It is true that some odd ideas attempting to explain 9-11 events, such as holograms, etc. have emerged over the past three years. But there is not much we can do about that. One can still take a position that is critical of the official 9-11 story without necessarily embracing all alternative views (this should be faily obvious, but...it obviously is not) Just because a lot of rap music is silly, misogynous and promotes violence does not mean one cannot be a rap artist or listen to rap music without being automatically associated with negative rap music. I don't understand those on this list who use some of the more outlandish ideas about 9-11 to justify their refusal to weigh in with their own explanations. It is one thing to simply take the position - as many on the left have - that the official version is 'true' and there is no debating it or, say that even if it is was an inside job, it doesn't matter any more...who cares?... e.g. the Retort group who authored 'Afflicted Powers: Capital and Spectacle in a New Age of War' http://www.versobooks.com/books/nopqrs/r-titles/retort_afflicted_powers.shtml
who are current 'on tour' (aka the new 'British invasion' with a token Yank in tow).
it is another to not take an actual position supporting the official story, but then still refuse to actually formulate any other alternative explanation and spend most of ones intellectual energy disassociating onself from or attacking 'crazy conspiranoid ideas'. Just because there are some odd ideas out there about what does or does not cause hiv-aids does not make all hiv-aids researchers 'oddballs'. The thing to do, and what is done is that you stake out your position on the issue and offer criticisms of theories that you find problematic.
Those of you fond of taking pot shots at the weird ideas about 9-11 should be aware that there are deep and bitter divisions among the different schools of alternative 9-11 thought, especially the physical evidence crowd (of which I am not a part) e.g. Those who firmly believe that a plane hit the Pentagon and those who insist it was a missile etc. (and the govt. who fuels all this by refusing to release the video-footage)
In response to Chuck, I'd be happy to discuss the question of why there has been no serious independent investigation - many progressives including Daniel Ellsberg and Mark Crispin Miller have signed a statement calling for an independent investigation http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20041026093059633
- but the thing is, however, once you take this position, it is assumed that you would also be interested in reviewing the existing literature about 9-11, such as it is and holding discussions and debate about it - without labelling people you disagree with as 'conspiracy freaks' etc. We are all trying to figure this out. Sure there are going to be sharp disagreements, etc. but I think we are all engaged in a search for the truth - or 'a' truth that makes more sense than the official story - no?
I don't think, Paul that it saying, we'll - ''they' are creating havoc in Iraq and Afghanistan so what makes you think they could not be responsible for coordinating an attack in the US?' This statement assumes 'facts not in evidence' and is based on the decidedly conspiratorial logic of the Pentagon - that of a 'vast, integrated global Islamic terrorist conspiracy' for which no evidence - in the words of the FBI Chief Richard Mueller: "The hijackers also left no paper trail. In our investigation, we have not uncovered a single piece of paper – in the U.S. or in Afghanistan – that mentioned any aspect of the September 11th plot." http://www.commonwealthclub.org/archive/02/02-04mueller-speech.html
So.... I guess this is an appeal for open-minded dialogue about this issue (but not so open minded, as a friend once cautioned me, that your brain falls out ;)
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