Albert Nimziki (born 1948) was the U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Thomas Whitmore and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
History
Background
Nimziki grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was the son of a agronomist. He attended in Georgetown University, where he earned a double major in criminology and international relations. Soon after joining the CIA, he proved himself to be a highly efficient administrator, which allowed him to steadily rise through the agency's ranks and eventually becoming Director of the CIA. Nimziki was among the few selected people who were aware of extraterrestrial life from the Roswell incident under Project Smudge. During the fallout of the Watergate scandal in 1972, Nimziki successfully proposed having every extraterrestrial-related information and assets placed under his responsibility.[1]
During his term as Secretary of Defense under the Whitmore Administration, Nimziki was highly ambitious and manipulate his way in American politics. Because of his ambitions, he was unflattering nicknamed as "The Iron Sphincter."[2]
War of 1996
By the time of the 1996 invasion, Nimziki chose not to reveal his knowledge about the aliens to the President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Nimziki initially advocated a preemptive attack on the aliens should they shown themselves as a threat, which was proven correct. He escaped the destruction of Washington, D.C. on Air Force One. Following the loss of NORAD and a failed counterattack against the aliens, Nimziki eventually, yet reluctantly revealing to Whitmore the existence of Area 51.
Nimziki later strongly advised Whitmore in launching a nuclear attack on the invaders. Whitmore finally heeded his advice after learning the aliens' sinister purpose to harvest Earth's natural resources and wiping out its inhabitants. But an attempt on one of the City Destroyers above Houston fails to penetrates its shield. Nimziki tried to insist that further nuclear strikes might break through the invaders' shields, but Whitmore called off the remaining strikes.
During the next day, David Levinson found a way to disabled the aliens' force-fields by proposing the idea to use Area 51's refurbished alien spaceship to infiltrate the alien mothership and then infected it with a computer virus and plant a nuclear missile on board, therefore allowing the world's miltaries to launch a world-wide coordinated counterattack against the aliens. Nimziki was deeply skeptical of this ambitious plan and urged the President to dismiss it because they do not have enough available manpower and coordination to launch such an assault while doubting the spaceship's capability to fly and the pilot qualified to fly it. However, Levinson starts up the vessel, proving its ability to fly, and USMC Captain Steven Hiller volunteered to be its pilot. Whitmore approved the plan.
Nimziki, in a last ditch effort, again tried to convince Whitmore to change his mind. But Whitmore had enough of Nimziki and his obstructive antics, stating to him of his mistake for "appointing a sniveling little weasel like [him] as [his] Secretary of Defense" and promptly had him fired much to Nimziki's shock.
During the aliens' attack on Area 51, Nimziki found himself invited by Julius Levinson to join his Torah reading. Although Nimziki professed that he is not Jewish, Julius doesn't mind it at all.
Post-War
Years after the invasion, Nimziki attempted to run for president in the 2000 presidential election but was bested by William Grey.[3]
Gallery
Memorable Quotes
- "Sir, if we don't strike soon, there may not be much of an America left to defend.
- Nimziki arguing with Whitmore over a nuclear strike against the aliens."
- ―{{{2}}}
- "Uh, excuse me. Mr. President? That's not entirely accurate.
- Nimziki reluctantly telling the truth on Area 51."
- ―{{{2}}}
- "Two words, Mr. President. Plausible deniability.
- Nimziki on Area 51's secrecy."
- ―{{{2}}}
Behind the Scenes
- According to James Rebhorn, he compares Albert Nimziki to Oliver North, who served under Ronald Reagan and was known for his role in the Iran-Contra scandal.[4]
- Nimziki's firing lampoons Joe Nimziki, MGM's head of advertising who reportedly accounted for unpleasant experiences for Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich when studio executives forced recuts of Stargate.[5][6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Independence Day: Silent Zone
- ↑ Independence Day: Official Novelization
- ↑ Independence Day: Crucible
- ↑ Aberly and Engel 1996, p. 44.
- ↑ Stephen Galloway (July 4, 2001). "Affleck's Schedule Busies After 'Harbor'". bnet.com.
- ↑ Rebecca Ascher-Walsh (July 12, 1996). "SPACE UNDER FIRE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 8, 2008.