It has been confirmed by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office that investigative journalist and book author Michael C. Ruppert is dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

By Lars Schall

Michael C. Ruppert was born 1951 in Washington, D.C. His family background was characterized by close proximity to the intelligence and military milieu. At the University of California in Los Angeles Ruppert studied political science. After graduation he went to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in order to work as a narcotics officer. In the course of his career he came in touch with the illegal drug running activities of the CIA. Since he refused to participate in such matters, he had to leave the LAPD. He then became a freelance journalist.

In 1998, Mike Ruppert launched the website / newsletter “From the Wilderness” (FTW) to report on drugs, the CIA and Covert Operations (see here). After September 11, 2001, FTW became one of the most reliable starting points for “alternative” information about 9/11. The years of research culminated in 2004 in “Crossing the Rubicon. The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil “(New Society Publishing). In 2006, FTW broke the story on the Pat Tillman cover-up – see here. In 2009, Ruppert published “Confronting Collapse” (Chelsea Green Publishing) and was portrayed in the documentary “Collapse.” He has been the founder / editor of the website “CollapseNet” and was the host of a radio show on The Progressive Radio Network, called “The Life Boat Hour.“

At the beginning of 2009, when the documentary “Collapse“ about Mike was produced, I had the opportunity to interview him in writing, „The sinking Titanic“ – see here. Moreover, we did later on this interview together with historian Dr. Daniele Ganser, „Fear is the Mind Killer“ – see here. In 2012, we produced furthermore an interview for the documentary „Terror Trading 9/11“ – see here. Earlier of  this year, Vice Magazine published a documentary about Mike and his „Weltanschauung“ in six parts, “Apocalypse, Man“ – see here.

Mike apparently committed suicide on Sunday, April 13 – see here.

BEHIND THE DIM UNKNOWN
by Lars Schall

A man of courage
isn’t talking about the things we know.

For that is walking on safety grounds.

You could do that, I could do that,
In fact, why do you think we do that?

No, my friend,
Let’s face it for the purpose of clarity:

A man of courage
leaves those safety grounds of things we know;

A man of courage
is walking bravely towards the things unknown.