I think that this thread will probably die now (it already died once); but having come into it late, I want to get my money's worth.

Since turbonium doesn't want to spin a theory, I will. I feel that I have familiarity (though not necessarily expertise) with the CT arguments, by virtue of having been a believer once (hey, we've all got something in our past). So here's my thought experiment (DISCLAIMER: I don't believe any of what follows):

First off, we need a patsy. LHO fills the bill. He's probably a shooter - though not the only one. After all, we need to control his movements, can't very well have him chatting with a secretary while the motorcade passes by, So we might as well put him on the 6th floor. Besides, Connally was clearly hit by a shot from behind. But someone else was back there shooting - more on that later.

One, two.

We need two shooters from the front. Why two? Well, one for the small-caliber non-transiting throat wound, and one for the clearly large-caliber head shot. In fact, I'm going to say that the three tramps were two shooters and a helper. One of these, btw, was the infamous Howard Hunt, identified in one photograph by his uniquely malformed ear (I'm not making this up!).

Why all the firepower? We need Kennedy not merely dead, but really most sincerely dead. If he's alive in the E.R., he will be subjected to surgery, and not only will the true nature of the wounds become known, but bullets will be recovered. Can't have that.

Three, four, five.

We need one in the motorcade - probably the driver. No evasive action please. Six.

We need one at the hospital. Remember, it has been conclusively proved behond a shadow of a doubt that bullet 399 was a plant. Ergo, someone to plant it. Probably another SS agent; a "hospital worker" may not be given access to the stretcher on which it was found.

Why plant the bullet? Good question! There needs to be a Carcano bullet to tie to Oswald. The only reason to plant one is that the real bullet was not from the Carcano, but from some other rifle fired from behind.

Seven so far.

I'm goint to put two conspirators on Air Force One. Why? Well, as Lifton has pointed out, the body must be altered prior to the autopsy. Wounds must be made to look different, bullets and/or fragments must be removed. So, one to guard the door, and one to do the dirty work.

Eight, nine.

While it would be convenient to have the autopsy faked, I don't think that is necessary, provided that sufficient pressure can be brought to bear on the doctor. Add at least one more blackguard to the list. So, ten.

Oh yes, and Jack Ruby, plus at least one member of the Dallas Police, to effect the silencing of the patsy. Eleven, twelve.

We need a mastermind, a Dr. Evil - how about George H. W. Bush? I keep seeing his name in these theories. Might as well use it here. And if not him, then LBJ.

I wonder if Bill Clinton can account for his whereabouts on that day.

Anyone on the Warren Commision? The two most likely would be Earl Warren himself, by virtue of his position of authority; and Arlen Specter, by virtue of the inane softball leading questions he kept asking. But since I'm not convinced the theory actually needs them, I'll leave them out. (I'm trying to imagine a Bob Newhart-style phone conversation recruiting Warren into the conspiracy: "Hello Earl? George here...fine, thank you, how are yours....Great! So listen Earl, I need your help with a job...")

So our count is 13 - a rather appropriate number. While it could easily be greater, I consider this a minimum number. Well, actually, one would be the minimum. But then that's not a conspiracy, is it?