And the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

When I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be just another theory of who kill JFK. It is so much more than that. It starts near the end of WWII and reveals secret and not so secret meeting, agendas, deals, and decisions that the U.S. was engaged in from then until now and the resulting consequences. I was born during WWII so I am acquainted with many of happenings and you will be too even if you were born much later. The book is a real eye opener and it makes me wonder what's going on behind the scenes today and what those consequences will be. I recommend the book to anyone interested in cause and effect in our countries political decisions.

Book was received in great shape. Just as expected. Shipping great. Author left out a lot of details about disaster. Alabama Air National Guard lost 4 airmen in the raid. Castro kept one on ice for 18 years to show other countries there was Americans in the invasion, which President Kennedy and government from then on denied. CIA would not go get the body because it would admit guilt. Daughter of dead airman begged Castro for her fathers body and he gave it back to her. I was on the burying detail that was sworn to keep it secrete. In 2005 it was declassified but not highly published.

An eloquent exploration of the CIA's involvement in the affairs of the world, since its inception, along with the rationale for why they wanted JFK gone. It's given me a whole new lesson on Vietnam, our foreign policy, and the impact that the Military Industrial Complex has on our leaders. No wonder President Obama isn't leaving Afghanistan!!

THIS BOOK EXPOSES THE CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS OF THE CIA. THE BOOK FOCUSES NOT ON THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE SEE BUT ON THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE DON'T SEE. THE CIA IS ONE SUCH AGENCY THAT OPERATES BEHIND THE SCENES AND DICTATES POLICY ACROSS THE GLOBE. VIETNAM IS JUST ONE CASE IN THE VAST ARENA OF CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS.

I was born on November 22 so the researching Kennedy Assassination has been a big part of my life.
This book is a must reading for those who truly wish to understand the mindset of the Intelligence Community during the height of the Cold War and how that mindset gave rise to the Coup D'état that occurred in Dallas.

Very disappointing. I was looking forward to reading this book primarily because the author was so close to the action. But as other reviewers have pointed out, the focus of the book is a far reaching review of US history since 1944-45. Unfortunately, in this regard, the book is a failure.

Prouty isn't a historian and I'm sure that he doesn't claim to be one. But to attempt to cover the ground that he does, he's lacking a lot of background knowledge. This shows up quickly in the book - let me give you a couple of examples;

- He states that President Roosevelt died suddenly, unexpectedly is the word he uses, and this simply isn't true. Roosevelt was bed-ridden for about 6 months before his death and the US government was effectively run by his advisors during this period.
- He claims that the USA and Russia were allies at the close of WWII (true), but also that an atmosphere of trust existed between the two countries (false). He continues to make the claim that but for the actions of the CIA, the Cold War would not have happened. That's simply not the case - Roosevelt and his advisors weren't happy with Stalin and vice versa. The CIA didn't even formally exist until Truman created them in 1947 and they didn't act without full political approval of the US governments of the time.

Look, I'm no fan of the CIA, and I completely agree with him that they plotted and achieved the death of JFK. But that doesn't mean that they and the KGB were responsible for creating the Cold War! Does Prouty think that the KGB could have acted in anyway without the full and knowing approval of Stalin himself? And that the Dulles brothers somehow manipulated the USA into the Cold War without the support and approval of Roosevelt and Truman? Apparently, he does!

Much of his thesis is based on the concept that there is a "power elite" that has actually been in control of world of US and Russian actions since 1944. Perhaps he is correct that a cabal currently sits behind our governments and influences events, but I disagree with his notion that they have controlled political events in the detailed way that he suggests throughout the world since 1944.

This really isn't a book about JFK and his assassination as it is a somewhat innacurate attempt to describe world history since WWII.

Most interesting book. It gets you to look at the real problem. Wars are to make money
For big business and politicians in this country. And they don't care about American lives
Or not.it's all about money. John Kennedy had all the money in the world he did not
Need a war. Nixon and Johnson did.

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

Events in the real world and society are mostly planned, they do not just happen. This book presents selected events from 1943 to 1990. The major events of this time were craftily and systematically planned by the power elite. This book will attempt to explain the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the effects of the development of the hydrogen bomb, and why the “military-industrial complex” removed JFK from the Presidency. L. Fletcher Prouty spent 1955-64 as chief of special operations. Page xxxiii tells of one incident he witnessed of the “power elite”. Page 4 explains how an agent for the East India Company created an ideological justification for eliminating unwanted people. Page 8 says that neither H-bombs or “Star Wars” can prevent warfare by terrorists.

Pages 15-16 tells of the driving force of acquisitiveness. Mineral wealth is controlled by corporate interests directly, or by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Genocide is regularly practices to limit the “excess population”, particularly those who object to this exploitation. He repeats Elliot Roosevelt’s story about Stalin’s claim that FDR was poisoned (he had spies everywhere?). “Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are the CIA students of yesterday” (p.37). “The first aerial hijackings were publicly solicited by the US in return for big cash awards, plus sanctuary”. Page 56 tells why so many of our leaders are lawyers: they are trained to work under the direction of their clients. Their “lawyer-client confidence” ensures secrecy, even in court; they work for international law firms in government, banks, and major industries.

Chapter Six, “Genocide by Transfer”, tells how over a million Tonkinese were moved to Cochin China; it caused a rice shortage in a previously rice-exporting country! The destruction of self-sufficient villages created consumers of imported food (like post-1962 Burma), and enriched merchants and shippers. It also created a source of cheap labor? Chapter Seven tells of the destruction of the village economy, and the resulting banditry. The depopulation of rural counties and the “urban renewal” in the big cities caused internal migration and a rise in the crime rate here in America too. After Textron Corporation bought Bell helicopters, there was now a need for these helicopters in Vietnam. Page 108 tells how 43% of lives lost were “not from action by hostile forces” - just accidents! The high cost of machines and their need for maintenance (supplies, personnel) helped to lose the war.

L. Fletcher Prouty says the massive slaughter in Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq war, “Desert Storm”, and the Middle East hostilities are an example of Malthusian social engineering (p.187). Chapter 16 explains the economic reasons for coups d’ etat, whether Marcos in the Phillipines, Batista, Somoza, or Trujillo (pp. 236-7). Once a puppet ruler in s country tries to counteract its exploitation, its goodbye. Page 238 tells how “foreign aid” is used to support American companies moving their factories and machinery to foreign countries. Page 240 explains why Vietnam (like Korea) was a limited “unwinnable” war.

On November 22, 1963 JFK was removed from office by a powerful group that wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, and increase government spending (p.257). Pages 261-4 answers those who mistakenly claim JFK did not want to withdraw military forces from Vietnam. Prouty presents information from the public record and his personal experience. NSAM#263 shows that JFK did plan to withdraw military personnel from Vietnam in 1963. The death of JFK changed the war in Indochina from low-intensity to a major operation. Page 291 lists the many things done as standard security procedure which were NOT done on 11-22-1963. If the Warren Report is wrong on any key point, then it is false. Governor Connally contradicted the key point of the Warren Report to his dying day. The assassination of JFK demonstrated that most major events of world significance are masterfully planned and orchestrated by an elite coterie of enormously powerful people (p.334). You can read Jim Marrs’ “Rule by Secrecy”. The August 31, 1983 downing of Korean Air flight 007 resulted in the largest Defense Department budget ever passed in peacetime.

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

Events in the real world and society are mostly planned, they do not just happen. This book presents selected events from 1943 to 1990. The major events of this time were craftily and systematically planned by the power elite. This book will attempt to explain the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the effects of the development of the hydrogen bomb, and why the “military-industrial complex” removed JFK from the Presidency. L. Fletcher Prouty spent 1955-64 as chief of special operations. Page xxxiii tells of one incident he witnessed of the “power elite”. Page 4 explains how an agent for the East India Company created an ideological justification for eliminating unwanted people. Page 8 says that neither H-bombs or “Star Wars” can prevent warfare by terrorists.

Pages 15-16 tells of the driving force of acquisitiveness. Mineral wealth is controlled by corporate interests directly, or by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Genocide is regularly practices to limit the “excess population”, particularly those who object to this exploitation. He repeats Elliot Roosevelt’s story about Stalin’s claim that FDR was poisoned (he had spies everywhere?). “Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are the CIA students of yesterday” (p.37). “The first aerial hijackings were publicly solicited by the US in return for big cash awards, plus sanctuary”. Page 56 tells why so many of our leaders are lawyers: they are trained to work under the direction of their clients. Their “lawyer-client confidence” ensures secrecy, even in court; they work for international law firms in government, banks, and major industries.

Chapter Six, “Genocide by Transfer”, tells how over a million Tonkinese were moved to Cochin China; it caused a rice shortage in a previously rice-exporting country! The destruction of self-sufficient villages created consumers of imported food (like post-1962 Burma), and enriched merchants and shippers. It also created a source of cheap labor? Chapter Seven tells of the destruction of the village economy, and the resulting banditry. The depopulation of rural counties and the “urban renewal” in the big cities caused internal migration and a rise in the crime rate here in America too. After Textron Corporation bought Bell helicopters, there was now a need for these helicopters in Vietnam. Page 108 tells how 43% of lives lost were “not from action by hostile forces” - just accidents! The high cost of machines and their need for maintenance (supplies, personnel) helped to lose the war.

L. Fletcher Prouty says the massive slaughter in Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq war, “Desert Storm”, and the Middle East hostilities are an example of Malthusian social engineering (p.187). Chapter 16 explains the economic reasons for coups d’ etat, whether Marcos in the Phillipines, Batista, Somoza, or Trujillo (pp. 236-7). Once a puppet ruler in s country tries to counteract its exploitation, its goodbye. Page 238 tells how “foreign aid” is used to support American companies moving their factories and machinery to foreign countries. Page 240 explains why Vietnam (like Korea) was a limited “unwinnable” war.

On November 22, 1963 JFK was removed from office by a powerful group that wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, and increase government spending (p.257). Pages 261-4 answers those who mistakenly claim JFK did not want to withdraw military forces from Vietnam. Prouty presents information from the public record and his personal experience. NSAM#263 shows that JFK did plan to withdraw military personnel from Vietnam in 1963. The death of JFK changed the war in Indochina from low-intensity to a major operation. Page 291 lists the many things done as standard security procedure which were NOT done on 11-22-1963. If the Warren Report is wrong on any key point, then it is false. Governor Connally contradicted the key point of the Warren Report to his dying day. The assassination of JFK demonstrated that most major events of world significance are masterfully planned and orchestrated by an elite coterie of enormously powerful people (p.334). You can read Jim Marrs’ “Rule by Secrecy”. The August 31, 1983 downing of Korean Air flight 007 resulted in the largest Defense Department budget ever passed in peacetime.

No single book, or doc for that matter, could ever compile and contain every single fact leading to the tragedy of the Vietnam War. The spider web of cause and effect is too great on some subjects and this is one. But if you want to know the “real” truth please read this book. It is written in a very logical, concise manner that every reader will and can understand the root causes and outcomes of this mostly misunderstood, or more unfortunately, misrepresented dark chapter in U.S. history.
The author has 1st and 2nd hand knowledge that most authors and historians would kill for that spans the World War 2 era to his later years. He has been present at so many historic moments, perhaps not “all” the most obvious, but certainly very important regarding the true history of the world in the latter part of the 20th century, that in itself is worth the read beyond the unbiased and logical conclusions this very intelligent author and Military veteran has surmised in this one book.
I was aware of Mr. Prouty since the late 1980’s where he appeared in many documentaries as a historian but I had no idea he was an author until this book fell into my lap courtesy of my sister as a gift. If one is not aware, this book is the culmination of his association with Oliver Stone in creating that filmmakers masterpiece, JFK which I saw on opening night and was floored by.
Before this book I knew the most common of historic aspects of the Vietnam conflict but this book put that entire miserable charade into complete, crystal clear perspective. A very known and truthful quote for historians is that “Victors write the history” and most history books contain what the western powers consider “their” version of history for the past 1000 years, at least, and we are groomed from toddlers to accept that truth without question. This book reveals what most historians and authors either won’t allow themselves to believe or are told not to believe by “others”. This book is not the usual “one-sided-view-point-hammer-that-point-home” kind of earnest writing that many books that deal with alternate theories on history present. Usually that kind of writing only provides the “other side” ammo to label them as “kooks”, “nuts” or “lunatic fringe” that harms open discussions on any subject that offers other valid untold viewpoints whether good, bad or ugly.
I never met Mr. Prouty but he comes across as a highly intelligent, respectful, liberal and most importantly unbiased person that has a long and sparkling military career, yet there are those that label this man, like so many others in the past and much more damning in the future, as “so-called” discredited conspiracy nuts. That is the sad legacy of human kind... kill your enemy if not by a bullet then by false accusations.

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

Events in the real world and society are mostly planned, they do not just happen. This book presents selected events from 1943 to 1990. The major events of this time were craftily and systematically planned by the power elite. This book will attempt to explain the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the effects of the development of the hydrogen bomb, and why the “military-industrial complex” removed JFK from the Presidency. L. Fletcher Prouty spent 1955-64 as chief of special operations. Page xxxiii tells of one incident he witnessed of the “power elite”. Page 4 explains how an agent for the East India Company created an ideological justification for eliminating unwanted people. Page 8 says that neither H-bombs or “Star Wars” can prevent warfare by terrorists.

Pages 15-16 tells of the driving force of acquisitiveness. Mineral wealth is controlled by corporate interests directly, or by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Genocide is regularly practices to limit the “excess population”, particularly those who object to this exploitation. He repeats Elliot Roosevelt’s story about Stalin’s claim that FDR was poisoned (he had spies everywhere?). “Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are the CIA students of yesterday” (p.37). “The first aerial hijackings were publicly solicited by the US in return for big cash awards, plus sanctuary”. Page 56 tells why so many of our leaders are lawyers: they are trained to work under the direction of their clients. Their “lawyer-client confidence” ensures secrecy, even in court; they work for international law firms in government, banks, and major industries.

Chapter Six, “Genocide by Transfer”, tells how over a million Tonkinese were moved to Cochin China; it caused a rice shortage in a previously rice-exporting country! The destruction of self-sufficient villages created consumers of imported food (like post-1962 Burma), and enriched merchants and shippers. It also created a source of cheap labor? Chapter Seven tells of the destruction of the village economy, and the resulting banditry. The depopulation of rural counties and the “urban renewal” in the big cities caused internal migration and a rise in the crime rate here in America too. After Textron Corporation bought Bell helicopters, there was now a need for these helicopters in Vietnam. Page 108 tells how 43% of lives lost were “not from action by hostile forces” - just accidents! The high cost of machines and their need for maintenance (supplies, personnel) helped to lose the war.

L. Fletcher Prouty says the massive slaughter in Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq war, “Desert Storm”, and the Middle East hostilities are an example of Malthusian social engineering (p.187). Chapter 16 explains the economic reasons for coups d’ etat, whether Marcos in the Phillipines, Batista, Somoza, or Trujillo (pp. 236-7). Once a puppet ruler in s country tries to counteract its exploitation, its goodbye. Page 238 tells how “foreign aid” is used to support American companies moving their factories and machinery to foreign countries. Page 240 explains why Vietnam (like Korea) was a limited “unwinnable” war.

On November 22, 1963 JFK was removed from office by a powerful group that wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, and increase government spending (p.257). Pages 261-4 answers those who mistakenly claim JFK did not want to withdraw military forces from Vietnam. Prouty presents information from the public record and his personal experience. NSAM#263 shows that JFK did plan to withdraw military personnel from Vietnam in 1963. The death of JFK changed the war in Indochina from low-intensity to a major operation. Page 291 lists the many things done as standard security procedure which were NOT done on 11-22-1963. If the Warren Report is wrong on any key point, then it is false. Governor Connally contradicted the key point of the Warren Report to his dying day. The assassination of JFK demonstrated that most major events of world significance are masterfully planned and orchestrated by an elite coterie of enormously powerful people (p.334). You can read Jim Marrs’ “Rule by Secrecy”. The August 31, 1983 downing of Korean Air flight 007 resulted in the largest Defense Department budget ever passed in peacetime.

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

Events in the real world and society are mostly planned, they do not just happen. This book presents selected events from 1943 to 1990. The major events of this time were craftily and systematically planned by the power elite. This book will attempt to explain the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the effects of the development of the hydrogen bomb, and why the “military-industrial complex” removed JFK from the Presidency. L. Fletcher Prouty spent 1955-64 as chief of special operations. Page xxxiii tells of one incident he witnessed of the “power elite”. Page 4 explains how an agent for the East India Company created an ideological justification for eliminating unwanted people. Page 8 says that neither H-bombs or “Star Wars” can prevent warfare by terrorists.

Pages 15-16 tells of the driving force of acquisitiveness. Mineral wealth is controlled by corporate interests directly, or by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Genocide is regularly practices to limit the “excess population”, particularly those who object to this exploitation. He repeats Elliot Roosevelt’s story about Stalin’s claim that FDR was poisoned (he had spies everywhere?). “Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are the CIA students of yesterday” (p.37). “The first aerial hijackings were publicly solicited by the US in return for big cash awards, plus sanctuary”. Page 56 tells why so many of our leaders are lawyers: they are trained to work under the direction of their clients. Their “lawyer-client confidence” ensures secrecy, even in court; they work for international law firms in government, banks, and major industries.

Chapter Six, “Genocide by Transfer”, tells how over a million Tonkinese were moved to Cochin China; it caused a rice shortage in a previously rice-exporting country! The destruction of self-sufficient villages created consumers of imported food (like post-1962 Burma), and enriched merchants and shippers. It also created a source of cheap labor? Chapter Seven tells of the destruction of the village economy, and the resulting banditry. The depopulation of rural counties and the “urban renewal” in the big cities caused internal migration and a rise in the crime rate here in America too. After Textron Corporation bought Bell helicopters, there was now a need for these helicopters in Vietnam. Page 108 tells how 43% of lives lost were “not from action by hostile forces” - just accidents! The high cost of machines and their need for maintenance (supplies, personnel) helped to lose the war.

L. Fletcher Prouty says the massive slaughter in Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq war, “Desert Storm”, and the Middle East hostilities are an example of Malthusian social engineering (p.187). Chapter 16 explains the economic reasons for coups d’ etat, whether Marcos in the Phillipines, Batista, Somoza, or Trujillo (pp. 236-7). Once a puppet ruler in s country tries to counteract its exploitation, its goodbye. Page 238 tells how “foreign aid” is used to support American companies moving their factories and machinery to foreign countries. Page 240 explains why Vietnam (like Korea) was a limited “unwinnable” war.

On November 22, 1963 JFK was removed from office by a powerful group that wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, and increase government spending (p.257). Pages 261-4 answers those who mistakenly claim JFK did not want to withdraw military forces from Vietnam. Prouty presents information from the public record and his personal experience. NSAM#263 shows that JFK did plan to withdraw military personnel from Vietnam in 1963. The death of JFK changed the war in Indochina from low-intensity to a major operation. Page 291 lists the many things done as standard security procedure which were NOT done on 11-22-1963. If the Warren Report is wrong on any key point, then it is false. Governor Connally contradicted the key point of the Warren Report to his dying day. The assassination of JFK demonstrated that most major events of world significance are masterfully planned and orchestrated by an elite coterie of enormously powerful people (p.334). You can read Jim Marrs’ “Rule by Secrecy”. The August 31, 1983 downing of Korean Air flight 007 resulted in the largest Defense Department budget ever passed in peacetime.

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

Events in the real world and society are mostly planned, they do not just happen. This book presents selected events from 1943 to 1990. The major events of this time were craftily and systematically planned by the power elite. This book will attempt to explain the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the effects of the development of the hydrogen bomb, and why the “military-industrial complex” removed JFK from the Presidency. L. Fletcher Prouty spent 1955-64 as chief of special operations. Page xxxiii tells of one incident he witnessed of the “power elite”. Page 4 explains how an agent for the East India Company created an ideological justification for eliminating unwanted people. Page 8 says that neither H-bombs or “Star Wars” can prevent warfare by terrorists.

Pages 15-16 tells of the driving force of acquisitiveness. Mineral wealth is controlled by corporate interests directly, or by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Genocide is regularly practices to limit the “excess population”, particularly those who object to this exploitation. He repeats Elliot Roosevelt’s story about Stalin’s claim that FDR was poisoned (he had spies everywhere?). “Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are the CIA students of yesterday” (p.37). “The first aerial hijackings were publicly solicited by the US in return for big cash awards, plus sanctuary”. Page 56 tells why so many of our leaders are lawyers: they are trained to work under the direction of their clients. Their “lawyer-client confidence” ensures secrecy, even in court; they work for international law firms in government, banks, and major industries.

Chapter Six, “Genocide by Transfer”, tells how over a million Tonkinese were moved to Cochin China; it caused a rice shortage in a previously rice-exporting country! The destruction of self-sufficient villages created consumers of imported food (like post-1962 Burma), and enriched merchants and shippers. It also created a source of cheap labor? Chapter Seven tells of the destruction of the village economy, and the resulting banditry. The depopulation of rural counties and the “urban renewal” in the big cities caused internal migration and a rise in the crime rate here in America too. After Textron Corporation bought Bell helicopters, there was now a need for these helicopters in Vietnam. Page 108 tells how 43% of lives lost were “not from action by hostile forces” - just accidents! The high cost of machines and their need for maintenance (supplies, personnel) helped to lose the war.

L. Fletcher Prouty says the massive slaughter in Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq war, “Desert Storm”, and the Middle East hostilities are an example of Malthusian social engineering (p.187). Chapter 16 explains the economic reasons for coups d’ etat, whether Marcos in the Phillipines, Batista, Somoza, or Trujillo (pp. 236-7). Once a puppet ruler in s country tries to counteract its exploitation, its goodbye. Page 238 tells how “foreign aid” is used to support American companies moving their factories and machinery to foreign countries. Page 240 explains why Vietnam (like Korea) was a limited “unwinnable” war.

On November 22, 1963 JFK was removed from office by a powerful group that wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, and increase government spending (p.257). Pages 261-4 answers those who mistakenly claim JFK did not want to withdraw military forces from Vietnam. Prouty presents information from the public record and his personal experience. NSAM#263 shows that JFK did plan to withdraw military personnel from Vietnam in 1963. The death of JFK changed the war in Indochina from low-intensity to a major operation. Page 291 lists the many things done as standard security procedure which were NOT done on 11-22-1963. If the Warren Report is wrong on any key point, then it is false. Governor Connally contradicted the key point of the Warren Report to his dying day. The assassination of JFK demonstrated that most major events of world significance are masterfully planned and orchestrated by an elite coterie of enormously powerful people (p.334). You can read Jim Marrs’ “Rule by Secrecy”. The August 31, 1983 downing of Korean Air flight 007 resulted in the largest Defense Department budget ever passed in peacetime.

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy

Events in the real world and society are mostly planned, they do not just happen. This book presents selected events from 1943 to 1990. The major events of this time were craftily and systematically planned by the power elite. This book will attempt to explain the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the effects of the development of the hydrogen bomb, and why the “military-industrial complex” removed JFK from the Presidency. L. Fletcher Prouty spent 1955-64 as chief of special operations. Page xxxiii tells of one incident he witnessed of the “power elite”. Page 4 explains how an agent for the East India Company created an ideological justification for eliminating unwanted people. Page 8 says that neither H-bombs or “Star Wars” can prevent warfare by terrorists.

Pages 15-16 tells of the driving force of acquisitiveness. Mineral wealth is controlled by corporate interests directly, or by the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Genocide is regularly practices to limit the “excess population”, particularly those who object to this exploitation. He repeats Elliot Roosevelt’s story about Stalin’s claim that FDR was poisoned (he had spies everywhere?). “Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are the CIA students of yesterday” (p.37). “The first aerial hijackings were publicly solicited by the US in return for big cash awards, plus sanctuary”. Page 56 tells why so many of our leaders are lawyers: they are trained to work under the direction of their clients. Their “lawyer-client confidence” ensures secrecy, even in court; they work for international law firms in government, banks, and major industries.

Chapter Six, “Genocide by Transfer”, tells how over a million Tonkinese were moved to Cochin China; it caused a rice shortage in a previously rice-exporting country! The destruction of self-sufficient villages created consumers of imported food (like post-1962 Burma), and enriched merchants and shippers. It also created a source of cheap labor? Chapter Seven tells of the destruction of the village economy, and the resulting banditry. The depopulation of rural counties and the “urban renewal” in the big cities caused internal migration and a rise in the crime rate here in America too. After Textron Corporation bought Bell helicopters, there was now a need for these helicopters in Vietnam. Page 108 tells how 43% of lives lost were “not from action by hostile forces” - just accidents! The high cost of machines and their need for maintenance (supplies, personnel) helped to lose the war.

L. Fletcher Prouty says the massive slaughter in Cambodia, the Iran-Iraq war, “Desert Storm”, and the Middle East hostilities are an example of Malthusian social engineering (p.187). Chapter 16 explains the economic reasons for coups d’ etat, whether Marcos in the Phillipines, Batista, Somoza, or Trujillo (pp. 236-7). Once a puppet ruler in s country tries to counteract its exploitation, its goodbye. Page 238 tells how “foreign aid” is used to support American companies moving their factories and machinery to foreign countries. Page 240 explains why Vietnam (like Korea) was a limited “unwinnable” war.

On November 22, 1963 JFK was removed from office by a powerful group that wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, and increase government spending (p.257). Pages 261-4 answers those who mistakenly claim JFK did not want to withdraw military forces from Vietnam. Prouty presents information from the public record and his personal experience. NSAM#263 shows that JFK did plan to withdraw military personnel from Vietnam in 1963. The death of JFK changed the war in Indochina from low-intensity to a major operation. Page 291 lists the many things done as standard security procedure which were NOT done on 11-22-1963. If the Warren Report is wrong on any key point, then it is false. Governor Connally contradicted the key point of the Warren Report to his dying day. The assassination of JFK demonstrated that most major events of world significance are masterfully planned and orchestrated by an elite coterie of enormously powerful people (p.334). You can read Jim Marrs’ “Rule by Secrecy”. The August 31, 1983 downing of Korean Air flight 007 resulted in the largest Defense Department budget ever passed in peacetime.

JFK The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy
by Colonel L. Fletcher Prouty

The Long Journey to Dallas Texas

Spoiler alert: This is neither the shortest version, nor the shortest route to understanding the JFK assassination. But it is as close to the complete canonical text and understanding of the assassination as there is ever likely to be. It is told by an insider, the high priest of understanding about the JFK assassination if you ask me (or Oliver Stone), one who has been around long enough, and has resided deep enough inside the bowels of the US government to know where all the skeletons are buried.

Colonel L. Fletcher Prouty was also a member of "The Secret Team," which he wrote a very revealing book about, of the same name. It has proven to be a critical part of the unfolding of the 50-year old drama of the JFK assassination. (Read my the store review of it.)

Here Col Prouty takes us by the hand and guides us on a journey, moving slowly but steadily and deliberately along a long winding path, through the historical underbrush beginning at the end of WW-II. He then leads us out into a clearing called "the Cold War," where events are craftily orchestrated around the threat of a nuclear holocaust. But it is orchestrated in such a way that the right to continue endless conventional wars is preserved and the world is made forever safe "for wars of profit" by other more novel means. Korea, would be the first but not the last of the "make money wars." The mother of all such un-winnable "money wars," however was Vietnam. It would represent a signature turn in the road that would "vector" directly to the JFK assassination. However, along the way the reader will also be introduced to Saudi Arabia, Iran and the oil angle, and then on to Cuba and the threat of nuclear war, finally ending up at high noon on 11/22/63 with the assassination of our 35th president.

As enlightening as the journey is it is not an easy trip for a "democratically trained mind." For along the way, we must unlearn the old rules of democracy in favor of learning a new set, with a new unwritten covenant, as well as a new vocabulary of reactionary and self-destructive power politics. And with them, we must also adopt and adapt to wearing a new kind of emotional straitjacket, armor better to make us comfortable granting involuntary consent to these altered understandings of how our more twisted and diminished democracy is supposed to work.

To wit: We the people, and they, our new anonymous ruling power elite, consent to govern us from above but forever behind the screen, promising nothing but to be unreliable invisible puppet-masters. And in return "we the people" are expected to close our "lying eyes" and pretend that when "we" see JFK's head snap violently back and to the left, it did not really happen? Now, and henceforth, our only reality tests are those prepared for us by our "lying media," the lemmings bought and paid for by our new invisible rulers. In short, the new contract mandates that we go along quietly, without whimpering, and accept the fact that "we the people" have been robbed of all previous contractual understandings of what a democratic government is supposed to mean.

What government "by," "for" and "of" the people used to mean, has been permanently altered. In this new "hyper real context" of being governed by an anonymous power elite, who are constantly pulling the strings from behind the curtains, government "by," "for" and "of" the people now means whatever our anonymous puppet-masters' media outlets tell us it means.

Those steeped in the conspiracy paranoia of the likes of the Bilderburghers, the Trilateralists, and the Council of Foreign Relations, must understand that what Colonel Prouty is telling us here is not the same. They will find no comfort here on this journey for cheap conspiracy nonsense. Instead, they will find here just the clean facts, with all of the dots connected, convincingly written by one of the last of America's authentic patriots. When readers complete this book, they will then understand why the Bilderburghers, the Trilateralists, and the Council of Foreign Relations, are all superfluous and unnecessary. All of the questions one can imagine about the JFK assassination are answered here.

A "Rough" Summary of Colonel Prouty's Story

After World War II, and owing primarily to the creation of the CIA, the U.S entered a new "hyper covert reality" in which, just as General Eisenhower had warned in his farewell address, the machinery of government was effectively commandeered by reactionary warmongers and war profiteers. The post-war power elite ruled by calling for continuous wars, with the CIA and the military acting as their vanguard and shock troops. There was nothing subtle about this take over, nor is reference to it just knee-jerk conspiracy nonsense. Colonel Prouty provides us a framework and a clear discrete paper trail that reveals every step of the "take over process," steps that he argues convincingly led inexorably to the JFK assassination.

Step one was carefully embedded within policy memorandum NSC-5412, which among other things, gave all covert operations over to the CIA, and specifically prohibited the active military from engaging in them. However, after the spectacular debacle of the John Foster Dulles led Bay of Pigs operation, JFK issued (and was in the process of implementing at the time of his very timely assassination), a reversal of this policy with NSC-55, which would have given the responsibility for covert operations back to the active military through the JCS. Not only was this reversing directive never implemented, but with JFK's death, all of the generals running the Vietnam War, were actually CIA officers operating under military cover and rank. According to Colonel Prouty, this was nail #1 in the JFK coffin.

Nail number two involved an excruciatingly carefully worked out policy directive, NSAM-65 by the JFK national security team. It was the policy directive initiating the complete withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Vietnam by 1965. NSAM-65 was drawn up after an unprecedented 23 high-level meetings by JFK's and his national security team. Not only was NSAM-65 not implemented, but it was reversed in a week after the assassination by LBJ initiated policy directives NSC-273 and NSC-288.

The final nail in the coffin, according to Colonel Prouty, the one that actually signaled that assassination plans were already afoot, is the tell-tale fact that in the Pentagon papers that had been released within the government before JFK was assassinated (and later exposed publicly by Daniel Ellsberg), one-page cover sheets were entered in the text at the point where the substance of JFK's two policy directives should have been? Twenty-five stars

I obtained this book with great enthusiasm, but finished it dismayed. While I have no doubt that many of these theories put forth by Prouty hold water, I was left frustrated by what I view as a number of inconsistencies.
First, Prouty seems pretty critical of the CIA, Ed Lansdale, Black Ops, etc. Yet, the guy allegedly played a major role in this field and worked with Lansdale and the CIA (types) for 9 years! Seems slightly hypocritical there.
Second, he makes allegations which I found oddly annoying. For instance, there was no such thing as the Viet Cong. The "Viet Cong" were only "starving bandits" who had been non-Communist rice farmers displaced by Tonkanese refugees. I have read countless sources about Vietnam and the Viet Cong, and I have NEVER heard that in my life. Everyone I've ever read, including NVA authors, have referred to the VC as a structured unit supporting the North. I think that his assertion is absurd, and I've never seen it corroborated elsewhere.

Third, many of his contentions are SOLELY theory; he substantiates little. Not only that, but several of his theories rest upon little more than his own eye witness experiences. Again, no corroboration elsewhere.

Why would Prouty work within and support a framework of government such as one in which he willingly participated, and then later attack nearly everything to do with that? The CIA runs the country, runs the world, displaces sovereign governments, Ed Lansdale (his co-worker, whom he relies upon a great deal for quotes in this book), a bloodlusty killer, etc., etc.? HE WAS AS GUILTY AS THE REST, if these allegations are true! He's indicting himself. Could he simply be jealous of Landsdale's star? Could he regret the fact that he didn't rise higher himself?

Prouty's book is interesting: he raises many valid points, substantiates some, doesn't others, but it's inconsistent, oddly written (incredible redundancy), borderline hypocritical, too smugly self-righte!ous, and ultimately leaves too many questions about motives for it to succeed in accomplishing its goals.

This is a shocking book. L. Fletcher Prouty is a world class whistleblower. After reading this masterpiece take another look at the official 9/11 report. The secret cabal running our planet has been exposed by many writers and few politicians; this is an insider's report on that cabal. False flag attacks are now used by the cabal, not only in USA but in any country where the locals are not towing the line as demanded by the banksters.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.—Voltaire”
Amazing, the cabal has kept the lid on the murder of JFK for over 50 years. How long will we be kept in the dark about 9/11?

Prouty explains the true significance of a number of events in modern world history (especially, the Kennedy assassination) and provides for the most part very reasonable explanations that point to the machinations of a "high cabal" or "power elite" operating behind the scenes. Its motives are to perpetuate its wealth and power, and extend its control over populations. Its method of operation is instigation of endless low-level warfare, creating bogeyman enemies and then destroying them. The consequences of its activities for everyone else, including the people of the United States, are devastating – indebtedness, impoverishment, insecurity, bondage, destitution, destruction. If Prouty is correct, even our public officials and officers are not the ultimate wielders of power but merely the key actors in this sustained tragedy while the actual assassins and fomenters of interminable warfare around the globe are simply "mechanics" of the clandestine services (e.g. CIA). Prouty’s method of historical analysis often relies on the questionable arrangement of documents and printed statements, and also the suspicious timing and sequencing of events. In this he is very persuasive, indeed. For instance, how did it come to pass that newspapers in far-off New Zealand had already in print the details of LH Oswald’s biography at about the same time that he was being arraigned on the death of the President? There simply would not have been enough time unless there was a prepared cover story to lay the blame on LHO the “patsy”. I enjoyed reading Prouty’s analysis because of his disciplined approach and his noticing of peculiar details which only an insider would have the superior ability to detect readily. The main difficulty with his writing style is that he repeats himself frequently. He should have trusted that his reader had a little more than very short –term memory. If you already know quite a bit about Prouty’s arguments through other sources such as YouTube, you may still want to get it and read the last few chapters, especially “Game Plan of the High Cabal”. Since its publication more than 20 years ago, much of what has occurred on the world stage over that time with the US in the lead seems not to contradict Prouty’s theses. I bought my clean, VG hardcopy for $6 and it was well worth the eye-opening. It does hurt to conclude that we, the US citizenry and taxpayers, have been such gulls.

Better than expected (and even better than "The Secret Team"). Ample documentation, as Prouty outlines the scheming and hidden agenda of the Powers that BE, who are the real actors on the stage of history. Incredible detail..e.g., how the Vietnam war (a LIE from the "get-go!") came to fruition (roots laid down in 1947, and carefully executed, so as to royally sabotage the people of Vietnam, and create a "Heart of Darkness" scenario of neverending war!!) and how the "Agency" overthrew the legitimate gov't of the Philippines...nothing short of breathtaking (and eminently credible). ..and one begins to perceive close parallels with other USA led conflicts and "black ops," such as our current perpetual mess in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ignominious, dreadful...and chilling. Yes, Virginia, there is a problem with world terrorism...and much of this can be traced to the Pentagon and Langley. There be monsters abroad!!

Know how it was that Ho Chi Min had seemingly never-ending war material? After Japan was totally subdued, there was a huge depot of war supplies on Okinawa. The War Machine elected to drop half of this in S.Korea, and half in Hanoi, rather than return it stateside. Curioser and curioser!!

Best editorial trick revealed: Leslie H. Gelb, who was to the Watergate papers what Phil Zelikow was to the 9/11 Commission novel, used the neat writer's trick (Gelb was a New York Times editor, you may recall) to hide something in black ink on a white page. Gelb uses the title President to avoid mentioning that JFK's presidency was ended with bullets. The President (JFK) had NSAM #263 written & promulgated, 1 Oct 63. The memo noted that the troops could be pulled out of Vietnam by the end of 1965. Ending the CIA-guided Indochina war they'd begun in September of 1945. So Gelb has "The President" as author of #263, have a mind-change with his cabinet, all of who had decided to go to Honolulu for the 22nd. On the 23rd, when an official speaks with The President, and a new NSAM is issued--#273, which called for an escalation of Conflict. The President of #263 has changed his mind and issued #273. The title stays the same, but the brain of the President who commissioned #263 was blown away by, what, Hornady hollow-point, boat-tail bullets (the kind the Abteilung der Heimats Versicherheit (dept of "home" "security"). And "The President" of the second instance just happened to be a different president, LBJ.

That's some clever and wondrously deliberate writing. The words are there in front of your nose, in plain sight. And yet they hide the circumstances, that, in the brief period between Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, the title President had not changed--just the life and body for which it represented. (In the newspaper biz, novices are instructed to "write around" facts that are missing. In this case, a few years after the Assassination of JFK, i think most people had gotten the news that JFK was dead and gone. Gelb and his boss were in that news loop, so I doubt Gelb would testify that he didn't know that JFK had been murdered (by a head shot fired from the Grassy Knoll, of course, but who's quibbling). No reason to fail to mention that The President (JFK) had been replaced by The President (LBJ), except if you want to avoid the "chance" that people will notice that Presidential Policy on Nov 21, 1963 (NSAM 263 (JFK) hand changed 180 degrees to Presidential Policy (NSAM 273) on Nov. 23 (LBJ).

So in the murder investigation, you'd want to bring Gelb in to get his story. You might want to set a water-board in the witness box right next to him--perhaps the special, autographed KSM (Khalid Sheikh Mohammad) model, guaranteed to last at least 168 uses (whether by one "detainee" (POW) or a succession of them. And you'd want to get all this moving while at least a few of the players are still alive. I'd like to hear what David R. and the rest of the Wall Street Banksters and lawyers have to say about JFK, RFK, Tonkin, USS Liberty, 9/11, etc. And also what Cheney and Shrub I and Shrub II and Rumsfeld & Wolfowitz and Pearle, etc., have to say about all the above.

At any rate, Prouty is a must-read. As is William Pepper's "An Act of State: The assassination of MLKjr." which puts the quietus to the phrase "conspiracy theory". Not a theory any longer, but a conspiracy fact. But who will prosecute members of the High Cabal? They run the government, with their private army, the CIA, and have since Nov. 22, 1963. Not that anybody cares, of course.

This book is written by someone who was sitting in the middle of Eisenhower's feared military-industrial complex, instead of an outside researcher. Col Prouty lived what he tells us for several years. He saw the Korean & the Vietnam War buildup from the inside; he watched as the Bay of Pigs went down and No, it was not JFK's fault.

I was most impressed that Col Prouty is the actual person depicted as "Mr. X" and portrayed by Donald Sutherland in Oliver Stone's JFK.

If only half of what he tells us is the truth, then we need to demand another look at JFK's murder.

In this volume, Colonel Fletcher Prouty captures both the secret history of the United States from 1945 to 1975 and the reasons behind the plot to kill President Kennedy. Herein, the courageous Colonel illustrates quite clearly that the clandestine history and the assassination plot were intrinsically linked.

From the important information in this book, we learn that the war in Vietnam actually began on September 2, 1945, when Ho Chi Minh was established as the new leader of Vietnam by our OSS, the predecessor of the CIA, and the US Army. The United States was thoughtful enough to provide all the weapons, ammunition, and supplies necessary for Ho and Giap to pursue their war against the French, which culminated in the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. Following that defeat, the CIA arranged for the transfer of 1.1 million "refugees" from the North of Vietnam to the South. These folks caused such disruption in the fragile agricultural economy of the South that their arrival ultimately drove the orginal residents to banditry in order that they might survive. These displaced bandits became what was later known as the Viet Cong. Hence, the CIA created the conditions necessary for a full scale war in Vietnam.

On coming to office, Kennedy, a brilliant and studious man, came soon to understand the perfidy of the CIA. One of first his acts on realizing this was to fire CIA director Allen Dulles. Soon thereafter, he issued one the most important, and unknown, documents of US history, NSAM 263. Issued in October of 1963, this document called for 1,000 US military personnel to come home from Vietnam by that Christmas. The remainder were to be out of Vietnam by the end of 1965. Had John Kennedy lived, what Americans know as the war in Vietnam would never have happened.

Prouty demonstrates herein that the powers that be ultimately made the decision that they could not allow Kennedy to live. He makes it clear that assassination researches who make a career of examining the details of the government's false cover story truly miss the point. What matters is not how the President was killed, but why. And the answer to that question is that the assassination was a coup d'etat, transferring control of the government of the United States to a power elite, which has been in control ever since. Hence, we have the strange silence of every succeeding President on the issue of the cover up of the Kennedy assassination.

The book is well written and extraordinarily important. He would understand our nation and how it came to be in the condition that now obtains would be well advised to read carefully this terribly important book. God bless.

Finally I found a book that clearly explains the Viet Nam War. I grew up in that era and registered for the draft just before it ended. This book discusses the involvement of the CIA and how they created a horrible civil war among a peaceful people. The calloused disregard for human life by the CIA and their wealthy supporters is astounding! The sole purpose for the war was so that wealthy powerful men could have more wealth and power. Innocent men, women, and children were terrorized and murdered solely because war is profitable for a select few. The most disturbing realization is that the CIA and the wealthy people who plan and finance war are still in power and the majority of Americans have no clue about the evil they promote. Every American needs to read this book! I am glad that I did.

As the other reviews properly note, L. Fletcher Prouty was well positioned to view the orchestrated murder of President Kennedy from a strategic long view. Where other Warren Commission critics focus on the tactical details and inconsistencies of the official script, Prouty goes tothe motive behind the treason. Through an excellent history on the growth of the Cold War, a logic emerges of why the power elite had to remove Kennedy as quickly as possible.

Kennedy was about to bring an end to the Vietnam War, he was about to derail the taxpayer gravy train for the military industrial complex Eisenhower had warned us of. Kennedy was a real and present danger to the plutocrats. Prouty pulls it all together -- the motive for treason is clear. This book is an important contribution to the history of modern America.

If you have come to this book looking for another lean, persuasive investigation of the various conspiracies that could have led to the killing of JFK, you have come to the wrong place. prouty's book reaches far wider than that narrow scope, exploring every square inch of his vast, first-hand knowledge of the workings and consequences of the so-called Cold War (though I don't see how the bloody loss of millions of lives during that time constitute a war that was anything but blazing hot).

Prouty, a former Air Force colonel and CIA insider, manages to observe his life's work from an objective standpoint that raises countless probing and often hair-raising questions and warnings. Reaching back to the origins of the cold war and its effects on the policy and history that would soon be made, Prouty paints an expansive, thorough and detailed account not only of the JFK assassination, but of the entire political and industrial framework festering in the 20 years leading up to that moment that allowed such a tragedy to take place.

Contrary to most other books that deal --either obliquely or directly -- with JFK's murder, prouty's endures with a relevance that has as much to say about our own time as it does about Kennedy's. He foresees all the problems of a tyrannically powerful CIA that functions as the President's puppet master. "Many of the skilled saboteurs and terrorists of today are CIA students of yesterday," Prouty asserts in what amounts to an astonishing revelation when one considers that, among others, Osama Bin Laden is one of those "CIA students of yesterday." But it isn't only terrorists: it is the people we put in place as American puppets around the world. Take Hamad Karzai, for example, former CIA agent and millionaire now serving as President of Afghanistan.

The intimate and omnipotent mingling of money, military, covert intelligence operations and politics is precisely the network of power Prouty implicates not only in the crime that was the JFK murder, but the crime of so many brutal wars and coups performed by the CIA throughout the world to this very day. We are under the tyranny of an intelligence elite, an elite that happens to have the most powerful military and political machines on the planet at its service.

As prouty shows, Truman regretted his approval of the formation of the CIA toward the end of his presidency. Eisenhower tried to curb its powers but failed miserably, and when Kennedy fired Allen Dulles -- CIA chief at the time -- and not only threatened but actually worked to break the CIA "into a thousand pieces," he was killed. If that strieks you as an irrational logical leap, you need to read Prouty's book.

It is admirable that he undertook the writing of the book himself, rather than resorting to the services of some professional writer as so many politicians and military officials do for their memoirs and other books. Consequently, Prouty's book suffers a bit from a lack of the kind of polish it might have had. He struggles to organize his vast knowledge into the kind of coherant narrative he envisions and promises to no avail throughout. The reader has to work a little harder here to put the many pieces together that prouty lays out.

Nonetheless, Prouty's book reads like a desperate, angry and even frantic attempt at telling the truth by a man whose writing voice belies a remarkable warmth and sincerity. He knows so much and is so appalled at the hypocrisy he witnessed throughout his career -- hypocrisy that turned to horror -- that his book reads like the result of a minor god angrily shaking his fists and roaring in a locked room. His background, littered with merits and accolades, backs up every claim he makes here.

Prouty's book is entirely based on first-hand knowledge and expertise he gleaned over the course of a distinguished career: the precarious security arrangements in Dallas that day, Kennedy's advocacy of a US note that would compete with the federal note, his vow to remove all troops from Vietnam by 1965 and how this threatened the money-making machine that was the Vietnam "conflict," the utter astonishment in Washington at Kennedy's victory over Nixon, a man for whom various war and intelligence initiatives had already been drawn up for him to sign off on at the start of his presidency -- before he was even elected!

From its first hour, Kennedy's thousand-day presidency threatened so many established powers, so many benefactors of the military industrial complex, that there was no way it could have ended up otherwise. Even Robert McNamara, a great admirer of the president and godfather to one of Bobby Kennedy's kids, understood that a helicopter-augmented war like Vietnam would "churn out big dollars," that the war itself was capable of creating the $500 billion in military-industrial profits it eventually raised. Any former Ford executive understands the profits inherent in the collusion between military and industry.

As Prouty reports, quoting the controversial novel "Report From iron Mountain," "The war system is indispensable to the stable political structure . . . war provides the sense of external necessity without which no government can long remain in power." This is precisely the bleak "necessity" that Kennedy eventually grew to rebuke, and it was that rebuke that put the nails in his coffin long before his trip to Dallas.

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Mr. Prouty served in the Pentagon's Office of Special Operations during a significant portion of his professional military career. In this role, he observed first-hand how the CIA arranged/staged coups d'etat in the Phillipines and other nations around the globe. In the Office of Special Operations, Mr. Prouty was responsible for providing U.S. military support for CIA operations. This experience serves as the basis for Mr. Prouty's strong inference that the assassination of President Kennedy was a CIA-style coup d'etat. The "why" of the coup d'etat is strongly established by Mr. Prouty. JFK intended to withdraw 1,000 military personnel from Vietnam by the close of 1963 and hoped to complete the full withdrawal of U.S. military personnel from Vietnam by the close of 1965. To do this, JFK needed to get re-elected. His decision to withdraw from Vietnam was based upon the McNamara-Taylor report of early October, 1963 and codified in National Security Action Memorandum#263 of October 11, 1963. [For a thorough, scholarly analysis of the evolution of JFK's Vietnam policy, see "JFK and Vietnam" by John M. Newman (New York: Warner Books, 1992). Mr. Newman is a professional historian and a faculty member at the University of Maryland]. Powerful interests in the CIA, Pentagon and the corporate world were "gung ho" in favor of large-scale military intervention in Vietnam. The prospective war promised billions of dollars in military contracts for the defense industry. JFK's intention to withdraw from Vietnam would deny these elements in the CIA, Pentagon and corporate communities their pot of gold. Immediately after the assassination of JFK, LBJ issued NSAM#273 on November 26, 1963 which was a complete reversal of JFK's policy. NSAM#273 authorized U.S. military raids into North Vietnam. These raids precipitated the Gulf of Tonkin incidents of July-August 1963, led to Congress' Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and massive U.S. military intervention in Vietnam. LBJ gave the CIA, Pentagon and defense contractors what JFK would have denied them: billions of dollars in defense contracts in support of the full-scale war in Vietnam. For Mr. Prouty, the ultimate inference is irresistible: to effectuate the complete turn-around of Vietnam policy proposed by JFK, a CIA-style coup d'etat was carried out in Dallas on November 22, 1963. LBJ's NSAM#273 reversing JFK's Vietnam policy [from withdrawal to establishing the foundation for massive U.S. intervention] was issued on November 26, 1963. The goals of the coup were obtained immediately following the assassination. Prouty gives us the "why" of the coup. Further research remains to be done in order to give us "who" and the "how". Prouty's work is a valuable starting point for further inquiry and deserves our appreciation for its autobiographical honesty and heartfelt analysis.

Prouty was well postioned to tell his story as seen from inside the intelligence community. Unknown to most people Kennedy challenged the hegemony of the privately owned and controlled Federal Reserve. In the summer of 1963 Kennedy signed an executive order to create 4 billion dollars in United States Notes, in direct competion to Federal Reserve Notes. Why? The United States Notes were based on the government silver stores and their creation did not create interest payements to the world bankers and owners of the Fed. Bills in denominations of $2, $5, $10, and $20's were authorized and the $2's and $5's were printed and in circulation. The $10's and $20 were being printed when Kenndy was killed. In Johnsons first month in office the US Notes were recalled from circulation. Go to any good coin shop and ask to buy a 1963 US Note. See it for yourself! The one gem in Prouty's book that ties Kennedy to this issue is a few sentences where he discusses Kennedy sending Robert McNamara to meet with the Governors of the Federal Reserve to let them know that there are going to be big changes in the nations money system. There is very little information out there about Kennedy and money and Prouty clearly knew there was a connection. Why is the topic of Kennedy and the money he created so obscure and unknown? The only other president in the history of the country to create US Notes directly from the authority of the US Government was Lincoln with his greenbacks during the civil war. The only two presidents to buck the money powers were both assasinated in office. I think Prouty shows a possible origin of one of the smoking guns.

Overall, this was a fascinatiing read, and an awesome addition to my already humongous JFK Assassination collection. My only points of contention: 1)The name of it (and I realize the name needs to attract the reader) should have been The Military Complex / The Power Elite: How it works and it's connection to the JFK Assassination. The first three quarters of this book was all about the High Cabal and the Military complex. Incredibly detailed and compelling reading, but I just could not wait for it to end so we could get to the JFK part. But when it did...BAM! I could not put the book down. 2) This may be minor, but parts were extremely repetitve. I stopped counting how many times he referred to the one million Vietnemese who migrated to South Vietnam. I know he was trying to bang the point home, but it got to a point where it was not needed. 3) Once he got to the assassination itself I truly thought he would get into names...who made up this High Cabal or Power Elite that is more powerful than the President and US Government. I understand this could be dangerous...but a little hint would have been nice. 4) I thought he would get into more detail how the Assassination was pulled off. He drops a lot of hints and possibilities, but never really gives details to his personal thoughts. I cannot believe Mr. Prouty, after all his years serving in the military in the sensitive positions he held, could not come up with some kind of idea. Be that as it my, I truly believe this is as close the truth that we could ever get. I think this give the Why and Who would benefit. But would love even more detail. Maybe that's asking too much... Whether or not you are a JFK Assassination buff...this is truly an amazing read.

Now that we've made it through the nauseating hoopla of the 40th anniversary where the media bent over backwards to prove that Oswald "could" have done it I can only say that this book may be the only one that skips all the "window dressing" and spells out the real reasons we should continue to suspect people in high places as being the culprits. It's a bit jagged and disjointed at times but remember that these facts come from the most reliable source ever. The guy that was there in the midst of all the treachery. One must answer the question of "who had the power to pull all security out of Dealy Plaza and allow the assassination to happen?" before ever breaching the question of whodunnit. Not one network dared to go near that problem. A must-read for anyone who really wants to know WHY.

Finally, those involved are getting old enough not to place concern about their own welfare above truth anymore.

This book provides so many connections, such a depth of behind the scenes knowledge and inner workings of the specific programs operating at the time, you can't help but be bowled over.

***Note: Anyone interested in the Kennedy Assassination should realize that there is a "misinformation plant" in the Library Journal review department. Every honest book on the subject has been unconvincingly discredited by them, while they praise and try to steer you towards known flake CIA-financed writers such as Gerald Posner.

It's rather common to hear of wrongdoing by the CIA. I saw a graph recently that showed American citizen's belief in their government plummetting after the Kennedy Assassination. Almost no one accepted the Warren Commission Report and such a cover up has casted doubt on our government ever since.

This "High Cabal" as Churchill called them obviously doesn't start with the CIA, or the Federal Reserve. It predates Christianity, but it's quite simple. There are bums who seek handouts and never try to rise, and there are bums who gain a position over others but still yearn for that same handout, taking it by force, by skimming, whatever is neccessary to defeat justice, honor and civility. These are not great men and they will not be remembered like an Edison or a Ford. They are the most creative parasites on the planet, and the most deeply engrained.

Currency control has changed EIGHT times since America's inception. The most vocal fighter against irrational banking was Andrew Jackson; not Kennedy or Lincoln (google "Jackson Bank Veto"). He fought and defeated in his time what has morphed into the Federal Reserve Bank. Before the Civil War, such bankers were buying politicians, planting press stories, steering elections, stealing freedoms, killing people--anything to assure a fascist cushion between themselves and existence.

Do we ever hear anything bad about the Federal Reserve? In Jackson's time, they were entrenched 16 years deep and it was difficult to rout them out then. They did try to kill him. Now they are ninety years deep. They have owned many Presidents, they control the Justice and State Departments, and the CIA secretly furthers their agenda.

Nothing happens at the Assassination Level without their approval. In today's world, America is struggling in recession (bankruptcy) mostly due to the $360 Billion we now pay to the Fed for their generous "Debt-Money" System, and that is an exponentially increasing burden. EVERY dollar in our country has interest being paid on it as if it were borrowed! Due to this, bankruptcy for America is a mathematical certainty. (Imagine if you had to pay interest not just on every dollar you owed, but on every dollar you made! America IS!)

With changes in the laws, soon none of us will be permitted to walk away from our debts and start over--as if our hard economic times is our own personal fault.

We are all about to become debt slaves, as they intend. If you want to have a chance at recovery, if you want your kids to have a chance at a decent future, join me and I'll give you the Moral Armor neccessary to beat down these parasites and restore America to what it was meant to be. They CAN be defeated, but not without YOUR empowerment. If you can't stand up or are afraid to, I'll show you how. Invest in yourself right now and let's save this ship!

Col. Prouty's most informative book exposes the vicious, greedy, and super-anonymous hand of the "High Cabal" as none other has dared attempt. It clearly demonstrates the bizarre and disgusting chain of events (created by the OSS and CIA) that began before the end of WWII; events that led to President Eisenhower's unprecedented farewell address (and warning) to the nation. These events also led to the creation of President John F. Kennedy's National Security Action Memorandum #263, which called for de-escalation of the Vietnam War and withdrawal of all troops from Vietnam; the memorandum that ultimately led to his death.
This work exposes the planned genocide of millions of innocent, non-combatant Southeast Asian civilians, under the guise of such noble sounding terms as "pacification." Readers learn that none of these attacks on the peace-loving Southeast Asians were undertaken to protect any nation or preserve any ideology. Rather, they were thrust upon the Southeast Asians to further feed the exceedingly bulging pockets of greedy international bankers and the insidious military-industrial complex. These events also served to further perpetuate the High Cabal's iron-fisted, though ultra-secret, control over American government, among others, and the world economy. Vietnam is but one homeland that the High Cabal has decimated to serve its own purposes. There have indeed been many others throughout history. The question is: who's next? Perhaps us? Every American should read this vitally important book. And, think about it...
Hats off to Col. L. Fletcher Prouty. A truly great American! I proudly salute you, Sir.

Oh man, what a GREAT book. Really explains what the Vietnam war was all about: capitalist profits. Also explains how the CIA was flawed from its inception and is a monster gone wild. A real eye opener for a regular citizen.

This book bypasses all the false stories and deliberate confusion about the assassination of JFK, mostly created by the perpetrators to throw people off the trail, and lays them all to rest. Prouty lays out the facts in such a way that once you see them, you can't help but know how the job was done and what people were behind it.
Fletcher talks as only a person who was in the midst of the intelligence community and knew exactly how they operated, could. And because of his position, he also had access to the documents which show exactly what JFK was doing which so enraged the bankers, lawyers, industrialists and key memebers of the spy community that they felt he had to be killed.
And, of course, after he was murdered, no other Kennedy who wasn't sufficiently cowed (as Teddy has been), could be allowed into the high office, as he would then, most certainly go after the perpetrators. So then you will know what happened to Robert and John Jr.

If there is a recurring theme in Fletcher's books, it's that we do not live in a truly democratic society. When it comes down to it, our government is controlled by a relatively small group of corporate "investors." Specifically, I'm talking about the business interests who stand to gain from US defense spending (over 25 percent of our federal budget last time I looked). Good old Ike wasn't just whistling dixie during his fairwell address. As the ultimate insider, Eisenhower's warning must be taken to heart.
The lessons of this book are just as salient now as they were back during JFK's time in office. As a Master Sergeant in the Army confided in me, "if you want to know why we're fighting in Iraq, take a look at how much replacement parts cost for the AC-130 and the Blackhawk helicopter." Think about it, over $200 billion will be spent in Iraq. That's a huge payday for guys like Lockheed and General Dynamics.
When this type of (tax-payer) money is at stake, don't think for a minute that killing a head of state is out of bounds.
Fletcher's observations are sobering and will leave you feeling a bit uneasy. Such is the nature of the truth. There is no Santa Claus, no Easter Bunny, and no one (not even the POTUS) is safe from the aggregate will of the military-industrial complex.

Col. Prouty provides a perspective on things that you will find nowhere else. His writings in this book serve less as a defacto damnation, but more as a basis for rebuilding the way one looks at their government's workings.
Conspiracy theories aside, those who attack Prouty's position seem more interested in character assasination, than actually confronting his accusations with any sort of credibility. As such, I give most of Prouty's position the benefit of the doubt.

The author of this book, L. Fletcher Prouty, does a great job of giving the reader all of the information that he either personally witnessed or learned overtime about the CIA, Vietnam, and the Assassination Plot of JFK. Prouty is a very relevant source for information as he was a colonel for the United States Air Force during World War II and worked in the White House under the Presidential years of Eisenhower and JFK. In the book, Prouty gives the reader plenty of information on the CIA and how they had a large part in the start of the Vietnam War with their "make war" mindset. He gives a very good history of the Vietnam War and how there were so many situations and strategies that should have been a lot better. This book really shows how the United States got into Vietnam and at what costs. A main part in the book that Prouty tends to hit on a lot about the Vietnam War was, "What was the military objective for the Vietnam War?" The only answer that he could come up with was the body count of the Communist Vietnamese. Prouty shows how JFK was trying to change everything when it came to Vietnam and the CIA. JFK and his administration were completely different from the Eisenhower administration. JFK had plans that he wanted to follow and these plans tended to upset certain people at a high level. Prouty gives a very accurate history of the days leading up to the assassination and the actual assassination of JFK. He shows how there was no way that a Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin and that he was just a patsy. The chapters about the actual JFK assassination are very interesting and show how the cover story is impossible to believe for multiple reasons. Prouty also does a great job a showing how quickly Lyndon B. Johnson reversed JFK's Vietnam Plan and how little the people investigating the assassination did. Prouty really gives the reader a visual of what went down on November 22, 1963 (the day JFK was assassinated), the lack of questioning when it came to suspects outside of Oswald, the immediate cover story with multiple holes in it, and lack of protection for the President that awful day in Dallas. One other major group that Prouty seems to tie everything to when it comes to the Cold War, Vietnam, and other major events is a high cabal or power elite. Overall this book gave me so much new information on the CIA, how the Vietnam War progressed from the end of WWII to the days of LBJ, and the overall story of the JFK assassination and who is really at fault, along with why did it happen.

Hard to believe for various reasons. First, other reviewers have commented on the "logic" of the author's arguments. There are, however, numerous fallacies in the book. Lots of, "X happened, and then Y happened, THEREFORE..." but the conclusions are never proven and don't follow logically from the premises. Second, the author doesn't seem to notice some of the absurdities in his thesis when applied to November of 1963. For example, we're told that an international elite working above the leaders elected to the highest offices of government have created and controlled world wide war efforts, power transfers, government overthrows, and economic and monetary conditions among other things, since the end of WWII. They must be pretty well organized, financed and intelligent to do so. Yet, they were unable to ensure the election of Nixon in the closest election in history up to that point? Seems odd to be able to start wars but not rig an election that was lost by .02 percent. And, if that isn't a good enough example, let's try another one. The author gives us several photos in the book of the Dallas "Police" who transported a band of vagabonds on the day JFK was killed and points out the facts that their uniforms aren't standard DPD issue, their uniforms don't match, and their caps and weapons are not standard. The obvious allusion is that they weren't real policemen and were somehow a part of or hired by this power elite who operated to kill on that day. Yet, wouldn't a "High Cabal" capable of all I mentioned above, have made sure to procure authentic police uniforms, caps, badges and weapons for such an important day, leaving nothing to chance, and preparing for every contingency? It seems like a very sloppy oversight by a group with such limitless powers and ability.

These are just two examples of many where common sense seems to trump the passionate arguments of the author. That being said, there is some interesting information in the book on the inner workings of the CIA and government especially during the Vietnam War. If you are going to read it, just be on the lookout for the faulty logic and use common, critical thinking skills to help sort possibility from probability.

I really enjoy these types of books and read quite a few. However, I was a bit disappointed in Prouty's book. I expected him to answer the questions - who killed JFK and why and how? Well, he makes allusions to these questions but never outright answers them. Who really knows the answers, anyway?! His theories are quite plausible - that JFK had to die because of the possible billions of dollars that would have been lost by businesses if we had pulled out of Vietnam; and because of the self-serving interests of the intelligence-military-industrial complex and its power brokers.

However, I did find the book a bit long-winded in certains areas. In several chapters, Prouty goes on and on and on about CIA involvement in other countries and their attempts to change the government structure in these countries. I find myself thinking, OK - so what - move on. Then, he postulates a theory I had NEVER heard before - that millions of Cochin Chinese were moved from North Vietnam to the South in an effort to create turmoil so that we would have an excuse to enter the war. What? In all the books I've read on the Vietnam War, I have NEVER heard that.

In the end, my gut feeling is to tell you to watch Oliver Stone's JFK (based on Prouty's book) and forget reading the book.

fletcher prouty's book, is without a doubt, the best road map through the terribly complicated and secret, not to mention traitorous, forest known a the intelligence community. He outlines actions along with motives for those actions and ramification of the actions of the CIA and other covert arms of our government. His meticulous probe into our governments deceitful and illegal operations leaves the reader with a devastating feeling of impending doom of our society. One can only hope that Mr. Prouty is one of those conspiracy theory nuts but in reality we realize that he speaks the truth, however damning to our government it may be.

Perhaps the greatest feature of our repuplic is that a book like this can make it to print and be available for readers interested enough to pick it up. Fletcher Prouty has been a part of the secret history and prefers to go onto the next world less burdened by a heavy concious after his detailings to future generations. Because of his particular circumstances to witness history from inside the halls of power, he is able detail what has appeared to be more like the x-files. In just four words, "Well worth the read"

This is an excellent book.I personally own a harback edition that is autographed by Colonel Prouty to me. I am a firm believer in what he said and I believe that this sort of behavior still goes on today. War is money and it always will be. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the murder of President Kennedy.