Thread: WITH MEXICAN FRIENDS LIKE THIS WHO NEEDS ENEMIES

LINK to Story


WITH MEXICAN FRIENDS LIKE THIS WHO NEEDS ENEMIES
by
Larry C. Johnson

There is a terrorist threat in Mexico against Americans only it is from Mexican police. Two weeks ago (March 4th) a senior US Government official with the Transportation Security Administration was brutally attacked. This official, who is in charge of surveying and assessing Mexican airports to ensure that they meet the U.S. Government security requirements, left his hotel room in Tijuana, Mexico on Friday evening and crossed the street to buy his daughter a gift. While returning from the gift shop he was accosted by two Mexican police officers. They pulled the U.S. Federal agent into an alley and beat him while demanding $1,000.

The U.S. official told the thugs that his wallet with his ATM card was in the hotel. The aspiring theives accompanied the the Federal agent into the hotel. The U.S. official hollered to the hotel security personnel for help but was ignored. The Mexican police forced him outside the hotel and continued beating him. He was then put into a Mexican police vehicle, taken to the Tijuana jail, and put into a holding cell with 50 other unfortunate souls. He continued to tell the police that he was a U.S. Federal Law Enforcement officer with the Transportation Security Administration.

Somehow the news got back to the US Embassy and the Embassy's Regional Security Officer (RSO) arrived in the morning to free him. The Federal Agent was put into a vehicle, accompanied by armed convoy, and escorted back to the safety of the United States.

Beside the emotional trauma inflicted on him by greedy, corrupt Mexican police officers, the U.S. agent suffered serious nerve damage to his hands. To make matters worse he faces possible retaliation from his own Government. Instead of lodging a forceful protest with the Mexican Government, the U.S. State Department is trying to keep the matter quiet. TSA, rather than stand up for its people, is blaming the Agent who was so viciously attacked for causing the incident "because he left his hotel room after dinner". The last time I checked there is no U.S. Government policy requiring U.S. officials on TDY to remain as hostages in their room, particularly in Mexico. TSA needs to send a clear message to the Mexicans--if you attack our people then your planes won't land in the United States.

During the ride back to the United States the RSO told the agent that as many as 80 Americans a year are being mugged in this same way. Most pay up and go on their way. Some wind up beaten and in jail. And the answer from the White House and the State Department? Deafening silence. Where is the public warning from Consular Affairs?

If the men and women charged with inspecting the Mexican airports to ensure they are meeting U.S. security standards cannot do their job without the threat of being mugged and robbed, how can we be sure that the Government of Mexico is fully cooperating with us to prevent terrorists from coming into the United States.

HMMM!




Edit: Link by Mr_Magoo

Redgirl1 this looks like a front page article ???

I would like it on the home but we need to know who Mr. Larry C Johnson is and find some info that backs this up first.

W

Just sent an email ref. same to see if I can get any info on it.

Who is Larry C. Johnson? (sounds like a credible fellow .. he is a contributor to The Counterterrorism Blog - "the first multi-expert blog dedicated solely to counterterrorism issues, serving as a gateway to the community for policymakers and serious researchers. Designed to provide realtime information about cases and policy developments.")

http://www.berg-associates.com/larryc.htm

LARRY C JOHNSON
LCJohnson@BERG-Associates.com

Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm that helps multinational corporations and financial institutions identify strategic opportunities, manage risks, and counter 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, 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 and the BBC. He was even employed as a Fox News Contributor during 2002. 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 (197, where he also received his B.S. degree in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1976.

William, I have forwarded the email from LC to you. I would go with it.

I would be interested in reading his response if it gives any additional evidence. Looks like one HOT story to me if it pans out.

Just did a bit of googleing on LCJ. Looks like his resume is pretty accurate. I found articles and interviews with him on Nightline and others.

He has been critical about Bush and Rice in the past on other topics
http://www.progressivetrail.org/arti....Johnson.shtml so he is not a toadie. Nor have I found anything wild-eyed about anything he says... seems like a rational thinker to me. Let the truth out, and the chips fall where they may.

The title of the thread should also read, with friends like Bush, who needs enemies?

why is this not on every front page of every newspaper!!!!!! I FOR ONE AM GOING TO FORWARD THAT STORY EVERY ONE......




AND OUR CORRUPT GOVERNMENT STILL CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING!!!!!!

Just be sure to link back here with it.