Almost a year ago, I found myself passing through Dallas and decided it was essential to visit Dealey Plaza. The historical surroundings—the Texas School Book Depository, the infamous Carcano rifle, the marked spot on the road leading to the underpass, and the grassy knoll—were all there, steeped in a sense of history and intrigue.
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I’ve experienced such moments before, yet I walked away with more questions than answers.
Dealey Plaza serves as a site of pilgrimage for Kennedy enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and curious onlookers alike—myself included. As the backdrop for one of the 20th century’s most notorious assassinations, it remains a potent magnet for speculation.
The second such site, of course, lies in Sarajevo, where Archduke Franz Ferdinand met his fate. I, too, have stood at the very spot where Gavrilo Princip fired the shot that ignited World War I. Perhaps it does lend an edge of ‘dark-tourism’ weirdness to my wanderlust, but there’s an undeniable allure in retracing these historical footsteps.
The mystery surrounding Kennedy’s assassination continues to captivate, leading to what many dub conspiracy theories. The longevity of these theories—fueled by countless books, TV shows, Oliver Stone’s film, podcasts, and online forums—has not only kept the legend alive but also primed the American public for a wider array of conspiracy theories.
Indeed, as author Mark Twain famously stated, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” In the rife speculation surrounding the Kennedy assassination, bits of what some labeled as conspiracy theories occasionally resurface as truth. This fact was underscored just this past week in connection with the so-called Epstein Files.
For decades, the CIA claimed to have minimal knowledge of Lee Harvey Oswald’s actions preceding the Kennedy assassination. However, the Washington Post recently unveiled new data from the “Federal Secrets Taskforce.” This congressional inquiry was formed to follow up on President Trump’s executive orders aimed at declassifying assassination files linked to Jack and Bobby Kennedy, as well as Martin Luther King Jr.
The Taskforce revealed that on July 3, they obtained a CIA record demonstrating the agency’s involvement in operations on U.S. soil that led to contact with Oswald months before Kennedy’s assassination.
The documents confirm that George Joannides, a CIA officer in Miami during 1964, was financing and supervising an anti-Castro group made up of Cuban students. Joannides, known as the “deputy chief of the psychological warfare group,” reported directly back to CIA headquarters about Oswald’s interactions with the anti-Castro group, despite denying any connections during prior investigations.
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom,” said Thomas Jefferson, and it seems the CIA’s historical reticence has left many wondering what else remains unspoken. With the revelation of Joannides’ existence and prior connections to Oswald, the questions only deepen.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, chairing the current assassination review, asserted to the Washington Post that “the CIA was lying to the American people, and there was a cover-up.” Perhaps the most ironic twist is that Joannides himself was assigned as a liaison officer to the 1978 House Select Committee investigating the assassination.
While it remains unproven that the CIA was directly involved in Kennedy’s assassination, the document leaks suggest a lack of transparency from an agency meant to safeguard national security. This perceived lack of openness fuels suspicions and distrust in broader governance.
As we juxtapose this conspiracy legacy with the current Epstein affair, the specter of hidden truths looms larger. The ongoing discourse around Trump’s executive orders regarding transparency in the Epstein records further complicates an already fraught narrative.
Many on the political right have gravitated towards the Epstein saga, driven by a commitment to exposing perceived injustice. As noted by political commentator David Brooks, “The truth emerges, no matter how deeply hidden.” The allegations against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell carry the weight of a belief that a powerful elite used their influence for nefarious purposes, thus further fueling conspiracy theories.
As Trump navigates the storm of public opinion fueled by the Epstein files, his appeal as an outsider, untainted by political norms, draws those who feel disenfranchised by traditional politics. Yet, despite his past promises of transparency, his recent dismissals regarding the Epstein files leave many feeling misled.
In the wake of a recent FBI memo asserting that “there is no there there” regarding the Epstein files, the intricate dance between truth and speculation continues. Trump’s own strong reactions to media queries about Epstein’s connections showcase a defensiveness that suggests underlying unease with the political tides.
As Trump engages with these controversies, he stirs a pot of disillusionment among his base, who had pinned their hopes on accountability and justice for the Epstein matter. As always, history reminds us that those who seek to ride the tiger of conspiracy often find it challenging to dismount.
In the end, both the JFK and Epstein narratives simmer within the complex chemistry of truth and myth—ever enigmatic, ever captivating.
“Truth is the foundation of all knowledge and the cement of society,” as John Locke profoundly stated. The pursuit of truth continues, as does the appetite for understanding the past in light of current events.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
