From: galanter@nyu.edu (Philip Galanter)
Subject: reposted theory - Small mob hit + cover-ups by non-killers = big chaos
Reply-To: galanter@nyu.edu (Philip Galanter)
Organization: New York University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 17:45:34 GMT

Given the recent frontline report there seems to be new interest
in Mob ties to the assasination.  Here is something I posted a while back.   
More than anything else, I think it provides a context for understanding  
the chaos that seems to explode when one starts chasing down the 
details, and relates to what we now know about human nature and how  
organizations will often react to stress...i.e. the cover-up is often much  
larger than needed, anticipated, or originally planned....

--------

I've been following the various conspiracy theories for many years (since  
the late 60's) and here is my personal theory...although others may agree  
and in fact if there is a more formal version of this theory somewhere I  
would be interested in reading it.

Without going into details, which can ultimately mire _any_ current JFK  
theory, here is my best guess as to what happened...

Oswald, a marginal personality, was involved in a small conspiracy to 
kill JFK.  This plot was mostly mob inspired, with perhaps a few fourth  
rate CIA hanger's on and cuban freedom fighters left over from the  
anti-Castro plots, and perhaps a Dallas cop or two.  Oswald didn't realize  
he was the patsy until around the time JFK was shot, and was later also  
killed by a mob hit.

The conspiracy had little to do directly with intelligence agencies, but  
multiple cover-ups, many independent of each other, were executed to:

1. Minimize speculation that JFK was killed by communists, which could 
have lead to a nuclear war at worst, and a right-wing landslide at best.

2. Hide the fact that Oswald was known to the FBI and CIA, and perhaps  
worked for them in a trivial capacity.

3. Hide the fact that the CIA made deals with the mob.

4. Hide the fact that the CIA was trying to kill Castro.

5. Hide the fact that the Dallas police were corrupt, knew Jack Ruby, and  
didn't prevent Oswald from being gunned down.

6. Perhaps hide the fact that the autopsy was simply a botched job.

In addition there were/was:

7. Many unrelated actions by individuals done in good faith to protect the  
feelings of the public/Jackie/the family which resulted in less or altered  
evidence.

8. Stupid turf battles between agencies resulting in lost, destroyed, or  
distorted evidence.

9. Bad police work by nearly all involved.

10. Poor reporting by the media.


The "power control group" theory is simply to big to be true...it would  
simply collapse of its own weight...besides, if the bad guys were really  
that smart, resourceful, powerful, etc. etc. they could have done much  
better...e.g. rig Air Force One to crash, use an undetectable poison,  
release pictures of Kennedy in bed with Marilyn Monroe, etc. etc.

It is the wake of the multiple cover-ups and goof-ups by the non-killers  
that creates the illusion of a large scale conspiracy.  

Phil


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Philip Galanter         New York University    phone:    212-998-3041
Research Associate      251 Mercer             fax:      212-995-4120
Academic Computing      New York, NY 10012     internet: galanter@nyu.edu
 
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