Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 209

D.C. Shooting, The Next Day

I did a live-blog all day yesterday (predicting early on that despite all the reports there was just one shooter) and now for the day after, updated from the top.

2:45 Andrea Mitchell tweets:   "NBC reports Newport RI police filed report # AaronAlexis told them 3 people followed him from Virginia sent vibrations into his body." 

2:00 p.m.  Police and FBI presser:  Police chief says police at building and returning fire within 7 minutes of first call...Shooter killed soon.   But carefully worded so possible he did shoot himself.  She talks of "final shots" and "final engagement." More reports of shooter using handguns and shotgun, not AR-15 (which was found nearby, source unknown)....Shotgun bought lawfully.

[image error] 12:35  Pete Williams of NBC reports that police now feel it's possible that Alexis used two handguns and shotgun, and no AR-15.

11:30  Sports writer Mike Lupica on AR-15 as hunting rifles--for hunting humans.  "Lanza used one. James Holmes used one in Aurora, Colo. Aaron Alexis was found dead with one on Monday. Sometimes tactical use can mean movie theaters, elementary schools and, it appears, the famous Washington Naval Yard....This time the ones at the Washington Navy Yard were the hunted. They were the sport."

9:00 NYT on shooter's Navy record, and nearly getting a dishonorable discharge for various "misbehavior." 

8:30  CNN reports the shooter made contact with the VA twice recently re: "psychological issues."  AP says sources tell them he had been treated by VA for paranoia and "hearing voices" in his head--but still had that security clearance.  Also in dispute with employer over money. 

Hank, For the Memories

Amazing fact:  Hank Williams would have turned "just" 90 today.  He could still be among us, only recently retired.  That's 60 years since he wrote his last song.  Imagine what we missed.  Here's recent song by Mary Karr and Rodney Crowell imagining Hank going to rehab.

I've heard a lot of live Hank Williams over the years, mainly single cuts from radio shows or the Opry.   But here's most of a show in Pennsylvania a few months before he died (it does cut out from time to time), with "Hey Good Lookin'," "Jambalaya" and "I Saw the Light"  and other classics, plus some Hank patter and jokes and storytelling.  Even explains what goes into jambalaya.  Never knew this existed.  Hank is rightly known as the greatest songwriter in country music--and just about any music--but here reveals why many also consider him country's greatest singer, even when (likely) half-drunk. Even reveals how he's sung one song so many times he "wakes up at night singing it." 

Nuke Danger Nation

Eric Schlosser's much-awaited book on nuclear accidents in U.S. (from losing that H-bomb in 1961that might have detonated--we were lied to about that--to the 1980 silo catastrophe) published today.   See good summary here and first chapter.   And you wonder why I've written so much on nuclear danger--maybe more than anyone--since early 1980s.   The great cover-up after Hiroshima led to this, as chronicled in my Atomic Cover-up book.

Happiness Is...

...a Warm Gun, for so many.  Here's recently re-mastered Beatles.

Public Ed. Scolds Paper on NSA/Israel Gap

NYT's fine public editor Margaret Sullivan hits the paper for failing to cover last week's scoop on NSA passing info on to Israel.  Paper says "modest" story and didn't have resources to cover.  She points out they didn't even publish an AP or Reuters story.  Of  course, the Times' coverage and commentary re: Israel long been questioned.

UN Releases Syria Chem Attack Report

It's here, and 41 pages.  For one thing:  85% of blood samples showed Sarin.  Includes reports on, and photos of, rockets, and measuring of trajectories in two cases.  I don't see any estimate of total deaths and injuries.  More TK.

'Active Shooter' at U.S. Navy Yard in D.C.

UPDATING from top:

5:35 Another friend of shooter with interesting comments on learning Thai language, meditating at Buddhist temple--but being tightly wound, left Navy abruptly, said someone didn't like him. 

4:50  Two staffers at Fort Worth Star-Telegram recall D.C. alleged shooter waiting on them at local Thai eatery.  One calls him "geeky," the other "very sweet." He stayed in Thailand for awhile.

4:35 Wow, great and not expected statement from chief of hospital, saying repeatedly "something evil...something wrong" in America, leading to mass shootings--didn't say what but said we need "to work together to get rid of it." Wants to see her trauma center "put out of business."  You know what she means, reading between the lines. "Just can't have one more shooting with so many people killed."  Let's get rid of this.  This is not America." Except, of course, it IS America. 

4:20  New police briefing:  Confirm one suspect ruled out.  Other man still missing.  No motive known.  Now 13 dead.  Baseball game off.   Confirms shooter is Aaron Alexis, 34, and posted photos at FBI.gov.   Want to learn his recent movements and associates.   

4:10  Fort Worth paper with much more on shooter.  He lived there up to 8 months ago.  Was computer guy with contractor.  Lived in Flushing, N.Y. about ten years ago. 

4:05  Reddit bans sub-Reddit thread on trying to ID and find the missing guy with gun.  You'll recall they had very active threat during search for Boston Bombers which eventually was shut down after wrong people named. 

3:35  NBC reports alleged gunman arrested previously for weapons firing. Also see mugshot for him in that arrest.  

2:50  CNN: white suspect IDed and now cleared.  No surprise. 

2:40  Pete Williams at MSNBC says shooter IDed as man,34, from Texas who was recently hired as civilian contractor by Navy.  Names him as Aaron Alexis but I don't see others confirming that.

2:20:  Confusing:  Badge ID found next to gunman was not his but for a guy dismissed recently at Navy Yard, who has been taken into custody.   Could be nothing or claim that guy gave gunman his badge.

2:05 D.C. police chief briefing:  one cop still being treated.   12 confirmed dead.  Several officers injured.  FBI taking lead now.  On "lookout" for the two missing:  white male between 40 to 50 yrs old, tan Navy uniform and beret,  black male, same age, olive military uniform.  Believe "involved in some way" but not clear.   "No indication of motive." Won't say if victims found in more than one building, which would be key.

1:55  Now Pete Williams reports of eight dead and 16 wounded.  No updates on the two missing men.  Navy SEAL on CNN just now says it men spotted with weapons either bad guys or police--military at Navy Yard don't carry around weapons in view.

12:45  Pete Williams: no confirmation of another gunman firing.  Two others might be military.  Witnesses and video spotted them but could be people not at all involved w/ tragedy. 

12:25 MSNBC guest suggests the two missing "gunmen" might just be military personnel/cops  who pulled out guns when shooting began. White House reporter says odd that no step up of security if there is two "gunmen" on the loose. 

12:12  Mayor and police presser.  D.C. chief is a woman.  One shooter dead.  Multiple victims deceased.  "Potentially have 2 others shooters."  One white and one black.  One in fatigues and beret. May be wearing military uniforms but not military.  One had handgun and one had long gun--spotted at time of incident early on but might not be part of case and unconfirmed but search is on.  Quite possibly one "shooter" but two others "potentially" on scene--although could turn out not part of this. Might be benign explanation, or not.

12:10  Wash Post just now changed story from "at least 2 shooters" to "as many as 2 shooters."

12:00  Pete Williams still holding with one shooter, man in 50s, probably workplace issue, no terrorism at all.   Yet Jake Tapper and Barbara Starr still with the "two gunmen down" just now.  Wash Post still reporting flatly "at least two shooters" and one shooted "pinned down" in another building.   Cable news strategy: offer false reports, then claim "the situation is liquid."  Too much drinking booze beforehand?  

11:45  Police pre-presser:  Update in 20 minutes but briefly shoot down rumor that there was a shooting at Bolling Air Force Base nearby. 

11:40  AP reports the gunman, or one gunman, is dead.  NBC also says dead.

11:35  Hospital briefing:  Have received 3 victims to be operated on,  severe injuries but conscious,  one of them a cop,  two of them female, "more victims" at scene including a cop.

11:25  Pete Williams still offering caveat that report of 2nd gunman still could be wrong.  So many conflicting reports.  Police may be shooting locks to open building....Others reporting that two shooters both "down," possibly one dead.   

11:10  NBC now reports police enter 2nd building after shots fired from there-- the 2nd gunman?  I'm still predicting will turn out one shooter.

11:05  Exactly 8 hours from now Braves vs. Nats game at D.C. park--just blocks from shooting scene. 

10:55  Note how Wash Post handles witnesses IDing gunman as "black male."  One of the witnesses they note is also black....New reports of shots just fired.  

10:50  Wash Post holding to multiple shooters--but cut number from three to two.  With one still at large, or could be trapped in stairwell.   NBC4 in D.C. also reporting two gunmen but one wonders if it's simply that one gunman moved from floor to floor....CNN and MSNBC still downplaying that. 

10:40  Police knocking down reports of 3 shooters.  Wash Post perhaps way out of line on that.

10:20  Wash Post blog says police claim may be 3 shooters, 2 at large, one in fatigues.  Not confirmed elsewhere, although an NBC reporter had reported this in a very shaky manner.  Navy will neither confirm nor deny.

10:15  NBC's Jim Miklazewski says 12 shot and gunman only "cornered," not captured.   Seems to be "barricaded" in room.  

10:05  WRC reports 4 dead, 10 total victims, gunman "down."  Still, amazing that all flights on hold at Reagan Airport, Wash Post reports.  

10 a.m.  Pete Williams suggesting incident more or less over.  Gunman shot about 9:30.  Not known if alive or dead.  IDed as "black male." Not known if military or civilian.

Pete Williams of NBC:  now 7 victims, with one fed and one local police officer.  Gunman with AR-15.

Earlier:   Started at 8:20 ET.    Reporter from there on scene just heard more shots (at 9:15 ET) and report of "officer down."  At 9:25, WUSA reports police confirm 5 wounded, including one cop.  Wash Post says "all critical."   Photo of one victim on pavement by Tim Hogan via Twitter at left, who was allegedly shot as gunman arrived at building 197.   Live EMS audio feed.

Site is just blocks from Nationals baseball park. Unconfirmed reports have gunman with a shotgun and rifle and in building 197, a headquarters building and very large.  NBC reporter on scene claims gunman may be on roof of building.   People there told to "shelter in place" but they are phoning out to say "several" wounded.  Unconfirmed.

Official Navy release earlier:

An active shooter was reported inside the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building (Bldg. 197) on the Washington Navy Yard at 8:20 a.m. (Eastern Time).

There is one confirmed injury. Emergency personnel are on scene and a "shelter in place" order has been issued for Navy Yard personnel.

The Naval Sea Systems Command's headquarters is the work place for about 3,000 people.

Bacevich, Petraeus and Westhusing

Former Gen. David Petraeus was back in the news again last week, as he was heckled by students as he took on his new career as a prof at New York University.  But I was reminded of a certain obsession I had about Petraeus by the publication of Andrew Bacevich's new book Breach of Trust.  In it he briefly revives the story of the suicide of  a man he admired, the high-ranking officer Ted Westhusing, in Iraq in 2005.

This quickly re-awakened my interest in Petraeus's connection to Westhusing.

 Col. Ted Westhusing , 44, was a well-known West Pointer specializing in military ethics.  The episode first came to prominence two years after his death later thanks to some digging by reporters from the L.A. Times and Texas Observer.  Some even claimed that Westhusing had been murdered.  I wrote a major piece about it at the time for my old magazine, Editor & Publisher, and then updated it later at The Nation and Huffington Post after I got my hands on hundreds of documents myself.   The murder charge still seemed sketchy but documents, reports and interview transcripts raised disturbing questions about why Westhusing was driven to suicide.  He had repeatedly mentioned in calls home to his wife witnessing "human rights" abuses directed at "insurgents," besides rampant corruption involving contractors.

But the key document has always been his suicide note, in which he pointed to abhorrent (unfortunately rather vague) behavior by Petreus and another general, Joseph Fil.  "I will be sullied--no more," Westhusing wrote, hauntingly.

My latest piece from 2011 is here.  The episode is also featured in my book, just published this week for the first time in an updated, e-book form, So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits--and the President--Failed on Iraq .  Here is an excerpt from the suicide note, directed to Petraeus and Fils.

I cannot support a msn [mission] that leads to corruption, human right abuses and liars. I am sullied—no more. I didn’t volunteer to support corrupt, money grubbing contractors, nor work for commanders only interested in themselves. I came to serve honorably and feel dishonored. ... Death before being dishonored any more.

Trust is essential—I don’t know who trust anymore. Why serve when you cannot accomplish the mission, when you no longer believe in the cause, when your every effort and breath to succeed meets with lies, lack of support, and selfishness? No more. Reevaluate yourselves, cdrs [commanders]. You are not what you think you are and I know it.

Beached

In honor of Larry's pullout, The Beach Boys offer, "Summer's Gone."  He's "gone away."  I will resist  Del Shannon's "Hats Off to Larry."

My Photo Blog

After a bit of a lull I have resumed posting a picture from my own photo gallery every day.  The latest is at left with dozens below it. Comments welcome.