Richard D. Mahoney

5210. Sons & Brothers The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, by Richard D. Mahoney (read 20 Oct 2014) This 1999 book by a man whose father was appointed ambassador to Ghana by JFK has lots of gossip and also does a fair job of listing events involving Joe Kennedy and his sons. Both admirers and haters of the Kennedys will find satisfaction in some of the things related. The author strives mightily to suggest that the Mafia impelled Oswald to kill JFK and that Ruby killed Oswald so Oswald would not tell on his being a tool of the Mafia. However, having read Vincent Bugliosi's definitive work, Reclaiming History, on 24 Aug 2007, it is clear that Mahoney is only suggesting, not showing, that Oswald was acting in a conspiracy. But there are good parts of the book; and the words on Bobby's life and campaign after Jack's assassination are poignant. But it has never seemed to me that Bobby would have been nominated if he had not been shot, and this book reinforced that feeling of mine.… (mer)

A premise of Richard Mahoney's "Getting Away With Murder" is that U. S. attorney cut a plea deal with "American Taliban," John Walker Lindh, at least in part because the U.S. government did not want a public airing of its illegal dealings with the Taliban. Mahoney's marshalling of the facts supports his premise.
The book starts in a fortress near Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, with Mike Spann and Dave Tyson, CIA paramilitary commandos, interrogating non-Afghan Taliban prisoners shortly before the prison riot that claimed Spann's life and ends with Lindh's sentencing hearing. Sandwiched in between these events, author Mahoney reviews how America has enabled - even sponsored - terrorism, the crusade of counterterrorist FBI agent John O'Neill, and the how Lindh arrived in Afghanistan.

Most of the allegations detailed in the book of governmental incompetence, too cozy U.S. government and specific public servants' relations with Saudi Arabia, its royal family and the Taliban have already found their way into the public consciousness. However, author Mahoney does an excellent job organizing the information in an interesting and coherent manner. More than 30 pages of notes follow.

Readers who refuse to acknowledge that those in the service of the public and the agencies they toil for make mistakes and do at least on occasion overstep, will dismiss this book. An open-minded reader will at moments believe author Mahoney has become overly critical and at other moments become angry about events detailed in the book. Conspiracy theorists will have a field day.

Overall, I found this book well worth the price and my time. My only real criticism is minor. I find a book more enjoyable when it includes pictures of the major figures and maps of the areas detailed in the book. Sadly, no pictures or maps are found in the book - at least not in the first edition.… (mer)