it_righ.html |title=NO QUARTER: GETTING IT RIGHT ON THE TERRORIST THREAT |date=30 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130070251/http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/08/getting_it_righ.html |archivedate=30 January 2008 }}</ref> In July 2001, two months before the [[September 11 attacks]],<ref name="Weigel"/> Johnson wrote a ''[[New York Times]]'' [[op-ed]] titled "The Declining Terrorist Threat", arguing that "terrorism is not the biggest security challenge confronting the United States, and it should not be portrayed that way".<ref name="JohnsonDeclining"/>


In 2003, Johnson said that while he did not condone [[torture]], he suggested that a "[[sleep deprivation]] and [[bounty (reward)|reward]] system" might be useful for getting information from [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]].<ref>Qtd. in Toby Harnden, "CIA 'pressure' on al-Qa'eda chief," ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' 5 March 2003: 16.<!--Verification? Still needs to be checked--></ref>
:''The nature of the threat posed by Bin Ladin is highlighted by my final chart, number 7. Osama Bin Ladin and individuals assoicated with him have killed and wounded more Americans than any other group. This chart also illustrates that groups such as Hamas and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) prior to 1998 have killed more foreigners in the anti-US terrorist attacks. If we take into account the bombings of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Osama's status as the most lethal terrorist is certain.''


In May 2003, Johnson joined members of [[Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity]] (VIPS) in condemning the manipulation of intelligence for political purposes.<ref>Qtd. in Nicolas D. Kristof, "Save Our Spooks", ''[[The New York Times]]'' 30 May 2003:A6.<!--Verification? Still needs to be checked--></ref>
Johnson coauthored a piece in 2000 with [[Milt Beardon]] that looked specifically at the threat posed by [[al-Qaeda]] rather that at terrorism trends in general. The piece noted that new information emerging about the bombings at Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 pointed to a new threat that required "a coordinated policy that will employ a full range of covert, clandestine, diplomatic, and military operations."[http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/08/getting_it_righ.html] The piece concluded:


Johnson became a strong critic of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] in May 2003 for its conduct of the [[war in Iraq]] and, a few months later, for its role in the outing of CIA operative [[Valerie Plame Wilson]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/23/dems.radio/ Ex-CIA official Blasts Bush on Leak of Operative's Name: Democrats' Radio Address Focuses on White House Aides' Role] [[CNN]] July 23, 2005, accessed November 21, 2006.</ref> In a July 2006 post at ''[[Daily Kos]]'', Johnson harshly criticized ex-CIA analyst [[Michael Scheuer]] (calling him, among other things, "a vicious little prick") and called [[2006 Lebanon War|Israel's invasion of Lebanon]] "stupid."<ref name="Weigel"/>
:''The Clinton Administration has shot its bolt on the terrorist problem with small effect, and no last minute show of force will change the record. A new administration can start afresh with a more sharply defined set of terrorism goals – Mughniyeh and bin Laden and their protectors for starters – and bring the full, coordinated force of American diplomatic, military, and intelligence capabilities to bear on the problem.''


After [[Robert Novak]] wrote a column identifying Valerie Wilson (the wife of former ambassador [[Joseph C. Wilson]]) as a CIA operative, the media invited Johnson to comment on the ensuing scandal because he had been a member of the same Career Trainee class as Valerie Wilson.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} For example, in October 2003, he appeared on ''[[Democracy Now!]] ''to discuss the [[Plame affair]] and told interviewer [[Amy Goodman]] that Valerie Wilson's cover should have been respected whether she was an "analyst" or a "cleaning lady", "if she's [[undercover]] she's undercover, period. If the media allows themselves to get distracted with those kinds of curveballs, they ignore the issue."<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/10/02/158200 Democracy Now! (3 October 2003)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510151934/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03%2F10%2F02%2F158200 |date=10 May 2006 }}</ref>
Johnson defended himself from the attacks of pundits such as Schmitt, responding: "The rightwing is resurrecting an op-ed I wrote in July 2001. I stand by the full article. It is still relevant today. I am accused, incorrectly, of ignoring the threat of terrorism. In fact, I correctly noted that the real threat emanated from Bin Laden and Islamic extremism. President Bush, for his part, ignored the CIA warning in August of 2001 that Al Qaeda was posed to strike inside the United States."[http://lawnorder.blogspot.com/2005/07/daily-kos-pnac-head-attacks-larry.html]


== 2003 warnings to Bremer ==
===2008 to present===
====Michelle Obama hoax====
Beginning in 2007, Johnson emerged as a critic of [[Barack Obama]]'s [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|2008 presidential campaign]].<ref name="Weigel"/> As a result he was attacked by his former allies on the [[political left]].<ref name="Weigel"/> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Johnson is "best known for spreading a [[hoax]]... in 2008 that [[Michelle Obama]] had been videotaped using a [[pejorative|slur]] against Caucasians".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/business/media/fox-andrew-napolitano-trump.html|title=Fox's Andrew Napolitano Stirred the Pot for Trump's British Tempest|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=2017-03-17|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-03-18|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On May 16, 2008, Johnson posted an item entitled, "Will Barack Throw Mama From the Train?" which alleged that a tape existed of Michelle Obama "railing against 'whitey' at [[Jeremiah Wright]]'s church."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2532/will-barack-throw-mama-from-the-train/|title=Will Barack Throw Mama From the Train? [Update Two] - NO QUARTER USA NET|first=Larry|last=Johnson|date=16 May 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005060526/http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2532/will-barack-throw-mama-from-the-train/|archivedate=5 October 2011}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2023}} Johnson claimed that [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] were in possession of the tape and it "is being held for the fall to drop at the appropriate time." In a subsequent post, Johnson claimed that Obama's appearance had occurred when she was on a panel with [[Louis Farrakhan]]. He also explained that he himself had not seen the tape, but had spoken with "five separate sources who have spoken directly with people who have seen the tape."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2847/michelle-obama-and-louis-farrakhan-take-on-whitey/|title=Michelle Obama and Louis Farrakhan Take On Whitey - NO QUARTER USA NET|first=Larry|last=Johnson|date=2 June 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003172556/http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2847/michelle-obama-and-louis-farrakhan-take-on-whitey/|archivedate=3 October 2011}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2023}} The Obama campaign's "Fight the Smears" website denied the rumor, saying, "No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://my.barackobama.com/page/share/notape|title=Organizing for Action|publisher=}}</ref> On October 21, 2008, Johnson said that, according to one of his sources, the [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|McCain campaign]] "intervened and requested the tape not be used."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/10/21/whitey-tape-api-phil-berg-and-andy-martin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022161648/http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/10/21/whitey-tape-api-phil-berg-and-andy-martin/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 October 2008|title=Whitey Tape, API, Phil Berg, and Andy Martin - NO QUARTER USA NET|first=Larry|last=Johnson|date=21 October 2008}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=July 2023}}


====Allegations that British intelligence wiretapped Donald Trump ====
In January 2003, Johnson wrote an analysis of the relationship between the upcoming U.S. invasion of Iraq and the threat of transnational terrorism. According to Johnson, Bremer's response was to tell him that "it didn't matter what Saddam did or didn't do, we were going to war."[http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/01/setting_the_rec.html] The paper warned that an invasion would "do little to destroy the infrastructure of radical Islamic terrorism responsible for the 9-11 attacks." Noting that Saddam Hussein's regime has been a longtime supporter of regional terrorist organizations such as the PLO, Johnson examines contacts between Saddam Hussein and transnational terrorist organizations such as [[al-Qaeda]]. Johnson notes that the period immediately leading up to 2003 saw a rise of activity surrounding terrorist [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]], suggesting that "Iraq is willing to help a movement that it would otherwise oppose on ideological grounds. Nonetheless," Johnson concludes, "it is important to understand that Iraqi entreaties to Al Qaeda, are most likely intended as a tactic to bolster Iraq’s ability to fight off a U.S. invasion rather than a deep-seated theological and ideological commitment to the terrorist agenda of Bin Laden." Johnson warns that the U.S.-led invasion was likely to backfire: "In fact there is a serious risk that a U.S. led war against Iraq may crystallize the diffused anger in the Arab and Muslim world &mdash; a heretofore unattained goal of bin Laden and his followers &mdash; and persuade more Muslim youths to take up the terrorist banner against America and her citizens.... If we decide to invade Iraq we must be prepared for the contingency that our attack will inspire young Muslims to pursue jihad against the West in general and the United States in particular. Just as the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan rallied many Muslims, especially young adults to the cause of jihad, a U.S. attack may enable Islamic extremists to attract new followers."[http://www.boomantribune.com/site-files/LJohnson_Iraq.rtf]
In March 2017, [[Andrew Napolitano]] said on ''[[Fox & Friends]]'' that [[GCHQ]], [[United Kingdom|Britain]]'s [[signals intelligence]] service, had [[wiretap]]ped [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]] on orders from President Obama.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/andrew-napolitano-did-obama-spy-on-trump | title=Did Obama spy on Trump? | first=Andrew | last=Napolitano | publisher=Fox News | date=2017-03-16 | access-date=2017-03-22}}</ref> Johnson was the source for Napolitano's claim.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/gchq-michelle-obama-john-kerry-hoax-a7636996.html|title=Man behind Michelle Obama and John Kerry hoaxes at centre of GCHQ row|date=2017-03-18|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-03-18|language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Sean Spicer]], President Trump's [[press secretary]], repeated the claim.<ref name=":0" /> [[Fox News]] later disavowed the statement by Napolitano.<ref name=":0" />


== Quotes ==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}


⚫
==References==
"The Republicans now want to hide behind the legalism that "no laws were broken". I don't know if a man made law was broken but an ethical and moral code was breached. For the first time a group of partisan political operatives publically identified a CIA NOC. They have set a precendent that the next group of political hacks may feel free to violate. They try to hide behind the specious claim that Joe Wilson "lied". Although Joe did not lie let's follow that reasoning to the logical conclusion. Let's use the same standard for the Bush Administration. Here are the facts. Bush's lies have resulted in the deaths of almost 1800 American soldiers and the mutilation of 12,000. Joe Wilson has not killed anyone. He tried to prevent the needless death of Americans and the loss of American prestige in the world."[http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/7/13/04720/9340]
⚫
*[[Milton Bearden|Bearden, Milt]], and Larry Johnson. "A Glimpse at the Alliances of Terror." ''[[The New York Times]]'' 7 November 2000: 29.
*''[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/terror/ Iraq and the War on Terror]''. ''[[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]]'' [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]. Online featured programs. Accessed 19 November 2006.
⚫
*Johnson, Larry C.. [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/10/opinion/the-declining-terrorist-threat.html "The Declining Terrorist Threat."] ''[[The New York Times]]'' 10 July 2001:A19.
*–––. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061113130037/http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/07/the_myth_of_ter.html "The Myth of Terrorism, Part Deux."] ''No Quarter'' (personal blog) 2 July 2006, accessed 19 November 2006.
⚫
*–––. [http://www.boomantribune.com/site-files/LJohnson_Iraq.rtf "Setting the Record Straight on Iraqi Terrorism]," posted in ''Booman Tribune: A Progressive Community'' (personal blog) 27 January 2003. Accessed 19 November 2006.
*–––. [http://www.alternet.org/authors/6436 "Stories by Larry C. Johnson."] ''[[AlterNet]]''. (Indexed archive with hyperlinks.) Accessed 20 November 2006.
*–––. [https://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2019/04/vindicated-at-last-thank-you-general-barr-by-larry-c-johnson.html "Vindicated At Last, Thank You General Barr"] posted in ''Sic Semper Tyrannis'' (blog of [[W. Patrick Lang]]) 11 April 2019.
*[[Keith Olbermann|Olbermann, Keith]]. [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12496641 "'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for April 25:] Read the transcript to the Tuesday show." Guests: Larry Johnson, [[Greg Mitchell]], Rick Klein, [[Jerry Della Femina]], [[Paul Mooney (comedian)|Paul Mooney]]. ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'' [[MSNBC]] 25 April 2006. Transcript posted on [[MSNBC]] on 26 April 2006. Accessed 19 November 2006.
*Schmitt, Gary. [https://archive.today/20130209092410/http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/883raiiu.asp "Meet Larry Johnson: The CIA official Turned Democratic Spokesman Has a Pre-9/11 Mindset."] ''[[The Weekly Standard|Daily Standard]]'' (blog) 25 July 2005. Accessed November 20, 2006.
*[[Byron York|York, Byron]]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060809020832/http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/?q=ZWQ0ZjA1OTQ4NTQ0ZTUxNDcxNDk0ODBjMmIxOTE3NGY= "NR/Digital: The Media: Mr. Counterterrorism Guru:] He Says He’s Not, But Others Say He Is." ''[[National Review]] Online'' 5 June 2006. Accessed 19 November 2006.


⚫
==External links==
"There is no doubt that Iraq is a state sponsor of terrorism—i.e., a country that provides financial support, safe haven, training, or weapons and explosives to groups or individuals that carry out terrorist attacks.... According to Central Intelligence Agency data, there is no credible evidence implicating Iraq in any mass casualty terrorist attacks since 1991.... Nonetheless, it is important to understand that Iraqi entreaties to Al Qaeda, are most likely intended as a tactic to bolster Iraq’s ability to fight off a U.S. invasion rather than a deep-seated theological and ideological commitment to the terrorist agenda of Bin Laden."(January 2003)[http://www.boomantribune.com/site-files/LJohnson_Iraq.rtf]
* {{Cite web |url=http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ |title=No Quarter, Personal blog |access-date=2007-10-09 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080213202239/http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ |archive-date=2008-02-13 |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite web | url=https://sonar21.com/ | title=A Son of the American Revolution (Personal Blog) | access-date=2022-07-14 }}
* {{C-SPAN|1008070}}


{{authority control}}
"In fact there is a serious risk that a U.S. led war against Iraq may crystallize the diffused anger in the Arab and Muslim world &mdash; a heretofore unattained goal of bin Laden and his followers &mdash; and persuade more Muslim youths to take up the terrorist banner against America and her citizens.... If we decide to invade Iraq we must be prepared for the contingency that our attack will inspire young Muslims to pursue jihad against the West in general and the United States in particular. Just as the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan rallied many Muslims, especially young adults to the cause of jihad, a U.S. attack may enable Islamic extremists to attract new followers." (January 2003) [http://booman23.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/25/1817/86504]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Larry C.}}
⚫
==References ==
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

[[Category:Living people]]
⚫
* Larry C. Johnson, "The Declining Terrorist Threat," ''New York Times'' (10 Juy 2001) p. A19.
[[Category:Writers from Independence, Missouri]]
⚫
* Milt Bearden and Larry Johnson, "A Glimpse at the Alliances of Terror," ''New York Times'' (7 November 2000) p. A29.
[[Category:American male bloggers]]

[[Category:American bloggers]]
⚫
== External links ==
[[Category:American anti–Iraq War activists]]
* [http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/072205E.shtml ''Testimony''] of 22 July 2005.
[[Category:American political commentators]]
⚫
* Larry C. Johnson, "[http://www.boomantribune.com/site-files/LJohnson_Iraq.rtf ''Setting the Record Straight on Iraqi Terrorism'']," (27 January 2003)
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American male writers]]
[[Category:American broadcast news analysts]]
[[Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:People associated with the Plame affair]]
[[Category:University of Missouri alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]

Latest revision as of 02:18, 10 November 2024

Larry C. Johnson
OccupationBusiness consultant
Known forcommentator on national security topics; former intelligence officer of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
TitleCEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC
Board member ofCo-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

Larry C. Johnson is an American blogger, political commentator and former analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. He is the co-owner and CEO of Business Exposure Reduction Group (BERG) Associates, LLC, and the co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Background

[edit]

Johnson worked at the CIA for four years as an analyst, then moved to the United States State Department's Office of Counterterrorism. In 1993, Johnson left government work to join the private sector, "going on to build a dual career as a business consultant and a pundit on intelligence issues".[1] He appeared on television programs such as The News Hour and Larry King Live, giving his commentary.[1]

Views

[edit]

Early 1990s to 2008

[edit]

In numerous writings and interviews in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Johnson de-emphasized the threat stemming from terrorism.[2][3][4] In 1998, he commented on Osama bin Laden, saying that bin Laden was possessed by "hatred and craziness", and if left unanswered, "he would continue to terrorize Americans around the world. He has no compunction about killing women and children. He's a complete egalitarian in his murderous attitude."[5] In later interviews (1999, 2000), Johnson said Americans exaggerated the threats stemming from bin Laden.[6][7] In July 2001, two months before the September 11 attacks,[1] Johnson wrote a New York Times op-ed titled "The Declining Terrorist Threat", arguing that "terrorism is not the biggest security challenge confronting the United States, and it should not be portrayed that way".[4]

In 2003, Johnson said that while he did not condone torture, he suggested that a "sleep deprivation and reward system" might be useful for getting information from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.[8]

In May 2003, Johnson joined members of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) in condemning the manipulation of intelligence for political purposes.[9]

Johnson became a strong critic of the Bush administration in May 2003 for its conduct of the war in Iraq and, a few months later, for its role in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson.[10] In a July 2006 post at Daily Kos, Johnson harshly criticized ex-CIA analyst Michael Scheuer (calling him, among other things, "a vicious little prick") and called Israel's invasion of Lebanon "stupid."[1]

After Robert Novak wrote a column identifying Valerie Wilson (the wife of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson) as a CIA operative, the media invited Johnson to comment on the ensuing scandal because he had been a member of the same Career Trainee class as Valerie Wilson.[citation needed] For example, in October 2003, he appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss the Plame affair and told interviewer Amy Goodman that Valerie Wilson's cover should have been respected whether she was an "analyst" or a "cleaning lady", "if she's undercover she's undercover, period. If the media allows themselves to get distracted with those kinds of curveballs, they ignore the issue."[11]

2008 to present

[edit]

Michelle Obama hoax

[edit]

Beginning in 2007, Johnson emerged as a critic of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.[1] As a result he was attacked by his former allies on the political left.[1] According to The New York Times, Johnson is "best known for spreading a hoax... in 2008 that Michelle Obama had been videotaped using a slur against Caucasians".[12] On May 16, 2008, Johnson posted an item entitled, "Will Barack Throw Mama From the Train?" which alleged that a tape existed of Michelle Obama "railing against 'whitey' at Jeremiah Wright's church."[13][non-primary source needed] Johnson claimed that Republicans were in possession of the tape and it "is being held for the fall to drop at the appropriate time." In a subsequent post, Johnson claimed that Obama's appearance had occurred when she was on a panel with Louis Farrakhan. He also explained that he himself had not seen the tape, but had spoken with "five separate sources who have spoken directly with people who have seen the tape."[14][non-primary source needed] The Obama campaign's "Fight the Smears" website denied the rumor, saying, "No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word."[15] On October 21, 2008, Johnson said that, according to one of his sources, the McCain campaign "intervened and requested the tape not be used."[16][non-primary source needed]

Allegations that British intelligence wiretapped Donald Trump

[edit]

In March 2017, Andrew Napolitano said on Fox & Friends that GCHQ, Britain's signals intelligence service, had wiretapped Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign on orders from President Obama.[12][17] Johnson was the source for Napolitano's claim.[12][18] Sean Spicer, President Trump's press secretary, repeated the claim.[12] Fox News later disavowed the statement by Napolitano.[12]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f David Weigel, Larry Johnson's Strange Trip, The American Prospect (June 23, 2008).
  2. ^ Gail Russell Chaddock, "Why Terrorists Pick On the French," Christian Science Monitor (5 December 1996) p. 1.
  3. ^ Larry Johnson, "Terrorists Among Us," New York Times (20 August 1996) p. A19.
  4. ^ a b Larry C. Johnson, "The Declining Terrorist Threat" The New York Times 10 July 2001: A19.
  5. ^ Lee Michael Katz, "The Hunt for Bin Laden," USA Today (21 August 1998) p. 1A.
  6. ^ "Interviews - Larry C. Johnson - Hunting for bin Laden". PBS.
  7. ^ "NO QUARTER: GETTING IT RIGHT ON THE TERRORIST THREAT". 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008.
  8. ^ Qtd. in Toby Harnden, "CIA 'pressure' on al-Qa'eda chief," The Daily Telegraph 5 March 2003: 16.
  9. ^ Qtd. in Nicolas D. Kristof, "Save Our Spooks", The New York Times 30 May 2003:A6.
  10. ^ Ex-CIA official Blasts Bush on Leak of Operative's Name: Democrats' Radio Address Focuses on White House Aides' Role CNN July 23, 2005, accessed November 21, 2006.
  11. ^ Democracy Now! (3 October 2003) Archived 10 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b c d e Grynbaum, Michael M. (2017-03-17). "Fox's Andrew Napolitano Stirred the Pot for Trump's British Tempest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  13. ^ Johnson, Larry (16 May 2008). "Will Barack Throw Mama From the Train? [Update Two] - NO QUARTER USA NET". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011.
  14. ^ Johnson, Larry (2 June 2008). "Michelle Obama and Louis Farrakhan Take On Whitey - NO QUARTER USA NET". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Organizing for Action".
  16. ^ Johnson, Larry (21 October 2008). "Whitey Tape, API, Phil Berg, and Andy Martin - NO QUARTER USA NET". Archived from the original on 22 October 2008.
  17. ^ Napolitano, Andrew (2017-03-16). "Did Obama spy on Trump?". Fox News. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  18. ^ "Man behind Michelle Obama and John Kerry hoaxes at centre of GCHQ row". The Independent. 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2017-03-18.

References

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