Leslie Sharp

Hopefully the following won't be construed as an attempted diversion a-la "the tramps in Dealey", but it might (or might not) help to flesh out candidates for who ran the Tramp Diversion — considering your candidate Twombly specifically. (hope you'll indulge the personal anecdotes but they're important to establishing context.) Bruce Twombly was legal counsel to Professional Travel Service located on the 7th floor of Two Turtle Creek Village in the mid-'70s. PTS's primary clients were the national accounts for the American Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Soceity of Petroleum Geologists. The favored destination of both societies in the mid-'70s was the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain, possibly influenced by Fort Worth oilman Sid Richardson's established presence on one of the major islands since the late 1940s. Arch Swank, architect for his Canary compound was married to Patsy Swank, stringer for LIFE Magazine and was the catalyst for Dick Stolley to secure the Z film on behalf of C.D. Jackson. (Sid Richardson along with his relatives, the Bass's, was an infamous gambling buddy of oilman Clint Murchison, notorious for having been a benefactor for J. Edgar Hoover's annual trips to Del Mar — an interesting history in light of recent revelations that developer of the Dallas Trade Mart, Trammell Crow's son, Harlan, has been a similar benefactor for one of our Supreme Court Justices, Clarence Thomas for years.) Major Ralph Ganis reveals that the Skorzeny Papers indicate that Otto Skorzeny and Jean Rene Souetre traveled to the Canaries in 1962/1963. Travel agency PTS hired contract travel agents to service their preferred clients: one was Eleanor Weber whose son Garry Weber would later serve on the founding board of the 6th Floor Museum; the other was Mitzi Calder, wife of independent oilman Bruce Calder who sublet the small office in the Republic National Bank building from his good friend George de Mohrenschildt. On at least one occasion while I was employed as the assistant to the president of PTS, Bruce and George dropped in to pick Mitzi up for lunch. I later discovered that our receptionist lived within a block of the de Mohrenschildts on Travis. @Paul Cummings This circuitous route to your "Twombly" who you suspect as having "handled" Holt's role in the diversion is likely nothing other than a string of pure coincidence and totally unrelated to the tramps in Dealey. I trust it does, however, highlight the interconnectedness of the Dallas socio-political dynamics that ruled well into the 1970s and quite likely impacted the efforts of both the Church Committee and HSCA. "oil smoothes the way for sudden and sometimes deadly change." — Rene Lafitte

Now, back to nuts and bolts off the crime. @Evan Marshall did your sniper friend identify his preferred weapon for the Dealey hit? And in your experience, isn't it possible to match fragments with specific fire arms and why hasn't that stone been turned beyond the rifle found in TSBD? Don't snipers have favorite rifles? My PI in Boston calls his "gladys". Has anyone studied the preferred weapons of known European snipers? And, in your experience, do snipers choose their weapon relevant to a specific assignment, or do they accept any rifle shoved in their hands the morning of the assassination?

But @Evan Marshall How is that evidence that those who produced gas and motel/hotel receipts, just prior to the assassination and happened also to be a US special forces sniper, prove that those identified by Lafitte weren't the shooters in Dealey? I don't understand the logic, let alone the detective work. But you're a trained detective so I defer to your thought process to a degree.

David, we also have Col. Sam Kail. I hope @Robert Montenegro is following this thread because he has identified documents to support the significance of Kail appearing in private records that also name Cols. Crichton and Brandstetter as well as "de Mohrenschildt" and Col. Lawrence Orlov - both known to have "known" Lee Oswald btw.

You're speaking of the 488th, which by some accounts was merely nominal; however, it was credible enough to have been one of the two Texas MI units invited to train at the Pentagon in summer of 1963. The other dozen or more units were training in far less interesting locations. If we are to accept that Col. Jack Crichton and Col. Frank "Brandy" Brandstetter were leading figures in the 488th — and most agree Crichton established the unit himself, with the mandate of protecting interests of the petroleum industry per sé — then we have at least two prime candidates for managing (from some distance) diversions like the tramps that involved DPD.

Let me check spelling. I knew an attorney in Dallas the mid-'70s who served as general counsel to the Turtle Creek Travel agency that handled the national accounts of the petroleum engineers and geologists. It sounds like mere dot connecting, but I for one turn every stone. Fullerton CA presumably? The Dallas Twombly family is directly related to the Vanderbilts a.k.a. Whitney and Freeport Sulphur. I'm sure we can identify at least three degrees of separation from Caribbean Ops of Coca Cola! 🙂

So. Don't these official records insist that DPD writ large was following a semblance of protocol and the majority were completely ignorant they were being played? Those directly involved or at best knowledgable were among a tight cadre being managed by someone outside the department.

Fascinating! Truth Will Out though the heavens may fall. Or, it's the latest operation — this time AI — to confuse and kick the can down the road in hopes that there's a smoking gun if only Biden would conform.

Jones visibly shaken suggests he played no role other than that required under the circumstances. Process of elimination.

David, I meant that the forensics and ballistics seem to have overlapped in this thread, and I would hope we could stay focused on the potential implications of who managed the tramps and that episode, specifically.

Sorry, Paul, I meant to ask can you elaborate on Twombly's backstory and who might have directed him to direct Holt? An effort to work up the food chain maybe?

Thanks, David, In response to your response to Q1: I agree. To Q2: I disagree. If the Tramps were mere diversion "for some odd reason", and paraded by Wise and B. knowing they didn't have a squad car to take them, does that not suggest the episode was orchestrated by "someone" and adding weight to who Wise and B reported to directly? Steve listed a number of other DPD, and I noted that one might well be familiar with FBI SA Bard Odum ... a prime suspect for hands-on maintenance on the ground of all things suspect in early hours of investigation.

Elaborate? Who might have been in direct command of Twombly?

Pierre Lafitte under the alias Jean M. Martin was conveniently spirited out of New Orleans seven months following Shaw's acquittal, never to be heard from again with exception of a few sightings. "Lafitte, Jean-Pierre 66, chef at the Plimsoll Club whose cooking has been praised by no less than Ladybird Johnson. Known locally as Jean M. Martin, arraigned in Boston on 1962 indictment charging fraud of speculator Ralph L. Loomis of more than $300,000 in South African mineral rights and diamond mining deal. Trial set for 1/12 in federal court, Boston. Arrested 12/5 by FBI, for which he was for some years an informant in its swindling investigations. Charged also with jumping bail on the 1962 charges of mail fraud. Loomis, of Kittery Point. ME, died about a year ago. Pleads innocent to bail jumping charge. ($7,000) New Orleans States-Item, 12/22-23/69 Lafitte goes on trial in Boston. Lives Armonk, NY fraud charge now down to $100,000. Feds say he has used many names and came to New Orleans Plimsoll Club about two years ago, brought by management firm which has operating contract. Feds say he jumped $50,000 bail in 1963. New Orleans States-Item, 1/12/70 Trial postponed indefinitely in Boston, no explanation in story with no dateline. Feds say after he jumped bail on the original charge he toured Africa, Europe and the Bahamas for five years. New Orleans States-Item, 1/13/70" This is an appropriate opportunity to review the story that when Richard Helms realized photos of Lafitte had been circulating, he sent agents around to confiscate any photographs they could find.

Is anyone interested in who might have been responsible for the tramps appearance and arrest in Dealey? Would that inquiry move the investigation along beyond the decades-long debate over ballistics and forensics?

Thanks, Ron. And of equal if not far more significance is that Hank had access to at least TWO pieces of correspondence from Lafitte to CI James Angleton related to the assassination. Also, this particular note should dispel theories that Cuban Nationals, exiled in the US, were tapped as shooters in Dealey. The extent of their possible employment within the support teams, a.k.a. "swamp groups" referred to in Lafitte's Oct. 9 entry, leaves the door open that certain skill sets were just too good to pass up, i.e. Umbrella Man and Radio Guy as posited by Alan Kent. Slowly, I believe, we are whittling down the list of those who fired at John Kennedy. This particular argument also supports to the degree possible at this juncture, the forthcoming, long awaited, review of Roscoe White as well. Hank was with the Office of Personnel throughout the Carter Administration, interviewing and investigating applicants. He told the story that at a photo-op, he and Carter commiserated over the pain caused by long distance running . They shared similar groin injuries as I recall and their graphic descriptions may have been caught on camera! 🙂 (He was born in December of 1946.)

For any who have followed Clay Shaw's alleged involvement in CMC (Centro Mondiale Commerciale) and/or Permindex, I had not seen the attached document and the relevant information prior to publication of Albarelli's Coup in Dallas. If this information was in the public domain prior to release, we simply missed it. @Fred Litwin The memorandum released in 2023 identifies a Dr. Werner von Arx as president of the Swiss-based Permindex. The official responsible for this March 1967 memo, John J. Shea, states: We believe that the CMC and PERMINDEX are identical, respectively, with the World Trading [sic] Center and PERMIDEX [sic] mentioned in FBIS-37. Shea then notes in item 4. OCR/FID file information lists Permindex as a Swiss real estate and property management firm and lists its management as follows: President — Dr. Werner von Arx. Other officials — Timothy Fales, Dr. Otto Wiesberg, Dr. Nikolaus Fischer, Randolph Vetter. (NOTE: Dr. Fischer joined the faculty of LSU where (if recent profiles are up to date) he remains a professor emeritus.) https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2023/104-10181-10116.pdf Before moving to Dr. Arx, I would emphasize that Jean Pierre Lafitte, friend of James Angleton since the early 1950s through his association with FBN George Hunter White (and Sidney Gottlieb), I would note that under the alias Jean M. Martin, Pierre Lafitte had returned to New Orleans in 1967 to serve as The Chef of the Plimsoll Club located in Shaw's new iteration of the International Trade Mart a.k.a. World Trading Center. Lafitte is alleged to have broken into Jim Garrisons offices with his good friend, James Phelan who had purportedly infiltrated the DA's efforts to indict Clay Shaw. "alleged and purportedly" are applied here judiciously. @Fred Litwin Would you now confirm or challenge the information provided in the Shea memo regarding the role of Dr. von Arx in Swiss-based Permindex? If you're aware that Dr. Werner von Arx was on record as president, have you ever elaborated on his role as an executive with Solothurn Waffen AG at the end of the war? ' . . . The Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG was put on the “Statutory List” – the UK’s blacklist. This list, established in 1939 after the outbreak of war, included all the companies that the British supposed to support the German Reich and its allies. And for the Waffenfabrik Solothurn as a de facto German company a place on this list was unavoidable, so it was cut off from all lucrative markets in Europe. Through stock transfers and various letterbox companies it was tried to disguise the Waffenfabrik as a Swiss company. But without success, as so easily the authorities could not be fooled. Last but not least, a large order of more than 2,000 anti-tank guns for Italy failed as the country surrendered to the Allies in September 1943. Whether a payment for the 1,500 already delivered weapons was received is more than questionable. In 1944, the last weapon rolled off the line, then the production was finally stopped. . . .' The full text here: In May 1940, a major contract with the Netherlands for over 500 anti-tank guns with accessories failed because the Wehrmacht had already occupied the country before delivery. The end for the ailing company came in early 1942: The Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG was put on the “Statutory List” – the UK’s blacklist. This list, established in 1939 after the outbreak of war, included all the companies that the British supposed to support the German Reich and its allies. And for the Waffenfabrik Solothurn as a de facto German company a place on this list was unavoidable, so it was cut off from all lucrative markets in Europe. Through stock transfers and various letterbox companies it was tried to disguise the Waffenfabrik as a Swiss company. But without success, as so easily the authorities could not be fooled. Last but not least, a large order of more than 2,000 anti-tank guns for Italy failed as the country surrendered to the Allies in September 1943. Whether a payment for the 1,500 already delivered weapons was received is more than questionable. In 1944, the last weapon rolled off the line, then the production was finally stopped. Experimental version of the MP34 with a light-weight stock made of stamped sheet metal. (Military Museum, Prague) Of the approximately 800 employees, only 200 could be kept; all others had to be dismissed. The toolmaking division was still in the development stage and too young, as it could compensate the loss of the weapons factory. The newly developed “small workshop tool set” proved to be too expensive and its sale was difficult. . . . In the context of trade negotiations of the Allies with Switzerland in February 1945 about the future after the war, it was decided to block all German assets in Switzerland. This meant the complete inability of the Waffenfabrik to act, and so the managers tried to make the best of a bad situation. Already on March 19, 1945 the “Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Solothurn AG” (machine tools factory) was founded and whose shares were now fully in Swiss hands. But once again, the authorities could not be fooled. The premises were the same and in the background the already well-known managers of the Waffenfabrik pulled the strings. In January 1946, the machine tools factory was put on the list of German companies. According to the Washington Agreement, Switzerland was committed to the liquidation of German assets. This task was executed for both companies by the accredited notary of the machine tools factory, Dr. jur. Werner von Arx.

Reviving this thread: @Ed Berger or any who have followed Clay Shaw's alleged involvement in CMC (Centro Mondiale Commerciale) and or Permindex, I had not seen the attached document and relevant information prior to publication of Coup in Dallas. The memorandum released in 2023 identifies a Dr. Werner von Arx as president of the Swiss-based Permindex. The official responsible for this March 1967 memo, John J. Shea, states: We believe that the CMC and PERMINDEX are identical, respectively, with the World Trading [sic] Center and PERMIDEX [sic] mentioned in FBIS-37. Shea notes in item 4. OCR/FID file information lists Permindex as a Swiss real estate and property management firm and lists its management as follows: President — Dr. Werner von Arx. Other officials — Timothy Fales, Dr. Otto Wiesberg, Dr. Nikolaus Fischer, Randolph Vetter. (NOTE: Dr. Fischer joined the faculty of LSU where (if recent profiles are up to date) he remains a professor emeritus.) https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2023/104-10181-10116.pdf Before moving to Dr. Arx, I would emphasize that Jean Pierre Lafitte, friend of James Angleton since the early 1950s through his association with FBN George Hunter White (and Sidney Gottlieb), I would note that under the alias Jean M. Martin, Pierre Lafitte had returned to New Orleans in 1967 to serve as The Chef of the Plimsoll Club located in Shaw's new iteration of the International Trade Mart a.k.a. World Trading Center. Lafitte is alleged to have broken into Jim Garrisons offices with his good friend, James Phelan who had purportedly infiltrated the DA's efforts to indict Clay Shaw. "alleged and purportedly" are applied her judiciously. @Fred Litwin Would you now confirm or challenge the information provided in the Shea memo regarding the role of Dr. von Arx in Swiss-based Permindex? If you're aware that Dr. Werner von Arx was on record as president, have you ever elaborated on his role as an executive with Solothurn Waffen AG at the end of the war? ' . . . The Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG was put on the “Statutory List” – the UK’s blacklist. This list, established in 1939 after the outbreak of war, included all the companies that the British supposed to support the German Reich and its allies. And for the Waffenfabrik Solothurn as a de facto German company a place on this list was unavoidable, so it was cut off from all lucrative markets in Europe. Through stock transfers and various letterbox companies it was tried to disguise the Waffenfabrik as a Swiss company. But without success, as so easily the authorities could not be fooled. Last but not least, a large order of more than 2,000 anti-tank guns for Italy failed as the country surrendered to the Allies in September 1943. Whether a payment for the 1,500 already delivered weapons was received is more than questionable. In 1944, the last weapon rolled off the line, then the production was finally stopped. . . .' The full text here: In May 1940, a major contract with the Netherlands for over 500 anti-tank guns with accessories failed because the Wehrmacht had already occupied the country before delivery. The end for the ailing company came in early 1942: The Steyr-Solothurn Waffen AG was put on the “Statutory List” – the UK’s blacklist. This list, established in 1939 after the outbreak of war, included all the companies that the British supposed to support the German Reich and its allies. And for the Waffenfabrik Solothurn as a de facto German company a place on this list was unavoidable, so it was cut off from all lucrative markets in Europe. Through stock transfers and various letterbox companies it was tried to disguise the Waffenfabrik as a Swiss company. But without success, as so easily the authorities could not be fooled. Last but not least, a large order of more than 2,000 anti-tank guns for Italy failed as the country surrendered to the Allies in September 1943. Whether a payment for the 1,500 already delivered weapons was received is more than questionable. In 1944, the last weapon rolled off the line, then the production was finally stopped. Experimental version of the MP34 with a light-weight stock made of stamped sheet metal. (Military Museum, Prague) Of the approximately 800 employees, only 200 could be kept; all others had to be dismissed. The toolmaking division was still in the development stage and too young, as it could compensate the loss of the weapons factory. The newly developed “small workshop tool set” proved to be too expensive and its sale was difficult. . . . In the context of trade negotiations of the Allies with Switzerland in February 1945 about the future after the war, it was decided to block all German assets in Switzerland. This meant the complete inability of the Waffenfabrik to act, and so the managers tried to make the best of a bad situation. Already on March 19, 1945 the “Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Solothurn AG” (machine tools factory) was founded and whose shares were now fully in Swiss hands. But once again, the authorities could not be fooled. The premises were the same and in the background the already well-known managers of the Waffenfabrik pulled the strings. In January 1946, the machine tools factory was put on the list of German companies. According to the Washington Agreement, Switzerland was committed to the liquidation of German assets. This task was executed for both companies by the accredited notary of the machine tools factory, Dr. jur. Werner von Arx.

Monté, When the tears subside . . . Meanwhile, no apologies necessary here, and you continue to be a breath of fresh air in my world. (btw, you are a fine, fine writer, and while Hank wasn't prone to professional jealousy, I suspect he would envy this piece — and bleed for you for the experiences that prompted it.) best. L.

@Paul Cummings @Bill Brown @Steve Thomas I ask about SA Odum, Steve, because he appeared on the scene at critical locations in the early hours and days of the investigation including several on your list: The late great Raymond Gallagher referred to Dallas-based FBI SA Bardwell Dewitt Odum as "the ubiquitous bard": Ruth's " Handler " Bardwell D. Odum, FBI SA His office: The empty house next door to Ruth. "It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver." Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) French poet. Michael had known Agent Bardwell "Bob" Odum prior to November 22nd. (9 H 444) On page 783, in Vol. 15, of the Warren Commission Hearings, we see the name Odum listed twice, once as Bardwell D. Odum and again as Hart Odum. Both listings are the same man. He was a special agent of the FBI and was stationed in Dallas at the time of the JFK assassination. His name is seldom mentioned by researchers, yet he was probably the most assiduous investigator involved in the 1963-1964 investigation. Odum was in the TSBD at the time that the murder weapon was found. Later, Lt. Day drove Odum to the police station with the weapon. Odum was seen and photographed leaving the building with Day at sometime close to 1:45 pm. Acording to Day, the agent used the car radio to contact his FBI office to describe the rifle. 4H264, Meager, p.100. SA James P. Hosty Jr. mentions the Bard numerous times, and it is Hosty who is witness and reporter to the spirit-like nature of SA Odum. It was between 1:45 and 2:00 pm. that Odum and Day made the delivery to Lt. Day's office at Main and Harwood Streets in downtown Dallas. At the very same time, according to Hosty, Bardwell was at the Texas Theater witnessing the arrest of LHO. Odum, himself made a statement (HSCA document #01431) describing his observing the arrest. His statement begins: "At approximately 2 p.m., November 22, 1963, I was informed by an unidentified policeman of the DPD that a suspect had been seen entering the back door of the Texas Theater. I immediately proceeded to the Texas Theater...." Dallas police radio transcripts reveal that at 1:51 pm. car No. 2 radioed to the dispatcher that they were on their way in with the suspect (WR. p, 179). Talk about double Oswalds, now we have a double Odum. In Dallas, the agent was well acquainted with Michael and Ruth Paine. Mike called the agent BOB; Ruth called him Mr. Odum and sometimes Hart. Additional notes on the bard: Odum was never called before the Warren Commission and the only time he surfaces during the hearings was during Sylvio Odio's testimony. He walked in, stayed for only a few minutes, and left the room. Odum had also been present in Dallas Police HQ when the bogus photo of Oswald arrived from MC; despite Hosty's insistent the photo wasn't Oswald, Bard insisted that they take the photo to Marina for identification (where they were blocked by Marguerite).

@Ron Bulman I've read and re-read your valuable analysis. And, by chance conversed with a researcher yesterday who has walked the scene numerous times with an expert in such matters; together they are convinced that the South underpass is one sniper location. I also shared with him that "grate + span" appear in Lafitte's November 17 entry. He said, "makes sense. Thanks for the corroboration." and talked me through why it "makes sense." Coup claims he was possibly in Florida, New Orleans, Dallas and more in the months before meeting with others involved, then in Mexico City ten days before the assassination, doing things just an assassin probably wouldn't. Hank obviously placed faith in the assertions of an SAC agent who laid out Souetre's trip in early 1963. He wouldn't have included it without nailing down a second source. Then to his surprise, Lafitte corroborates it when he writes on May 9, Souetre and Davis in April Here. [Hotel] — Shaw Where? This may be an aide memoire jotted after the fact, but either way, it proves that Lafitte knew Souetre had been in New Orleans in the Spring. Your argument that Souetre was an actual shooter comports with my own. although I've received pushback from gunmen and members of working groups who strongly suspect Jean led a team that fired on Kennedy but didn't fire himself. As far as I know, we only have Jean Souetre's word that he wasn't in Dealey. I've never seen the alleged affidavits including one from his commanding officer, an OAS general. If we consider the work of Dr's Mantik and Chesser examining and evaluating the x-rays in the National archives, then JFK was hit in the hairline above the right eye and in the right temple hairline. In addition, I believe there is evidence of an entry wound in the back along the edge of the blow out. First, we have a throat shot, then (?) something at T-3 in the back, then, Dan Rather, Cartha DeLoach (? - of Hoovers top 3-4-5) and someone else saying the first version of the Zapruder film they saw violently forward, last we have the version we've all seen, back and to the left. Ron, your approach — integrating Mantick and Chesser's conclusions with known characteristics and weapon preferences of the alleged shooters — is solid "gumshoe" detective work in my view. I've even asked Dr. Chesser if there is any way to determine that a predominately left-hand shooter ("Boots" Askins) fired a shot that hit Kennedy. The answer (paraphrasing) was, "unfortunately, no ". In early 2019, Hank said that given the time constraint we were under to publish in fall of 2019, we would have to discontinue that analysis and leave the shooters where they were prior to taking positions in Dealey. I've thought for some time the operation was planned out and set up well in advance. Some one or two maybe three walked Dealy Plaza, probably more than once. As you no doubt know, Lafitte leaves clues that Oswald was involved in the shooting at the Walker house in April; the incident coincides with Alan Kent's argument that a key date in the evolution of the decision to assassinate Kennedy in the near future was the Al Thomas dinner held early that month (as I recall). I factor in the "official" invitation for the President to visit Texas issued by the Knights of the Order of San Jacinto as another datapoint, and have spent considerable time trying to nail down the signatures on that invitation. I was told that Jay Harrison had a copy of the original stored on his DAT that he updated (near) daily; I had that DAT in my possession in search of a technician who could transcribe the photo images Jay preserved but fell ill; eventually it ended up in the hands of a researcher in North Carolina. Presumably it remains stored in a safe. I digress, but I think this history explains to some degree the conclusions drawn by Hank and his team that the possibility of eliminating Kennedy permanently originated long before spring of 1963 but (according to Lafitte and his interactions with Angleton) things began to take shape around the time Oswald landed in New Orleans. Conjecture, but backed up with notes maintained by the eventual project manager of Lancelot Project. Hope you'll continue this dialogue.

ON THE QUESTION OF CUBANS EMPLOYED IN DIRECT CAPACITIES IN SKORZENY'S STRATEGY FOR DALLAS: @Robert Montenegro @Paul Brancato@Ron Bulman Following is an exchange between Hank Albarelli, Leslie Sharp and Alan Kent, January 16, 2019, 6 weeks after Hank had taken physical possession of the datebook to initiate authentication; 48 hours before he fell seriously ill which incapacitated him for a month; and 4 months before the strokes that would end his life on this planet: Hank Albarelli <hankalbarelli Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:07 AM to me, Alan FYI Begin forwarded message: From: Hank Albarelli Date: January 16, 2019 at 7:06:54 AM EST To: dickr Subject: Note to Angleton There's a very interesting post-assassination note to Angleton from Lafitte (this from [you] the Angleton family member) that points up two things: there was an assassin referred to as "Ostrich" that Lafitte agrees w/Angleton as being very good (but seemingly not used in Dallas) and Lafitte agrees w/Angleton on the merits of having not used cubans in "direct capacities." I'm pretty certain I knoqw who Ostrich is/was but will only say once I'm absolutely there. Alan Kent <alanlkent Jan 16, 2019, 11:20 AM to me, Hank Lafitte's comment regarding "Cubans in direct capacities" is huge. leslie sharp <lesliemsharp17 Jan 16, 2019, 11:47 AM to Alan, Hank It is indeed. I wonder if the comment warrants a prominent place - perhaps very early in the book. Alan Kent <alanlkent Jan 16, 2019, 11:56 AM to Hank, me I don't know where it ideally belongs, but it would be a very effective answer to the inevitable questions about the Cuban shooters who populate a great many scenarios. And "direct capacities" implies to me that Cubans may have been utilized in "other capacities," which I believe that a small number were. leslie sharp <lesliemsharp17 Jan 16, 2019, 12:14 PM to Alan, Hank Hank and I had a similar discussion by phone this morning. But I don't know that we can leap from "having no direct capacities" to "may have been utilized in 'other capacities,'" at least not if we are relying on evidence from Lafitte and or Angleton. The Cubans were working for the CIA, no doubt, but does that mean they were involved in the assassination of Kennedy. I realize that tomes have been written on the topic, which makes this exchange between Lafitte and Angleton all the more explosive ... ergo a fairly prominent place in the book. I have frequently argued that in the end, the Cubans were used as patsies. Hank makes a strong argument that Cubans could not be trusted. Hank Albarelli <hankalbarelli Jan 16, 2019, 12:23 PM to Alan, me Why? Alan Kent <alanlkent Jan 16, 2019, 12:29 PM to Hank, me Why what? Hank Albarelli <hankalbarelli Jan 16, 2019, 12:30 PM to me, Alan When I worked at the White House I was told by a Cuban “leader” to never trust a Cuban with anything you don’t want known or much else. Filed it away in my head. Andreas hated JFK as he blamed him for having killed his parents. Sent from my iPhone Hank Albarelli <hankalbarelli Jan 16, 2019, 12:31 PM to Alan, me Why huge? Sent from my iPhone leslie sharp <lesliemsharp Jan 16, 2019, 1:37 PM to Hank, Alan I said 'huge', because it indicates to me at least that Cubans were hardly instrumental in the assassination, contrary to what many researchers have argued. It is also huge if it can be determined that Lafitte / Angleton did not the employ any Cubans - at all - in any capacity - in the operation. Alan makes a sound argument that Cubans may have been used in 'other capacities' in his monograph about Umbrella Man and Radio Guy, among others, but if those characters haven't surfaced in any Lafitte material, the claim that Cubans were on the ground will need to come from other sources. Alan, I haven't read your work in that area for a month or so. I'll revisit it in light of this new development. I do remember being impressed by the logic and by the conclusions, but now I have to ask, why didn't those characters surface in Lafitte's writings, particularly when he actually referenced 'Cubans' not being utilized in a 'direct capacity'? Could it be he wasn't privy to them being used? Hank Albarelli <hankalbarelli Jan 16, 2019, 2:41 PM to me, Alan I think it’s important to consider that Lafitte, Angleton, and Harvey shared a cultural bias against Cubans... obviously they stuck with “their own” — Americans, French, Italian, Jews/Israelis, a few others. QJ/WIN no Cubans... worth thinking about... Sent from my iPhone Alan Kent <alanlkent Jan 16, 2019, 3:18 PM to Hank, me I think that point is important - and the ethnic bias in favor of "their own" plays into this. They believed that the Cubans talked too much, and probably that half of the radical Cuban community was infiltrated by Castro's G-2. Another, complementary point, is that using Cubans as gunmen in Dallas would have been far more dangerous than using white men who spoke multiple languages. A greater chance that a person of color would be noticeable at that time and place. Hank Albarelli <hankalbarelli@icloud.com> Jan 16, 2019, 5:06 PM to Alan, me Great points!

@Robert Montenegro Monté, check the date of my post ... it was published prior to our convo last night. All Non-Discloure Agreements related to the Lafitte material and Hank's investigative material yet to be published remain in place. My concern (as I think I've shared) is that you're describing a full blown Military Coup. That spectacular assertion simply is not supported by the information found in the Lafitte datebook, nor does it comport with Coup in Dallas. THE Military will end up the patsy, and those functioning outside the hierarchy outlined in the glossary will get away AGAIN, scot free. Not on my watch. There is no evidence in the datebook that Kail is actively directing the "swamp groups" nor is David Sanchez Morales mentioned. That does not suggest they weren't, as you aptly note. But if we employ the Lafitte datebook in this exercise, we do it the way Hank intended with me acting as proxy. Building blocks, step by step. Otherwise we'll be blathering about — metaphorically speaking —The Three Tramps, for another decade. Too much air in the balloon too quickly will destroy Hank's investigation. For us, this was always a cold case a murder investigation, based on the clues left by Pierre Lafitte, similar to his investigation into who killed Frank Olson. As you know, I've been a proponent of propinquity for decades, tilling the soil of corporate genealogy and the Industrial leg of the Military-Industrial Complex in a similar fashion as your pursuit of military documents, so I process the data through that lens as well. Those twenty-five years of research prepared me in the event something like the datebook might finally surface. When it did, through Hank's gumshoe detective work, I knew after our first phone call in late July 2017, that my intuition in 1993 was premonition. I would be directly involved in helping solve this case. Or as Hank repeatedly said, High Strangeness and Synchronicity brought him together with the right people at the right time. Let's chill, and get this case solved.

The "Coup Brief" Group is working diligently to compose brief narratives for each datebook entry. I think I shared with everyone that Tony at Skyhorse declined my proposal to publish a facsimile of the datebook, without explanation. The good news is that in the exchange he acknowledged that he has no standing in the disposition of the physical instrument a.k.a. datebook which I knew from talking with one knowledgeable of the issue ... but I wasn't certain Tony knew. I now have it in writing. With every breakthrough, I think I can speak for all four in our CB Group, the datebook becomes "more and more authentic." Will that convince you, or others of The Royal You? No. So, I've not given up on landing exemplars. I was hopeful that a former staffer of Robert Sr.'s presidential campaign might somehow open a door legally, but his focus is on Bobby's assassination to the degree that he thinks Jack was the lesser of character and ability so the LA assassination is more significant therefore priority over our investigation into Dealey. During our exchanges, he did hint that he recognized some parallels with what he knows about Bob Sr.s investigation and what Hank uncovered, so .... stupidly I shared screenshots of the ledger sheets because they reflect an aspect of what he was talking about. Now he has the ledger sheets. Our ten day exchange ended with my stating that I think Robert's records of his private investigation should be handed over to those able to decipher clues. The staffer took offense, asserting this remains physchologically traumatizing ... at the same time telling me over and over what a strong family it was and remains. I don't deal with cognitive dissonance very well, and in hindsight, I realize it's possible the fellow may have been trying to see what I/we have. Paranoia never fully subsides in this arena. All by way of saying, the authentication process is stalled - and incomplete - without handwriting samples. What else can I say. I argue that suggesting we should consider "some Willougby" involvement is highly inadequate. Willoughby, an avowed racist referred to by his boss as a little fascist, is identified by Lafitte as an active player in the specific plot - up to and including knowledgeable of the Ella scandal, and traveling to Europe to meet with a milieu of religious leaders which included Stetzco and other KofM's, and is honored by Lafitte as being responsible for the "Willoughby team" a.k.a. Col. Jack Canon, Col. Charles Askins, and likely, R. Emmett Johnson. @Robert Montenegro identified the document confirming Walker was Angleton's attaché. I have the link "somewhere." If I can't put my hand on it readily, I'll get him to resend Joannides served as a catalyst, in my opinion, which reignited interest in the assassination, and kudos to Morley for being the conduit. There is no indication in Lafitte's records that Joannides did anything other than activate Oswald in August. That's All. That said, there was other low hanging fruit that JM ignored. Win Scott's years as head of Western Division of the agency ... a.k.a. Europe where he signed off on reports related specifically to "former" SS Otto Skorzeny who was corresponding with John McCloy about raising money to support a 200,00 strong reserve army composed of Nazis from his base in Madrid. As we noted recently, Skorzeny's base was shared with The Black Prince, and Leon Degrelle, and occasionally, SS stuka pilot Hans Ulrich Rudel (two of whom appear in Lafittes records if we count Rene's comment about Leon as "a record.") Rudel remained an activist for the Nazi cause, attempting to launch a new and improved party. Rudel appears in a datebook entry in mid-September, and again the first week of December. As I've shared with this group in the past, Rudel secured a visitor's visa which he applied for in September (remember he had been unsuccessful in landing entry for over a decade), in time to arrive in the US at Wright Patterson for an air conference on October 8/9, the date of Lafitte's auspicious OSARN entry. Sorry to digress: Could the unreleased files pertain to the geo-political drama of 1963, and implicate leaders of our strongest allies then and now? Franco? maybe even de Gaulle; elements within Ireland's government (at the embassy while Otto sashayed in and out unimpeded?) INTERPOL? Germany's BND? Is that why Biden has balked? Ukraine-OUN-ABN in 1963? What might be the blowback?