by Larry Johnson (bio below)
I did this two and a half years ago. I commented on the outrage in the intel community about the cooking of the books on Iraq. Seems timely in light of Cheney’s continued denial of reality. — LJ
CIA Politics
Listen to this story … by Michele Norris
All Things Considered, May 30, 2003 · NPR’s Michele Norris talks with Larry Johnson, a former CIA and State Department analyst, about Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times column entitled “Save Our Spooks.” Kristof says the Department of Defense deliberately skewed the facts to convince the Bush administration to go to war with Iraq.
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Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm that helps corporations and governments manage threats posed by terrorism and money laundering. Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (as a Deputy Director), 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. Further bio details.
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so the defense dept scewed the facts
the cia scewed the facts
who did they do this scewing for?
and whats the difference between scewing and misleadingcough lying?
we got scewed
Larry, I can’t see any way that the CIA and the rest of the intelligence agencies are not as contemptible and probably criminal as the White House. For years I’ve believed that the only way to clean out the incredible corruption and self-serving secrecy would be to dismantle it all: CIA, FBI, NSC, and all the rest of the shadowy government and start over from scratch. Ain’t gonna happen now, of course, what with everybody whipped into a frenzy about having daddy keep them “safe”.
I’ve been wondering, as an ex, how much you still respect your former employers as an institution. Do you think deep-level reform is needed?
doesnt it seem like there are good guys and bad guys in each of those agencies…
we just cant throw out all the babies with the bath water….we need to support the babies who are good babies…..really protect them and truly go after the people who try to silence them.
seems like all the good guys are the ones who don’t work there anymore.
Right on, Anna.
I’m reading Bob Baer’s book (See No Evil) and it is STUNNING, appalling, shocking, disgusting how little support he got in the field and how few real field soldiers for the CIA there are out there …. it got very politicized.
I can’t wait to see the movie. Rolling Stone says it’s great and gives it four stars, and that George Clooney has outdone himself in this role. They called the movie Syriana instead of See No Evil.
I strongly agree with Anna. Like everything in life there are good guys and bad guys. It may SEEM like all the good guys are no longer in, but we have to step back and think this through.
Actually this has been bothering me for quite a while-so I guess this is a rant, and I may ruffle some feathers (and not the deservedly yellow ones sent thanks to Boston Joe’s great organizing).
A year ago the scum in this administration fully politicized the intelligence community. The coup d’etate was the appointment of Porter Goss and his subsequent actions which have caused many highly placed, long term people, to leave their life’s work.
Most, if not all here, would agree that the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld cabal is exceptionally vicious and vengeful. These guys are sewer rats with the worst filth from the bottom fully encrusting their every move. They make the Nixon crowd appear to be out of control frat boys by comparison.
Do you remember a few weeks ago Booman asked if we thought the “Rovian” war room was reading us and our comments, after what happened to Steve Clemons of “The Washington Note” Blog? IMHO – of course they are! The BT front pagers, and maybe us, can at a minimum expect to be hassled by the IRS and possibly the FEC.
If any of the “good” guys inside speak out, not only will they lose their jobs and pensions, their families are also exposed to severe danger. What will happen to them probably makes what happened to Aldrich a simple walk in the park.
Joe Wilson had the courage and patriotism to go public in July 2003, and he was RETIRED! The result, his wife was outed, her career ruined, and a very important front company (Brewster Jennings), that had prevented proliferation of WMD’s for 20 years, was completely destroyed. From the blogs (not sure if confirmed) it seems one US agent was murdered and anywhere from 60-70 foreign assets died what was most likely a very painful death.
When Joe Wilson requested Government protection, he was told to dial 911 if anything happened. As a mother and grandmother, I can only imagine how horrible it is for the Wilson’s to have to maintain constant vigilance over their 5 year old twin boys, never being able to let them live a “normal” American kid’s life, because they may be killed. Of course they also have to constantly watch their own backs so they can protect themselves and their boys.
Larry did the interview in this diary in May of 2003. Larry also has a wife and family. Don’t you think there have been some very nasty repercussions for Larry, Pat Lang and others who have spoken out?
Now I do not always agree with Intelligence actions taken. IE. Larry mentioned last week CIA operations to make sure Iraq does not become a theocratic extension of Iran after we leave. My personal preference would be some kind of people to people program, which may be funded by government, but which government would have absolutely no control of, and could be organized with other world wide NGO’s like oxfam or the international red cross. The adult in me recognizes my idea is the “humane” way over the long term, but realistically, some intervention may be needed short term so that things do not spiral completely out of control.
Pat Lang asked how we could all be so childishly “duped”. Well, we didn’t have the information on who the Criminal Cabal’s “sources” were for the Iraq war misinformation fed to us. The second component is that Americans have always previously trusted their officials, and we have NOT had the horrendous experience of centuries to inculcate in us the the depth of evil of which some power mad people are capable-Therefore, it is not quite REAL for us. Those from more mature cultures perceive American “optimism” as a pleasant child-like quality.
My bottom line is that the good guys inside intelligence are currently in a box – the matrix if you will. The ones who have spoken out are quite LITERALLY PUTTING THEIR LIVES, AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILYS’ ON THE LINE FOR OUR COUNTRY!!. We need to remember and acknowledge that, every time they proffer some new related information. The extent of their courage, patriotism, and allegiance to our constitution is beyond question for me.
There is much they cannot tell us, and much we may never know. However if you look at how this whole thing has evolved, these former intelligent people have ratcheted up things, in a predetermined manner, over the last 18 months. Just shocking the entire country with an intelligence dump and major coup d’etate, would leave us in total disarray and chaos (And, as you know, they are very capable of that). I have to believe they know what they are doing, and are watching the backs of even the dimmest of the kool-aid drinkers, whether they deserve it or not.
I for one am grateful for the sacrifices these guys are making, and for what they are doing. I appreciate their willingness to communicate with us directly via blogs and comments. And, I am eternally thankful they are on the side of the constitution and the “average” citizen. They deserve our thanks, not our condemnation!
END OF RANT!!