Jump to content

Arthur R. Thompson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bender the Bot (talk | contribs) at 18:52, 5 November 2016 (top: clean up; http→https for Google Books using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Arthur Thompson in September 2011.

Arthur R. "Art" Thompson (born 1938 in Seattle) is the CEO of the John Birch Society, and took office in 2005.[1]

Thompson believes that Russian communism remains a serious threat to the USA, and is responsible for much global terrorism[2] including 9/11.[3] He has claimed a number of Islamists including Ayman al-Zawahiri are or were communists.[4] He has criticised both mainstream Republicans and Tea Party figures such as Sarah Palin for failing to see the nature of the threat from Moscow.[5] He also believes in a shadowy international conspiracy including such bodies as the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission and the Rockefeller family that threatens American interests.[6]

Before becoming head of the JBS, he had a long career as an anti-communist activist: he claims to have infiltrated Marxist organizations around his Seattle home in the 1960s.[6] He took control of the John Birch Society in 2005 after launching a "coup" with the support of the organization's former president John McManus.[6]

Citations

  1. ^ "Art Thompson". John Birch Society website. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  2. ^ Terry, Don (Spring 2013). "Bringing Back Birch". Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report (149).
  3. ^ Conner, Claire (2013). Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America's Radical Right. Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807077511.
  4. ^ Fenwick, Ben (February 5, 2009). "As conspiracy theories abound in Oklahoma, John Birch Society, others rally". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  5. ^ "John Birch Society wonders about Palin". Alaska Dispatch. February 10, 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Barry, Dan (June 25, 2009). "Holding Firm Against Plots by Evildoers". New York Times. Retrieved 6 December 2013.