Friday Is Over – Richard O’Brien Oldest Living or Longest In Business Bookie Testifies:

66 thoughts on “Friday Is Over – Richard O’Brien Oldest Living or Longest In Business Bookie Testifies:”

1. One quick note and then I really have to go. The Group of 7 I mentioned above did not directly include Bin Laden and his “Arab Afghans”. Bin Laden’s contribution to the mujahideen victory has always been a self-marketed myth. He had one significant battle against the Soviets that I know of – at Jaji in 1987. It’s like Matt has pointed out before how Martorano tried to make it seem that the NY mob guys were afraid of Winter Hill, or that it makes no sense that Connolly would recruit Whitey in 1975 because Whitey had no pull in the mafia. But since the Group of 7 consisted of the main mujahideen forces that defeated the Soviets, it is their victory on which Bin Laden was able to build his myth of a ragtag band of Allah-fearing mujahideen beating the Soviet empire.

   1. Jon:

      It wouldn’t be the first nor the last time in history that someone puts themselves in a place where they never were.

2. The quyet sung phong “we resolve to struggle furiously.” Understanding these Vietnamese words and their Arabic equivalents holds the secret to grasping the nature of jihad.

   1. Khalid:

      I think we have got the message and our message back is “we resolve to struggle furiously” which is translated “quyet sun phong.’ Vietnam was a mistake. The fighting back against Muslim terrorists isn’t. Our methods might not be what I’d like to see or the liberties we’ve lost are not things I appreciate losing but better err on the side of too much than to have a plane go down by a terroritst bomb.

      1. The problem of jihadi terrorism is complex and not easily addressed as we know. My only comment for now is that jihadi terrorism shares some similarities to the mafia we readers of this blog are interested in. In particular the Italian mafia. That is, the organization and hierarchy and secret world infrastructure of rules and codes and understandings that make Al Qaeda the threat it is. Al Qaeda’s history goes back 25 years to the late 80s when it replaced Abdullah Azzam’s Makhtab at Khidmat in Aghanistan, after Azzam was killed in what has long been rumored (though will never be proved) as an assassination orchestrated by Bin Laden. The jihadi struggle from which it emerged goes back to the late 1970s with the Soviet invasion, Zia al Huq and the Pakistani ISI’s recruitment of America and Saudi Arabia into the funding and support of the Group of 7 jihadi groups (led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Ismail Khan, Mujaddidi, Pir Ghailani, Younis Khali, Rasul, and one other militia leader I’m forgetting – maybe Jalaluddin Haqqani though he may have fought under Younis Khali but I forget), and the subsequent rise of the mujahideen in the 80s. And even before that Al Qaeda draws its ideological roots from the writings of Sayyid Qutb and the struggle against jahilliya.

         My point is that there is a complex history that underlies the Al Qaeda network. This history has given rise to a sophisticated network not just of ideologues, but training camps, paramilitary training and expertise, expertise on how to manipulate Western institutions to penetrate their societies (everything from forging passports to surveillance of airport security), travel routes, guesthouses, delicate and secret arrangements with rogue regimes, relationships with groups like LET, JEM, HUM, HUJI, and that whole alphabet soup of jihadi groups in Pakistan (and the Middle East and East Asia and the Caucusus and other areas), financial networks, money laundering expertise, recruitment networks like radical mosques and madrassas, and much much more. Now this network is spread out like a hydra across North Africa in addition to all the areas mentioned above. These guys like Belmokhtar and Shekau and Abu Iyad al Tunisi and Mohamed Zawahiri and Muhamad Jumal and Ahmed Ashoush and others all share a long and deep history together and pass on their expertise to others. One of most amazing things is how, in spite of the drone killings, the AQ network continues to regenerate leaders to replace those killed. Al Qaeda is not the same threat it was in the 90s. It has evolved and it’s ability to strike the West is significantly weakened. But it is still a threat.

         Matt – will respond to your last Syria post if I get the time. I agree with you that the question of war and peace and our intervention is a serious one. I don’t think anyone right now wants to put boots on the ground. I think the most aggressive stance is air strikes, but Israel can do that without us. Yes, I am 35 and thus not of a generation that worries about the draft, and you’re right, a draft would probably have a not insignificant impact on the calculus of our leaders. Finally, there’s no guarantee at all that removing Assad ensures a peaceful ally in Syria. I’m not sure I agree that Iraq was the factor shoring up the Shi’ite Crescent, since that arrangement has been around for a while, though I’m not an expert. In short, Syria is too complex for my current level of expertise on the Middle East, but I agree that the nation is wary of war and that direct military intervention is perhaps not the best thing to do. But as is always the case, there are probably lots of covert operations going on as we speak and of which we know little. That might be as it should be.

         1. Sorry if my last post was a bit of a “thinking on the fly” jumble. Could have smoothed the syntax a little but I’m in a rush 🙂

            1. Jon:

               No apolologies. Keep them coming when you have the chance.

         2. Jon:

            Good post and good information as usual. Thanks for giving it the time from your busy schedule.

            1. Haha. I’m not that important Matt. Yes, I have my full-time job and my extracurricular interests, but I was just in a hurry to meet some friends. I guess that’s a Saturday night for you 🙂

               1. Jon:

                  You do add a differnt and good voice to this site and your involvement is appreciated.

3. Thirteen guys living in a ville. Is that Afganistan? Please reply

   1. Khalid:

      Don’t know to what you refer. A baker’s dozen of guys in a ville in Afghanistan. What has that to do with the price of eggs?

      1. LOL. Agreed Matt, but then I don’t get half of what is written here! Especially all the players in the Bulger saga!

         1. Question:

            I’m thinking of providng a guide or an overview if I can get the time.

4. Jon:

   If you don’t read Arabic, you are placing your faith in someone else’s translation of the documents you are drawing your opinion from. UBL’s command of classical Arabic (al-fusha)was well known, as was Saddam Hussein’ command of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), To have a cogent opinion of al-Qaida documents requires a education in classical Arabic. Al-Qaida folks make it a point to speak in the poetic koine, the language of the Koran. It kind of establishes who’s who, divides the wiseguys from the chumbalones.

   1. Khalid:

      Added another word to my vocabulary: chumbalones. Thanks. Defined by Urban Dictionary as: “a person so devoid of common sense that they can be manipulated in any number of ways without having the slightest clue as to how ignorant and/or stupid they are. “

   2. Khalid,

      Point well-taken, but we can only do so much in this life. As an economist, I thank goodness for the division of labor. Yes, I must rely on another’s interpretation, and there are things lost in translation, but I’m not sure that point alone says anything about factual matters of Al Qaeda hierarchy and control as revealed in the Bin Laden documents or in Zawahiri’s recent letter to the Syrian and Iraq factions. Zawahiri can write in highfalutin poetic prose, or in the colloquial, but directions and a basic admonishment of the emir of Al Qaeda in Iraq and emir of Al Nusrah would seem to come across either way.

      1. Jon:

         Good point. We all rely on translations or else we could not have read War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina, Franz Kafka, well you get the point. There is nothing like the original but a good translation can give a fair idea of the message conveyed.

5. I can’t wait for Monday. The suspense is killing me. Remember the old black-and-white TV show, “You are there?” Any impression of the jury, as yet?

   1. Khalid,

      Good question. I want to write about them and on Friday I got a look at them – I’ll post about them soon. Thanks for reminding me.

6. Seeing the name Mutt Kelly sure brought back memories of Mutt and Junior. Mutt owned many places in the South End. Chaplik’s and the Big M were two. So many years ago, when I was a lad. His best move, though, was getting out of the low end and into an institution in Fanueil Hall.

   1. Would that be The Black Rose or Midnight Court?

      1. Rather:

         Can’t help with the barrooms but maybe William can.

   2. you know henry, I have never set foot in Durgin Park. Don’t know why.

      1. Ernie:

         As a young lawyer I went there often and for a buck and a half on their luncheon menu I could eat like a king. Before Mutt took it over a guy by the name of George Hallas owned it. My family used to get pies from there around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

   3. Henry:
      Agreed. Mutt Kelly. His granddaughter happened to be a friend of mine and an excellent prosecutor. How strange things happen. That was a great move and left his kids something to build on.

      1. And didn’t the second son marry into a very wealthy Italian contractor family?

         1. Henry:

            Whose second son?

7. Al-Qaida was/is a cadre building operation. Its leadership doesn’t have operational control of the cadres once they’ve spun off. Over a twenty year period, al-Qaida ran an estimated 250,000 thousand mujahideen through their training camps. These trained cadres return to their own countries, and, begin organizing the jihad. There is only a very loose supervision exercised over al-Qaida’s regional cadres. The assassination of Shaykh Osama Bin Ladin was useful for domestic political reasons, but, really didn’t adversely effect the various al-Qaida affiliates. The Shaykh was of inspirational value to the organization, but, had been politically marginalized by Zawahiri, and, the Egyptian faction of al-Qaida. Bin Ladin’s shrinking influence on events resulted in the ISI selling UBL to America. Dawood Ibrahim would have been a better buy, but, politics often trump commonsense.

   Will Weeks be called to the stand next week?

   1. Khalid:

      Good information on the enemy. Appreciate it.

      Weeks won’t come until July. Expect Martorano next week but not sure. Feds may go off into drug dealers.

   2. Khalid,

      I would disagree with your remark “There is only a very loose supervision exercised over al-Qaida’s regional cadres.” The recent documents declassified from the Bin Laden raid (only about 17 I believe) contradict this statement and show Bin Laden’s continuing oversight over the network. Also see here (http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/06/analysis_alleged_let.php) for an overview of the dispute between the Syrian and Iraq satellites of Al Qaeda recently resolved by Ayman Zawahiri himself. Here’s an excerpt:

      Zawahiri’s ruling

      In his letter, Zawahiri dissolves al Baghdadi’s Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and admonishes both leaders, saying their operations are confined to their respective theaters for the time being. Al Baghdadi “was wrong when he announced the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant without asking permission or receiving advice from us and even without notifying us,” Zawahiri writes.

      Al Julani “was wrong” in rejecting al Baghdadi’s announcement and “by showing his links to al Qaeda without having our permission or advice, even without notifying us.”

      The Al Nusrah Front will remain “an independent entity” under al Qaeda’s “general command,” Zawahiri says, while the ISI will continue to hold its seat inside Saddam Hussein’s former nation state.

      Zawahiri says both men can continue in their role as emir of their respective groups for one year, but they must each then “submit a report to the general command of [al Qaeda] about the progress of work.” At that time, the “general command” will decide “whether to extend” their mandates.

      In the meantime, the pair are to avoid infighting, and each is to support the other’s operations as needed, including with “fighters, arms, money, shelter and security.”

      Old school al Qaeda talent overseeing efforts

      The letter indicates that Zawahiri has appointed an al Qaeda leader known as Abu Khalid al Suri, “the best of men we had known among the Mujahidin,” to make sure that his orders are carried out. Al Suri has been empowered to resolve “any dispute” between the two emirs “arising from the interpretation of this ruling.” And if necessary, al Suri can “set up a Sharia justice court for giving a ruling on the case.”

      A longtime al Qaeda operative named Muhammad Bahayah, also known as Abu Khalid al Suri, was released from a Syrian prison in the wake of the rebellion against Bashar al Assad’s regime. Bahayah is profiled at length in Brynjar Lia’s Architect of Global Jihad: The Life of Al-Qaida Strategist Abu Musab al Suri.

      Abu Musab al Suri, whose real name is Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, is a prominent al Qaeda ideologue who was reportedly freed from a Syrian prison alongside Abu Khalid. Lia describes Abu Khalid as Abu Musab al Suri’s “life-long friend and companion.”

      Additional intelligence reporting on Abu Khalid can be found in leaked Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) threat assessments, which describe him as Abu Musab’s “close friend” and “pistol trainer” at training camps in pre-9/11 Afghanistan. The duo compiled a thick al Qaeda dossier, despite disagreeing with Osama bin Laden over key issues in the 1990s.

      If the Abu Khalid al Suri mentioned in the letter is Muhammad Bahayah, then old school al Qaeda talent is now overseeing the organization’s designs in Syria and Iraq.

      Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/06/analysis_alleged_let.php#ixzz2WIDoaArE

      1. Jon:

         Thanks for the update.

8. Matt, here’s one short side bar on how the press spins: Both Cullen and Murphy reported that Carney’s opening statement (paraphrasing) “Jim Bulger was involved in selling cocaine and marijuana” disproves “Bulger supporters’ claim” that Whitey “kept drugs out of Southie.” Supporters of the truth know Whitey kept the Heroin-Narcotics dealers out of Southie. Whitey did squeeze and force out known dealers of heroin-morphine-demerol-dilaudid (opium derivative drugs available in the 1970s-1980s (oxycontin wasn’t big-time then;today it rules along with heroin, a constant plague). The many narcotics addicts from Southie and Dorchester who I knew personally got their Heroin et al from the South End, East Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury etc. Just a month ago I was talking to a young woman who lost a relative to the violence of the 1970s-1980s (a man shot to death by the gangsters in Southie whose name I hadn’t heard before) and she confirmed that Whitey did indeed keep the dealers of narcotics (heroin type drugs) out of Southie. Kevin Weeks, I recall, confirmed this. The DAWN data (CDC’s NIDA’s Drug Abuse Warning Network) confirms that narcotic related overdose deaths doubled in Suffolk County after Whitey fled in 1995. (No cause and effect, but Whitey’s fleeing did not lower drug dealing, neither did the vaunted sweep by FED/STATE authorities. (Also, Whitey was a bit player in the cocaine/grass distribution system; he skimmed profits by extorting a handful of local dealers; he was by no means a kingpin; and he certainly had nothing to with the vast bulk of drug pushing in the Boston area). Most of Jim Bulger’s fellow gangsters used cocaine, grass, pills (uppers/downers) I’d guess. Powdered cocaine became the drug ala mode in the 1970s-80s; crack cocaine was for hard cases and was terribly addicting and I’ve been told by former addicts crack cocaine was more powerfully addicting than heroin: Nancy Gertner, who treated both equally, take note!) AFRAIDOFFBI (who in fact is unafraid of anyone and anything, but very protective of his wife and family (four children as I recall) can speak with great expertise on the drug scene in Suffolk County and beyond from the 1970s to 2000. Since Vietnam there has been a high rate of narcotic use/death in Suffolk County, but Cullen and Murphy won’t report that fact; they trumpet Carney’s admission that Bulger helped deal cocaine and marijuana as some kind of rebuttal of the fact that Bulger apparently hated heroin dealers. It’s deceptive reporting by omission and by setting up straw men easily shot down. Remember, even Martorano glibly admits using cocaine and dealing it to college coeds he molested. It’s a small point, a very small side bar, but drugs were rampant throughout the country from the 1960s until today and Bulger’s role was a minimal mixed bag: a non-drug user himself, he helped deal cocaine-grass locally, but deterred heroin dealers from setting up shop in South Boston. That’s the facts as I know them. Once again, my forty years of research, work and experience in those health-related fields, like UNAFRAID’S MORE HANDS ON AND HEROIC WORK THEREIN, leads me to vastly different viewpoints than the Boston Globe reporters—on most issues!

   1. William:

      Whitey claims he was a big player in the cocaine business and that he controlled it in Southie and other areas. He wasn’t skimming the profits he was bringing it in – 50 pounds at one time. Isn’t there some connection between cocaine use and going on to other narcotics. Whitey hated no one who could put money in his pockets – Whitey has no moral compass – if he kept heroin out it was because he couldn’t get a good supply to sell himself and he wanted to get the kids hooked on marijuana and cocaine – he didn’t want the competition. There was a much heroin use in Southie when Bulger was around as at any other time. The drugs were there before him and after him. Everyone agrees on that. But Whitey himself is telling us he made millions upon millions running drugs especially cocaine and marijuana – often called gateway drugs -into Southie and every place else he could.

      The myth was not that Whitey kept heroin out of Southie, it was that he was opposed to all type drugs. That he kept all drugs out of Southie. You want to give him credit for keeping heroin out – I doubt he deserves it – but he drugs he let in helped those who got hooked get onto heroin. Why do you say Whitey was not a kingpin when he says he was. Why do you say he was a bit player when he portrays himself as Mr. Big who made millions upon millions. He’ll testify and so will all the other cocaine dealers who come that Whitey ran the cocaine trade in Southie and through the South Shore. He arranged for the stuff to come in an be distributed. He’s saying it, not Cullen and Murphy.

      1. It’s obvious to me Carney has a strategy behind saying Whitey was a cocaine Kingpin. It proves Bulger had immunity. Frankly I don’t think Bulger was drug Kingpin. However, any government evidence about drugs now admitted at trial points right back at the government. The Feds had to have sanctioned their Kingpin’s drug activity or he would have been indicted in Operation Beans in 1990. The FBI wasn’t in on Beans and John Connolly had already retired. Someone in federal law enforcement protected ‘Southie’s Cocaine Kingpin’ from indictment in 1990. Who?

         1. Patty:

            My take: Connolly was still protecting Whitey after he retired. The FBI was still protecting him. That’s why Wyshak had to go outside the FBI to go after him. That’s one of the big secrets the FBI wants to keep hidden that even though Whitey was off the books as an informant and Connolly had left they still kept dealing with him and protecting him. I’m not sure how big Whitey was but he wants to be seen as a kingpin.
            You may be right that Carney’s admission is to hope to show Bulger had immunity but the defense is ruled out and Carney can’t get near the issue without the prosecutor and the judge jumping all over him – that was shown in court the other day when Bobby Long was being asked questions and he was asked about a meeting with O’Sulllivan that was excluded from coming in. Whitey testifying he got immunity without any other support won’t cut the cake. I see no support out there.

9. Dear Henry,
   Yesterday I said a chapter of my book: “Gaga”: The Real Whitey Bulger/Irish Mob Story would be sent every day. I’m not perfect, but I’ll try my best. Below is the first chapter. Sorry! Mush of the syntex is messing Indents missing, etc.).

   Whitey I
   Whitey Bulger’s full of shit! When I first met him. The talk of Andrew Square. Whitey being thrown out of the service. For raping a broad. He was a weasel. A skinny kid. Living with his mother. Hanging over the Davis Street Cafe. Laughing. Joking with us guys. Just living on the edge. Bumming dimes. And sawbucks. Waiting to get on somebody’s gangway.
   This was the early ‘50s. The Davis Street Cafe. In the South End. A n…… And white hangout. That’s where we drank. The Davis Street Cafe in the day. The Transit Cafe at night. All us tailgaters. And stickup guys.
   Richie Kelly was real good at tailgating. But he only took two. Three packages. Nylon stockings. Suits. Cigarettes. Whiskey. From the trucks. He’d never take the whole load. Whitey got put away with him. I told Whitey, “Work with Richie. And learn the ropes.”
   Richie Kelly was famous for it. He’d jump on the back. Swing the door open. Get the cases ready. When the truck turned. He’d tip them off. Cases of Baron Anderson sportcoats.
   Richie Kelly was one of the first guys at it. Twice a day. Three times a day. Grabbing whiskey. Twenty dollars a case. Grabbing cigarettes. Thirty dollars a case. All day long robbing. Boston. Rhode Island. Down the Cape.
   Jimmy Keeney worked with Richie. And Whitey. I grabbed Jimmy. Whitey went with the Greek. Louding houses. And apartments.
   Sam. What’s his name? Whitey worked with him. He had a big moustashe (spreads fingers~ten inches). Big son-of-a-bitch. But great for house breaking. They made a couple good scores. Whitey said, “F… tailgating. I’m going with Sam.” You push the loude in. The door opens.
   We used a twelve inch ruler. Metal ruler that could bend. When the cops searched you. “What are you talking about? I bought this for my kid. For doing arithmatic.” Then the credit card. And you told the cops, “I found the credit card. That’s why it was in my pocket.”
   Some people thought two locks would keep thieves out. The vice cops had special-made loudes. They looked like ice-cream cones. Flexible metal. Round at the top. Narrow at the bottom. It worked good on double locks.
   The lock’s facing the other way. We used an L-shaped loude. Put the loude behind it. And pull the L back. The square lock come in. The key pushes the bolt. Now you spin the cylinder. Or just rip it open. Tear the door open. Whatever man makes. Man can tear apart.
   Whitey almost got caught. People coming home. Back to Richie. Back to the Greek. Whitey worked with other tailgaters. We all helped each other.
   Certain time for Baron Anderson. Railroad Express was at South Station. The very end of South Station. Stuart Street ran into Rail Road Express. Take a left. Drive along South Station. Half block up was Baron Anderson (flips hand indicating across street).
   Five o’clock. Richie. And Whitey show up. Whitey’s driving his grey ‘54 Buick. They drove identical-new cars. Big four-door jobs. Hank Garrity bought them. Hank paid seven thousand dollars. Thirty-five hundred a piece. He was holding their money. They had a kitty with Hank. Because cops pinched you. And took your money.
   Hank seen Whitey’s bankroll. He said, “You know what happened to Richie?” Richie kept money in his pocket. From one score. To another score. To another score. Somebody was always robbing him. He’d wake up half drunk. Go do another score.
   Over in Fields Corner. Richie had big money. And he got caught. Stealing thirty-two pounds of butter. They took him to Station Eleven. “Where did you get the money?” Down the stairs he goes. Threw him like a rag.
   They knew he was tailgating. Brought him to court. Richie’s all beat up. Black. And blue. The judge said, “I think he learned his lesson.” They kept the money. The case was thrown out. Hank told that to Whitey. And said, “Let me hold your heavy money.”
   They had better cars. But mine held more cases. A green ‘52 Plymouth Belvedere. The trunk door folded down. You didn’t drop cases in. You slid them in.
   All around South Station. You could park kitty-corner. Jimmy Keeney. And I watched the loading platform. The driver put on Baron Andersons. Cases wrapped with wire. The truck pulled out. I pulled out. Whitey followed me. Took a right. On Summer Street. Then a left. To Northern Avenue. By the shoe companies.
   Driver went up the elevator. I snapped the padlock. We had these bars. Looked like a bullet. An over-sized bullet. Round piece of steel. Round to a point. Square on the top.
   Like a tack-hammer head. This big (indicates~eighteen inches). Richie. Or Jimmy Keeney got them. And we all had one. Kept it under the dashboard. When cops searched our cars. They never found them.
   I jumped up. Bingo. Richie was beside me. I handed him three cases. Bing. Bing. Bing. Dragged them down the alley. Put them in Whitey’s car. A fence on “B” Street. Around the corner from here. He paid top dollar.
   Whitey was the driver. Richie stood on the bumper. Whitey eased up behind the truck. Richie jumped on the back. Snapped the padlock. Opened the door. Positioned the cases. And pushed them off.
   On other tailgating scores. Whitey watched where the driver went. To have a beef stew. A cocktail. Richie would grab two cases. Put them in the alley. “Everything look clear?” Grab two more cases. Bingo.
   Whitey hung with Richie. In different barrooms. The Davis Street Cafe. Mirrors all over the barroom. Big mirror behind the bar. In front of the bar. In every back-room booth. A small broken-down mirror. Whitey combed his hair off. And on. For hours. In the car. Standing by the bar. Sitting in the booth. Combed it while talking. Like a young cunt. “HERE I AM.” He had blond hair. Before he lost it. Bingo. Bango. Bango.
   Whitey wore a short-suede jacket. And the Alan Ladd trench coat. Alan Ladd was big in the movies. Alan Ladd always scored the broads.
   We would kid him. In the Davis Street Cafe. “Hello Whitey. The Alan Ladd movie is on.” He’d be combing his hair. And wearing his trench coat.
   We stole hundreds of them. On a side street. Near Fenway Park. Going towards Sears & Roebuck. This joint shipped suede jackets too. Everybody on the waterfront wore one.
   Around five o’clock. In that district. Get suede jackets. And Alan Ladd trench coats. Go back for Sears & Roebuck. We could hit them eight. Nine o’clock for whiskey.
   The trucks loaded up. Parked right outside. We’d come by. Grab ten. Fifteen cases of whiskey. We had Southie guys. Working for the railroad. They used the locomotives. Pulled freight trains out. From behind Sears & Roebuck. So we could ransack them.
   Whitey told us, “Yeah. Richie threw the bundle off. Everything went perfect. By the time I got to it. Three n…..s was ripping it apart. ‘Get away. Get away you cocksuckers (flings arms out).’ ‘F… you.’ They grabbed the pants.”
   Then he seen our faces. “How could you screw up? You must have REALLY held them back (held cars back from seeing Richie). For someone else to get there. And steal the case.” Richie threw off one case. A case of pants. We laughed at him. Because Whitey was a NOTHING.
   Whitey listened to the bank robbers. I told him those days are over. “There’s more money in this racket here. You. And Richie are racking up twelve. Fifteen hundred a week. If you get caught. You’re only doing thirty days. Six months in the can.” All the judges. When they looked at it. It’s like they once did. Stealing an apple off a truck. That’s how they looked at it!
   On weekend nights. Whitey would buff up. Go see Donald Killeen. Donald always had a table in Blinstrub’s. They’d laugh. And joke. He’d go down the Transit. Try being a big man. There was a small after-hours barroom. Off Stuart Street. Mostly for guineas. And Jew bookmakers. Whitey went there to see Mutt Kelley.
   Mutt Kelley played gin with Larry Baione. Larry’s with Joe Lombardo. Mutt Kelley shows up. Two in the morning. After closing his bar. He’d go there. Play gin all night.
   Whitey wanted to be a big shot. A big shot with the broads. Now he’s getting into bank robbing. Made a score in Rhode Island. It was the only good one. Something like forty grand. Split three ways.
   That thirteen grand stands for fifteen. Twenty-five years in prison. Twenty cases of razor blades. Four. Five times. The same thirteen grand. The most time you’ll get. Six months in the can.
   I told Whitey, “I’ve been in that business before. You’re missing the boat. Get back to tailgating.” But Whitey was happy. Whitey the BANK ROBBER.
   It was nighttime. Down the Transit. Whitey’s running around. The Alan Ladd treatment. “I made a nice score.” Bragging about doing banks. Telling everyone he’s Mr. Wonderful.
   Whitey liked Joe Murphy. Timma Murphy. And them guys. They’re railroad guys. Regular-city workers. Making seventy bucks a week. Whitey especially liked Joe Murphy. Because Joe Murphy had the broads. Whitey bought them drinks. Down the Transit. The Tunnel. The Surf. Took them to the Beachcomber. That popular Nantasket Beach nightclub. Took them down the Cape. Hit the waiter with a lobster. Saying the lobster wasn’t cooked right. One of his Alan Ladd tricks.
   Whitey made a few more scores. Twenty. Thirty thousand. They robbed a bank in Indiana. “Let’s rob a bank in Indiana. Like Dillenger.” I’m sure that crossed his mind (laughs).
   The guys brought their girlfriends in. It’s cut up five ways. Two guys getting two ways. Whitey’s getting one way. The last bank. Whitey brought Jackie McGoliff. She was the lookout. Whitey thought that was smart.
   They grabbed twenty grand from the bank. Split it six ways. Whitey goes on the run. Takes Jackie McGoliff with him. They get pinched down in Florida. Jacko McCormack was in Florida. Jackie somehow reached Jacko. Told him what happened. Jacko got them out.
   Two weeks in the can. Whitey’s on the lam again. He comes back up here. We laughed like hell. His hair was black. Thin-blond hair. You could see his scalp. When he dyed it black. You could REALLY see his scalp. Every strand of hair standing straight up. The blackness made them like porcupine quills.
   The feds f…ed up on him twice. He escaped on them in Florida. The second time was the Transit. It’s a nightclub. With the broads. And the whores. We’re laughing. And giggling. The feds come in the front door. Somebody yelled, “The COPS.” We thought it was a booking raid. Whitey screwed out the back with Jackie. The feds didn’t even cover the back door!
   They said Donald Killeen squealed. Whitey went to see him. Because Donald was holding money. Donald owned three barrooms. The Transit. One on Revere Beach. And the Reef in Revere. Whitey went there for his money. He always thought Donald took his money. Put it to work down the Reef. But Donald got that money cheating on horses. The feds pinched Whitey at the Reef. And Donald got the reputation of ratting.
   I’m in court. For a tailgating case. I was watching Whitey’s case. You could talk with prisoners. Talk through the bullpen bars. Give them cigarettes. Food. Give them almost anything. Jackie McGoliff was in the courtroom. She’s winding. And grinding with the DA. They had her locked up too.
   I said to Whitey, “Why did you plead guilty?” He says, “I made a deal to get Jackie ten years probation.” I felt like saying, “Boy. Are you a sucker!” He screwed the other guys. Because they didn’t cop out. They fought their cases. And won some cases.
   While Whitey’s in the bullpen. He tells me about a garage on “P.” And East Seventh Street. “You’ll see two tomato cans laying on the ground. Make sure that Jackie gets them.”
   I’m sitting with Whitey’s father. Boom. Boom. Boom. I said, “That’s a tough break. Him having to plead guilty.” When Whitey got sentenced to twenty years. The father had tears in his eyes.
   We’re standing by the bullpen. Whitey took his personal stuff. Handed it to his father. Whitey said, “Give him the keys to the garage. And he’ll give them to her.” The father grabbed car keys. Whitey says, “No! No! These keys here (points finger).” Whitey said Jackie’s getting out. “Jackie will know what to do.”
   So I waited. And drove Jackie to the garage. She didn’t want to come in. I thought bodies was in there. The way she dodged it.
   The garage was empty. No cars. Nothing. Just two tomato cans. Middle of the garage floor. I give them a kick. And out comes the money. Seventeen hundred in one can. Two thousand in the other can. Couple hundreds. Mostly twenties. And fifties.
   It went in Jackie’s handbag. She bought new clothes. And dished it out. A king-sized room. In the Hotel Bradford. Meals in the room. Hot. And cold running pussy. Bingo. Bango. For about a week. I partied like a soldier. Jackie still had two grand. When I left her.
   At Kelly’s Landing. Whitey stashed money. Stupid prick! Buried money down there. Skinny dipping by the poles. He didn’t realize mud moves. Whitey went to get it. And the money’s gone. He was almost crying. I said, “How stupid can you be? Burying money in the mud. You know the mud moves.” He turned bullshit. “RRR.” “RRR.” “RRR (growling).”
   Whitey went away like a big boy. “I did it for my girlfriend.” He always wanted to be Alan Ladd. Put the Alan Ladd coat on. The collar up. The sunglasses on. “I’m a tough guy.”
   Alan Ladd played the bad guy. Another Humphrey Bogart. The sun could be out. Whitey still wore his Alan Ladd raincoat. The kind you see in old movies. Whitey had that topcoat. The white one. The belt on. The lapel buttoned here (touches neck).
   Whitey was a poser. “Hi Gug. How you doing?” “How’s Jimmy?” “How’s the family?” “How’s this?” “How’s that?” “See you later.” He was Alan Ladd. The biggest sucker with broads.
   Toastie lived on the third floor. Whitey’s screwing a broad on the second floor. And on the first floor. Buying them washing machines. The broads saying, “I’d like to get my hair done.” Giving them one. Two hundred dollars. He’d go off with the boys. Toastie comes down from upstairs. Takes the money. Parties it up.
   When Whitey went to prison. We wore better clothes. When he come out. No more topcoats. No more big overcoats. That fancy style disappeared.
   Before going to the can. He felt guilty for raping the broad. Tried being like Alan Ladd. After the can. “Look how tough I am!” He’s wearing sweatshirts. With the muscle shoulders. And the muscle things. He come out with the reputation. “ALCATRAZ.”
   Whitey first went to Atlanta Penitentary. He’s with tough guys. Bank robbers. Killers. Whitey’s taking a shit. Some n…..s come in. “Hello, Whitey. We’re going to f… you in the ass.” Whitey was yelling. And screaming. Two. Three n…..s. Whitey shit his pants. It just so happened. Boston wiseguys walked in.
   The wiseguys used pipes. Worked the n…..s over. Crashed them up good. Smashed their heads open. All of them got pinched. The other guys get solitary. Whitey gets sent to Alcatraz. They thought he was the ringleader!
   I heard the story a year later. I’m in an after-hours joint. Drinking with one of the guineas. That was in Atlanta with Whitey. I said, “Oh, Jesus! They must be really screwing him in Alcatraz.” That’s the name of the game. They get a weak kid. Close their eyes. Think of a screwing broad. And screw him in the ass. He don’t want to get screwed. But what can the kid do? With four guys holding him down. They tear his whole asshole open.
   Whitey’s only visits was from Hank Garrity. This guy did everything for him. Hank had the Pen. At “D” Street. And West Broadway. The Pen was the best hangout. Hank’s the biggest wiseguy in Southie. He was famous for screwing boys. Hank took a liking to Whitey. Because he was a handsome boy.
   Hank met Whitey through Richie Kelly. They was good friends. In fact. Richie Kelly MADE Hank. Richie was the ringleader of trucks. He was robbing trucks. In the ‘20s. And ‘30s. During World War II. You bought forty cases of shit. To buy one case of Scotch. And Richie was stealing four. Five cases a day. Selling them to Hank. Ten dollars. Twenty dollars a case.
   Hank was the bouncer for Hurley’s Log Cabin. One block from Boston City Hospital. It was a hot spot. Hank sold Scotch to politicians. Judges. And important people.
   The Scotch was shipped from England. The big ships was being torpedoed. Richie Kelly went after different whiskey trucks. Through the years he got to know them. Richie was dumb in reading. And writing. Dumb in that way. But the king of robbing trucks.
   Hank. Paul Watson. Billy Driscol. And Jim McCann. They bought the Pen. Each of them become millionaires. Through the ‘40s. ‘50s. ‘60s. And ‘70s.
   Here’s what saved Whitey. Hank brought him G-notes. Hank would never tell you. He’d leave that to Whitey. Billy Bulger. The brains. He’s becoming a priest. Hank told Billy, “F… the ministry. Get into politics. By you getting into politics. We can help get Whitey out.”
   Billy Bulger gave up the ministry. That’s exactly what happened. Billy went into politics. Hank explained it. He said, “I talked Billy out of it. I told him if he went into politics. I’d help him.” Which Hank did. Pushed Billy right up the ladder. Boom. Boom. Boom. Billy become a big man. Sent the paperwork in. And Whitey hit the strets.
   Whitey lifted weights in the can. He learned how to read. That’s what made him lucky. Whitey read in Alcatraz. Read. Read. READ. Book. After book. After book. He was pretty smart. As far as reading goes. He read like a champion.
   Twice a year Hank visited Whitey. Hank liked West Coast football games. Hank played football in Holy Cross. Couldn’t make it all the way. But he knew the football players. Bing. Bang. Bang. I’d see him over the Pen. “What’s new with Whitey?” “Nothing new. He’s doing good. Reading books. Minding his own business. I told him to keep his mouth shut. And not get into any trouble.”
   Alcatraz’s main cellblock floor. They called it Broadway. Whitey had a job. Polishing Broadway. Waxing. And brushing. Making Broadway shine. Except for talks with Hank. Whitey wasn’t even mentioned.
   Whitey’s on parole. Working as a janitor. At the downtown courthouse. Working for my mother. Thirty years she scrubbed the courthouse. She made sure it was cleaned up.
   Hank used Johnny Powers. To put Whitey in there. Johnny Powers ran the courthouse. Whitey worked eight months. Johnny Powers. And Billy had a beef. Billy said, “F… you.” Billy got his brother fired!
   There was this little guinea. Eighty years-old. Charlie. Past poster. Card sharp. Weasel like the rest of us. Charlie married a young broad. She was thirteen. Charlie had her until seventeen. Whitey gets out of prison. “I was in Alcatraz.” Whitey tells her that shit. And ends up screwing her. Charlie finds out about it. He’s going to kill Whitey. “Jesus Christ. I’m on parole!” It was forgotten a couple years.
   Whitey starts becoming a big man. Working with the Killeens. He chased Charlie to Haverhill. “If you don’t get out of Southie. We’re going to kill you.” Whitey kept the broad a month. Before tossing her aside.
   Billy O’Sullivan. And Whitey get together. They tell the Mullens. “We’re taking over Southie. Everybody that owns a barroom. If they don’t pay us. We’ll SMASH the joint up.”
   This is when Donald Killeen. The brains behind the Killeens. He tells Billy O’Sullivan. And Whitey. “F… them kids. I’ll give you fifty grand. We’ll put it out shylocking. We’ll be partners.”
   Billy O’Sullivan said, “I’m all for that.” Bingo. Billy tells the kids, “Stay away!” The kids are hopped up. Thinking they’re going to run Southie.
   The kids tried muscling Donald. They went down the Transit. But Donald wasn’t there. The Killeens was bookmakers. Good street fighters. The kids tell Kenny Killeen. “A hundred bucks every week.” Kenny bit Mickey Dwyer’s nose off. The hospital sewed it back on. I call him, “No Nose.”
   Billy O’Sullivan. And Whitey went prowling the Pony Room. A small barroom up West Broadway. That’s when Billy shot Buddy Roach. Buddy wanted to be a boss. Billy pulled out the gun. And popped him. Bingo. Whitey wasn’t hiding. The kids was hiding. They ran like cocksuckers. Billy was with Whitey. Billy would punch the shit out of them.
   There’s a little shooting war going. Really it’s drunken bullshit. This went for six. Eight months. Billy O’Sullivan gets drunk down Mutt Kelley’s. Bepo was giving him a ride home. Bepo said, “I’m leaving in an hour.” Buddy Roach’s sister. That’s married to No Nose. She sees Billy stiff drunk. And gets on the phone.
   She called her brother’s friends. Every son-of-a-bitch name in the world. “Here he is. Walking around Southie stiff drunk. And you’re bup. Bup. Bup.” She caused Billy O’Sullivan getting killed.
   The kids put their balls together. They go over Billy’s house. Instead of riding with Bepo. Billy went home by taxi. The taxi pulled off. They come flying out. “Bang.” “Bang.” “Bang.” “Bang.” Shot him four times. That ended Billy.
   The kids was celebrating. “We killed Billy O’Sullivan.” Bing. Bang. Boom. “We’re taking over Southie!” Whitey’s with Donald Killeen. He gets Billy Daggart. Tommy Flagerty. And Mickey Dempsey. One Mullen got shot. Billy Daggart did the shooting. But Whitey took the credit.
   Stevie Flemmi comes into the package. He’s a pretty-good fighter. Physically strong. A number one rat. They didn’t know it. But we knew it. Because of Wimpy Bennett.
   Wimpy Bennett was a notorious rat. And Stevie Flemmi hung with Wimpy. You got the propoganda part of it. I’m telling the other part of it. The Gospel truth part of it. Whitey’s full of shit!
   Like with Joe Murphy. Kingpin quarterback. Fullback. Whitey idolized him. To show he’s a tough guy. Whitey brings him to Slade’s Chicken. On Tremont Street. It was a popular place. Everybody went there for chicken. Whitey hit the waiter with the chicken. In the face! Like James Cagney. “I’m a big shot.” The n…..s almost killed them. Slade’s was a n….. joint.
   Whitey did this before Alcatraz. They’re all up his ass. Whitey was showing them. “I’m a tough guy.” “I’m a bank robber.” Their saying, “He’s a big man.” And Whitey, “Give them another round of drinks.”
   Some of them wasn’t too stupid. First buck Joe Murphy ever made. He kept it in his pocket. “Jesus Christ Whitey. You’re the greatest.” “Oh. You’re the greatest (sweet voice).” “Give me another drink.” “You’re the greatest (more sweetness).”
   After Whitey leaves prison. He kills Donald Killeen. And starts making good money. Guess who puts his name in the newspaper? Howie Carr. He was after Billy Bulger. Howie Carr hated Billy Bulger. Because he was a good swindler. And there was no way catching him. Howie Carr wanted to make a name for himself. “Whitey the killer.” “Whitey could punch this guy out.” “Whitey could do this.” “Whitey could do that.” Instead of the truth. “Whitey takes it up the ass.”
   Whitey grabs Kevin Weeks. To be his bodyguard. An old-timer owed Whitey money. Whitey put a knife to his throat. Weeks said, “For Christ sakes. He’s an old man. Do you want to kill him?” Whitey says, “Don’t ever stop me. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill everybody!”
   When Howie Carr was building Whitey up. Weeks spread that story out. Told all the thieves. Word went around Southie. “Don’t say anything about Whitey Bulger.” “Don’t even mention his name!” “Oh, Jesus. Whitey’s coming this way (fearful voice)!” “Oh, Jesus. Whitey’s coming that way (flashes wide eyes)!”
   Kevin O’Neil worked for Donald Killeen. Another ballsucker. The Transit bartender. Cleaning the place up. He started the shit. “Call him Jimmy. That’s his name. Jimmy.” O’Neil sobered up a little bit. And he become a businessman. Getting houses for twenty grand. By using Whitey’s name. “Jimmy likes this house. He can’t pay a hundred thousand for it. I’ll get Jimmy to give you twenty thousand (tough voice).”
   Whitey got the Transit. They named it Triple O’s. Because O’Neil had two brothers. O’Neil owned Triple O’s on paper. Whitey couldn’t put it under his name. Like when they muscled the liquor store. O’Neil owned it on paper. O’Neil sold the liquor store. The bank gave a mortgage. Four hundred thousand! Whitey grabbed it. Of course. Whitey knew he was screwing. Whitey was grabbing all the money.
   Guess where Whitey was scared of? The Rabbit Inn barroom. On Dorchester Street. Joe Pickard. And Jimmy Liden. Hung in that barroom. Liden was the toughest kid. Coming out of City Point. He was an iron worker. The iron workers hung in there.
   Whitey drove by the Rabbit Inn. Joe Pickard. And Jimmy Liden yelled, “Hey. You faggot motherf…er. You f…ing stool pigeon. Come on back here. Come on over here.” They ran after him. Banged on the hood. Whitey knew his shit with these guys. They didn’t give a f…. Terrors! Like tough football players. They dive in head first.
   Howie Carr MADE Whitey Bulger. BIG MAN in Southie. Dorchester. And everywhere. Even in Walpole. Guys was running around. “Whitey’s my brother-in-law.” “Whitey’s my boss.” “Whitey’s this.” “Whitey’s that.” If they only knew the truth.
   Whitey wouldn’t have lasted in our circle. He was too much a movie star. When Whitey left the can. He had a lucky run. We was gone. Nobody was around to stop him. He went up against small guys.
   But Whitey made a ton of money. Made millions shaking down Joe Murray. Getting part of his drug money. The Connecticut jai alai. They was milking that dry.

   1. Afraid:

      Gaga’s got an interesting story. Enjoyed reading it. Brush it up – should fill in some of the blanks – it sure gives another look at Whitey which you’d never get anywhere else especially from the book authors who have no idea what he was like nor have a sense of the neighborhood – looking forward to reading some more. Ask him more about Donald Killeen’s shooting – I didn’t think Whitey did that; who killed Paulie Mcgonigle’s brother? – Gaga’s story has the feel of Southie about it – something you don’t get in other books – the nitty gritty dark barroom side – liked the story of the Penn – used to go there to get my six packs after hours – good memories. Thanks.

      1. Matt, Afraid: Gaga’s Great first chapter; feels real; true city grit; the Penn (we got after-hours 6packs there too), Transit, Triple Os were as bad as Dot Ave’s 1310, Uppies’ Continental Lounge next to Fire House on Columbia Road, and that place on Dudley Street down from Uphams Corners (way before St. Pat’s and the Vine St. Gym): (Was it Walsh’s? Everyone’s packing; I forget the name; we were just talking about it a week ago) you know what place I mean: All-American buckets of blood. Brings back fond memories of the hometown.

         1. William:

            Gaga’s story does have the ring of truth and the feel of the neighborhood.

         2. William, my uncle was a bartender at Walsh’s Tavern which was on Columbia Road across from the Fire Station in the 70’s. Maybe you are thinking of Walter’s Lounge on Dudley St? What was the name of the first bar on Stoughton St across from the cemetery? Thanks This guy Gaga’s story sounds 100% authentic to me. Can’t wait for more. Great supplement to the already outstanding job being done here by Matt and commenters.

            1. Rather:

               I agree – Gaga knows what he is talking about. It will be good to hear more.

10. Dear Matt,
    Robert Mueller served the Boston Office of the U.S. Attorney in several capacities: Chief of the Criminal Division, 1982-1985; First Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1985-1986; U.S. Attorney, 1986-1987.

    When Whitey obtained Carney as an attorney, I sent him both my lawsuit ans my brother’s lawsuit. In my fist letter, I stressed a federal seal being placed on the murders concerning Michael Donahue and Brian Halloran.

    I sent him other letters and emails stating the same thing.

    Showing Kevin Weeks committed perjury would held Whitey’s defense. I’m almost sure Carney is getting pressure from above to ignore that federal seal.

    Robert Mueller did nothing to try and stop Whitey. It was probably him who swayed the federal judge to seal a public record.

    I know Stephen Rakes very well. If a petition could be written seeking answers about the federal seal being placed on my brother’s Boston Police Witness Statement concerning the Michael Donahue and Brian Halloran murders, I could see Stephen Rakes getting hundreds of signatures demanding to know the truth.

    Stephen Rakes is friends with most of the Whitey victims. Matt you see Stephen Rakes most times when attend the trial. Why don’t you talk with him. That could get this important effort started? Talking with any of the Whitey victims could get the petition started.

    I don’t know one person who wouldn’t want to know the full truth. In short, I don’t know one person who wouldn’t sigh a petition demanding to know why a federal seal was used so Kevin Weeks, someone who committed perjury, could be used as a witness against Whitey.

    1. Afraid:

       Don’t worry about Carney – he is the real deal – a lot of fight in him – he’ll have a lot of stuff to work with on Weeks and I’m sure he’ll us your brother’s material – but we will have to wait and see. Weeks is not going to be on the stand until some time in July – there will be lots of going back and forth by that time – but if Carney is doing his job he’ll have to use it. By the way do you know why your brother is not a witness in the trial.

       Mueller was in charge of the criminal division under Weld. I interviewed for the job but he beat me out, I was offered the job of heading the drug prosecutions but on reflection realized I didn’t want to go back into Boston and probably was not a good fit for the feds – so I stayed in Norfolk where I could do my own thing. I like Mueller – think he’s a good stand up guy – but the FBI is too much for anyone person to handle because it is such a built up bureaucracy – you can’t blame Mueller for not stopping Whitey since the FBI was protecting him and its agents always have the ear of the AG – and the AG can only get cases if they bring them to him.

       I met Rakes and had a discussion with him. Part of life is choosing sides. Right now all the victims families are on the side of the government – they are not going to do anything to upset the government’s case – they are focused solely on getting Whitey and are dancing to the feds tune. You can rest assured that Carney knows about your brother’s statement and has the police report so its not under seal as far as he is concerned. If he sees use in it he’ll use it.

       Remember Carney is doing what Whitey wants him to do. This is not a case of getting at the truth. It is one from the defense point of view that is best called a Portrait of Whitey – it’s how Whitey wants to be remembered. Maybe Whitey likes the idea of him having a masked man in the back of his car and him in front driving with one hand and machine gunning Halloran with another – I’m still trying to figure that out.

11. also why isnt anyone in the so-called media bringing up freddy weichel, he has sat in jail for thr murder of the lamonico guy for 30 years bc of zip

    1. Pat2E:

       Freddy’s another story. This isn’t about John Connolly but about Whitey. Freddy was prosecuted by the Norfolk DAs office. I didn’t think Connolly had a hand in that case but I may be wrong. I’d have to refresh my memory. Thanks for reminding us of him.

12. Whose testimony will be the most crucial regarding the murders of the women?

    1. I want to know WHAT Red thinks of all this. i know what he thinks of wb, and 2weeks and esp polecat, but having fell victim when wb name was still good on west broadway. red shea is another victim in this, he was a kid yet he stood taller than 99pct of all theese so-called gangsters, i wish theyd let him sit there and stare that red shea stare at kevin and all his former associates that he admired when he was coming up, boxing with and learning from only to be the one who was actually accountable for is actions.

       1. PAT2E:

          Shea wrote a book called “Rat Bastards” where he tells his story. Is he still around? I know he did time and kept his mouth shut. The prosecutors say hey are going to bring in Billy Shea who was Whitey’s main drug guy in Southie. When I heard that I thought they were referring to Red but Red’s first name is John so Billy must be another guy. Do you know who he is? I don’t think Moore is going to testify.

    2. Khalid:

       Weeks’s testimony. No one will believe Flemmi who makes a lousy witness and Carney should do a tap dance on him. But with Weeks backing up the story of Flemmi that’ll make it believable. Next will be the location of the bodies. Debra Davis was found near one of Whitey’s enemies in the Mullen gang (King or McGonagle) who he’ll probably admit murdering and Deborah Hussey found next to Bucky Barrett whose murder AUSA Kelly has already hung around Whitey’s neck. That by the way is what the case is about in Whitey’s mind – he wants to scream to the world he didn’t murder the women.

13. If we are going to make the incredibly stupid mistake of arming the Al Qaeda affiliated rebels in Syria then why not give them the guns Flemmi’s son produced for Foley. Hopefully they don’t work. Should we have a nuclear war with Russia over who controls Syria? When you have historically ignorant presidents you end up with all this foreign policy adventurism. Is Bush still president?

    1. Neal,

       Once again I enjoy your spirited reply. Might want to check out http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/06/us_to_arm_syrian_reb.php for a good overview of the Al Qaeda connections to the Syrian opposition you point out. In short, there are many.

       Matt – thanks for the coverage. I’m avidly following.

       1. Jon:

          Thanks for participating in the comments section. Don’t praise Neal anymore it will go to his head. 🙂

    2. The major reason I like President Obama (generally he’s far too liberal for me) is he tries to draw down the troops and tries to keep us out of foreign wars. McCain, the War Mongers, The Imperialists, the Interventionists, the boots-or-loafers on the ground crowd I detest. “Avoid excessive foreign entanglements.” The only time ever I’ve ever agreed with the notorious historical revisionist James Carroll is when he denounces the Neocon Dogs of War. I’m a conservative, pro-life, pro-environment, pro-American, strong National Defense, strong police, fire, public health, traditionalist, independent who opposes pushers of “Imperial America the Nation Builder the World Cop Interventionist.” George Will’s great op-ed column two days ago said another “national security concern” is the number of Americans who no longer trust their overly intrusive, spying, taxing federal government. Pat Buchanan had a great column, too, on the fine line between security and privacy. Beware: We’re walking on thin ice!!!!

       1. William,

          There are always warmongerers among us. But I think it’s fair to say that most reasonable people do not want to participate in unnecessary wars. The issue though is that people will disagree about how to handle conflicts. I am one of those who wishes that we were not drawing down so fast in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is not defeated, it is not decimated, and it is not near its demise. I don’t have the time to lay out the argument, but see:

          http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2013/05/obama_pulls_back_in_fight_agai.php

          and

          http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/see-no-evil_732050.html.

          The administration has been underestimating the threat in order to justify the draw down, to trump its counterterrorism abilities, and for whatever other reasons. But there are many more than 100 al qaeda fighters in Afpak, and a whole alphabet soup of jihadist groups allied with al qaeda, supported by the Pakistani ISI, ready to jump into Afghanistan once the troops leave. I’m not saying we need to be there forever, and I’m not enough of an expert to lay out a grand military strategy, but I’ve studied this part of the world enough to believe that we have a national interest in preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for AQ and its jihadist allies.

          In general, it’s not about “being in Afghanistan” or “being in Syria” or “prepping for Iran”. It’s about leadership that only America can bring to these very complex situations. I don’t really have a good sense of what to do in Syria. Haven’t had the time to think about it. Assad is clearly an enemy of the U.S. and it’s a terrible shame to see him massacre his people. But it’s true one must be cautious about arming the rebels since they’ve largely coalesced around the Al Nusrah Front, which is yet another satellite of so-called “core” Al Qaeda in Pakistan (see Zawahiri’s recent resolution of the conflict between Al Nusrah and Al Qaeda in Iraq). That’s a very delicate situation and I don’t have the expertise to know what to do. But there’s got to be something better than “leading from behind” and kowtowing to the Russians. As for Iran, I hope we all agree that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire the bomb. Also, let’s not forget Iran’s own very delicate but clear relationship with Al Qaeda, as summarized in chapter 1 of the latest Country Report on Terrorism just put out by the State Department.

          1. Jon:

             I know your comment was addressed to William but appreciated the information.

       2. William:

          The thing is most Americans whether of your taste or on the liberal part of the menu have the same feelings – but there’s a sinister force at work that I call Americans For War For Jobs and the Bleeding Hearts who have joined together who will push us into this war with Syria and perhaps others. I hope not but these people want it and Obama has appointed tow Bleeding Hearts to high positions. War is good for the DC War Mill that has grown up around in that area; it actually makes us more enemies which requires more Homeland Security expenditures.
          From the far right to the far left people want their privacy and want to know what the government is doing; but we don’t. The FBI kills a guy over three weeks ago and we know nothing of what happened there, not even the name of the agent who killed the guy.
          From the far right to the far left people want our government to slow up on the spending, stop giving our money away to build up foreign places when we an use it at home, to stop borrowing from the Chinese so we can funnel money to the Middle East, and not to get into more wars.
          The people have no say – Obama called Bush and raised him – we’re going to be at war forever the way things are going – or if not at war supporting all these foreign countries while we bankrupt ourselves. Tell me why the biggest American embassy in the world is in Iraq. What a waste! We could do with a little office in a small building for all our influence will matter there.
          We need a grand plan – right now we’re running on empty.

          1. I gave up on the FBI killing. I’m wondering if we will hear the troopers name who shot the New Bedford man … I don’t know if they typically give that information?

             1. Question:

                As the FBI closes the gap on what the people should know so do other agencies follow. The information used to be given out routinely.

    3. N.

       Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition. I thought you were going to propose the president give the arms to the families of Whitey’s victims instead so that this matter of which is under consideration is quickly brought to an end.

       Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski was on TV last night. He says the policy is all messed up. He says that we have been at war since 9/11 and have two major wars and yet only 1% of the country has been involved in the fighting and dying. The other 99% (99% where have I heard that before?) just goes blithely along as if nothing is happening. His point is if you fight a war the country should be at war and no president has told us that the country is at war.

       He also suggests that arming the rebels is not a strategy but an avoidance of strategy. But you know what’s afoot. Here’s what my sources tell me. (these sources are all in my head)’ Obama wanted to stay out but he is has been pushed in by the bleeding hearts along with the Washington Teaters (people in industries who suck of the government’s teat) also called the AWJ (Americans for War for Jobs).

       Right now it looks like Assad will put down the uprising of the Sunni rebels (Al Qaeda is a Sunni group) with the help of the Shiite friends (part of the historic Sunni/Shiite animosities; similar to the Catholic/Protestant ones). These friends happen to be situated in Iraq and Iran and Lebanon.

       We now say Assad presents a danger to the region. You may recall that prior to the uprising a year or so ago we did not like him but we tolerated him. We weren’t interested in tossing him out. Well now that is the policy Obama developed when it looked like the rebels were going to win. We took that position hoping to ingratiate ourselves with the rebels (the winners). Now that he is pushing them out we’re stuck with having backed the wrong side. So to save face we’re going to arm the losers. It won’t work, and everyone knows that since it will be too little and too late to help them even though what we will do is to send in American special forces with our equipment that can shoot down Assad’s planes. We will keep control of our stuff which means American troops on the ground but we won’t know that.

       Plan B is the no fly zone and air attack on Syria by our forces. This is the Libya formula being pushed on Obama. No troops on the ground other than spacial forces. Troops in the air with some special forces types going in to take over. Israel has already pulled an air attack on Syria so that’ll be step two. This will give the Russians a chance to see how their anti-aircraft missiles operate against our drones and aircraft. We won’t blame the Russians (since they are our new friends who helped us with Tsarnaev) but the Iranians which means we have to do air attacks on Iran. We do want to keep the Russians out but if the Russians advisers to Assad are being killed by our planes we’re playing a dicey game.

       Since the memory of the American people is so short Obama will use the humanitarian card to justify going after Assad. He just put two bleeding hearts close to him: Susan Rice into the job as national security advisor and the Irish woman Samantha Power into the job of UN Ambassador. You recall we went into Iraq because of our desire to help the Iraqi people get that evil dictator off their backs; well the two women want to use military power to solve humanitarian crisis – http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/does-samantha-power-mean-war/ Well there is a great humanitarian crisis actually occurring in Syria with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the destruction of their country. That will be the door through which we start moving to re-engage our troops in the Middle East. Expect to see a lot more of stories about the refugee camps and the suffering of the poor people who have been forced out of their countries.

       The Washington Teaters and Americans for War for Jobs who have seen cut backs in the flow of government money as we wind down in Afghanistan have been very active in advocating for more war. The DC metropolitan area was the only area that kept growing during the great recession so the spigot has to be kept on. These are the people who have replaced the neo-cons in advocating for intervention in Syria although the neo-cons are still backing that also.

       The American people are tired of wars; tired of building up the infrastructure of other countries (imagine the cost to rebuild Syria and to keep our puppet government in power). We want peace and money spent at home. But those who benefit from war have gained the president’s ear. Just pray it doesn’t go over into Iran or Russia. History has no play in this matter; it is the do-gooders and DC metropolitan job market that governs. You should know that by now.

       1. Matt,

          Just to be clear, the uprising began in March 2011 and began as a protest movement in line with the Arab spring until Assad decided he would do what his father did in Hama in 1982, only now he’s succeeded in killing at least 93,000 people (latest UN estimate) compared to the 10,000 his father killed in 1982.

          I don’t necessarily disagree with much of what you say, and I’m not really an expert on Syria (following the Bulger trial and your blog and many other obligations, I don’t have the time), but I will say that Assad has never been a friend to the US. First, the Assad regime seemed quite happy to allow his border to be a pipeline for foreign fighters entering into Iraq to join the insurgency during the Iraq war (and he’s now suffering the so-called “blowback”). Second, the US ended diplomatic relations with his regime in 2005 (it might even be that Assad threw us out), and then Obama came into office with his whole “extend the hand of friendship” and offered to restart diplomatic relations with Assad. Third, Syria is an entrenched ally of Iran and Hezbollah as part of the so-called Shi’ite Crescent. Iran is no friend of ours, and Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization. Assad was tolerated in the same way that bookies tolerated Whitey and Stevie.

          Assad is a threat to the region. Just look at what’s happened because he would not sit down and talk to the protesters. Syria, like other countries in the region, is a country with artificial borders drawn up by the imperial powers in the 20th century. It is a country with deep sectarian divides between religious and ethnic groups. These divides are now spilling over into Lebanon and Turkey and Jordan. And this is to say nothing of the ever-present threat to our essential ally Israel. Assad’s crackdown has exacerbated these intrinsic tensions to the umpteenth degree and threatened the stability of surrounding nations.

          That said, I don’t have a good sense of what to do. I think it’s unfortunate when these discussions degenerate into a name-calling exercise (war mongerers, etc.). I think the U.S. must play an active role and provide leadership in these conflicts. That’s not saying we need to police the world. It’s saying that the U.S. has a national interest in helping to resolve these conflicts, and it is the only nation that has the resources and status to provide the necessary leadership. That’s not war mongering or getting involved in unnecessary wars.

          1. Jon: Assad is no friend, that’s true. He and his father have been in office forever and we have lived with them. He does provide some what of a pipe line in to Hezbollah but it’s not a real threat to Israel. Israel can handle itself and has lived with Assad these many year even after seizing his land from him and keeping it. I see it being helpful to Israel if we put in place in Syria and American friendly government but that will cost us several trillion dollars and I don’t see that Israel is in any danger.

             Assad was faced with an Arab Spring type revolution and he refused to talk to the other side. Syria as you note is really a stitched together nation and the other said were the Sunnis – there is no way realistically Assad could share power with them since they are mortal enemies. So an armed uprising began which caught him by surprise and the opposition forces gained lots of ground and it looked like the end was near for Assad early on but he has rallied back. WE joined the opposition when he was on the edge of the abyss but now that he’s back we’re at a loss as to what to do.

             I don’t see him as a great threat. If he can stabilize his country and the people can come back without a war going on that will alleviate the crisis. I believe trying to perpetuate the uprising is a huge mistake. We’ve gotten into too many wars to save face and I see that is the main reason we are being urged to do this. If we were smart we’d stop supporting the uprising and let things return to what they were for the forty years before it took place.

             The U.S. has a role to play but the idea we are the only power in the world that can play this role leaves out the enormous influence the European countries, and now China and to a lesser extent Russia has in this area. Our role arises from the use of our military. The others prefer diplomacy before guns where we’re always ready to pull the trigger. Answer me this, if we could live for 40 years with Assad, we could see Israel survive and thrive during that time, why is going back to the way things were prior to March 2011 not the right solution. Why back into something that will again cost billions of dollars and American lives when we lived with what we say is not acceptable for so many years.

             1. Good reasonable post Matt. First, I’d have to check but I believe Obama came out in support of the protests from the very beginning, that is, lending rhetorical support to peaceful protests, and once Assad made it clear that he had no intention of tolerating protests, particularly after seeing Mubarak and Ben Ali go, Obama began considering options to support the armed uprising. Unfortunately, I have not been able to follow the goings-on in Syria in much detail, so I don’t have a lot of insight to offer. But I agree with you that a careful weighing of the costs is important, and maybe you’re right that the cost outweighs the benefit. That I do not know.

                It is true that Israel can take care of itself, though part of its strength is the U.S. signalling its support to other actors in the region. Fortunately, it has a tough-minded leader in Netanyahu. It will need him with the weak-kneed Obama in the White House.

                I’m not sure Assad can stabilize his nation such that his nation and the region can just forgive and forget, or at least move on with some kind of acceptance of the status quo government. His Alawite regime is a minority regime. To continue in power he will have to amp up the powers of the Muhkabarat and will move even closer to Iran and Russia and other countries hostile to the U.S. and the West. To yield would be to signal the West’s acceptance of mass slaughter as well as the political status quo of the Shi’ite Crescent.

                It may be that the cost is too much. But consider that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and is on its way to getting the bomb. Getting rid of Assad further isolates Iran, that is, further isolates and weakens a regime (not the Iranian people, as I often seem have to say though it should go without saying) that is an enemy of the U.S. and Israel and the general interests of the West. Iran, through Syria, is directly responsible for overwhelming support of Hezbollah, and in many eyes Hezbollah came out the victor in the 2006 war with Israel. Getting rid of Assad is a clear and direct national interest of Israel, and to the U.S. in the war against terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

                But of course we have an opposition that has coalesced around Al Qaeda forces. I don’t know what we do about that. But I do think the U.S. can provide leadership in ways other nations cannot. I agree with Robert Kagan in The World America Made that we should not assume that autocratic nations like Russia and China can pick up the slack, or if they do that they will necessarily support international institutions that underlie a liberal and democratic world order. I also agree with him that history shows that a multipolar balance of power is no guarantee of peace.

                1. Jon:

                   Good points as usual. You may be right that Syria can never be stabilized under Assad. If he survives he will move closer to Iran and Russia. I don’t go with the idea to yield would send any message. Even if it did I don’t think that because of that we get into another war. Earlier when we ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch us after the Marine barracks disaster in Lebanon, then didn’t respond to attacks against our embassies and the USS Cole, and some other things we were looked on as weak. Those days have passed and we are now perceived as strong.

                   I don’t see how we get blamed for the mass slaughter however many were killed since we had nothing to do with it. And, we really have no choice but to accept the political status quo of the Shi’ite Crescent especially since our workings in Iraq helped bring it about.

                   It would be nice to think we get rid of Assad painlessly and a friendly leader comes in through a democratic mandate and peace comes to that area. I’m not sure anyone thinks that can happen. For Assad to go we need some type of new government. Who is that going to be? We want a government that if not a puppet government one that is friendly to US and our interests. How many American kids have to die to bring it about? Who will pay for it? Who will help it rebuild its country? Who will bribe the officials to make sure it continues to be friendly to us? How many bags of cash will we have to deliver like we do the Karzai every week? How much more war can this war weary nation suffer? How will the war affect Obama’s peace prize. 🙂

                   I don’t think any part of our decision should be what is good for Israel. Israel is fine and there is not threat to it. Could it be better off with a pro-American government in Syria, maybe. Would it be better off with an Islamic party in power, who knows. I have full confidence in Israel to take care of itself. But even though Israel is as you say our best ally and we have to support it, which we will do and have done and will continue to do, we have to think of what is best for America. If we get more involved it will be our money and our lives that are expended.

                   I’ve no doubt the world is better off with America as the peace keeper and peace maker; but haven’t we done enough, some of it stupidly, that we can take a rest and let the rest of the world figure out some things. Doesn’t history (cold war) teach us that much more is accomplished through peace rather than war. Is it we’re so willing to war because we haven’t had a war on our soil since the 1860s? The maor European nations have felt the sting of war but not for close to three-quarters of a century. They know everyone loses in war. We, without a war on our shores, have felt its consequence even though only 1% of our people are engaged in the endeavor by the huge budget deficits we face.

                   I think Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski had it right when he inferred that we should have no more wars unless all of us go to war, that means, bringing back the draft and putting everyone at risk. The instution of the voluntary military was an ingenious idea for those who like war. We can invade other countries and none of the Americans will care since they aren’t involved. How many people do you know who want to shoulder a rifle for our country? These are serious questions a nation must ask itself and answer before going to war. I assume you are not from my generation which grew up knowing we had to serve in the military whether we wanted to or not. That made all of us more attentive to our government. Now, it seems for 99% war is no more than a tablet app.

14. I ask that you make the time sacrifice to write another book when this is over… Honestly, your trial reporting has far more, tantalizing insight into this than some of the young reporters working this beat. They maybe watched ‘The Departed’. Maybe not even that much… Few people who remember the era are writing. And then, who is doing so in honesty, without agenda? Who knows? You’ve been on both sides if the legal fence, as a criminal lawyer. Thank you, on behalf of those of us who have moved and cannot be in Boston…

    1. Kristi:

       Thanks for the suggestion. It’s difficult getting a book published since the inside industry is only concerned with perpetuating the story that is out there. Plus the time I’m spending on this makes it hard to do anything else – my wife’s on my back about the lawn, the bushes, etc., all the stuff I should be doing around the house and I can’t blame her. For now I just want to see what unfolds at the trial and put my take on it out for those who are interested in seeing it from another angle.
       You are right about many of the reporters – the Whitey Bulger story seems like talking about the Civil War or even the Peloponnesian War – it has no relevance at all to their lives and all they can do is talk about what is on the front of the house without any idea of the inside. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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