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James Richards

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Posts posted by James Richards

    Fifth floor shooter?

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    I was wondering if anyone had a handy list of witnesses who claimed to have seen a shooter on the fifth floor? I know there were at least 2 but I have Googled around and can't seem to lock them in.

    Even witnesses that claimed to have seen something unusual in the fifth floor windows would be appreciated.

    Cheers,

    James

    Judyth Baker

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Hi James

    Agree with you in part regarding "need to know" however....we must consider the possibility that, tho the killing of the beard was an agency project, the idea of injecting him with cancer cells may have begun at the bottom and worked its way up! (Charlie Black)

    Hi Charlie,

    I have no doubts that there was government influence in guiding a project which researched a cancer inducing virus. Whether that was Agency or not, we can only speculate. If we believe there was a possibility that Jack Ruby was injected with such a thing, then that would suggest that a shadowy government department had been working on this for some time.

    As for Judyth, I am sure that if she did work on such a project and with the benefit of hindsight, she may have put two and two together. At the time however, no information would have been shared by her sponsors. It would have severely compromised the operation.

    Very good point. One of the problems with stories that you get from people like Judyth Baker, James Files and Chauncey Holt, is that they all know too much. As you say, even if they were involved in such a plot, they would only know about a small part of the story. This is why I find John Martino's story so convincing. He only knew what he needed to know. Sure he was free to speculate, but it would have only been speculation. I am not even sure that someone like David Morales knew who he was really working for. (John Simkin)

    Indeed, John. Smoke and mirrors, plausible deniability and manipulation is the only way an Intelligence service can operate effectively.

    James

    Judyth Baker

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Thanks Dixie for your response.

    One thing about Judyth's story I have never been able to figure out. If she was indeed working on some cancer inducing virus which was to be used to kill Castro, then there is no way she would have been told who the victim was going to be. She would have worked with no information as to the weapon's ultimate use. This type of activity is definitely conducted on a 'need to know'. That's just the way it is.

    James

    Ruby at Parkland?

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    James

    The same could be said of the man with the "tramps."

    This photo resembles Jack Ruby, and the tramps

    photo resembles Maxwell Taylor AND Colonel Lansdale.......... (Shanet Clark)

    Hi Shanet,

    I think there was also some timing problems with the hearse leaving and testimony to where Ruby was when that happened. I just can't find the details amongst my notes so I apologize for this lazy post.

    I have always stated that photographic comparisons are speculative at best. It's up to each of us to formulate our own thoughts based on whatever supporting evidence we can unearth.

    James

    Ruby at Parkland?

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Hi guys,

    I must apologize for my statement that "I seriously doubt it is Ruby" as that is not accurate at all.

    What I should have said is that this is one of those things that will never be settled mainly because the image itself tells us nothing. It is from behind and at some distance. Even if it is Ruby, the evidence as it stands proves nothing.

    Frustrating to say the least.

    James

    Operation Northwoods

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    And was Audrey Hepburn working for Lemnitzer as his control agent? (Pat Speer)

    I don't think she was, Pat. Maybe Lemnitzer as a part of 'Northwoods' had planned to blow up Audrey Hepburn and to blame it on Castro. ;)

    And, Mark. I will send some more Lemnitzer images via email.

    James

    Bradley Ayers

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Possibly also relevant that there is some mention that FAL's were the weapon of deniable choice for one of the last of Roselli's plans for Castro - James, you probably recall that better than I...

    As I recall the weapons, uniforms and general appearance of the Menoyo camp

    put it virtually in a league by itself as far as exile group camps went. It seems to have been extremely professional and dedicated to advanced training - specifically including a heavy emphasis on sniper training. (Larry Hancock)

    You are indeed correct, Larry.

    The FAL's were supposedly collected by William Harvey - Castro's forces being armed with this particular weapon. Interesting to note that Eddie Bayo and his group were also armed with FAL's, as was Tony Cuesta's Commandos L.

    One other curious element here is that Luis Cantin, participant of Operation Tilt in June of 1963, finds himself at the Menoyo camp in late summer of 1963. Didn't those guys supposedly go missing? :ph34r:

    Anyway, Cantin gets around because he then winds up with Tony Cuesta, Ramon Font, Herminio Diaz Garcia and Armando Romero Martinez for their hit and run missions into Cuba during the mid 1960's.

    FWIW.

    James

    Bradley Ayers

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Good post, Larry.

    I have not been able to find out where the money came from to fund the Menoyo camp. This exercise would have been expensive and it should be noted that a large collection of Belgian FAL's were distributed amongst the trainees. It also seemed to attract some of the more motivated of exile militants.

    Pure speculation here, but maybe some Mob money (Trafficante) laundered by Paul Helliwell being filtered into this operation would not be out of the question.

    Eloy Menoyo calling the shots below.

    James

    Sergio Arcacha-Smith

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    As I recall it was also Rose Cheramie, who identified one of the men she had overheard discussing the assassination prior to Nov 22, 1963. Apparently this same group of men drugged her etc. 

    Perhaps some other Forum members recall this matter in more detail.

    Hi Antti,

    I am going on memory here so if I get anything wrong, hopefully a forum member can correct me.

    A Lt. Fruge was investigating the Cheramie claims and interviewed Mac Manual, the bar owner of an establishment called the Silver Slipper. Fruge showed Manual some photographs of which he picked out Arcacha-Smith and Emilio Santana who accompanied Rose that evening.

    I'm not sure if any solid connections between these men has ever been established.

    Santana below.

    James

    Bradley Ayers

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted · Edited by James Richards

    great info, James as always with a picture.  What more about "Garcia" where was he in relation with revolution--with  Second Front or Alpha 66 later?  Did Felix talk about him? What were later incarnations of Garcia?  Was he in Congo? Sources for info?  Thanks as always.

    Hi Christy,

    Most of my information on Garcia comes from conversations with various Cubans who were associated with different militant groups.

    Garcia was definitely connected to Eloy Menoyo who was one of the founders of Alpha 66. Menoyo was running this camp in the Everglades during the late summer of 1963. The guy running the training was Vicente Mendez (that his him in the first photo I posted of Garcia). There are more images of Mendez in the photo archives under the 'Alpha 66' section. This component has direct connections to Herminio Diaz Garcia and eventually Tony Cuesta.

    I have no idea what that idiot Rodriguez said about him but Garcia seems to stay involved with the Robertson (Congo) and Morales (Bolivia) connection of Cuban assets.

    The raid into Casilda may have been more than just blowing up a diesel plant. This is where the Soviets off-loaded a lot of their hardware. I am trying to get more on this but information is sketchy. When I have something, I will let you know.

    Interesting photo below. I don't wish to divert this thread away from Ayers so maybe John can move this to its own thread.

    James

    The Backyard photos

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    I think there is no doubt that the backyard photos are fishy.

    Given that, someone had to pose as the body double here which is pretty ballsy seeing that if the wind changed, they themselves could be implicated.

    I have no doubts that this person wore some kind of facial disguise for the initial shots. I know I would have. :ph34r:

    James

    Bradley Ayers

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Great work, James.  Do we know if he worked with Robertson? Ayers usually disguised guy's names, but I suppose Julio was generic enough so that he might not care.

    Hi Pat,

    I believe Garcia was along for the Robertson led raid against a diesel plant in Casilda. Also present were Tony Izquierdo and Rafael Villaverde. Garcia may have also been one of the Low Beam Cubans who went to the Congo with Robertson.

    I think Garcia did have a war name but I can't find it off hand.

    BTW, this image below shows Garcia on the left and Gustavo Villoldo on the right.

    James

    Bradley Ayers

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    The Julio mentioned may indeed be Julio G. Garcia.

    That is Garcia on the right in the image below. Apart from Roselli, he also had connections to Eloy Menoyo and during the late summer of 1963 during that Everglades training period, to Herminio Diaz Garcia.

    During the hunt for Che Guevara, Garcia was still working as an Agency asset and was stationed in Bolivia. His cover was as an Urban Police Advisor associating with a Dr. Gonzalez who in fact was Gustavo Villoldo, ex Brigade 2506 member and graduate of Fort Benning.

    FWIW.

    James

    Ted Shackley

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted · Edited by James Richards

    Hi Allan,

    I tend to agree with Pat that they are not the same man. Very close though. The thing for me that goes against Shackley is that at the time of the assassination, he was 36 years old. Florer looks like he was no more than mid twenties.

    Here is Florer below being interviewed by the Dallas cops. He also looks to be heavier set that Shackley.

    For me, Florer does bear a striking similarity to Ed Kolby though.

    ***************************

    Pat,

    Thanks for some of the insights into the book. The drug running out of Cuba is an interesting aspect to this. Several exiles figured prominently in this exercise and showed that their cause to free Cuba from Castro was not always their first objective.

    It's a good reminder that if anti-Castro exiles were involved in the assassination, then it may have nothing to do with their politics or their standing within a particular faction, but more to do with who they were as men. The word mercenary springs to mind.

    James

    Operation Northwoods

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    Great photos as always from James, and they certainly make the point.

    I have a photo I am unable to post of JFK and Sen. Smathers in an open convertible in Miami on Monday, November 18, 1963.  The car is being swarmed by enthusiatic supporters.  No sign whatsoever of security.  Wish I could post it.  It is a great shot.

    Is this the one, Tim?

    That looks like William Greer positioned just behind the woman wearing the white scarf.

    James

    Operation Northwoods

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    I think that one thing that argues against a planned attempt at assassination, instead of assassination, is the stripping of security (elimination of all motorcycles in front and to the sides of the limo, and filling the open space with nothing). If it was just going to be an attempt, it would be done against normal security. Otherwise what in the hell would they tell JFK afterwards? Hell, he had to be wondering what was going on before he heard the first shot. "Why am I a sitting duck this trip?"

    Ron

    Ron,

    Couldn't the withdrawal of normal security be part of the last minute change of plan ? It was LBJ and his men who made last minute changes at Love Field, including moving the press truck to the back of the motorcade instead of in front of JFK's limo. No need to tell people unconnected with the ultimate purpose (Ruby, LHO etc) about these late changes. I agree that JFK, unless he was totally preoccupied, must have been alarmed at riding around Dallas naked as a baby(security wise). He obviously had faith in the SS. It was Dillon's responsibilty after all, so no need to worry. :ph34r:

    Hi guys,

    I am far from an expert regarding Presidential security during motorcades, but the Dallas detail didn't seem to be any less than what happened in Tampa only a few days before. Obviously Dallas was scrutinized intensely because that is where the shooting took place.

    The B/W image below is from Tampa and show no police motorcycles nearby and JFK right out in the open. The color image is from Seattle and again, no close by police motorcycles. People are even watching from open windows and balconies above the motorcade.

    FWIW.

    James

    Ted Shackley

    in JFK Assassination Debate

    Posted

    James,

    Based on this reader's review from Amazon.com, I'm not going to spend any money on it.

    "Shackley could have chosen to enlighten us about what he learned as head of CIA's Miami office in the months before and after the JFK assassination. He chose not to do so. There is no mention of many issues raised in other books that he could have discussed to make a major contribution to history. He never mentions Operation 40, or operations against the Fair Play for Cuba Committee (which Oswald made famous by his association with it), or the efforts of anti-Castro operatives to blame Castro for JFK's murder (which he would have known a lot about), or his testimony to the House Assassinations Committee, or his knowledge of operatives, or alleged operatives, accused over the years of complicity in the events preceding JFK's murder. On the other hand, there is ample coverage, with many pictures, of the award ceremonies in his honor, if you are interested in that sort of thing. I wonder why this self-named 'Spymaster' bothered to write this book."

    Ron

    Thanks, Ron.

    I guess sometimes there is value in what is not said.

    James

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