03-12-2008, 01:38 PM
Peter Lemkin Wrote:I think Jack is correct. Prouty never became what most of us would consider 'left'; but he did see the errors of the ways, means, motives of much he had been involved in / with. He kept many secrecy pledges and refused to 'out' or name others who didn't want to come out of the cold; he kept other information he'd pledged to keep secret secret - yet twisted other secrecy oaths to try to enlighten us. If one reads his books, you can tell he could be a lot more specific and is all too general on many points. It was his way of balancing his promises to keep secrets [and I assume also keep his life] and yet tell enough to wake and alarm the American People. I got a feeling of immense integrity when I spoke with him. He played some 'games', due to the above - so, for example I'd ask him a specific question and he'd avoid a direct answer, but if I gave my undertanding of who or what might be involved, when I came to the one he considered most 'on track', he'd say something like, 'Now there is an interesting trail you might follow-up on with more research', while on the others he's remain silent. Clever. It is too bad he's no longer around. Yes, it is too bad all too few insiders feel the need and patriotic calling to break their vows of silence and promises to keep intelligence methods and details within the fold. A few really do and a few seem to - but are actually doing pysops and disinfo. I think Prouty was the real thing. He was shocked at JFKs death [and other things] too and acted on that.
I never had the pleasure of knowing Prouty, but I remember being over at Carl O's house as he was writing Yankee Cowboy War and seeing letters from Prouty, this was in 1974 or so, and I recall the excitement I felt that someone from the inside, top level was assisting the casue of truth. Of course there must also have been problems with the secrecy oaths he had taken. From having been close to Jay Harrison for many years (who had an intelligence background) I saw firsthand that one can work tirlessly on the assassination yet honor that oath. It seemed to be a tightrope walk but I viewed it as patriotic. Think of the others who took all the secrets to their graves. The Angleton's , Dulles' , Nixon, Ford, the list is endless. No one will ever accuse those men of being patriots.