The Silent Conspiracy

[Martin Weidmann]

But that's a pretty far reach; how would Castro even know Oswald was in Dallas that day? There's no evidence of any communications between him and Cuban officials. Where's the evidence for this connection?

Although I agree that we haven’t seen much evidence, and most likely never will; I don’t believe that it is a “far reach” to believe that Cuban intelligence agents would have been keeping track of LHO. After all, he made quite a scene when he visited the consulate in Mexico City. Latell writes that Castro was very much hands on leading the DIG and was immediately made aware of all important items. And that he would have unquestionably been made aware of the LHO visit. Therefore, Castro likely knew where LHO was and that JFK was in the motorcade in Dallas on 11/22/63. So to respond to your question, I believe that, at the very least, Aspillaga’s account of the radio antennae re-direction is credible evidence that Cuban intelligence (and most likely Castro) was aware.

Did Oswald read these? Was he aware of them? I think so. But did they motivate him to act in response?

I believe that the defiant “communist salute” by LHO at DPD shortly after his arrest is evidence that he was motivated by those reports. And also most likely he was motivated by other antagonistic domestic speeches by Castro that fall that he heard on his shortwave radio.

I believe that the defiant “communist salute” by LHO at DPD shortly after his arrest is evidence that he was motivated by those reports.

Oh boy, so now we are down to a biased interpretation of a gesture?

[Steve M. Galbraith]

But that's a pretty far reach; how would Castro even know Oswald was in Dallas that day? There's no evidence of any communications between him and Cuban officials. Where's the evidence for this connection?

Although I agree that we haven’t seen much evidence, and most likely never will; I don’t believe that it is a “far reach” to believe that Cuban intelligence agents would have been keeping track of LHO. After all, he made quite a scene when he visited the consulate in Mexico City. Latell writes that Castro was very much hands on leading the DIG and was immediately made aware of all important items. And that he would have unquestionably been made aware of the LHO visit. Therefore, Castro likely knew where LHO was and that JFK was in the motorcade in Dallas on 11/22/63. So to respond to your question, I believe that, at the very least, Aspillaga’s account of the radio antennae re-direction is credible evidence that Cuban intelligence (and most likely Castro) was aware.

Did Oswald read these? Was he aware of them? I think so. But did they motivate him to act in response?

I believe that the defiant “communist salute” by LHO at DPD shortly after his arrest is evidence that he was motivated by those reports. And also most likely he was motivated by other antagonistic domestic speeches by Castro that fall that he heard on his shortwave radio.

How did Cuban agents know Oswald moved to Dallas? Was working there? Why would they even care about some oddball who made threats against JFK but was, according to the accounts of the Cubans there, tossed out on his rear end. Again, Azcue reportedly forcefully threw Oswald out of the consulate and didn't want anything to do with him.

By the Cubans accounts, Oswald came across as a crank, a misfit that they wanted nothing to do with. It simply doesn't add up to me that they would somehow track his whereabouts. When he went back to Dallas he laid low. How would they find him?

And Oswald put a New Orleans address (4907 Magezina (sic) Street address) on his transit visa application. I can see that if he put Dallas as an address that would help keep track of him.

[Charles Collins]

I believe that the defiant “communist salute” by LHO at DPD shortly after his arrest is evidence that he was motivated by those reports.

Oh boy, so now we are down to a biased interpretation of a gesture?

First of all, this is not an original idea that I dreamt up. It is the theme of Latell’s book. I suggest you read the book before blindly criticizing it. Here is a quote from the book that corroborates what Steve brought up about the speeches and I commented on:

The Dallas Times Herald reported that Kennedy “all but invited the Cuban people to overthrow Castro and promised them support if they do.” In the same editions on November 19, the Dallas press for the first time carried block-by-block details of the route the president’s motorcade would follow three days later. It was then that Lee Harvey Oswald first became aware that Kennedy would pass beneath the windows of the Texas Book Depository where he worked. Oswald probably also read what Kennedy had said in Miami Beach and the Dallas paper’s interpretation of it.

[Martin Weidmann]

First of all, this is not an original idea that I dreamt up. It is the theme of Latell’s book. I suggest you read the book before blindly criticizing it. Here is a quote from the book that corroborates what Steve brought up about the speeches and I commented on:

The Dallas Times Herald reported that Kennedy “all but invited the Cuban people to overthrow Castro and promised them support if they do.” In the same editions on November 19, the Dallas press for the first time carried block-by-block details of the route the president’s motorcade would follow three days later. It was then that Lee Harvey Oswald first became aware that Kennedy would pass beneath the windows of the Texas Book Depository where he worked. Oswald probably also read what Kennedy had said in Miami Beach and the Dallas paper’s interpretation of it.

It is the theme of Latell’s book. I suggest you read the book before blindly criticizing it.

I didn't criticize the book, I criticized the absurd notion that the gesture of a man can be interpreted in the way you (and perhaps the book) did.

It was then that Lee Harvey Oswald first became aware that Kennedy would pass beneath the windows of the Texas Book Depository where he worked.

Just because the Dallas trip was announced in the papers on November 19th doesn't mean automatically that Oswald became aware of it on that date. Given the fact that Oswald used to read yesterday's papers he may well not have known about the schedule of the motorcade until, at best, the next day or even later. The testimony of his co-worker indicates that he asked him, on the 22 th, what the fuzz was all about, which may well mean that he didn't know at all about the motorcade passing by the TSBD until they day it happened.

Oswald probably also read what Kennedy had said in Miami Beach and the Dallas paper’s interpretation of it.

Probably?

[Charles Collins]

How did Cuban agents know Oswald moved to Dallas? Was working there? Why would they even care about some oddball who made threats against JFK but was, according to the accounts of the Cubans there, tossed out on his rear end. Again, Azcue reportedly forcefully threw Oswald out of the consulate and didn't want anything to do with him.

By the Cubans accounts, Oswald came across as a crank, a misfit that they wanted nothing to do with. It simply doesn't add up to me that they would somehow track his whereabouts. When he went back to Dallas he laid low. How would they find him?

And Oswald put a New Orleans address (4907 Magezina (sic) Street address) on his transit visa application. I can see that if he put Dallas as an address that would help keep track of him.

The official responses from the Cubans after the assassination are what they wanted to project. They would have wanted to appear to have dismissed him as a nut. However the Mexico City consulate was a hub of activity for the Cuban intelligence agents’ efforts to enlist and direct many Central American revolutionaries. They were accustomed to dealing with revolutionary zealots like LHO. Why wouldn’t they be interested in LHO? He was attempting to help their cause! They would have at least wanted to find out if he was really who he said he was and not a potential spy. According to Latell, the DGI was better than the CIA in many respects during this period. Some of that was due to the CIA underestimating their abilities.

[Charles Collins]

It is the theme of Latell’s book. I suggest you read the book before blindly criticizing it.

I didn't criticize the book, I criticized the absurd notion that the gesture of a man can be interpreted in the way you (and perhaps the book) did.

It was then that Lee Harvey Oswald first became aware that Kennedy would pass beneath the windows of the Texas Book Depository where he worked.

Just because the Dallas trip was announced in the papers on November 19th doesn't mean automatically that Oswald became aware of it on that date. Given the fact that Oswald used to read yesterday's papers he may well not have known about the schedule of the motorcade until, at best, the next day or even later. The testimony of his co-worker indicates that he asked him, on the 22 th, what the fuzz was all about, which may well mean that he didn't know at all about the motorcade passing by the TSBD until they day it happened.

Oswald probably also read what Kennedy had said in Miami Beach and the Dallas paper’s interpretation of it.

Probably?

Look back at your previous comments in this thread. You have criticized practically every point, and continue to do so.

[Martin Weidmann]

Look back at your previous comments in this thread. You have criticized practically every point, and continue to do so.

Nope.. I have questioned every point and for one very good reason; the points raised are not sound and require all sorts of speculation to even make sense.

Get your act together and present a compellent case and we may have something to talk about. All you are doing so far is confirming your own bias.