A couple of days ago I glanced at the discussion here in FB concerning the death of Michael Hastings, the journalist from Rolling Stones who authored a notable interview/reportage on the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. I referred this longest and one most thoroughgoing interview made with JA, in "
Plan Z: the latest national chauvinist campaign anti-WIkiLeaks. Saving Minister Bildt?". It was the interview where Assange exposes that "Carl Bildt, became a U.S. Embassy informant in 1973 when he was 24 years old. He shipped his personal effects to Washington, to lead a conservative leadership program, where he met Karl Rove. They became old friends".
But I was quite sceptic about the assassination thesis (not because I am ready to disregard any “conspiracy theory” as purely nonsense – as certain detractors affirm
per default in their comments around the case Assange, WL, or the information war).
I hypothesized for my own that it might have been a case of
suicide. That kind of suicide where the victim wishes the happening to be instead appears as
accident. I have developed this concept during my research at the Karolinska Institutet in the 90’s; a phenomenon that I called “Metasuicide”, and which it was in an article I published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. It discussed a kind of violent death, where forensics cannot establish with certainty a self-destructive intent with fatal aim; neither if the injury was externally produced. We also referred it to as UMSA cases (for “Undetermined cause, suicide or accident”).
As a matter of fact, Sweden was found to have the highest rate in Europe among such cases, and where these are labelled as “osäkra självmord”. A typical forensic scenario: vehicle at high speed, crushing to a pole or tree, no breaks traces in pavement, mechanical failure not otherwise established. Why suicidal individuals would conceal their suicidal intent at their demise, it is another theme; and perhaps “Psychological autopsy” it could give an answer (history of severe depression, ptsd
and torture, etc). As I said, the thought crossed my mind on that Hastings case
it could have been one of
metasuicide.
But today I read this email, send by Michael Hastings to some close associates some hours before his “fiery car crash”.
Citat:
Subject: FBI Investigation, re: NSA
Hey (redacted names) -- the Feds are interviewing my "close friends and associates." Perhaps if the authorities arrive "BuzzFeed GQ," er HQ, may be wise to immediately request legal counsel before any conversations or interviews about our news-gathering practices or related journalism issues.
Also: I'm onto a big story, and need to go off the rada[r] for a bit.
All the best, and hope to see you all soon.
Michael
I found Hastings remarkable message in an article by
Melisa Jeltsen in the Huffington Post, material which is sourced in "
Exclusive: Hastings Sent Colleagues Email Hours Before Crash" published by KTLA
I could not however established – it is not commented in any of those dispatches - whether the email operator used by Hastings was Google’s Gmail.com.
Nevertheless, Michael Hastings' text, "hope to see you all soon" would exclude a suicidal intent. I may say. And, who would like to silence to death Hastings' announced "Big story"?