Steve Rosen

AP: Obama Can't Reform FOIA Fast Enough Contradictions Abound In Promise To Fulfill Freedom Of Information Act Requests http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/17/...in4870945.shtml This story discusses a 1960s FBI memo written from Cartha "Deke" DeLoach to Gerald Ford about a supposed $6,500 payment from the Cuban government to Lee Harvey Oswald in Mexico City. The CIA black-lined parts of the memo in 2008 before turning it over to the AP, even though it was released over 2 decades ago in full. Jefferson Morley discusses in Our Man in Mexico that David Atlee Phillips vouched for Gilbert Alvarado, who floated this $6,500 payoff story. Alvarado was a CIA informant, a key fact that was largely unknown to the U.S. officials who had to evaluate and act upon the payoff story's implications. Phillips later distanced himself, "theorizing" in The Night Watch that the Alvarado story was a figment of Nicaraguan intelligence - an organization created and controlled by the CIA. Why does the CIA consider the Alvarado story worthy of being censored today?

AP: Obama Can't Reform FOIA Fast Enough Contradictions Abound In Promise To Fulfill Freedom Of Information Act Requests http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/17/...in4870945.shtml This story discusses a 1960s FBI memo written from Cartha "Deke" DeLoach to Gerald Ford about a supposed $6,500 payment from the Cuban government to Lee Harvey Oswald in Mexico City. The CIA black-lined parts of the memo in 2008 before turning it over to the AP, even though it was released over 2 decades ago in full. Jefferson Morley discusses in Our Man in Mexico that David Atlee Phillips vouched for Gilbert Alvarado, who floated this $6,500 payoff story. Alvarado was a CIA informant, a key fact that was largely unknown to the U.S. officials who had to evaluate and act upon the payoff story's implications. Phillips later distanced himself, "theorizing" in The Night Watch that the Alvarado story was a figment of Nicaraguan intelligence - an organization created and controlled by the CIA. Why does the CIA consider the Alvarado story worthy of being censored today?

Lamar Waldron posted 24 parallels between CIA assassin recruiter QJWIN and Michel Victor Mertz as an endnote supplement to Legacy of Secrecy. See http://www.legacyofsecrecy.com/documents.html Similar or the same information was published in Waldron and Hartmann's Ultimate Sacrifice in chapter 43, note 40. It's worth a look but best understood in the context of the books.

Lamar Waldron posted 24 parallels between CIA assassin recruiter QJWIN and Michel Victor Mertz as an endnote supplement to Legacy of Secrecy. See http://www.legacyofsecrecy.com/documents.html Similar or the same information was published in Waldron and Hartmann's Ultimate Sacrifice in chapter 43, note 40. It's worth a look but best understood in the context of the books.

Lamar Waldron posted 24 parallels between CIA assassin recruiter QJWIN and Michel Victor Mertz as an endnote supplement to Legacy of Secrecy. See http://www.legacyofsecrecy.com/documents.html Similar or the same information was published in Waldron and Hartmann's Ultimate Sacrifice in chapter 43, note 40. It's worth a look but best understood in the context of the books.

Lamar Waldron posted 24 parallels between CIA assassin recruiter QJWIN and Michel Victor Mertz as an endnote supplement to Legacy of Secrecy. See http://www.legacyofsecrecy.com/documents.html Similar or the same information was published in Waldron and Hartmann's Ultimate Sacrifice in chapter 43, note 40. It's worth a look but best understood in the context of the books.

James, who is the man standing between those you identify as Ivan Vidal and Felipe Vidal Santiago?

These links are a continuation of the online comic by Dan Archer, this time depicting the murder of Rene Schneider in 1970. http://www.archcomix.com/?p=99 http://www.archcomix.com/?p=103 http://www.archcomix.com/?p=106 I am posting this here only because of the proximity to the other Archer comic links in this thread. I am not aware of any evidence that Henry Heckscher had anything to do with Rene Schneider's death.

You Can Handle the Truth by Tara McKelvey for The American Prospect discusses President Obama's promise of transparency. The article includes a brief mention of Joannides and new quotes from G. Robert Blakey. http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articl...andle_the_truth

Jeff Morley's latest article on Joannides and the FOIA: Obama’s Openness v. CIA Secrecy JFK Files Show Hurdles to Obama's Transparency Goals http://washingtonindependent.com/29193/cia-v-foia The most important revelation is that the CIA has now acknowledged in court two "covert projects" that Joannides served on: in Miami 1963, and as the agency's point man for the HSCA in 1978. “Joannides served undercover in both of these assignments,” the CIA chief of information programs stated. Steve (Morley mentions Mickey Kappes from JM/WAVE, but I think he meant Stephen Kappes.)

Lamar Waldron on Fox News discussing Legacy of Secrecy: http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html...ww.foxnews.com/ Unfortunately the video keeps cutting out. Steve

Bill, I agree that it wasn't "the Hemingway plot that led to JFK's murder". However, I think that Lansdales's memo raises problematic questions as to the Kennedy's conduct that should be examined within the wider historical context. One reasonable interpretation of that document is that the Kennedy's approved at least one assassination plot against Castro. That operation - if it existed - didn't necessarily lead to JFK or RFK's murder, and such plotting of course doesn't absolve anybody's responsibility for the Kennedy's deaths. You wrote that "the JFK Library is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, and that it "isn't the Kennedys who are with holding the records, its the US government." You view is at odds with the authors. They made specific charges in 2001 that "Kennedy family ... strictly limits access to the records" at the JFK Library and that historians "have been turned away by the Kennedys". They also claim that RFK took boxes of "classified and confidential papers" that are now controlled by the Kennedy family and not "subject to the Freedom of Information Act". I'm not sure which of you is right. That's why I raised the questions: Is the JFK Library withholding documents that are under the Kennedy family's discretion to release? If yes, why are those materials not available for research? What is in them about Giancana, and others? Are those papers not subject to FOIA requests, as the authors claim? These should be legitimate concerns to all of us. Steve

Bill, thanks for posting this intriguing article and the recent follow-up. If we assume the accuracy of Lansdales's memorandum, then the Oval Office meeting with JFK and RFK presents troubling questions. "A delicate and sensitive" operation involving "fractioning the regime"? What else could they have been discussing but the liquidation of Castro in veiled bureaucratese? The authors are careful to say that the plan is not entirely clear. And Landsdales's point of view is only one of several. However, I do think it's significant that Peter Kornbluh of the National Security Archive believes it refers to assassination. Does anyone have a link to the complete memo at the Mary Ferrell archives or at NARA? The JFK Library (as of 2001, at least) has squirreled away unreleased documents referring to Sam Giancana (and others of interest) from the CIA, FBI, and State Department? Is this still going on? Why won't the Library let historians and researchers view these papers, which were paid for by taxpayers? What are they hiding? Most here support the release of government files under FOIA and The JFK Act. The authors' point is well-taken that we should hold the JFK Library to the same legal standards for any Kennedy papers generated in the course of taxpayer funded official business. If we don't, it's our loss. Steve

Historians in Handcuffs is a good article from The Nation by Jeff Kisseloff. Quotes James Lesar, FOIL and AARC attorney "who has spent four decades investigating the assassination of President Kennedy" (!) http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090126/kisseloff?rel=hp_picks

On September 23, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon granted summary judgment in favor of the State Department and dismissed Jefferson Morley and David Talbot's Freedom of Information Act requests for State records on David Morales and George Joannides. Morley and Talbot had asked for passport information, visa papers, code names, and aliases. The State Department released three unredacted passport applications for Joannides and one for Morales, but refused to confirm or deny the existence of any pseudonyms. Judge Leon ruled that the State Department properly cited two FOIA exemptions in failing to comment as to whether or not the requested records even existed in State archives. First, Judge Leon held that pursuant to Executive order governing "Secret" material, the mere confirmation or denial by State of the existence of such alias information would reveal sources and methods and damage national security. Judge Leon agreed with the assertion by Margaret P. Grafeld of the State Department that revealing whether State granted such aliases would undermine the "covert nature" of "intelligence-gathering activities". Second, Judge Leon ruled that the State Department is not compelled to come clean merely because the CIA has already "officially acknowledged" aliases for Morales and Joannides in documents released under the JFK Act. It is unknown if Morley and Talbot are appealing this ruling to the Circuit Court level. Note: The above suit arose from routine FOIA requests from Morley and Talbot. In December 2006, David Talbot filed FOIA requests with the CIA for temporary duty travel records for 1968 and all photographs of George Joannides, Gordon Campbell, and David Morales. (Those proceedings were granted a stay by Judge Leon in August 2007. Their current disposition is unknown but is not affected by Judge Leon's ruling.) Judge Leon's opinion can be found here: https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_p...c?2007cv0277-34 This article by Michael Doyle at http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/law/20...d-alias--1.html summarizes the lawsuit. Will Hilary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State effect such future similar requests, in light of her that "I will do whatever I can consistent with legitimate concerns about national security to release information"?Steve

On September 23, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon granted summary judgment in favor of the State Department and dismissed Jefferson Morley and David Talbot's Freedom of Information Act requests for State records on David Morales and George Joannides. Morley and Talbot had asked for passport information, visa papers, code names, and aliases. The State Department released three unredacted passport applications for Joannides and one for Morales, but refused to confirm or deny the existence of any pseudonyms. Judge Leon ruled that the State Department properly cited two FOIA exemptions in failing to comment as to whether or not the requested records even existed in State archives. First, Judge Leon held that pursuant to Executive order governing "Secret" material, the mere confirmation or denial by State of the existence of such alias information would reveal sources and methods and damage national security. Judge Leon agreed with the assertion by Margaret P. Grafeld of the State Department that revealing whether State granted such aliases would undermine the "covert nature" of "intelligence-gathering activities". Second, Judge Leon ruled that the State Department is not compelled to come clean merely because the CIA has already "officially acknowledged" aliases for Morales and Joannides in documents released under the JFK Act. It is unknown if Morley and Talbot are appealing this ruling to the Circuit Court level. Note: The above suit arose from routine FOIA requests from Morley and Talbot. In December 2006, David Talbot filed FOIA requests with the CIA for temporary duty travel records for 1968 and all photographs of George Joannides, Gordon Campbell, and David Morales. (Those proceedings were granted a stay by Judge Leon in August 2007. Their current disposition is unknown but is not affected by Judge Leon's ruling.) Judge Leon's opinion can be found here: https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_p...c?2007cv0277-34 This article by Michael Doyle at http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/law/20...d-alias--1.html summarizes the lawsuit. Will Hilary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State effect such future similar requests, in light of her that "I will do whatever I can consistent with legitimate concerns about national security to release information"?Steve

On September 23, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon granted summary judgment in favor of the State Department and dismissed Jefferson Morley and David Talbot's Freedom of Information Act requests for State records on David Morales and George Joannides. Morley and Talbot had asked for passport information, visa papers, code names, and aliases. The State Department released three unredacted passport applications for Joannides and one for Morales, but refused to confirm or deny the existence of any pseudonyms. Judge Leon ruled that the State Department properly cited two FOIA exemptions in failing to comment as to whether or not the requested records even existed in State archives. First, Judge Leon held that pursuant to Executive order governing "Secret" material, the mere confirmation or denial by State of the existence of such alias information would reveal sources and methods and damage national security. Judge Leon agreed with the assertion by Margaret P. Grafeld of the State Department that revealing whether State granted such aliases would undermine the "covert nature" of "intelligence-gathering activities". Second, Judge Leon ruled that the State Department is not compelled to come clean merely because the CIA has already "officially acknowledged" aliases for Morales and Joannides in documents released under the JFK Act. It is unknown if Morley and Talbot are appealing this ruling to the Circuit Court level. Note: The above suit arose from routine FOIA requests from Morley and Talbot. In December 2006, David Talbot filed FOIA requests with the CIA for temporary duty travel records for 1968 and all photographs of George Joannides, Gordon Campbell, and David Morales. (Those proceedings were granted a stay by Judge Leon in August 2007. Their current disposition is unknown but is not affected by Judge Leon's ruling.) Judge Leon's opinion can be found here: https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_p...c?2007cv0277-34 This article by Michael Doyle at http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/law/20...d-alias--1.html summarizes the lawsuit. Will Hilary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State effect such future similar requests, in light of her that "I will do whatever I can consistent with legitimate concerns about national security to release information"?Steve

John, thanks for posting the 1961 photo of Robertson that you credit to The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961 by Alejandro Quesada. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKrobertsonW.htm Steve

Mr. Kelly, do you have citations for the information about Robertson (aside from the date of death & place of burial)? On the section for Culpeper National Cemetery at www.interment.net, U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs burial records reveal that there are two entries for Robertson, with the caveat that his records "have not been verified as accurate". Robertson, William A, b. 08/03/1920, d. 12/01/1970, MAJ USMCR, Plot: E 173, bur. 06/13/1977, * Robertson, William Jr, b. 08/03/1930, d. 12/01/1970, MAJOR USMGR, Plot: E 173, bur. 12/04/1970, * Two different dates for his birth and burial. http://www.interment.net/data/us/va/culpep.../index_rhsc.htm --- As to the photo comparison, James Richards posted that while he believes Robertson was "part of the operational plan" and commanded a Cuban assassin in Dealey Plaza, he doubts that "the man photographed at the corner of Main and Houston" is Rip Robertson, due to recent photos he had seen (as of April 2008). In addition, James wrote that while stationed in the Congo, Robertson made "damning" statements to people that he was in Dealey Plaza on 11/22/63. James also said that he was going to put up a website by the end of 2008 with new images of Dave Morales, and "some interesting images of Robertson and O'Hare (Bishop)" that would answer "a lot of questions". See http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.ph...=5781&st=75. Steve

Dan Archer of Archcomix.com tells the story of the overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile, in comic form. It's worth a look. Archer utilizes historical documents and cartoon versions of Dave Phillips, Henry Heckscher (often misspelled as 'Hecksher'), Helms, Nixon, and Kissinger: Latest episode: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=98 His 3-page piece for bashmagazine.com called The First 9/11 details the 1973 Chilean coup: Page 1: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=64 Page 2: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=67 Page 3: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=68 His next story, called The Other 9/11 is a longer version of the The First 9/11: Page 1: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=69 Page 2: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=72 Page 3: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=73 Page 4: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=79 Page 5: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=81 Page 6: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=80 Page 7: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=82 Page 8: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=85 Page 9: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=88 Page 10: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=90 Page 11: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=98 You can start at http://www.archcomix.com/?p=64 and hit 'Next' to read all of them in order. Steve

Dan Archer of Archcomix.com tells the story of the overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile, in comic form. It's worth a look. Archer utilizes historical documents and cartoon versions of Dave Phillips, Henry Heckscher (often misspelled as 'Hecksher'), Helms, Nixon, and Kissinger: Latest episode: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=98 His 3-page piece for bashmagazine.com called The First 9/11 details the 1973 Chilean coup: Page 1: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=64 Page 2: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=67 Page 3: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=68 His next story, called The Other 9/11 is a longer version of the The First 9/11: Page 1: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=69 Page 2: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=72 Page 3: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=73 Page 4: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=79 Page 5: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=81 Page 6: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=80 Page 7: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=82 Page 8: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=85 Page 9: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=88 Page 10: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=90 Page 11: http://www.archcomix.com/?p=98 You can start at http://www.archcomix.com/?p=64 and hit 'Next' to read all of them in order. Steve

John, Did Halpern's daughter ever answer your questions? Did you find any of the 1980's interviews? Thanks, Steve

Vanity Fair article on Legacy of Secrecy: Legacy of Mystery by Rob Sheffield, linked at http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/feature...1?currentPage=1.

Gus Russo responds to Max Holland's critique on Dale Myers' JFKFiles blog, in the wittily titled post Holland-aise Sauce: More Grousing From the Sidelines. http://jfkfiles.blogspot.com/2008/12/holla...using-from.html

Jim, You wrote in this thread: "One thing cannot be denied, Scott was familiar with the Lee Harvey Oswald and Whitney Shepardson’s friend Demitri de Mohrenschildt's brother George was perhaps Lee Harvey Oswald's closest friend in Dallas." Are you saying Win Scott knew George or Demitri Mohrenschildt? There was no mention of either brother in Our Man in Mexico, Jeff Morley's biography of Scott. Do you have a reference? Keep up the research efforts. Steve