Of course Olbermann doesn't bother to mention Johnson's credentials as an "expert". Fortunately, Ace of Spades handles that for us. Make sure you check the date on this:
"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."
--Larry C. Johnson, "The Declining Terrorist Threat," New York Times, July 10, 2001. Johnson, a former CIA officer, was deputy director of the U.S. State Department's Office of Counterterrorism from 1989 to 1993.
Next week, the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow has slated an impressive list of topics and guest "experts":
Monday:
Nutrition "expert" and psychologist Barry Bonds on the paranoia surrounding the effects of steroid abuse
Tuesday:
America's new morality...the Hollywood example. "Expert" sociologist Lindsay Lohan tells us why American values are outdated.
Wednesday:
"Expert" ethicist Mike Nifong on legal integrity: What is due process anyway?
Thursday:
Animal rights activist and "expert" Michael Vick on Your Dog...the need for tough love
The greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow has a special treat for us on Friday:
"Expert" marriage consultant Bill Clinton on The vows of matrimony. How important are they, really?
If anyone out there gets wind of future "experts" scheduled to appear on Countdown, please let us know (in the comment box).
(Update) Nothing to see here. Move along. According to Larry Johnson and the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow, threats like this are just in our heads:
Two people are being held after a burning Jeep was rammed through the terminal building at Glasgow airport.
Sky sources say the incident is being treated as a terrorist strike, and armed police have now closed off Blackpool airport.
The suspects have been described. We can all relax...the suspects are "Asian", not Middle Eastern Islamists:
Eyewitnesses have described a Jeep Cherokee being driven at speed towards the building with flames coming out from underneath.
They have also described seeing two Asian men, one of whom was on fire, who had been in the car.
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