John Rees (journalist)
Encyclopedia
John Rees is a British
right wing
journalist resident in the United States of America. Based out of Baltimore, Maryland
, he was active during the 1970s and 1980s. He ran a network of private informant
s on college campuses in the United States, that Political Research Associates
referred to as often having better placed infiltrators among campus groups
than the FBI
's own agents ran. The network would pass information along to John Rees, who would in turn forward it to the director of intelligence at FBI headquarters, from there it would be forwarded to field offices. These activities were part of a network of private right wing groups that the FBI used to gather intelligence on government critics and people opposed to the Reagan Administration
's foreign policy stance in Central America
.
Rees also criticized Lyndon LaRouche
and the LaRouche movement
saying the organization has "taken on the characteristics more of a political cult
than a political party
," and a cult-like "blind obedience." Among the publications he was associated with are Review of the News and American Opinion, published by the John Birch Society
, with which Rees was an active collaborator. His own Information Digest reported on extremist
movements
on both the left and right ends of the political spectrum
. In addition, he worked with the Birch Society's late Congressman Larry McDonald
in the activities of the Western Goals Foundation
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
right wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
journalist resident in the United States of America. Based out of Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, he was active during the 1970s and 1980s. He ran a network of private informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
s on college campuses in the United States, that Political Research Associates
Political Research Associates
Political Research Associates , named and known on the Web as PublicEye.org, is a non-profit research group located in Somerville, Massachusetts.-Mission:...
referred to as often having better placed infiltrators among campus groups
Student activism
Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...
than the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
's own agents ran. The network would pass information along to John Rees, who would in turn forward it to the director of intelligence at FBI headquarters, from there it would be forwarded to field offices. These activities were part of a network of private right wing groups that the FBI used to gather intelligence on government critics and people opposed to the Reagan Administration
Reagan Administration
The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989....
's foreign policy stance in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
.
Rees also criticized Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. is an American political activist and founder of a network of political committees, parties, and publications known collectively as the LaRouche movement...
and the LaRouche movement
LaRouche movement
The LaRouche movement is an international political and cultural network that promotes Lyndon LaRouche and his ideas. It has included scores of organizations and companies around the world. Their activities include campaigning, private intelligence gathering, and publishing numerous periodicals,...
saying the organization has "taken on the characteristics more of a political cult
Political cult
Political cult is a term used to describe some groups that are generally considered to be on the political fringe. Although the majority of groups to which the term "cult" is sometimes applied are religious in nature, some are non-religious and focus either on secular self-improvement or on...
than a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
," and a cult-like "blind obedience." Among the publications he was associated with are Review of the News and American Opinion, published by the John Birch Society
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a Constitutional Republic and personal freedom. It has been described as radical right-wing....
, with which Rees was an active collaborator. His own Information Digest reported on extremist
Extremism
Extremism is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards...
movements
Political movement
A political movement is a social movement in the area of politics. A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group...
on both the left and right ends of the political spectrum
Political spectrum
A political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
. In addition, he worked with the Birch Society's late Congressman Larry McDonald
Larry McDonald
Lawrence Patton McDonald, M.D. was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the seventh congressional district of Georgia as a Democrat...
in the activities of the Western Goals Foundation
Western Goals Foundation
The Western Goals Foundation was a private intelligence dissemination network active on the right-wing in the United States. It was wound up in 1986 when the Tower Commission revealed it had been part of Oliver North's Iran–Contra funding network....
.