Oswald was a strange bird without a doubt. But his background simply does not mark him as a killer (He was such a nerd that he was called "Ozzie the Rabbit" in the Corps). Nor do his known abilities with rifles mark him as capable of the shooting. From all those who knew him it is claimed he actually admired Kennedy. Being an acknowledged Leftist he would have no reason to believe elevating LBJ would be good for his cause. And the "he was just a dumbass" line does not hold true. From the interviews with him he sounded rather articulate and rational.
There are the reports of doubles at gun ranges (deliberately drawing attention to himself by firing at others' targets), gun shops (having the sights worked on), furniture stores (complete with pregnant wive and small child), meetings with Cuban exiles with companions who bragged about him being an ex-marine ready to shoot. The trip to Mexico. This is strange stuff and not all of it can be discounted as b.s.
This case could not have been stranger if an author tried to make it so and the probabilities necessary for it to have succeeded as claimed start to get into the one in a million catagory. And the wierdness started from day one with one of DPD gun experts hauling out a rifle he identified as a Mauser. In fact, an entire book could be written just about the rifle and its history. Much of the evidence arguing against it being the gun used comes from the WC Report itself. And it did not end with the shooting but continues with the hospital doctors' contentions and even the mysterious autopsy and publishing of fake pictures.
While some believe him completely innocent of any involvement I don't. But the whole house of cards comes down when Jack Ruby got involved. The guy was everywhere at the Hospital, at the police station, at news conferences where HE corrected the DA wrt the correct name of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. Oswald's killing makes it impossible for me to believe the WC Report's conclusions given the complete falsehood about his background and mob involvement. No one should pretend that Ruby was not a long time associate of organized crime beginning in Chicago. Examination of his long distance phone records only raises more disturbing questions.
It simply is just too pat: JFK is killed; a mobster kills the suspect; LBJ takes power; Justice Department investigations and wiretapping of the mobsters ceases almost immediately. Applying the question "Who profitted?" by this makes it hard to believe the mob had no hand in it.
Who killed officer Tippet?
I've always favored the Mafia, using Oswald as a stooge. JFK owed the mob big time for helping him with the election, but he failed to pay off when he backed down on Cuba (where the mob had a huge casino investment) and turned his kid brother loose on the them. And his girlfriend was a direct pipeline to the mob. That plus Ruby is a lot of circumstantial evidence.
Marina tied him in very nicely to the Walker attack, something she had not changed her testimony on, by the way. Throw in the shooting of Tippett, witnessed by about 10 people, many who made a positive ID of Oswald, the fact that when he was about to be arrested he pulled the same gun out and tried to shoot the cops clearly indicates a man prone to violence with guns.
As to his capability with rifles. Latimer owns Oswald's rifle book when he was in the Marines. His review of it, some of which is in his book, indicates he was a decent shooter and in the method used to shoot JFK (using boxes of books to support the rifle) he was good. Still a tough shot but there is always the element of luck in any event.
I don't think Oswald thought beyond shooting JFK. He was a rather twisted individual who saw himself as someone destined to be historically significant - which he is, unfortunately.
As to the reports of Oswald or someone else impersonating him I would point out that in any monumental event people come out of the woodwork saying they had beers with such and such, or I saw this guy walking his dog. The FBI received thousands of reports from people about the 9/11 hijackers and 99.9 percent were worthless.
The WC discussed the mistake identifying the gun as a Mauser. I'm still curious on why these brilliant conspirators who could pull this off did not plant a great, world renown sniper rifle rather than what you call a 'crappy rifle.' Does'nt make sense to me.
The hospital doctors have been questioned over the years, and even were allowed access to the photos/xrays and they state they support the WC commission's findings. I believe PBS had a show where was doctor was allowed access. The mysterious autopsy was nothing of the kind. It may not have not have been as thorough as it deserved but blame RFK and Jackie who did not want it getting out that JFK was a dying man. I certainly don't believe JFK's body was altered and the photos and xrays were switched. All of that was reinvestigated by the House Committee. No evidence.
A lot of people corrected the DA when he made that mistake, not just Ruby. That news had already been on TV and the radio for hours. Ruby was a nobody. He was never a made member of the mob, or a hitman. Of course, why didn't he nail Oswald when he was being moved around that first night. He had a clear shot. Of course why did'nt the Mob kill Ruby? In many respects he was a lot like Oswald, a little man who wanted to be a big man. He totally cracked while in prison claiming he was injected with cancer cells and LBJ wanted Israel to be destroyed.