July 26, 2005

No quarter
BradBlog reports: 'With their backs against the wall vis a vis TreasonGate, [GOP operatives in the SCLM] have been given some fresh smear ammo, apparently, to try and help the White House minimize and obfuscate their unprecedented outting of a covert CIA operative.'

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.

Reprinted below is the article I wrote in January 2003. My key warning is contained in the second paragraph:
"In fact there is a serious risk that a US led war against Iraq may crystallize the diffused anger in the Arab and Muslim world--a heretofore unattained goal of bin Laden and his followers--and persuade more Muslim youths to take up the terrorist banner against American and her citizens."

- Larry Johnson, former CIA official, responding to the rightwing smear machine.
****

No comments: