US President Bill Clinton knew of, and helped facilitate, massive drug shipments into the United States while he was the Governor of Arkansas, in a cocaine smuggling operation that was turning over a billion dollars a year.

That’s one of the stunning claims in The God Factor, a new book by investigative journalist Ian Wishart, released today.

It’s a story the Washington Post newspaper found too hot to handle, and investigative journalists in the US have been trying for four years to get the story published.

Wishart admits he’s sticking his neck out.

"We reviewed the evidence, spoke to eyewitnesses, and we’re breaking it open – or at least New Zealanders will get the chance to read the story they’re too afraid to tell in the US."

While the book’s primary focus is the growing use of surveillance technology, like digitised drivers licence cards, Wishart then examines what happens when state agencies go out of control, and abuse their surveillance powers.

"What we’ve tried to do in The God Factor is not just show the ‘gee whiz’ technology that’s being used, but to illustrate the downstream implications that are already starting to show up in other countries. Then we try and put state surveillance in context – why do bureaucrats and politicians want these systems and how can they be used or misused?"

It’s in this context that The God Factor reveals fifteen people investigating PROMIS, America’s most sophisticated computer tracking system have been murdered. The dead include several lawyers, journalists and former intelligence agents who were leaking information to the media and other investigators.

"These people were shot dead by assailants unknown, while trying to uncover details of a computer surveillance programme that is being used worldwide to track ordinary citizens. Bill Clinton is hot on tracking systems, and only months after he took office he issued regulations forcing telephone companies to incorporate new computer hardware in phone systems so that the Secret Service and National Security Agency can eavesdrop.

"But the Clinton administration is a dangerous organisation to get close to: around fifty men and women either investigating Bill Clinton, or capable of testifying about his drug-trafficking, sexual or Whitewater affairs, have either been murdered or died violently in strange circumstances, and no one has ever been charged with the killings, so we’re covering that in the book as well."

Local highlights in the book include revelations that the New Zealand Automobile Association has "very serious concerns" about the privacy implications of the new digitised drivers licences, despite being the agent selling them to the public.

The book alleges that New Zealanders’ digital photos and signatures will be misused, and may even end up on the same black market that has already seen a number of Government officials charged with supplying personal information illegally to debt collectors and private investigators.

"Imagine the value to some of these companies in being able to purchase a digital photo of the person they’re targeting," says Wishart.

"New Zealand Government officials have been working on plans for a national ID card since 1987, and it appears they’ve finally conned the public into accepting a wolf in sheep’s clothing."

The journalist says a tracking system, either ID card based or satellite-based, will be essential if either National or Labour push ahead with plans to privatise the roads and force motorists to pay a toll to use them.

"I don’t think people realise how dangerous the roading reforms are. The Government will tell you it’s about ‘efficiency’ and getting the private sector to pay for better road surfaces, but they don’t tell you the plans are currently against the law.

"For centuries, courts have ruled that citizens have a right to use roads, without interference by Governments or anyone else. Freedom of movement is a fundamental human right. The God Factor reveals the Government was warned its privatisation plans are illegal at present, so they’re now looking to draft a law that will remove your existing legal right to drive or travel, and make it conditional on new regulations."

For those who doubt that Wishart and Howling At The Moon have the evidence to support the extremely serious allegations, he has a message:

"This is the first of three books we’re releasing over the next couple of months. By the end of it you’ll have all the eyewitness testimony on a range of major scandals that you could possibly want. I have worked on some extremely complex investigations in the past, and have been proven correct in each case.

"I have no difficulty proving that Clinton was involved in drug trafficking, and I have no difficulty putting people in a courtroom who could swear on a Bible to it. Forget Lewinsky, that’s nothing compared to what we now have on the US President.

NEW BOOK REVEALS:

REVISED 10:01 hrs, 23 September 1999

The author of a bestselling book on privacy says a burglary at an AA driver testing office highlights the need for tight security surrounding personal information.

Burglars stole computers that police initially told adjacent businesses contained the names, addresses and possibly even credit card details of thousands of New Zealanders who'd applied for new drivers licences.

The AA has today rejected those intitial reports, saying the computers taken from its SHirley office were not involved in the Driver Licence programme.

Journalist and author Ian Wishart, whose book The God Factor was published two months ago, warned at the time of its release that a security bungle was only a matter of time away.

"I am heartened by the assurances of Noel Rugg from the AA, who says the computers did not have personal information on. Nonetheless, it is a security scare that raises questions about what criminals can access when they break  in to driver testing stations.

"The average yobbo may not be savvy enough to access personal information, but what about a more sophisticated hacker that knew exactly what they wanted?"

Wishart said people worried about the initial reports should be reassured by the latest developments.

 A new book out today raises questions about Prime Minister Jenny Shipley’s links to a man at the centre of a major US corruption scandal.

Wishart says the visit raises some intriguing questions, given Riady’s background.
courtesy CNN

"A US Senate investigation recently found that James Riady and the Lippo Group ‘have had a long-term relationship with a Chinese intelligence agency’, and that Riady and Lippo have been making illegal donations to US President Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign fund.

"In addition, Riady’s assistant in the US, John Huang was appointed to a top job in the US Commerce Department at the insistence of the Clintons, but was then arrested in regard to these matters and identified as a Chinese spy. Riady and Lippo group were also involved with drug-bank BCCI.
courtesy CNN

"When US Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown was killed in a mysterious plane crash, he was replaced as Secretary of Commerce by Mickey Kantor – Lippo Group’s US lawyer. Kantor then appointed another Lippo executive to the Commerce Department.

"The first question I think New Zealanders need an answer to is this: did New Zealand’s foreign affairs or intelligence officials know about James Riady’s background before the Government invited him to visit New Zealand, and if not why not? If this was a bureaucratic gaffe the potential for political embarrassment must be severe.

"Secondly, if they did know, and briefed the Prime Minister accordingly, why would Jenny Shipley choose to meet such a character and what could the Prime Minister or the National Government possibly wish to talk to him about?"