Journalist Michael Hastings is dead at 33

[nashvillebrook]

I'm just super glad we live in a country that doesn't condone targeted assassination of US citizens, because THAT would totally make me suspicious.

[8bitagent]

Ok not to spam with random comments, but this is really a bi-partisan issue. I know there's paranoid right wingers who think Breitbart "was done in"(doubt it), but regardless if you lean left, right, middle or into outer space fringe...the notion a faction within or related to government agencies or proxies inside of America could assassinate a journalist...not even a suspected "terrorist", is just not right. That's Hasting's colleagues right to dismiss questioning, but be it a Huffpo writer...a Newsmax or WND writer...a CBS writer...or even Alex Jones himself...we can't live in a country where this can be allowed to happen. Yes, I agree you can't automatically in print just 100% say oh yes, this is a conspiracy right off the bat. But at the same time you cant say 'dont question that'.

To Canadian Watcher; my earlier comment was referring to the belief that the Sandy Hook and Boston bombings were faked with actors, not the idea that the massacre was a black ops/mind control/foul play thing. I'm open to that idea. It's just, anyone can go visit grieving Sandy Hook parents or visit with people who had limbs blown off by the Boston bombing. The evil with these events is not the sort that would be interested in faking anything; they get off on the death and suffering(be it if it was simply the act of one person or a conspiracy)

[8bitagent]

8bit, "This isnt Russia! Journalists aren't killed, they're discredited" - is actually quite accurate the vast majority of the time. We don't have good reason to suspect 'the government' in maybe ANY case, it's always a shadow operative hired by gawd only knows who.

There's always bad stories coming out, this was a good journalist but there's plenty of stories out there I'm sure certain officials in the government would rather were not. A 'big story' damaging to "the government" isn't grounds for assassination. Or we would have a much longer list.

I really think the most probable culprit is one or more disgruntled former-members of the General's staff and/or the General himself, it would have been a private act, "unsanctioned"

Just Drew, I agree. But we all know that when Larissa said "the government" she meant any sort of foul play. Someone in the comment above could have said a private citizen loyal to Mcchrystal or someone within or formerly of the MIC, or a hired proxy LA gang/mob that rigged the car and she would have dismissed it. By saying "the government doesnt" she means ANY sort of shadowy shenanigans.

Here's the problem. The right and some on the left will spin this as "Obama". Or "one of Obama's goons". I too doubt that. Maybe it was a message to Obama as well. This is definitely, if it is foul play, extremely shadowy.
Los Angeles is for the past decade known to be home to shadows. Mafia, gangs, you name it. I can kind of sort of accept that Gary Webb, Wellstone, etc was all just synchronistic coincidence. But this Hastings thing is too much. Just where we are with the tableaux of whistleblowing by hackers/intel/journalists/media/etc. For those that make the argument that "they"(whoever they may be) would rather just set him up with a hooker or try and discredit or scare him somehow; if they thought that he was about to make some serious no turning back damage to their power structure they would indeed take the chance to take him or someone out.

Earlier this year, just as a few of us began following the exploits and writings of Philip Marshall online(a man I personally feel went further than any other writer in exposing 9/11)
it is reported he kills himself and his family. I didn't assume nor want to assume foul play. But with Hastings it just feels so cavalier. Like in Mexico when they leave headless police dangling from freeway overpasses.
I agree that if it is foul play, it is absolutely as much to do with sending a scare message as it is for either revenge or to stop further damage to the power structure.

[Forgetting2]

8bit, "This isnt Russia! Journalists aren't killed, they're discredited" - is actually quite accurate the vast majority of the time. We don't have good reason to suspect 'the government' in maybe ANY case, it's always a shadow operative hired by gawd only knows who.

There's always bad stories coming out, this was a good journalist but there's plenty of stories out there I'm sure certain officials in the government would rather were not. A 'big story' damaging to "the government" isn't grounds for assassination. Or we would have a much longer list.

I really think the most probable culprit is one or more disgruntled former-members of the General's staff and/or the General himself, it would have been a private act, "unsanctioned"

Just Drew, I agree. But we all know that when Larissa said "the government" she meant any sort of foul play. Someone in the comment above could have said a private citizen loyal to Mcchrystal or someone within or formerly of the MIC, or a hired proxy LA gang/mob that rigged the car and she would have dismissed it. By saying "the government doesnt" she means ANY sort of shadowy shenanigans.

Here's the problem. The right and some on the left will spin this as "Obama". Or "one of Obama's goons". I too doubt that. Maybe it was a message to Obama as well. This is definitely, if it is foul play, extremely shadowy.
Los Angeles is for the past decade known to be home to shadows. Mafia, gangs, you name it. I can kind of sort of accept that Gary Webb, Wellstone, etc was all just synchronistic coincidence. But this Hastings thing is too much. Just where we are with the tableaux of whistleblowing by hackers/intel/journalists/media/etc. For those that make the argument that "they"(whoever they may be) would rather just set him up with a hooker or try and discredit or scare him somehow; if they thought that he was about to make some serious no turning back damage to their power structure they would indeed take the chance to take him or someone out.

Earlier this year, just as a few of us began following the exploits and writings of Philip Marshall online(a man I personally feel went further than any other writer in exposing 9/11)
it is reported he kills himself and his family. I didn't assume nor want to assume foul play. But with Hastings it just feels so cavalier. Like in Mexico when they leave headless police dangling from freeway overpasses.
I agree that if it is foul play, it is absolutely as much to do with sending a scare message as it is for either revenge or to stop further damage to the power structure.

I think one should also keep in mind the question of who has the power to cover things up, assuming it was a murder, which I am for now. Therefore it would not be entirely unsanctioned. I mean if you have the cooperation of the LAPD, then there's someone who 'approves this message,' to borrow a phrase from TV political ads.

As far as left wing commentators who scream shut up to the idea of conspiracy to commit murder, most of them are just deluded about what this country is about at it's most primitive. Just my opinion. The contrast to Mexico, which 8bit bring up, is an interesting comparison in the nakedness of power.

[DrEvil]

I think one should also keep in mind the question of who has the power to cover things up, assuming it was a murder, which I am for now. Therefore it would not be entirely unsanctioned. I mean if you have the cooperation of the LAPD, then there's someone who 'approves this message,' to borrow a phrase from TV political ads.

This part at least could be easily fixed, considering all the NSA hoopla lately. They've got the dirt on everyone who matters, more or less. Shouldn't be too hard to get someone high up in the LAPD to send some strong hints down the ranks (nothing official, no paper trail). The low level grunts don't really have to know anything - just follow orders and don't ask questions, if they know what's best for their career prospects.

Edit: And there's literally thousands of people with access to this info, probably including plenty of people loyal to their old boss.

[8bitagent]

I think one should also keep in mind the question of who has the power to cover things up, assuming it was a murder, which I am for now. Therefore it would not be entirely unsanctioned. I mean if you have the cooperation of the LAPD, then there's someone who 'approves this message,' to borrow a phrase from TV political ads.

As far as left wing commentators who scream shut up to the idea of conspiracy to commit murder, most of them are just deluded about what this country is about at it's most primitive. Just my opinion. The contrast to Mexico, which 8bit bring up, is an interesting comparison in the nakedness of power.

I agree.

I mean the LAPD said loud and clear on the radio wrt Christopher Dorner, to 'torch that SOB'(paraphrasing). Now Im not defending Dorner. He made a choice to go out and kill people and threaten to kill people. Im not saying shooting him to stop more immediate carnage is wrong. But they got frustrated and angry, so they burned him alive. Like out of the Frankenstein movie. That just is not right in any way.
And I meant to say century with the LAPD, as we know they were all up and down with the RFK coverup.

Now as far as left wing commentators...I LOVE CENK.



TYT rocks as usual. Now Im waiting to hear what Ben Swann will say.

[Forgetting2]

^^^ I Like that video. Although the trouble comes into paradise when we 'let them collect the facts.' Exactly who can we trust to do that? Not the LAPD, that's for damn sure.

[justdrew]

I think the wreckage should be looked at by NHTSA

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Data/Special+Crash+Investigations+%28SCI%29/Special+Crash+Investigations+Overview

Case Selection

Cases of interest are located from an extensive and diverse network of sources, including NHTSA's Auto Safety Hotline, the Department of Transportation's National Crash Alert System, NHTSA's regional offices, automotive manufacturers, other government agencies, law enforcement agencies, engineers, and medical personnel.

Actual case selection is based on the program manager's discretion. The program's flexibility allows for the detailed investigation of any new emerging technologies, including the safety performance of alternative fueled vehicles, child safety restraints, adapted vehicles, safety belts, vehicle-pedestrian interactions, and potential safety defects. Historically, resources have been concentrated on crashes involving automatic restraints (air bags and safety belts), and school busses.

someone start a white-house petition to immediately involve a NHTSA SCI team. don't let anyone else near the wreckage (too late obviously, but it ASAP)

Special Crash Investigations (SCI) - SCI@dot.gov

24 hour voice mail - Washington DC area 202-366-2545
Nationwide toll-free notification 1-877-201-3172

demand they investigate

---

Chrysler agrees to recall of Jeeps at risk of fire
Posted: 06/18/2013 12:41:33 PM MDT
Updated: 06/18/2013 09:55:29 PM MDT
By TOM KRISHER and DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Auto Writers

NHTSA, the U.S. agency that monitors vehicle safety, contends the Jeep gas tanks can rupture if hit from the rear, spilling gas and causing a fire. NHTSA said a three-year investigation showed 51 people had died in fiery crashes in Jeeps with gas tanks positioned behind the rear axle.


DETROIT—After initially defying federal regulators, Chrysler abruptly agreed Tuesday to recall some older-model Jeeps with fuel tanks that could rupture and cause fires in rear-end collisions.

But the recall, which came in an 11th-hour deal between the automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covers only 1.56 million of the 2.7 million Jeeps that the government wanted repaired. The rest are part of a "customer service action" and many may not get fixed.

By giving in to government pressure, Chrysler sidesteps a showdown with NHTSA that could have led to public hearings with witnesses providing details of deadly crashes. The dispute could have landed in court and hurt Chrysler's image and its finances.

Read more: Chrysler agrees to recall of Jeeps at risk of fire - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_23485498/chrysler-agrees-recall-jeeps-at-risk-fire

[Nordic]

Listen, if your car suddenly goes out of control, you put it in neutral.

Unless, of course, you can't put it in neutral. For some reason.

Obviously, he was unable to either put the car in neutral, or work the brake. Unless, like someone suggested above, the emergency brake set off the explosive device. Which would be pretty damn clever of whoever did it.

Also, I can't help but wonder if part of what the "explosive" evidence that Greenwald and Snowden were talking about that hasn't been released yet, might be exactly something along these lines. That the NSA is watching, and can control, your cars. We've known for years and years now about Onstar being used to catch supposed criminals, listening to their conversations. And how the cars can be shut off remotely and all of that.

Granted that is speculation on my part, but it would make this particular "message" even more of a Jokeresque, well, joke. Like "Do you really want to reveal that information?"

Also, a Hollywood-style car explosion taking place in freaking Hollywood itself. Oh the irony. Ha ha ha ha.

[Forgetting2]

someone start a white-house petition to immediately involve a NHTSA SCI team. don't let anyone else near the wreckage (too late obviously, but it ASAP)

good idea

[stickdog99]

^^^ I Like that video. Although the trouble comes into paradise when we 'let them collect the facts.' Exactly who can we trust to do that? Not the LAPD, that's for damn sure.

Yep. **** off, Cenk. Let's just all calm down until we "collect the facts" like we did with JKF, MLK, RFK, TWA 800, 9/11, Paul Wellstone, David Kelly, etc., etc.

[8bitagent]

^^^ I Like that video. Although the trouble comes into paradise when we 'let them collect the facts.' Exactly who can we trust to do that? Not the LAPD, that's for damn sure.

Yep. **** off, Cenk. Let's just all calm down until we "collect the facts" like we did with JKF, MLK, RFK, TWA 800, 9/11, Paul Wellstone, David Kelly, etc., etc.

Right, I hear ya. But notice what he said...he was chastising the people like that former Rawstory editor or the Salon article. He was saying of course it looks suspicious. It's only been a few days so I wouldn't expect Cenk or other well known tv journalists to say it definitely is foul play. But if you read in between the lines of the last few youtube uploads, you can see they're very Hastings truth friendly. Democracy Now is the only other well known left leaning tv show online that I could see doing that. Huffpo, DailyKos, Real Time with Bill Maher, NPR editorials, etc...ya can forget it.

[elfismiles]

Michael Hastings called it: 'The Obama administration has clearly declared war on the press'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT6YiTBjEhI

Published on Jun 20, 2013

Cenk, Jayar Jackson, politics blogger and journalism professor Farai Chideya, and "TYT University" host John Iadarola discuss government surveillance of journalists.
Tune in Mon - Thursday at 7e/4p on Current TV

[elfismiles]

Is there some reason the audio won't play on any of these 4 copies of the Young Turks video titled:

Michael Hastings Death: Possible Motives for a Hit

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... +for+a+Hit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMgEzZ4Ww_U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkTmrPNZ87c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idCl3UPCxdk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppTbQlZCSg4

Is it simply a YouTube copyright protection function since Young Turks haven't apparently posted this video yet?

EDIT: Nor am I getting audio on the copy here:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=311_1371906202

Michael Hastings Death: Possible Motives for a Hit

This is from Moxnews re-upping a Young Turks episode showing two segments with Hastings declaring war on the government in no uncertain terms.
Uygur seems to start leaning on the side of a hit, and so do I, especially in view of the stated Obama policy to just whack those who annoy him.

Am I just totally missing something here?

[elfismiles]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTu3PBKTUgo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZ3aGCqo_w