Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
53. JFK assassination: CIA and New York Times are still lying to us
Tue Oct 14, 2014, 12:36 PM
Oct 2014
Fifty years later, a complicit media still covers up for the security state. We need to reclaim our history

DAVID TALBOT
Salon.com, Nov. 6, 2013

We’ll never know, we’ll never know, we’ll never know. That’s the mocking-bird media refrain this season as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of America’s greatest mystery – the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson hijacked a large chunk of her paper’s Sunday Book Review to ponder the Kennedy mystery. And after deliberating for page after page on the subject, she could only conclude that there was some “kind of void” at the center of the Kennedy story. Adam Gopnik was even more vaporous in the Nov. 4 issue of the New Yorker, turning the JFK milestone into an occasion for a windy cogitation on regicide as cultural phenomenon. Of course, constantly proclaiming “we’ll never know” has become a self-fulfilling prophecy for the American press. It lets the watchdogs off the hook, and excuses their unforgivable failure to actually, you know, investigate the epic crime. When it comes to this deeply troubling American trauma, the highly refined writers of the New Yorker and the elite press would rather muse about the meta-issues than get at the meat.

All this artful dodging about the murder of President Kennedy began, of course, nearly 50 years ago with the Warren Commission, the blue-ribbon panel that was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson — not to get at the truth, but to “lay the dust” (in the words of one commissioner) on all the disturbing rumors that were swirling around the bloody events in Dallas. Two new books take us inside the Warren Commission sausage factory, and show in often shocking detail how the august panel got it so terribly wrong. Soon after the Warren Report was released in September 1964, polls began showing that the American people rejected its conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin of the president – and nearly a half century later, the report remains a notorious symbol of official coverup. (This does not prevent Abramson from blithely declaring that “the historical consensus seems to have settled on” the lone gunman theory – there is no such consensus, only a deeply fractious ongoing debate.)

SNIP...

“A Cruel and Shocking Act” by former New York Times investigative reporter Philip Shenon has been soaking up most of the media spotlight in recent days. The book proclaims itself to be a “secret history of the Kennedy assassination.” Based largely on interviews with Warren Commission staff lawyers, the book reveals how the investigation was immediately taken over by the very government agencies — the CIA, FBI and Secret Service — that had the most to hide when it came to the assassination. The other new book, “History Will Prove Us Right,” was written by Howard Willens, a Warren Commission lawyer who refused to speak with Shenon. As suggested by the title — which is taken from a defiant statement by the commission chairman, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren – Willens’ book is a stubborn defense of the report that he helped produce. But ironically, after grinding one’s way through Willens’ serviceably written but highly revealing story, a reader can only come to the same conclusion that Shenon’s sexier expose’ demands – namely, that the Warren Report was the result of massive political cunning and investigative fraud.

Both books contain juicy and informative details that shed new light on the JFK investigation. (Shenon’s book also contains a few breathlessly advertised “scoops” that turn out to be rehashed stories or false leads.) But the two books also suffer from a strange cognitive dissonance. After elaborating on the many ways that the Warren Commission’s work was sabotaged by President Johnson, FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover (who immediately took charge of the investigation), former CIA director Allen Dulles (who conveniently got himself appointed to the commission), Treasury chief C. Douglas Dillon (who oversaw the Secret Service) and other Washington power players, the books seem to arrive at the same baffling conclusion as the deeply compromised Warren Report – i.e., that Oswald did it.

When it comes to the million-dollar question, Shenon is much more equivocal than Willens. He seems to think that Oswald might have had accomplices – but Oswald nonetheless remains at the center of Shenon’s story, rather than the intelligence officials, for instance, whom Sen. Richard Schweiker once remarked had their “fingerprints” all over the young alleged assassin. In following the conspiracy trail, Shenon quickly takes a wrong turn down the “Castro-as-mastermind” path. Perhaps because as a writer he found this story of deep espionage more intriguing than the Warren Commission’s twisted bureaucratic tale, the author lights off for Mexico City, where Oswald apparently visited (or was impersonated visiting) the Soviet and Cuban embassies in the days before Dallas. Shenon has Oswald dallying with a sexy clerk in the Cuban embassy, and perhaps getting entangled in a sinister Fidelista plot against JFK.

CONTINUED...

http://www.salon.com/2013/11/06/the_jfk_assassination_we_still_dont_know_what_happened/

I heard Mr. Talbot speak at the Duquesne Conference. He names Allen Dulles "the Chairman of the Board" behind the assassination plot.
Seems the New York Times has done a lot of ''favors'' for CIA. Octafish Oct 2014 #1
Inquiring minded journalists should be asking that very same question! Segami Oct 2014 #2
The corrupt nature of the press is revealed because the People know squat. Octafish Oct 2014 #60
propaganda? BetsysGhost Oct 2014 #64
CIA remains under control of BushInc. No president can crack the inner power circle blm Oct 2014 #10
Just stop it. Stop giving a free pass to the Presidents that should know better. MontyPow Oct 2014 #54
Sorry, but, I know far too much to follow your preferred narrative. blm Oct 2014 #55
So you don't vote for President, I presume. MontyPow Oct 2014 #56
Glad you asked. Unless you've got Top Secret clearance and a numbered Swiss bank account... Octafish Oct 2014 #57
I'm familiar with this information. MontyPow Oct 2014 #59
Me, yes, even if much of the Secret Government is beyond apparent control of the president. Octafish Oct 2014 #61
No, no - Monty is certain that every president controls every part of the CIA. blm Oct 2014 #66
Not what I said. Interesting that you felt the need to pretend I blm Oct 2014 #62
The implication is clear. MontyPow Oct 2014 #63
Inner power circle at CIA...no...couldn't possibly be...would blm Oct 2014 #65
I read your post. I concluded that with such powers there is no point in voting. MontyPow Oct 2014 #67
YOUR 'conclusion' is BS- argue with yourself. blm Oct 2014 #68
Tin foil hats are dangerous to ones health. MontyPow Oct 2014 #77
Yeah - I hear that's what Gary Webb died from - blm Oct 2014 #91
But what about Jack Webb? MontyPow Oct 2014 #95
Dick Cheney's 'just conspiracy theory nuts' club is blm Oct 2014 #96
I have no idea what you are talking about. MontyPow Oct 2014 #99
LOLOL - of COURSE you wouldn't know what I am referencing blm Oct 2014 #100
You are correct, sir. Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #79
Good to see other alert citizens chime in. blm Oct 2014 #90
AND for bush/cheney. calimary Oct 2014 #23
Astute observations. (NT) The Wizard Oct 2014 #29
Thanks for reminding me! navarth Oct 2014 #37
the bush debate wire. mopinko Oct 2014 #47
The Emperor's New Hump Octafish Oct 2014 #80
a cheater is a cheater. mopinko Oct 2014 #82
When is it appropriate for reporters/editors to engage in prior restraint? exboyfil Oct 2014 #3
These days that info would lead the nightly news. Its sad. 7962 Oct 2014 #74
Bingo--that's the real rub Supersedeas Oct 2014 #92
Remember how in the movies CJCRANE Oct 2014 #4
Did you have "Condor" in mind? Eleanors38 Oct 2014 #48
You mean this? KansDem Oct 2014 #52
That's the one. "You're about to become a very lonely man." Eleanors38 Oct 2014 #93
Or, in reality, the Washington Post? WinkyDink Oct 2014 #50
Off to the greatest page for you malaise Oct 2014 #5
"revealing the CIA’s failed attempt to hinder Iran’s nuclear program" bananas Oct 2014 #6
Good interview on Terry Gross today erronis Oct 2014 #76
The Intercept :James Risen’s new book on war-on-terror abuses comes out tomorrow Ichingcarpenter Oct 2014 #7
Thanks! Segami Oct 2014 #8
The Times was busy publishing Libby exclusives. n/t Orsino Oct 2014 #9
And NYT's reporter Judith Miller helped shovel their dung. Segami Oct 2014 #13
Smells like Cheney to me. Frustratedlady Oct 2014 #11
Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Oct 2014 #12
she regrets it now??? heaven05 Oct 2014 #14
That's embarrassing. aikoaiko Oct 2014 #15
And, to this very fucking day, anyone who disagrees with the Official Government Handout about djean111 Oct 2014 #16
word. KG Oct 2014 #19
Yup. truebrit71 Oct 2014 #21
Careful, there - I don't think being a Progressive is desired in the New Democratic Party any more. djean111 Oct 2014 #32
Or at least marginalize them but keep them around for voting purposes. < They may have screwed jtuck004 Oct 2014 #87
+1 valerief Oct 2014 #40
Risen was on Democracy Now! this morning deutsey Oct 2014 #17
The last line in "Three Days of the Condor" (1975): Eleanors38 Oct 2014 #42
merely ya say Supersedeas Oct 2014 #94
K & R mountain grammy Oct 2014 #18
I'm sure the Times regrets a lot of decisions gratuitous Oct 2014 #35
+ several thousand. nt navarth Oct 2014 #38
+ Fucking infinity! (no text) KingCharlemagne Oct 2014 #85
K&R ReRe Oct 2014 #20
I bet THAT would make one helluva book! truebrit71 Oct 2014 #22
I'd buy it, too! ReRe Oct 2014 #26
oh the white privilege of complaining after the fact...shouldn't this meeting have been part of the Supersedeas Oct 2014 #24
Jesus H Christ, you manage to put "white privilege" into THIS story? 7962 Oct 2014 #75
Now you know why I was shocked to hear that the White House had a direct link to Baitball Blogger Oct 2014 #25
Russert's sell out was obvious The Wizard Oct 2014 #31
When did you find that out? Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #81
complicit media. our democracy is in real trouble. spanone Oct 2014 #27
+ a bazillion SoapBox Oct 2014 #30
+ and another. navarth Oct 2014 #39
And she's free to ask all she wants. name not needed Oct 2014 #28
So why would she capitulate? Either her patriotism got the best of her or she felt threatened. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #34
Anthrax anyone? nt valerief Oct 2014 #41
And Abramson is effectively conceding here that she failed at her job. closeupready Oct 2014 #45
And not too long ago the Times faced a major shitstorm for firing her. name not needed Oct 2014 #46
Corporate news cries crocodile tears, Rex not moved or convinced. Rex Oct 2014 #33
They have indeed established a pattern of collusion with the Agency: Maedhros Oct 2014 #69
K&R for the original post and subsequent informative posts and links. JEB Oct 2014 #36
JFK assassination: CIA and New York Times are still lying to us Octafish Oct 2014 #53
I am sure that is not the first time that happened bigwillq Oct 2014 #43
What kind of people still look to the Times as truth-tellers? closeupready Oct 2014 #44
I thought the more shocking piece of the report Calista241 Oct 2014 #49
And now Kindasleazy is picking football teams to play for national championship. liberal N proud Oct 2014 #51
To the Greatest Page woo me with science Oct 2014 #58
"in the calculus of all of the major stories we were dealing with" Rose Siding Oct 2014 #70
Kick for an extraordinary thread! Bookmarked for all the excellent information here. scarletwoman Oct 2014 #71
lol - if Risen had published an expose of our current administration's fuckups, you can just whereisjustice Oct 2014 #72
I have no problem with that at ALL. 7962 Oct 2014 #73
Greenwald and Timm should be all over this... Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #78
Wrong.... His website also broke this story Ichingcarpenter Oct 2014 #89
I only go by what I see Greenwald talking about on twitter Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #98
So, this didn't air on Sunday night and can only be found online. SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2014 #83
K&R. JDPriestly Oct 2014 #84
Translation: I regret that I was and am a tool. As the Church Lady might say, KingCharlemagne Oct 2014 #86
This kind of thing probably happens much more than we would prefer to believe. merrily Oct 2014 #88
In an interview with 60 Minutes that Ended Up Online? MinM Oct 2014 #97
Yep - Corpmedia. BushInc sez JUMP! and corpmedia sez HOW HIGH? blm Oct 2014 #101
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Jill Abramson: CONDI RICE...»Reply #53