Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 254

Hastings Still Probed Girlfriend's Death

Lengthy tribute from Michael Hastings former Newsweek bureau chief was a bit overlooked yesterday at Buzzfeed as it arrived late in day after many previous pieces.  And those who noticed focused on his unique relationship with Hastings in Iraq.  But it also included word that right up to last week Hastings was saying he was still probing the murder of his girlfriend in Iraq several years ago (the subject of his first book, which I talked about with him at the time).  From the piece:

[When I saw Michael last week, he had just returned from a meeting in Washington D.C where, he told me, he had uncovered more information about the people he believed were responsible for Andi’s murder. He said he wouldn’t stop looking until the killers were brought to justice....

Six years after Andi’s death he was still doggedly on the trail of the people, in both the American and Iraqi governments, who he felt bore some measure of responsibility. And in typical fashion, he was branching out, delving into the sordid mysteries of Hollywood where, he told me last month as we rode in the Mercedes he had just bought, “dreams come to die.” 

Hastings' Widow Hits 'NYT' Over Obit

Michael Hastings' widow, Elise Jordan, has released her email today to the NYT, and an editor's reply,  re: it's online obit about him which, she feels, tried to diminish his famous "Runaway General" article.  She also, in a bonus, refers to what she heard on tapes she transcribed for him for his article. 

The NYT response, from its obits ed.,  indicates they are standing by the obit and would make no change before it appears in print tomorrow.  So she's taking her protest to the paper's public editor Margaret Sullivan.  It's related to exactly what I posted earlier today--the credibility of the Times claiming that a Pentagon probe "cleared" McChrystal of wrongdoing.  Here's what I wrote:

"You may have forgotten, if you ever knew, that an official 2011 Pentagon probe of the late Michael Hastings' takedown piece of Gen. McChrystal called the article into question.  Then again, they interviewed only 15 witnesses--and talked to neither the general nor Hastings!  See Rolling Stone's full defense of the piece.  The highlight on the Pentagon report, for me: 

The inspectors did suggest that some version of a Biden slur may have occurred, although they said they were unable to establish the exact words and the speaker. "We consider credible a witness’ recollection that General McChrystal said, ‘Are you asking about Vice President Biden? Who’s that?’ and that a follow-on comment or rejoinder of some sort referring to Vice President Biden was made,” the report said. “Witness testimony led us to conclude that someone in the room made a rejoinder about Vice President Biden to General McChrystal’s comment, and that the rejoinder may have included the words ‘bite me.’ ”

Snowden and Iceland

Confirmation tonight, via Julian Assange, that WikiLeaks is indeed helping Edward Snowden in his effort to find asylum in Iceland (where there are many WikiLeaks activists going back to editing of "Collateral Murder" there and before).  NYT reports.  Also confirms that Iceland has been approached and is looking into it.  Snowden had said it was always first choice but had trouble with logistics before ending up in Hong Kong.

When Gandolfini Was 'In the Loop'

The late actor, showing his comic chops in the classic, if forgotten, film from creator of Veep.  Also, check out this 1988 article in NYT  (found by Slate's Katherine Goldstein) on "apartment hopping" in NYC, co-starring one "Jim" Gandolfini, who wants to work in the theater but mainly tends bar and works construction--and changes domiciles every couple months.  Doesn't believe in leases.

James Gandolfini Dead at 51

On top of other recent shockers, tonight we have death of actor James Gandofini, reportedly of a heart attack, while attending a film festival.  Seemed older, due to balding and weight, but was only 51.  Reported first at TMZ so suspect news at first but now confirmed by Variety, but awaiting more.   My son worked with him on set of a film two years ago--that David Chase movie "Not Fade Away"-- and found him swell.  Now HBO confirms death.  Some of his post-Sopranos work here.  That final Sopranos' scene here.

If you've forgotten, he did a lot of good work with Iraq and Afghanistan vets, including HBO doc, which he talks about here.  He did a second HBO doc on vets from several wars, PTSD and more.

Gun, Shot

Glad to see San Diego man arrested and charged with three felonies for June 4 accidental death of neighborhood boy, 10, who found his gun in his garage.  Fortunately, girl, 9, not hurt.  Man's lawyer claims gun was not loaded!  I guess the kid had just visited a gun show and picked up some ammo and slipped it in, right?  

Chet Flippo, R.I.P.

The longtime Rolling Stone writer, reviewer and editor has died at 69, no causes specified.   Never met him though our careers overlapped--I wrote for Stone in 1970 and then at Crawdaddy the rest of that decade--but always heard from folks who did know him that he was good guy.   His Facebook photo featured the old Lone Star in NYC--across the street from the Crawdaddy office--where I spent many a night (and lunch).  He hailed from Texas but ended up in Nashville and contributed a lot of country music getting more respect in the rock world (he championed Willie and other "outlaws" early on).  Read his fine (first modern) Hank Williams bio back around 1980.  He later wrote a McCartney bio.   His wife Martha Hume died just last December.

Plame Speaking

We've finally heard from a certain former (outed) CIA agent, a Ms. Valerie Plame Wilson, on Edward Snowden.  She says we all owe him thanks but "he will be abused."   Also, suggests firing Clapper.   And can't believe Cheney of all people calling Snowden a traitor, given what he did to her.

"I don't think [Snowden's] a hero, I don't condone what he did. At the same time he's certainly not a traitor as he was called by Dick Cheney,' Plame told HuffPost Live host Mike Sacks. "In a way, we as U.S. citizens owe Edward Snowden a thank you for having brought this issue to the forefront and so that we can begin to have a serious and genuine conversation about these issues."

Plame also rolled her eyes at Cheney labeling Snowden a traitor given the Bush administration's involvement in leaking her identity to columnist Robert Novak.
"The irony of people like Dick Cheney or Karl Rove whining and bemoaning the fact of the leak of intelligence, given my history and certainly Dick Cheney's intimate involvement with the betrayal of my CIA identity is really something," she said.

Plame called for the resignation of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, saying that "as a former intelligence offer" she finds it "astounding" that upwards of 60-70% of the United States' intelligence budget is spent on private contractors.

"One question might be: why hasn't the Director of National Intelligence Clapper resigned?" He is ultimately responsible for the safeguarding of these secrets," she said. "How do you propose to keep secrets if you have that high a contracting force? Where is their loyalty? It's not necessarily going to be to their country, to the United States, it's going to be to the person writing their paycheck."

Plame same she has "great respect" for journalist Glenn Greenwald, who broke the Snowden story, saying "he has written eloquently for years on these issues in a very serious, sustained manner."

Hastings, FBI, WikiLeaks, Truthers

[image error] UPDATE #2  As I noted below, WikiLeaks' feed on Twitter said earlier they had some intriguing info, and now just released this:

"Michael Hastings contacted WikiLeaks lawyer Jennifer Robinson just a few hours before he died, saying that the FBI was investigating him."  But she has silent on Twitter @suigenerisjen

UPDATE  Yes, there's laughable "conspiracy" thread at, where else, Reddit.  I like the body abducted idea.  And the car taken over by remote driving device.  Also, "Boston brakes."  Meanwhile, The Guardian has had to remove a bunch of comments on its piece, we can imagine why. WikiLeaks not helping by tweeting just now:   "Michael Hastings death has a very serious non-public complication. We will have more details later."

Earlier: You may have forgotten, if you ever knew, that an official 2011 Pentagon probe of the late Michael Hastings' takedown piece of Gen. McChrystal called the article into question.  Then again, they interviewed only 15 witnesses--and neither the general nor Hastings!  See Rolling Stone's full defense of the piece.  The highlight on the Pentagon report, for me:

The inspectors did suggest that some version of a Biden slur may have occurred, although they said they were unable to establish the exact words and the speaker. “We consider credible a witness’ recollection that General McChrystal said, ‘Are you asking about Vice President Biden? Who’s that?’ and that a follow-on comment or rejoinder of some sort referring to Vice President Biden was made,” the report said. “Witness testimony led us to conclude that someone in the room made a rejoinder about Vice President Biden to General McChrystal’s comment, and that the rejoinder may have included the words ‘bite me.’ ”

Celebs for Bradley Manning

New five-minute, well-done PSA in "I Am Bradley Manning" campaign featuring Oliver Stone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dan Ellsberg, Roger Waters, Chris Hedges, Phil Donanue, Russell Brand, Matt Taibbi, Moby, Alice Walker, Angela Davis, more.  And separate interview with Brand.