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Octafish's Journal
They both are professional communicators -- the former famous on the radio, the later recognized in academic and governmental circles.
Unlike consumers of Corporate McPravda, DUers are more likely to know Dr. Zelikow from his service as the Executive Director of the 9-11 Commission. President Obama recently appointed him to the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.  Illustration by Joseph Nectvetal of /seconds.org Although less well known than the fascist gasbag, Phil Zelikow is by far the more important voice for our nation and planet's future. The reason: He's been given authority with which to shape history from behind the scenes. In his book, "The Commission," New York Times reporter Philip Shenon chronicles how, at the very least, Zelikow helped protect the reputation of his former co-author and then-national security advisor Condoleeza Rice. Of course, a case could be made that it was more than a reputation what got protected, gross incompetence and criminal negligence and all. Then, there's the matter of claiming to not know Karl Rove and not telling anyone to report ever receiving phone calls from Mr. Rove. That's some serious not-knowing, Reaganesque, if truth be told. My biggest problem with the guy has to do with his interpretation of what President Kennedy really said. Dr. Zelikow and his co-author Ernest R. May wrote "The Kennedy Tapes." The work has added to what scholars know about the workings of the Kennedy White House. Unfortunately, What JFK Really Said The author checked the Cuban-missile-crisis transcript in The Kennedy Tapes against the recorded words. He discovered "errors that undermine its reliability for historians, teachers, and general readers by Sheldon M. Stern The Atlantic EXCERPT... An unforgettable moment in these unique historical records concerns JFK's apprehension that military action in Cuba might touch off the ultimate nightmare of nuclear war, which he grimly describes at a meeting on October 18 as "the final failure." Brian McGrory, of The Boston Globe, who listened to this tape with me in 1994, after it was declassified, used those words in the lead of his article on the newly released tapes. But when I checked the transcript recently, I was unable to find "the final failure." Certain that the editors must be right, since they had technically cleaner tapes, I listened again; there is no question that Kennedy says "the final failure." The editors, however, have transcribed it as "the prime failure." SNIP... The participants then discuss evidence that work on the missile sites is continuing. They debate whether to add petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) to the list of quarantined materials immediately, or to wait twenty-four hours to see if talks proposed by UN Secretary-General U Thant produce a breakthrough. McGeorge Bundy, Kennedy's national security adviser, suggests that they "leave the timing October 27 saw the darkest moment in the crisis. An unconfirmed report was received at midday that a U-2 spy plane had been shot down over Cuba by a Soviet SAM missile, and the pilot killed. On the tape of the late-afternoon meeting Kennedy discusses whether to order an air strike on the SAM sites if the incident is repeated (a delay that produced consternation at the Pentagon). He declares that two options are on the table: begin conversations about Khrushchev's proposal to swap Soviet missiles in Cuba for U.S. missiles in Turkey, or reject discussions until the Cuban crisis is settled. Kennedy chooses the first, with the caveat that the Soviets must provide proof that they have ceased work on the missile sites. He repeatedly refers to "conversations" and "discussions" and concludes, "Obviously, they're not going to settle the Cuban question until they get some conversation on Cuba." Incredibly, The Kennedy Tapes substitutes "compensation" for "conversation." It's easy to imagine how Cold War veterans like Rusk, Bundy, and McCone would have reacted to any suggestion of compensation for the Soviets in Cuba. On October 29, the day after Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles, the President and his advisers, relieved but not euphoric, conclude that surveillance and the quarantine will continue until the missiles have actually been removed. After a lull in the meeting, during which the conversation turns to college football, the President observes, "I imagine the Air Force must be a little mad," referring to the division of responsibility for aerial photography between the Air Force and the Joint Chiefs' photo-reconnaissance office. The Kennedy Tapes transcribes this as "I imagine the airports must be looking bad," which must leave many readers scratching their heads: the removal of the missiles had nothing to do with Cuban airports. Kennedy then ponders why, in the end, the Soviets decided to back down. He notes, "We had decided Saturday night to begin this air strike on Tuesday." No effort was made to conceal the military buildup in southern Florida, and Kennedy wonders if the impending strikes pushed the Russians to withdraw their missiles. The Kennedy Tapes, however, has JFK saying "We got the ONE particular error, among scores not cited above, seems to epitomize the problems with these transcripts. On the October 18 tape Dean Rusk argues that before taking military action in Cuba, the United States should consult Khrushchev, in the unlikely event that he would agree to remove the missiles. "But at least it will take that point out of the way," The Kennedy Tapes has Rusk saying, "and it's on the record." But Rusk actually said that this consultation would remove that point "for the historical record." The historical record is indeed the issue here. CONTINUED... http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issue... Personally, I understand Dr. Zelikow's a fine fellow. Brilliant, well-read and a great writer and thinker, people who know him say. Where I have a problem with him is his version of Truth. It is that of the Establishment, or the Powers-That-Be and their instrument for running democracy their way, the national security state. So, as we approach the 48th anniversary of taking the disastrous course of a national policy geared primarily toward the needs of War Inc, Wall Street and the relatively few who profit from owning and operating them, we are left to wonder what the next 48 years will be like: The Establishment's or those of JFK and Democrats like him? I know which version I'll hold and which path I'll follow. |
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A few important things to know about the assassination of President Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy was proud to be a Liberal Democrat who worked every day he was in office to keep the peace and to make life better for all Americans. As President, Kennedy worked to make ours a stronger nation and this a better world. Many in the country opposed him for his Liberal perspective on civil rights. Kennedy ordered the integration of more than college campuses, he ordered the FBI and Secret Service to hire African American agents. Others opposed his Liberal policies towards other nations and regions. Kennedy favored economic development of the Third World, rather than the past approach of siding with a particular nation's strongman or oligarch to more economically steal the natural resources. In Africa, his policies were to help people learn to feed themselves, read to their kids, and take care of the sick and elderly. That policy, Kennedy believed, would make the United States longer and better allies. Most, if not all, of his successors returned to the traditional policy of stealing all that a nation had to offer. JFK also made enemies with the most frightening elements of the psychology that is the United States. The monied elite that owns the contracts and politicians that put the pork on the table for their sponsors are no strangers to violence. They make their biggest money off of the most horrible thing there is. So, for his less than three years as President, John F. Kennedy faced the War Party, the military-industrial-governmental complex that did all it could to make the Cold War Hot. Still, the War Party tried to have war over the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy said, "No. The War Party tried to have war over the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy said, "No. The War Party tried to have war in Vietnam and southeast Asia. Then, as well, Kennedy said, "No." Of course, all along -- even when they pushed for nuclear war with the Soviet Union -- President Kennedy said, "No." The War Party presented Kennedy with Operation NORTHWOODS, a plan that suggested the US Government kill Americans and make it look like Cuba did it as a pretext for war with Cuba and the Soviet Union. Kennedy said, "No." And he fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who submitted it. Then came November 22, 1963 and Dallas. After President Kennedy was dead, the War Party made out like Lee Harvey Oswald did it. And the FBI, CIA and Warren Commission (as revealed through Dulles' "Mighty Wurlitzer") left a trail of "fixed" evidence to make it out Oswald was working for Cuba and its master, the Soviet Union. Yet, that is merely a falsehood perpetuated by the nation's political elite and mass media. For according to the records of the United States Government, Oswald worked for the United States. Do Good, ah? -- Fight Evil!
 Dear DUer and Reader, Thanks for stopping in to check out this journal. I'd also like to thank DU for making it possible. The reason it's here is to get people aware of what the Bush Transnational Criminal Enterprise does to destroy the United States of America; how they loot the nation's Treasury; impoverish We the People; cover our planet with war; work to enslave our children; and kill those who oppose them. My journal also is here to try and help prevent the world these pirates, slavemasters and warmongers work night and day to create. Please feel free to spread the information, opinions, ideas and links. Please let me know if I've made a mistake or if you disagree with me. Please also chip in to add to the evidence against these treasonous, warmongering, mass murdering, profiteering gangsters I refer to as the Bush Family Evil Empire. That name is a bit of a misnomer as they operate to enforce the will of a global ruling elite. To them, evil "is only business." - Octafish Greatest Threads
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