BACK CHANNELS A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF HISTORICAL & MODERN ESPIONAGE, ASSASSINATIONS & CONSPIRACIES. Editor - Peter Kross NEW ORLEANS ARISTOCRACY & THE JFK ASSASSINATION James DiBugenio WAS SIRHAN PROGRAMMED BY THE CIA? James Musgrave BLUE PRINT OF AN ASSASSINATION: THE SOVIET UNION VS THE VATICAN Peter Novick ‘SECOND ANNUAL MID-WEST SYMPOSIUM ON POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS Dennis Biffle DEATH AT'THE CIA: AN UPDATE Lynn Brown ‘THE SECRET LIFE OF EDWIN WILSON Peter Kross THE PLOT TO KILL PATTON John Craig BACK CHANNELS TALKS WITH GAETON FONZI Peter Kross “SUDDENLY”: A REBUTTAL Jean Davison SPARE CHANGE Phillip Bond Sartain OSWALD & THE WALKER ATTACK Theresa Seay BOBBY KENNEDY'S LEGACY Peter Kross DEPARTMENTS. HISTORICAL FLASHES. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. BRANCHLINES. BOOK & MOVIE REVIEWS, u B 18 1» a4The Secret Life of Edwin Wilson 'y Peter Kross “The use of contract agents in the gathering of intel gence is aot a new phenomenon. While the case of Edwin ‘Wilson, the former CIA officer who, after leaving the agency, told his services to Colonel Muamar Quaddafi of Libya, is| ‘one ofthe prime examples of contract agent, the use of such men goes back tothe early history of American intelligence operations. In 1716, the Committee of Secret Correspondence sent its own agent, Silas Deane abroad to seek covert ad in their rebellion agsinst Grest Britain. Silas Deane, one of the ‘American agents sent to France, met socelly with the Comte dde Vergennes, the French Foreign Minister. Minster de ‘Vergennes ordered funds and arms to be supplied tothe colo nists through his own Proprietary Company called Roderique Hortalez & Company. The firm was owned by a weallby French aristocrat called Piette Augustine Caron de Beaumaarchais Leaming the lesson from Comte de Vergennes propei- etary of Roderique Hortalez & Co., Edwin Wilsoa, would, some two lundred yeas later, devise his own sling operation against the United States, ‘Wilson, a man who was privy to some of the most im ‘portant secrets coming out of Langley, the sprawling CIA headquarters in Virginia, left the agency and took up shop for himself. He sold his expertise to the highest bidder and found ‘Colonel Quaddafi eager to do business How did Edwin Wilson, who some knowledgeable peo- pile in the CIA have claimed to be a low level operative, ‘mount such a workd-wide ams network? Was Wilson work- ing alone oF did be have covert help from his old master's? Edwin Wilson's entsy into the world of secret intelligence dates back to the time of the Korean War. He served in the Marines, going to OCS school and was stationed in Japan. Ia 1955, Wilson was discharged and using his contacts was ac- ‘cepted ito the ranks ofthe CIA. His First job in the agency was that of a Junior Security Officer making between $70-80.00 a week. ary in his CIA carer, Wilson played guard tothe pi- lots and crew of the super-secret U.2 spy planes that were ‘overlying te Soviet Union gathering valuable intelligence During the 1950's, the CIA infiltrated various private ‘organizations in the United States including labor unions and ‘the major universities. Wilson was seat under the cover as a student to the Comell University Schoo! for Industral and Labor Relations. After getting his degrec he went 0 to -Burope to keep track ofthe International Labor Federation, In reality, Wilson prowled the docks of Antwerp and Marseilles keeping an constant eye out for suspicious cargo going [BACK CHANNELS u Cuba and other Communist countries, In the early 1960's, Wilson's new assignment was Vietnam where the American presence was steadily growing, His handle were impressed with his uigue talents and be ‘was posted tothe CIA's Special Operations Unit which oper- ated covertly throughout the world. While inthe SOU. Wilson became the “President” of Maritime Consuking Associates a front orgerization cootolled by the CIA. The purpose of Maritime Consulting was to run agency operations scros the world and the transfer of CTA material and gear to such places as Latin America, Affca, the Caribbean and Iran In reality, Wilson became the case oficer of hundreds of agents, supplying them with covert id. The CIA gave Wilson's M.C.A. a bulget of $150,000 for its operations. But Wilson, not « man to miss an opportnity, began to diversify and handed arms shipments nol sanctioned bythe agency. Wilion took the profits from his secret operations and promptly banked his fees. As his shady business deals began to filter back to CIA beadguarters, his masters began to tke 8 closer look at Wilson's growing financial empire. When Wilson, in en attempt to buy a tact of land said that he was the owner of a company, when in realty it was actually oper- sted by the CIA, he was forced to leave the Company. Down but not out, Edwin Wilson became a frelancer, beginning his arms and financial empire that would come to involve many ofthe top names in the CTA. In 1971, Wilson, asa contract agent, joined the super-se- ret Task Force 157. TF-157 hd its origins in the Kennedy ‘tiministration who wanted 10 develop contact on Fidel Castro's Cuba, Soon TF-157 spread to other areas of intell- ‘gence and like an octopus, took oo a new life. TF-157 was par of the Office of Naval Intelligence but its agents worked for CIA front companies and their employment was hidden fiom the government. Wilson, with his TF-157 as big dad, started bis ow freight forwarding company. 1a reality Wilboo used his agents wo guter intelligence in the Middle East and Asia. Among the people whom Wilsoo ‘mace contact with was Major Richard Secord who ran mil tary sales forthe Air Force and later played large role in the lran-Coatre affeic during the Reagan presidency Wilson made many important CIA contacts during his tenure in Task Force 157 including Theodore Shackley, the Associate Direcor of the Direcorae of Operations ‘Shackley’s office ran the so called “Dirty Tricks” department. ‘Another prominent member of the Company who worked closely wits him was Thomas Clines who was in charge of the Office of Training. Clines was also the deputy chief in Miami and served as Wilsons cae officer during his time in the CIA. SPRING 1993‘Surely both Clines and Shackley knew that Wilson had been forced to leave the CTA in disgrace. IPthey did, then why ‘would they be lending their considerable suppor to discred. ited former agent? ‘Over the years, Task Force 157 grew into a covert, world-wide US intelligence network. Wilson was in charge of two front companies run by the CIA and T.F1S7 called Marine Inc, and Maryland Maritime Company. Wilson, using, his marine cover, supplied T.F.-1S7 with ships for its opera tions. Wilson would charge his legion of acms brokers aad ‘marine suppliers more money than the actual cost of the ‘equipment to be purchased and pocketed the rest. In 1976, with the Carter Administration im the White House, Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, the Disector of Naval Intelligence phased out Task Force 157 and shut down its far ‘lung operation. Wilson, now temporarily out of a job, began anew career; that ofan international ams dealer. ‘Terpil and Quaddafi His fist contact after leaving TF-157 was another ex-CTA officer, Frank Terpil Terpi, a native of New York City, ran withthe same crowd of arms merchants and shadowy charac ter inhabited by Wilson, even meeting wih he infamous tr- rorst “Carlos the Jackal.” Terpl made himself useful tthe Libyans and the P.O. Palestine Liberation Organization) and found himself onthe most wanted list bythe US. Justice Department ‘The two men met in 1975 and went into business togeth- ez. Teil told Wilson that sey were supplying guas wad cou sumer products to Colonel Muammar Quaddafi's Libya. Wilton signed on and. using his previous CIA conics, opened up another front company called Consultants International which handled supplies not only to Libya but to other counties as well Terps cootact in Libya was Sayed Quuddafodam, Colonel Quaddaf's first cousin. Quadafi was so pleased withthe goods supplied by Wilson and Terpl that be asked them to provide his army withthe powerful C4 explosives. Wilson got the dangerous plastique fom a legitimate business in California called the Society of Explosives Enginoers. He told the fms President, Jerome Bower that he needed the explosives for ol ling purposes in Libya. To calm Bowers fears, Wilbon also purchased items like blasting cape and fases “The C- intended for Colonel Quadlasteorat net work took around about route via Houston, Los Angeles and Frankfurt, West Germany before finally aiving in Libya Listed as machine parts on the plane's manifest, the deadly ‘cargo arived inthe hot Libyan desert without a bitch ‘To sweeten the deal, Wilson contacted with Coloel ‘Quaddaf to supply him wit tanspot planes and surveillance ‘vehicles Wilt aio struck a deal whereby he would se ex- US. Amy Green Berets to ai a Libyan force of 3.500 men These crack troops would be used to sew teor against Libya's Midale Bast neighbors Tt was at this point in his secret dealings that Edwin Wilson was to meet the man who would blow the whistle on BACK CHANNELS a ele een his secret world of fear, Kevin Mulcahy. Like Wilson, Kevin Mulcahy served in the CIA from 1963-68 as a computer and ‘communications specialist. Wilson hired Mulcahy to run bis import expor firm called Consultants International. Muleaby soon leamed of the darker side of Consultants and wondered ‘what he should do with his new found knowledge. ‘The answer to his predicament came when he found in Wilson’s safe a copy of the memorandum concersing the se- ret training of Col. Quaddaf's solders and the use of the former US. Green Berets. But Mulcahy, « man with a severe drinking problem was worried that the FB. wouldn't take him seriously. “Mulcahy’s fears were right. The Feds sat on his story for cover 15 months until a strange series of events brought ‘Wilson and his covert mission to Libya out inthe open. ‘The Letelier Assassination On September 21, 1976, Orlando Leteler, the ex Ambassador of Chile © the United States and an American woman were killed when a bomb blew up their ear on Embassay Row in Washington, D.C. ‘A year later the Washingion Post's writer Bob ‘Woodward wrote an article in which be said that Wilson and ‘Tespil had a roe inthe Letelier murder. The Letelier asassi- nation case was given to an assistant US. Attorney named Lawrence Barcella, Barcella worked in the Major Crimes Division inthe Justice Department and served as the number ‘wo man. He handled mostly felony cases involving organized ‘Through dogged work and persistence, Barcella tracked down enough people, including Kevin Muleaby, and gathered enough information to indiet Wilson of murder conspiracy in| the Letelier case, for violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and for the illegal export of explosives. By now, Wilson had fled to Malta where he heard of his indict- ‘ment on April 23, 1980. ‘When news of his indicunent hit the wires Wilson was expelled from Malta and he went back to Libya, to the protec Give hands of Col. Quaddafi But now the most puzzling act the unfolding drama took place. Through various intelligence Tinks, Wilbon flew to Rome to meet with Barcella under a promise by the lawman that he wouldn't arrest Wilson. In the meeting, Wilson told Barcella of his work for ‘Task Force 157, sai that his relationship with Shackley and ‘Clines was personal and that he was only a middleman in the training of Libya's armed forces and that he played only 3 ‘marginal roe in the shipping of the C-4 explosives to Libya. ‘Barcella returned to the United States more eager to nail Wilson once and for all. Barcella got his chance in the peson ‘of Emest Keiser. Keiser, a con-man's con, worked for US. intelligence after World War Il. Keiser and Wilson worked together in various secret dealings and while they were not the sreatest of friends - a working relationship did emerge. Using Keiser as the bait, Barcella and the Justice Department invented an ingenious scheme to lure Wilsoo back into custody. ‘Keiser went back to Libya to meet with Wilson. He told SPRING 1993thatthe United States wanted to set up a meeting with PLO. leader Yasir Arafat and the new National Security ‘Advisor in the White House, William Clark. Would Wilson be the intermediary for all parties concerned? Wilson gave bis blessing and te final chapter was about to begin. Wilson left his hiding place in Libya for a stopover in Switzerland. He then connected to a flight en-route to Maid, Spuin. From Spain, Wilson would travel to the Dominican ‘Republic for the crucial meeting, Sitting in the back of the Maaid-Santo Domingo leg of the flight were a group of U.S, “Marshals who arrested Wilson wen the plane touched down, ‘The Wilson case poses many important and unanswered “questions. ‘Was Wilson working for himself or did be have the co- vert backing of the C.LA.? What was his actual involvement in the Letelier assassination? Did Frank Terpil have the same covert sanctions as Wilson did? Wilson, now serving time in the Federal prison in Marion, IL, isn't telling. INDIVIDUALS NOMINATED FOR THE JFK REVIEW BOARD A five man review board will be chosen by President Clinton to review and de-clasify any pre- ‘viously held material relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Once the pane! is con- firmed by the Senate they will have up to three ‘years to complete their work. Below are two pro- ‘posed lists of people being considered for the re- view panel ABA List-Historians: Anna Nelson, American ‘University; Blanche Cook, City University of New ‘York; Athan Theobaris, Marquette University, OAH List: Stephen Ambrose, Univ. of New (Orleans; Mary Berry, Univ. of Pennsylvania; Kermit Hall, Univ. of Tulsa; Richard Kirkendall, Univ. of Washington. ‘ABA: Samuel Dash, Richard Friedman, Michael Greco, Paul Rothstein, Neal Somett & John ‘Tunbeim. Archivsts: Elsie Freeman, Lary Hackman & William Joye. Oliver Stone's proposed list: Josish Thompson, Howard Roffman, David Wrone, Richard Levine, Katherine Meyer, Paul Hoch & Gordon Winslow. ‘BACK CHANNELS B The Plot to Kill Patton By John Craig General George 5. Paton, Jt ded in a Heidebers, Germany hospital on December 21, 1945 due to complica. tions ofa broken neck tht e sustained eleven days eae in 4 minor automobile accident om Highway 38 near Manheim. Immediately after his death ranors of ful play and conspira- cy surrounded the circumstances of his aciden. The common rumor in Germany the time was that Pation was asassnat- ea due wo is wish o join fores with Gemany and stock Russia Patton had opealy admit thatthe Allis had efet- ‘the wrong enemy” and repeatedly praised German indus- try and the dicipline ofits peopl ’A post WW I Nazi revival was alto rumored. Some Nari fanatics envisioned a revival of thee socialist party from the reclusive Austrian Alps, complete with SS defenders and Gestapo. However, Evenbower, upon bearing these rumors ‘Gres Paton 10 regroup his Think Amy and secure the ‘Alpine peaks. Bu sil afew Nazis dreamed that their party's resurgence could be flaned by the sympatbetic General Paton. Aer al, some Nazis must have rationalize, it was Patton who had lly stated thatthe Allies had destroyed the “wrong enemy” and tht communism was a horible deat 10 the werld, 0 it was Paton who could revive the Nazis and storm into Moscow. Even though Paton during wartime had promised the men of the Thid Amy that he was going to Berlin and persomilly “sboot that paper-banging soo-af-<- bitch jst ike a‘soake woul” in 1945 Hider was gone and te fanatics stil hope thatthe party could be revived. Patton may have been surrounded in 1945 by Naz spies ‘These spies may have been sympathetic to forces that wished to woo Pation into helping them revitalize the Nazi party. One of these men was Baron von Wangeaheim, a former Nezi colonel and Olympian equestia, who became a daily com- pnion of Patton and kept a smal able of horses forthe gen eral. Another man named Brehm became a pat of Patoo' post-war inner circle: be was later identified as an executive agcat of the Sicheheltsdienst, the underground Nazi secret rom the day of his death to the present many have asked how a man of Patton's stature could die so commonly and wncbanicteisicaly in 8 auto accident where both vei cles weren't moving faster than twenty miles per bour Suspicion was es 0 all hose who Paton had offended, and there were many-Generals Montgomery, Eiseahower, Bede! Smith, even President's Truman and Eisenbower. Ever since ‘the wartine rumor tat Nazi General Jo was planing to sassinae Patton, conspiracy theories ran rampant. Theories wore fueled by the fac that no official report was ever made ‘of the auto aesident and that there was no autopey. Pation's neurosurgeon, Colonel Spurling, made a post mortem report that sail classified. The senior MP officer on the scene of SPRING 1993