e CIA was also overseeing military activity in Indochina. President Kennedy had inherited a fifteen-year buildup of military involvement in Vietnam, which he had made very clear he wanted no part of. By signing National Security Act Memorandum (NSAM) #263 on October 11, 1963 President Kennedy ordered 1000 American soldiers home from Southeast Asia by the end of the year. The rest of the troops were to be out of Vietnam by the end of 1965 (Prouty 116). Fletcher Prouty, a retired Air Force Colonel, was in charge promoting military support for the camouflage activities of the CIA during the 1960's. In this book, Prouty explains the steps involved in planning the assassination. First the conspirators chose Dallas as the site for the murder and selected a skilled group of "mechanics". These mechanics are an elite group of sharpshooters that are trained and supported by the CIA. Next, the plotters made certain that routine security measures would be neglected. However, the biggest and most important element of the ensuing plot was the creation of the scapegoat. Cover Story experts had created an entire scenario setting Oswald up as this "patsy" long before the assassination actually was initiated (Prouty 136- 137) . Until President Kennedy was assassinated, he was always given adequate Secret Service protection during his routine appearances and political functions. It is significant that since the moment the President arrived at Love Field, standard security measures were either neglected or ignored. That day the President was riding in a convertible limousine without the bulletproof bubble that was usually provided. Instead of following the safer route through Main Street, he was lead onto Elm Street the perfect Ambush site (Groden 156). Elm Street consisted of a very sharp turn surrounded by tall buildings that led down a small hill toward a triple underpass. Somehow, the order of the motorcade was changed. The President's limousine was su...
