9/11 researches: I find this infuriating, and am looking for input

[WilliamPitt]

I wrote this article today, and got the following response. The person who wrote it is an avowed LIHOP believer. He writes me several emails a week (none of which I asked for), mostly to chastise me for not focusing on 9/11 conspiracy examinations in every article I write.

=

Shame on You, William Rivers Pitt!!!!

I'm absolutely amazed and absolutely appalled at your Truthout
piece "Nine Eleven," which I'll paste below for our readers.

Any honest historiographer must index you as one of the monumental
laughingstocks of our times. Why? Because you've written a book
entitled "The Greatest Sedition Is Silence," yet you remain--month
after month!--seditiously silent about what's by far the greatest
scandal of our new century.

Oh, not totally silent. Yes, you'll give us some sentimental
anecdotal reminiscence about it--as you've done in your piece below.
But you remain seditiously silent about anything--anything!--that
would provide your readers with a well-deserved opportunity to learn
that elements of our very own US Government (USG) played treasonously
conspiratorial roles in the events of Nine Eleven.

In total co-operation with the very most shameful elements of
the unspeakable Bush Cabal you cover up the gallant work of
perspicacious Nine Eleven researchers like Prof. Michel Chossudovksy,
Prof. Kee Dewdney, Physicist Michael Elliott, Scientist Jim Hoffman,
Musician Gerard Holmgren and Former German Defense Minister Andreas
von Buelow---to name only a few!

These gentlemen in varying degrees have risked their lives to bring
the truth of Nine Eleven to you. A composite of their work now is
strong enough as evidence to convince any unbiased jury anywhere in
the world that the USG indeed was thoroughly complicit with the

Nine Eleven murders of nearly three thousand human beings.

Yet you not only don't provide your readers with summaries of
their work--but you don't even provide links to their websites so
your readers can decide for themselves! Hardly anything could be
more undemocratic than this! Yet within the enormous ranges of your
ego you're comfortable with this, you regard yourself as behaving
democratically as you prattle about silence-as-sedition, etc. I can
hardly believe it!

William Rivers Pitt, ladies and gentlemen: our good little NY
Times Bestseller Boy, our obedient little NY Times Bestseller Boy,
our silent little NY Times Bestseller Boy, our seditious little NY
Times Bestseller Boy.

As you know, Bill, I've taken quite a few hours of my time in
recent weeks to post you material of importance to your hapless
northern-white-liberal readership--and not only in the crucially
important matter of Nine Eleven. Now, though, you give me no choice
but to say you've wasted my precious time.

=

This was my response:

=

"It happened, and it will never be forgotten, but we have reached a place where fear and obeisance can no longer be tolerated."

What does that mean to you? Can you not in any way connect those words to the work you espouse?

Consider, also, that this wasn't written for you, or for anyone on your list. There are millions of people who would sooner slit their own throats than accept anything having to do with LIHOP. The point of this article was a goad to them to begin reconsidering what they believe to be truth. That's not easy; Christ, if you think 9/11 is the only thing Americans are deluding themselves about, you don't know much about Americans. This country has a black belt in ignoring unpleasant fact.

As much work as the real 9/11 investigators have done, as much data as they've found, all that has not even made dent one in the mindset of a vast, vast majority of Americans. You're asking them to swallow it all in one gigantic gulp. They'll never do it. Not until they overcome the programming they've been bombarded with for three years and do a little thinking for themselves.

So this was for them, not you. Remember one last thing: Moore's movie comes out in nine days. Most of the people who will see it never knew that Bush sat in that goddam classroom while the world collapsed around his ears. That, and everything else in this film, is going to kick them right in the temple. Then, perhaps, LIHOP becomes something they'll hear.

Maybe they'll read this before they go in. Maybe it'll cook in their thoughts for the next few days, and then they go see the film, and then...

I got this email below a few minutes before I got yours. This is who I was writing to. If you don't think reaching people in this way is important, you are worse than a waste to the cause. You are a detriment, an anchor.

---forwarded message---

Dear Mr. Pitt:

I want to thank you.

You've been enlightening me with truth for some time now; me, and my family and friends and anyone else who will listen.

Today your "Nine Eleven" piece did me a great service.

I'm a stay at home mother of three right now. I decided a while back that the US needs a mommy, very badly. I've become more and more
politically active over the last couple of years. At some time during
working on the Kucinich campaign, I decided that I am going to run for
president. I'm 35, so I figured 20 years was a good goal....now I'm
thinking 2020 instead, for the gimmick :) So far I've managed to join the local democrats club, become Chief Judge in my voting precinct, and am designing a website for democrats in my county. Also, I've become involved in Kids Voting.

I found myself in doubt today. I am having an unbelievable amount of
difficulty getting assistants to even help me run the polls in
November! I'm tired and have so little time to myself. I wondered (was
trying to rationalize) if I should give this goal up, just spend the time on keeping the house more tidy and supplementing the kids'
education. I was discouraged. I was trying to convince myself of my
"place" in this world.

Thanks for reminding me that I'm the patriot, not the unfortunate
ignorant who rip the bumperstickers off of my car. Thanks for helping me to recall that I absolutely cannot give in. This is the most important thing I can do for my children, no matter how far from my goal I fall, to stay on top of things and involved and institute and influence change. My husband is canadian, and I am outright horrified that we've decided to retain his canadian citizenship in case it just "gets that bad" here.

---end forwarded message---

=

For the record, my knickers are not in a twist because this fellow hurled insults. I have two questions:

1. Is it so terribly wrong to take the tack I have taken with this essay? Are not the 90% of Americans who don't know what this man above knows worth reaching out to in a manner they can deal with? Isn't that the required next step?

2. Is this kind of vituperation good for the overall effort? I wonder how many mainstream journalists this guy has rendered completely incapable of hearing 9/11 truths because of his venom. That can't be helpful.

I appreciate the guy's frustration, to be sure, but damn. Hearts and minds, fellow. Hearts and minds.

What do you think?

[grasswire]

1. both approaches are needed

The William Lloyd Garrisons and the Martin Luther Kings. The Ghandis and the firebrands.

[ConsAreLiars]

12. This is exactly right.

This is a people's movement and diversity is its strength. The critic's demand that "you're with us or against us" is passionate but essentially juvenile. "Infantile Leftism" and such. We must fight on all fronts. The suggestion that there is only one true way is a prescription for failure.

[Just Me]

76. People ARE diverse and live within unique frames in this existence.

The goal of reaching for what can be commonly touched among all people,...without being divisive or frightening or repulsive or shocking,...is what will pull us together.

People NEED that inspiration beyond the "shock and awe" diet pushed upon them by the most manipulative and self-centered of leaders.

Don't fret over impatient people, Will.

[toddzilla]

2. americans..

Fingers in ears. "LALLALALLAAAALLALALAAL". You can't yell at them or they do exactly that. keep doing what you're doing, subtlety and finesse do more than a 2x4 upside the head.



at least to begin with.

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. This is the whole problem right now, I think.

We want the most liberal candidate, and we want him now (Lord knows I do). We want Bush impeached, and we want it now. We want the whole truth about 9/11 out, and we want it now.

What is forgotten is that the Conservatives did not get everything THEY wanted right away. They built their power slowly, from the grass roots level on up to the highest reaches of government. They successfully took over this country by taking baby steps.

Your letter writer is indicative of a problem those of us on the left have right now. We fail to realize that politics is not about hitting the opponent with a sledgehammer. Politics is about compromise and incremental change. The general public does not like shocks. They have to be guided gently to a new way of thinking.

You are right Will. WE are convinced. But we are not going to decide this election. Joe Shmoe is going to decide this election. And Joe Shmoe thinks that LIHOP is a crackpot theory, at this point. We have to slowly bring him around. Your article is a good start.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Go check your Lounge thread about Rhapsody

:)

[calimary]

65. Best post of the week, so far.

Oughta be required reading, Finnfan. The republi-CONS started, some say, after their Goldwater debacle in 1964, which I still remember because of the political cartooning going on then, which caught my eye. They began from the ground up. Very resolute. Eyes on the prize. And along come people like Ralphie Reed of the "Christian" Coalition to advocate a slow, silent infiltration at, say, the school board levels and the town alderman levels and you establish a power base and then you gradually creep your way upwards. Upwards included every possibility, everywhere. Legislative. Judicial. Supervisorial. Communicational (if you will). When they got punched in the nose during Vietnam and Watergate, they realized that control of the media was essential, so they slowly insinuated themselves up to the top, there, too. Wherever there was a foothold, in they bored, and up they slithered. Forty years later, look who "won" the White House.

Excellent comments. Really nails it.

[Pobeka]

73. I'll give it best post of the month easily, perhaps best of the year!

Frustrates me to no end seeing people wasting effort on "having it all, right now", which utlimately causes the Joe Schmoe's of the world to view them as radicals. And Joe Schmoe's are the majority.

Small improvements, over the long haul, is the way to get this done.

But that requires a lot of patience, and vision, and strategy for dealing with the reality of human nature.

[KittyWampus]

67. Baby Steps Indeed

Only Gods are born fully formed.

:kick:

[Beam Me Up]

5. Your detractor is way over the top.

You are right to pursue this as you have. People have to be ready to hear the truth -- especially when it is about something as challenging as this. As terrifying as the exacerbated "threat" of "terrorism" is, how much more so the possibility that the structures of power charged with protecting us have deceived us.

[Jim Sagle]

6. IMO, you're totally on the right track, Will. Your "critic" is snotty and

intolerant and possibly loony. The best way to persuade people is to try to meet them where they are and move them to a new position with facts they are willing to entertain, not to grab them by the lapels as your "critic" would do and yell, "You fools! You've got to BELIEVE me!!!"

You're doing fine. Each of us is coming from a different place. I "KNEW" 9-11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB THE VERY FIRST SECOND I HEARD ABOUT IT. But I damn sure wouldn't expect anyone else in particular to have the same reaction.

Overcoming the media hypnosis job takes time and effort. I think your contribution is invaluable. :toast:

[shraby]

7. You're doing good. If you can

help one person think of where this country is going, that is one more than there was. All the "ones" soon begin to add up to a sizeable number. Many people can't accept an LIHOP. I remember when I first read about it, I was really skeptical and I am an open minded person.

LIHOP is something that needs careful and deliberate consideration before accepting it's premise, and that is something many don't have the time to do even if they have the inclination. The most important thing right now is to disengage Bush from the White House. After that is done, LIHOP can be explored. Maybe documents will come to light after the regime change that will give solid credence to the theory.

Just keep doing what you're doing, because you have the talent to write and make people think. That's not a small thing.

[Cleita]

8. I really felt like editing this post, so I could get to the core of

what you both are saying, but I'm way too past that right now at the end of the day. If this person writes you a couple of times a week, then she must value what you say. It's a compliment. I don't think you will change your opinion, nor will she. 9-11 is an enigma and no one will know the real truth until the people occupying our government today are gone and more objective minds can sift through the evidence.

[whistle]

9. Sorry, many people will grieve about the events that occurred on 9/11...

...probably for the remainder of their lives, especially those who experienced those events first hand or lost loved ones, family and friends in those tragedies. Lies and cover-ups and secrets will just keep this nation sick. This person is venting out of frustration by not being given the truth by our government. For you to suggest now or for that matter ever to suggest that these people need to get over it, is callous and indifferent. I believe you to be a better and stronger person than that. We, all of us and those generations of Americans who will follow have the right to know the truth and to have those assigned the responsibility of finding the truth leave nothing unturned.

The good is the enemy of the best. Our best and finest journalists have the give us more than just the reassurance that we must accept want the official explanation is and just get over it.

[WilliamPitt]

13. Do you think

my article said 'get over it' i.e. stop thinking about it and dealing with it? God, I hope not. If that's what you take from it, then I really did blow it.

[whistle]

19. You did write...

..."The time has come, bluntly, to get over September 11, to move beyond it..."

Sorry, but I can't read between the lines here. If you are saying don't dwell on the event, get to the facts, okay I agree. But I for one am powerless to uncover the facts, which is why I need journalists like yourself who can ask the questions, do the investigations, document the sources and whose reporting I can trust. I've heard repeatedly from the Bush administration spin doctors, but none of it resonates as truth.

[WilliamPitt]

20. I'm not asking you to read between the lines

Just the next one after the one you quoted. 'Get over it' was supposed to mean stop being afraid, stop being a blind supporter because of that fear.

I guess I did blow it after all.

[punpirate]

10. What makes it difficult for such people to understand...

... is that good, solid journalism requires multiple, vettable sources to make a story stick, and even then, in the current media climate, the story might get spiked.

There are lots of theorists out there, some with very intriguing tales to tell, but there's a dearth of real witnesses, people with actual inside information to back up that intrigue. Sibel Edmonds' and Daniel Ellsberg's recent pleas for people to come forward with information may help, may confirm or defuse the conspiracy theories, but until those people do, it's still going to be a mystery in many ways (disregarding for the moment any dramatic revelations in the 9/11 commission's report, of which I think there will be very few, if any).

Credibility also counts. What we do know and can verify is still pretty damning.

Cheers.

[squidbro]

11. The truth is still the truth, no matter how one attempts to twist it

Ignore the LIHOP double speak. Degrees and credentials do not automatically guarantee the truth. Personal integrity does and this person has none of it himself.

I have been enjoying your website for over a year. The articles are thought provoking and well written.

The right wing expects the public to be wowed by credentials and to accept what they say with no questions asked.

Anyone who attempts to bring rational thought to the discussions is accused of being unpatriotic.

I would suggest that the next time he emails you, simply bounce the message back. It doesn't make any sense reading such nonsense and you won't change his or her mind by attempting to rationalize with him/her.

Continue writing and publishing for those that do have open minds and just haven't heard or read the truth. Those are the people you want to have rational discussions with.

I do know this. Both of my parents voted Bush the last election. I referred my father to your site. He likes to read your articles about Bush's disastrous environmental policies. Given that he is a Northwesterner and concerned about the environment, those articles have struck a nerve.

My father will be voting Democratic for the upcoming election. My mother cannot bring herself to do so, but she is planning to vote Nader, a vote that normally would have gone to Bush.

Your website has been a success in that regard.

Given that Washington State will remain Blue regardless of my parents' vote, at least their eyes have been opened up. And that is what it is all about.

You are doing the right thing. This is still America and everyone has a right to think as they choose and to form their own opinions. That is, until Bush's thought police attempt to change it.

[DustMolecule]

14. The US right now is like Sardis once was....

...Sardis was 'at the top of their game' and then the people became proud, lazy, and complacent. Sardis had their chance to rectify itself (after an invasion), but quickly went back to it's sloth and was conquered and eventually destroyed.

I can appreciate what you are trying to do....the people who you are trying to sway and convince 'gently'; frankly (and I hope I am very wrong), it's too late. It's gone too far. There aren't enough pieces left upon the chessboard, if you will.

DustMolecule

p.s. However, that doesn't mean that 'I' for one won't continue to 'try'...and neither should you. I love 'miracles' and 'against-all-odds' ;-)

What other choice is there, anyway, become 'one of the bad guys'???

[seventhson]

15. Well, William. I'll Bite

You are too hard on this guy and he is too hard on you.

You are both partially right and partially wrong.

This guy is challenging you to do more - more aggressively. You and he disagree on the means to that end.

But for him to say you do not do enough, the fact that you posted this message here is proof enough that he is wrong on that point. His voice has been heard through you and so have the voices of the people he cites.

I do not agree that "If you (your critic)don't think reaching people in this way is important, you are worse than a waste to the cause. You are a detriment, an anchor."

He is simply challenging you to do more.

That is a good thing. No detriment there at all for him to think your way is not working effectively. It is just his opinion.


You sure as hell could be more strident and accusative in your work. And I disagree with him that your methods and articles and audio clips etc are a waste of time.

I don't think you should be infuriated by him. IMO you should be grateful to him for his advice and perspective. It makes you ask important questions of yourself and your DU peers.

He should be grateful to you for what you DO do so well too. He obviously is not familiar with all your work as many of us here are.

But I have seen critiques by you which were just as off base and as mistaken as this guy's is of you.

It is no big deal.

So cite some of that damning research and convince folks to believe LIHOP and NOT slit their wrists.

Or let Moore do it.

This guy makes a somewhat valid criticism: you are not strident and argumentative enough for him given the circumstances. But you have your style and technique.

Don't let him bother you, man. He made his point and you put it out there. You did the right thing and, IMHO, so did he: he got you to put his view out there via DU by needling you. It works okay for me.

Peace.

[NJCher]

16. Amen to this

By Finnfan:

"Politics is about compromise and incremental change. The general public does not like shocks. They have to be guided gently to a new way of thinking."

While I like this column very much, one thing you could do is step hand-in-hand with the revelations as they come out. Today, for example, the commission said there was no credible evidence that Iraq had WMD and in fact, there was a report that says they turned away an opportunity to engage in a terrorist act.

That may be no big surprise to DU regulars but I'm sure it came as a surprise to a lot of Joe Sixpacks.


Cher

[WilliamPitt]

17. We ran that as story #2 on truthout, and I covered it in the Overview

[oblivious]

18. As much as I respect you and your work, the guy has a point.

You're right and he's right, but he's more right.

Your country is being destoyed before your eyes. You obviously know the evil and lies go far, far deeper than you acknowledge in your article, but you avoid saying it -- you say because you're audience can't handle it, but more likely because you are afraid the neocon propaganda host will cry "Will Pitt-conspiracy wacko". JimSagle's comment above about your correspondent's being "possibly loony" is an indication of what awaits serious journalists who long to expose the truth.

This is what holds thousands of honest, knowledgeable journalists in check -- fear. And this is why most of America will never have access to the incredible research done by some of the people your critic mentioned.

I'm not saying you're wrong. You do great work and you understand your audience. But the guy's got a point.

[WilliamPitt]

21. That's the infuriating part

He TOTALLY has a point. I'm not a fraid of being labeled a whacko - Christ, that's the last thing I'm worried about. I'm not angling for a job at the Times. But preaching to the choir only helps the choir, and if I go all-out on this stuff, I will lose the ability to bring others into the choir. Homeboy here is frustrated because he has three years of work on his hands, and understands its import.

But the people he needs to reach are in Leave It To Beaver land. That's just the way it be.

[mistertrickster]

48. The trouble with LIHOP is that 9-11 can also be explained by simple

incompetence. And Team Bush have proven beyond any shadow of doubt that they are incompetent beyond anyone's wildest imaginings.

The pre-cursors of Al Qaeda almost blew up the WTC in 1993 with a truck bomb. According to the articles I read at the time, the only reason it didn't drop the tower then was because they chose to park the bomb next to an interior column instead of an exterior (more weight bearing) column.

Was Clinton LIHOP too?

I think that Team Bush is clearly evil enough to be capable of LIHOP, but proving it is far more difficult than Mr. Flame-On makes it sound. You go down that path of speculation, and you lose a lot of credibility and make it easy for detractors to write you off.

There's a lot of criticism that can be levelled at Team Bush even without LIHOP--the tone of WPitt's articles sound just right to me . . .

[mwdem]

64. Maybe your next article should be called "Stepford Nation"?

With all the lies upon lies this administration has put out, especially lately, and so many people not saying a word, what better title?

[DustMolecule]

22. Yes....

you've hit 'one of the many nails' right on the head. Thank you for putting that insight into words!

(sorry, I'm not Will Pitt, but it's still true, imho)

[Jim Sagle]

24. Maybe he's got a point, but I don't think I was unfair to him. He was

dismissive of Will's approach, and he didn't display the kind of temperament that indicated that he pays attention to detail.

[DustMolecule]

26. Whoa....

Surprise....surprise.....

Jim Sagle, you 'appear' at the most 'surprising' times. How do you do it????

[WilliamPitt]

32. Eh?

Sagle has been here forever. He appears when he pleases.

[Jim Sagle]

56. Same way you get to Carnegie Hall...practice.

;-)

[Hammie]

23. You actually wasted all that bandwidth

on someone who uses the word "historiographer"?

[nomatrix]

25. Everyone does have their story Will

as you asked at the end of your latest article, about the ending. The world is waiting on the September 11th commission final report. I will be very interested in their final chapter. I have listen to most of the C-Span videos and occasionally they let slip the non televised interviews. No one has the whole story, which keeps us all on edge each time some tidbit surfaces of what was known.

To me the biggest failure was....the warning, the presidential memo, that never made it to NYC, WTC security, Guiliani. No one would have been told to return to their desk.

[wtmusic]

27. Just another delusional wtc7.netter

put his email address in your spam eliminator and let it go

[neebob]

28. The guy latched onto that one little paragraph

about getting over 9/11 and completely missed the point. Why get so annoyed that you feel obligated to spend time explaining yourself to this one person who, it seems, has adopted you because you have a podium? He probably envies you because your following is bigger than his. He's a fan, not unlike those of a Hannity or O'Reilly, sitting around reading your stuff and identifying with you a little too much and assuming that you care what he thinks - probably because you have responded in the past - and firing off emails whenever something sets him off. It's not exactly healthy. Sure, it comes with the territory, but at what point does it become harassment? At what point do you stop owing this guy a courteous response?

I'd say about the point where he says, "Shame on you." Anything after that is like time to block his email address and start kicking his crap back to him.

[anarchy1999]

29. Very well said, Mr. Will. There is nothing I can think of to add.

N/T

Can't find anything you have to say, to disagree with. Thanks.

[Dogmudgeon]

30. The Demons are talking -- loudly

If he goes ballistic on you -- who has a keen eye and a tough hide -- the average victim of his attention will cringe in fear and pain, as if s/he has encountered a demon. The victim will likely reject any idea that comes close to the demon's because of the experience, and a few will possibly decide that the Republicans are the ones who ought to be "defending" America after all.

I've gotten the impression that many LIHOP/MIHOP proponents are like the Kennedy assassination buffs of the 1960s. Their interest has become a part of their psychological landscape -- the scary part. Not only can't they let go of it, it makes them morbidly self-absorbed. The atrocity is not just under their skin, it has become part of them. They present themselves as being possessed because they are. Not obsessed -- possessed.

But many 9/11 theorists have not lost themselves to their theories. Your correspondent mentioned Kee Dewdney, and would do well to follow his example. Dewdney is the fellow who wrote Planiverse and edited Scientific American's Mathematical Recreations section after Martin Gardner retired. His ideas about what happened on 9/11/01 are among the most chilling I've read, and he presents them clearly and rationally. He's outraged, of course, but he hasn't surrendered to the demons of 9/11. (That's my impression, but I know that those "demons" can be very sly creatures, too!)

Your essay is fine. Most of your readers will understand what you are encouraging us to get over, and why. But the demons will bid their hosts to howl with rage and demand obedience just as Team Bush demands obedience. Whether you are right or wrong about any particular issue, ignoring the commands of those demons is always the right thing to do.

Hear them out, of course. Demons and madmen can have great insight, but nobody can afford to follow their orders.

Good luck with him. And you might want to keep a few silver bullet handy, because he'll be back.

--bkl

[RBHam]

34. The Demons Are Talking?

What a condescending, arrogant post.

[Dogmudgeon]

44. Rebuttal by back-hand?

You dismiss what I wrote with a contempt-laden five-word post, and I'm supposed to accept your verdict of my supposed condecension and arrogance? Pot, say hello to the kettle!

I gave a pretty through explanation of a fanatical situation and a fanatic's behavior. I also compared it with the behavior of a man who holds a similar opinion but without the craziness. Demons? Sure. It's an old way of talking about it.

Far from being arrogant and condescending, I'd say it's charitable. Other people would have made Pitt's correspondant into a non-person. And there are some who would call him "condescending (and) arrogant".

The last time I had a "dialog" with a revved-up, demon-possessed 9/11 "scholar", he ranted and raved at me, much as the guy who has made Will the object of his scorn. My sin was to take issue with a couple of points and provide possible rebuttal questions -- which he solicited. To hear his rant, you would think I'd personally mapped out the flight routes and bought the utility knives at Wal-Mart. Yeah, I learned a little bit about demonism.

If you want to understand how those "demons" work, talk with some bona-fide fanatics who hold a point of view you don't agree with. And save the back-hand for your tennis game.

--bkl

[RBHam]

31. I know you're trying, Will

But it may already be too late. You are only one more terrorist attack away from martial law, and with the amount of propaganda, fear-mongering and terrorizing of the citizenry your Gov't has engaged in, with the obvious complicity of the mainstream media), I suspect that the American people will welcome it.

Ben Franklin's grave is trembling...

[anarchy1999]

71. Ummmm, yeah, I'm afraid so. Thanks for being here RB.

I think all of our "founders" graves are trembling. I've never seen this nation so divided or fractured. "They've" done well, haven't "they". Who would have ever imagined this, I sure did not, and my mom and dad always taught me, "life is not fair".

You've been an inspiration far longer than we have been a part of DU.

[LearnedHand]

33. Don't be suckered in by aggression, WillPitt

Although I agree with others who said Sept 11 probably WAS an inside job, your letter-writer is (1) citing specious sources (citing them doesn't make them reliable sources; i.e., just because they published on the internet doesn't mean the source material is something we can hang our hats on); and (2) the writer is trying to bully you into taking up her or his clarion call.

Backing someone into a corner is NOT the same as getting buy-in; it's merely backing someone into a corner.

I'm not sure what I'm getting at, here, but the writer's tone makes me a little suspicious (conspiracy loon). We MUST NOT end up sounding like that (at least, not yet), or we will lose any molecules of ground we've gained. Yes, there MUST be a FULL, COMPLETE investigation of Sept 11, and we have to make it known that Bushco is deep in the heart of Saudi oil and terrorism (if, in fact, that's so).

But to harangue the True Believers with that right now is tantamount to handing the election to this dangerous, dangerous cabal. We cannot afford to let that happen.

Stay the course, Will. Hold your peace with this letter writer. Keep getting out the journalistically sound stories. I think (and hope) the time for body slams will come later.

[oblivious]

36. "specious sources" - have you even read any of these sources?

They are unbelieveably well-documented. They follow the official information that has been released in excruciating detail, documenting every source, building time-lines to help readers digest it all. Do you really think these researchers just make this up?

And your "conspiracy loon" epithet is exactly the technique the neocon propaganda machine is counting on to keep journalists cowed.

edit: spelling typo

[LearnedHand]

39. Yes, I did read them

I'm very interested in this all coming to light. But I strictly withhold my judgment about it all until we have more information:

* I haven't seen a list of sources for their information, for example.

* People with nothing but BS degrees in physics sometimes will call themselves a physicist (I know; I've worked with many, many of them). Saying "I'm a physicist" has about the same level of meaningfulness to me as saying, "I play a doctor on TV." Don't get me wrong; I LOVE physics and I am a rabid reader of physics information. I simply need more information about where and how the research was conducted, where the findings were published, who the "scientists" are affiliated with, etc., before I put a great deal of faith in what they are publishing.

In short, the information published on these various websites doesn't meet the rigorous guidelines for scientific findings.

And I wasn't calling the letter writer a conspiracy loon. I was trying to say (albeit, in shorthand) that adopting the tone of that letter would cause people to call US conspiracy loons.

Let me reiterate, in case you missed it when I said the first time that I AGREED that Sept 11 was probably an inside job: I am leaning more and more toward MIHOP (and away from LIHOP). I, too, am a "consipracy loon" when it comes to the "terrorist" attacks. I just think we need to hold down the hysteria for the time being. If we don't, we risk losing those (such as in the media) who are beginning to question their blind adoration of this administration.

On edit: clarification

[Lostnote03]

35. Its A Crazieee World.....

.......I believe that most Americans are aware of the bedrock principle of avarice and greed as a fundamental human flaw within our capitalistic system.....I always attempt to illustrate the huge transfer of wealth that has taken place under the Bush enigma....Only after discussing wealth do I then attempt to discuss the littany of happenstance(LIHOP/MIHOP)surrounding 911 and of course who is profiting.....As stated above many Americans would rather slit their own throats than entertain conspiracy theories originating here in our own country....Whether or not an individual is knowledgable of the past 20 yrs of foreign policy, they in all liklihood have dined at McDonalds as most Americans have.....Whatever common thread we have as fellow countrymen I believe that it is really not that complex to identify when discussing ummmmmmmmm Treason, High Crimes and Misdemeanors....Best Wishes and by the way Philip Zelikow could be a voice double for Darth Vader....

[Kellanved]

37. just a small thing, but the first mail features an error

Buelow never was " German Minister of Defense"; that's IMHO an instant fail for a self-proclaimed historian.

[Lostnote03]

38. LoL....

......Whew....I'm glad that I don't believe much anymore much less my own opinions....lol

[oblivious]

49. So what was his role in the German Cabinet?

He's been described as a former Minister of Defense, Defense Minister, Secretary of Defense, Minister of Technology, Federal Research Minister, Minister of Technology and State in the Defense Ministry, Minister für Forschung und Technologie, Defence and Technology Minister, Federal Minister of Defence and Minister of Technology, and so on.

I take it the answer is either Minister of Technology or 'Minister of Technology and State in the Defense Ministry.

[Kellanved]

50. not quite

He was Minister of Science and Technology, a minor cabinet position.
Before that, he was "Staatssekretär" in the defense ministry, what can be translated to "Deputy Minister". However his job was more like Liason Parliament/Ministry (he held a seat in the Bundestag as well).

[iconoclastic cat]

40. Anyone: Could please remind me what LIHOP stands for?

Sorry. Duh, me.

Hola, Mr. Pitt! That's some good rhetorical dueling you have going there! Dig.

[IkeWarnedUs]

46. Let It Happen On Purpose n/t

[sandnsea]

41. The country must heal

Before any truth about 9/11 and what we have allowed George Bush to do can be faced, the country must heal. Whether it's LIHOP or MIHOP or an outright attack, the country must heal. Bush is not helping this country heal, he is manipulating the pain. It is truly the most evil thing he has done. Somewhere within the grief process, the anger must be released. It is essential to living a healthy life and making healthy decisions for the future. Everybody knows that. But for some reason, we haven't applied that knowledge to our collective American pscyhe. A true President would help do that. Until we do, we will be living in denial, bargaining, rationalizing, misdirecting anger, all the things people in pain do. And this country will continue to suffer terrible consequences, like Abu Ghreib.

Your article was right on target. Please write many more, talk to pscyhologists, whatever it takes to get to the heart of it. Help the country to heal. That'll be the most patriotic thing anybody has done in quite some time.

[Rex]

42. What did you expect from a conspiracy theorist?

Some of us are quite unstable, literally wearing the matching tinfoil underwear & hat. :crazy:

FWIW, I liked your article. You need to realize though that some people truly live in their own little world (most good theorist do) and view external forces as either a hindrance or a benefit to whatever 'cause' they might be working on at the time. This person obviously viewed your article as not meeting up with their view of the Universe and deemed it a hindrance.

Keep at it, you do great work.

[iconoclastic cat]

43. Hey, I didn't know you were a teacher! I was also a teacher in 2001.

I have some interesting stories about that school day as well. My students had some very disparate reactions.

[IkeWarnedUs]

45. Survival

One of my stories I want to share is what happened shortly after 9/11 (I think it was Sept. 20, 2001) when my husband and I were watching Bush on TV. We just got married in August 2001. Prior to this we were both vehemently anti-Bush. Neither of us wanted Bush in office and dreaded this administration. But that evening my new husband said he thought, as much as he hated Bush, that we better get behind our president and (as Bush talked on TV about the "war on terror" taking many, many years to fight) that we may have to accept a second Bush term.

My first reaction was horror. I felt like I didn't know this man I had just vowed to spend my life with. How could he say these things? Especially to conceed a second term, less than one year into the first!

I am pleased to say that he reversed himself within a day or two. As I thought about that evening I realized that if it was that easy for my anti-Bush husband to get swept up in the fearful rally-round-the-flag frenzy, how much easier it would be for someone who didn't have strong feelings (or much background) about this administration.

Another of my stories happened shortly after Brittish Parliament Member Michael Meecher wrote "This War on Terrorism is Bogus" for The Guardian (September 2003, link below). When it became evident that no one in the American media would talk about the article, I wrote to some journalists who had written and spoke about PNAC to encourage them to do so. The few responses I got could be summed up by the reply from Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution and author of "The President's Real Goal in Iraq" (link below). He said "Well, I still can't buy his suggestion that we consciously allowed 9/11 to happen. I think that what we can PROVE about this administration is damning enough without having to dip into that kind of speculation."

Even one of the first journalists to recognize and alert us to the evil structure running our country, their plans and what they were doing to carry out those plans couldn't "buy" LIHOP.

I spoke with a few psychologists, including my own therapist, about what would make these well informed people refuse to even entertain the notion of LIHOP and developed a theory.

I liken this to a subordinate person who refuse to acknowledge abuse by a dominant family member - a wife who refuses to acknowledge even overt abuse by a dominant husband for example. The abusive person holds such a position of power over the subordinate that they fear for their future if the abusive person were to leave or be removed. They doubt they could survive without them - where would they live? how would they support themselves? what would become of them? It isn't until they feel they are able to survive without the abusive family "leader" that they feel safe enough to acknowledge the evil in their lives.

The neocons have so successfully infiltrated every segment of power in this country that people don't feel safe letting themselves wrap their heads around the notion that the people in charge would sacrifice innocent American lives to fulfill their plans. Who is there in Washington to save us from this evil? After all, we are not just talking about an evil President. The Vice President, Secretary of Defense and Attorney General are every bit as bad or worse. The Supreme Court and Congress are in the neocon's pocket. CIA, FBI and military? Nope. If people acknowledged how evil the people in charge are, then what? Who is there to take charge and keep us from total anarchy? How would we survive?

I believe (hope and pray) that with the election on the horizon Americans will start to feel safe enough to open their eyes. A new administration so we are not dependent on the neocons to insure our survival. In the mean time, banging them over the head with the facts will only make them more fearful and close their eyes tighter.

So, in answer to your questions, yes, I agree that it is important to inform people "in a manner they can deal with" as you said. And I agree that the vituperation (had to pull the dictionary out for that one) of the first e-mail may hurt the cause in some ways. But I encourage you and others to view his vituperation as being similar to a young girl who has been raped by her father and who knows her mother understands what is going on and won't stop it. You and other journalists have a forum he doesn't. His frustration of years of sounding an alarm without anyone stopping the evil has obviously damaged any tact and diplomacy he may or may not have had to begin with.

Having said that, I think your response to him was wonderful. I mean no criticism by this long winded reply. I was compelled to share this because of your statement that "we have reached a place where fear and obeisance can no longer be tolerated" and that the problem is the "programming we've been bombarded with". Both valid statements, but neither address the compelling need to survive. I believe there are a hell of a lot of people (including some very well informed) who won't respond to either approach until they know we can survive doing so.


Link to "This War on Terrorism is Bogus"

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/comment/0,12956,1036687,00.html


Link to "The President's Real Goal in Iraq"

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0902/29bookman.html

[radfringe]

47. We shoud rename our country Cleopatra

because soooo many of us live in 'da'-Nile

the concept of LIHOP or even :gasp: MIHOP is just too horrible for most people to consider

We have this image of what a PRESIDENT is -- and tend to endow whoever holds that office with some divine aura. LIHOP (or even :gasp: MIHOP ) destroys that image

That a pResident, our "leader" would allow or encourage such an attack through calculated planning or "mis"-calculated incompentency, then to have him further exploit the event for political purposes is even more difficult to accept.

I tend to lean towards the LIHOP theory -- while I find it difficult to believe that it was "planned" by bush*'s mis-administration, I don't find it difficult to believe it occured through "mis"-calculated incompentency. I will admit that when the LIHOP theory first occured to me -- I also, found it too horrible of a concept to consider in the first couple of days following September 11. Even today, I'm waiting for some confirmation - one way or the other - that bush* inc. had a hand in it

[Disturbed]

51. Get over it?

I don't feel that the article meant forget about it. To me it means don't be forever stuck in the fear. Another attack is highly likely but living in daily fear of that is not healthy.

[Jose Diablo]

52. Mr. Pitt, you are correct

in your approach to 911 and the best way to convince the most people that something "stinks in Denmark".

To say that parts of our own government had a hand in allowing or helping 911 to occur is so far from a 'reality' that people are willing to accept, that to even suggest the idea will result in a rejection by most people.

The reality that our own government was involved will require incontrovertible proof. And even if that proof was supplied, most would reject that proof because it would threaten their perception of the world and their need for security.

It is enough, to present the 'proof' in small gulps, so that many may think they need to reassess their views on our leaders.

Few people see themselves as they really are. In a sense, what we want to see is what we see. Reality has more to do with a shared vision than what actually is there.

I think you are doing marvelously in how you present things in a way, that people MAY be able to step a little bit into 'the wild side' of reality. Here be dragons.

If it is true that parts of our own government were responsible for 911, you can be sure other parts of our government would be destroying the part that committed 911. We would never be allowed to know, for this truth would destroy our country.

[donhakman]

54. This just in...

The truth will not destroy the world as we know it.

It is the lies and the obfuscation of truth that are destructive.

In my short stint with the CIA I found that they are overly enamored with the idea that perceived reality is more important than the actual.
This mind set is rotten to the core.

[Jose Diablo]

55. Perceived reality, is reality n/t

[donhakman]

53. It is resolved to be forgotten

[senseandsensibility]

57. This is what I think...

Your correspondent is aggressive, shrill, and angry. He has a right to be. He is taking his anger out on you because he can't believe what is happening in our country. He is afraid that the truth will never come out, and that more atrocities will occur. Is he right to take it out on you? I have no idea. But here's my two cents: He's taking it out on you because he had such high hopes for your ability to shine light on this topic. When he couldn't get anywhere with the other media, he thought you were the answer. You had the power and ability to spread the word, and stop the insanity.
He's disillusioned. If you've ever experienced that feeling, you know it can be earth shattering.

[Minstrel Boy]

58. In 1963, Americans leaders of good conscience were persuaded to

disregard evidence of conspiracy in the murder of their President, because, they were told, an open-ended investigation was contrary to the interest of national security, and could potentially destroy the republic or lead the country, stumbling, into a nuclear war.

The lie within the cover story of the lone gunmen and the 19 with boxcutters, then as now, is that a conspiracy involved a foreign power solely, and did not implicate agencies of the US government. In 1963, it was the Soviet Union (Oswald's CIA-crafted legend as a Marxist). In 2001, Saudi Arabia (the redacted pages). Decent people in government and positions of influence were persuaded of the deceit, so they might facilitate a cover-up while believing they were truly serving the national interest.

Have they? Are they?

Without a cover-up 40 years ago - if John Kennedy had found justice - the towers would not have fallen.

Because there is an ongoing cover-up of 9/11, because they've gotten away with it again, we will soon see another display of their dark arts. Count on it.

Americans who should know better really must stop enabling their princely butchers by "getting over" and "moving on." Because, in truth, you haven't moved forward since November 1963.

[JohnyCanuck]

59. I agree with MB

Americans who should know better really must stop enabling their princely butchers by "getting over" and "moving on." Because, in truth, you haven't moved forward since November 1963.

Sums it up in a nutshell.

[RBHam]

60. Great Post....

I would only like to add that I believe the beginning of the end was in 1947 - when Truman created the CIA. Shortly afterward the Cold War was created and the National Police State was formed. The Media was soon infiltrated by the Government and official propaganda soon became "conventional wisdom".

[G_j]

74. this is what haunts many of us

good post.

[dolo amber]

61. This is what I thought of your stinky piece, BigWillieSmithPitt

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x57142#57230

;)

I have nothing useful to contribute to this thread, however. :D

[harrison]

62. This kind of thing seems to occur when there are "cutting edge

consciousness raising" issues afoot. I just finished David Halberstam's, "The Children". The book is about college students at the Nashville Sitin movement of the early 60's and how it melded into the civil rights movement at large.

What happened was that the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) became somewhat at odds with Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). (I have a feeling we probably have some old SNCC members on DU somewhere.)

To make it short, the SNCC members felt as if the SCLC wasn't cutting edge enough, and that Dr. King was too moderate. On the other hand, the SCLC was trying to create a critical political mass in the country by getting middle class Americans on board. Anyway, apparently it got pretty dicey between the two groups.

I see William Pitt trying to reach the average folks in America and attempt to awaken them. If he goes too far out in front of them, they will write him off as a radical, etc. He will be marginalized and they will not listen to him.

The "radicals" in the 911 movement have got to understand that millions of people simply aren't "there" yet. You have to bring them along as best you can.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

63. Facts open minds. John O'Neill's story in your 'Hell to Pay' blew mine.

Your message to let '9/11 syndrome' mature into acting on knowledge instead of fear is necessary to this nation's recovery from mass-experienced post-trauma stress disorder.

And psychologists and sociologists will tell you that trauma is healed by a coherent narrative that lets the mind understand and move on from the traumatizing experience.

Facts must be available to reinforce the rational cerebral cortex's battle against the fearful amygdala.

Repeat, repeat, repeat:

CIA/NORAD/NRO '9/11 exercises' disabled national security as the real thing occurred, such an unlikely coincidence that this was perhaps intentionally timed.

Nothing tin-hatted about this at all. These stories illustrate that they knew what was coming for years.

This is simple and easy to understand. Gets to the heart of the issue: foreknowledge.

They knew what we were in for. And failed miserably to use our trillion dollar defense department to simply lock the cockpit doors on jets thereby preventing the Fourth Reich from rising on the ashes of the towers in a fit of global lynching.


SOURCES>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
9/11 Wargames Obscured Air Cover

Four decades ago, the novel (and movie) "Seven Days in May" was a popular political thriller about a military coup d'etat in the United States against a President who sought to scale back the Cold War. In this story, a military cabal schemed to topple the government under the guise of a military communications exercise. This "war game" was to have been used as the cover for toppling the government and installing a General as President who would stop arms control treaties with the Soviet Union.

On September 11, at least five different "war games" were being conducted by the military and intelligence agencies that simulated 9/11 type events which paralyzed the air defenses, apparently ensuring the success of the "attacks." The British Navy was conducting exercises in the Indian ocean. A biowar exercise was also about to start in New York City. Who has the power to coordinate all of these exercises? Dick Cheney and the White House.

CIA / NRO exercise on 911/2001

The US National Reconnaissance Office, which operates spy satellites, was conducting a simulation of a plane crash into their headquarters (near Dulles Airport in Virginia) on September 11! This war game was not a "terrorism" exercise - but it did simulate a plane going off course (on the approach to nearby Dulles Airport) and crashing into the NRO's headquarters, control center for US spy satellites. This war game was to test the emergency response procedures in the event of this type of accident, and included practice evacuation of the buildings.

It is very damning that the war game planners (of all of the war games, not merely this one) ensured that the NRO's headquarters was largely evacuated at precisely the time that 9/11 was taking place, which minimized the number of officials who were able to monitor the events via the Pentagon's trillion dollar intelligence systems.

On 9/11, CIA Was Running Simulation of a Plane Crashing into a Building
http://www.thememoryhole.org/911/cia-simulation.htm

Was the NRO drill just a coincidence?
http://www.rumormillnews.net/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=25255

Agency planned exercise on Sept. 11built around a plane crashing into a building
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/08/21/national1518EDT0686.DTL
JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, August 21, 2002
(08-21) 15:08 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
In what the government describes as a bizarre coincidence, one U.S. intelligence agency was planning an exercise last Sept. 11 in which an errant aircraft would crash into one of its buildings. But the cause wasn't terrorism -- it was to be a simulated accident. ....http://www.questionsquestions.net/docs04/0514_coincidence.html

THE GREAT 9/11 COINCIDENCE
Jon Rappoport
May 13, 2003
On August 22, 2002, the Associated Press ran a story about 9/11. "Agency planned drill for plane crash last Sept. 11."
"...one US intelligence agency was planning an exercise last Sept. 11 <2001> in which an errant aircraft crashed into one of its buildings."
The same morning. As. The 9/11 attacks.
Accrding to the NRO, their exercise was canceled when the real thing began.
Barbara Honegger, who worked in the White House under Reagan, points out another coincidence. Rsearching press reports, she found a 9/16/01 Washington Post story about the pilot of AA flight 77 that, on the morning of 9/11, was said to have crashed into the Pentagon.
The pilot, Charles Burlingame, an ex- F4 Navy flyer, had, as his last Navy mission, helped craft Pentagon response plans in the event of a commercial ariliner hitting the Pentagon.
Pilot drafts plan for response to Pentagon hit. Pilot winds up on plane that hits Pentagon.
Honegger states that Dick Cheney was ultimately in charge of the NRO exercise on the morning of 9/11. He was in the White House Situation Room for that purpose.
How do you like all these apples?

"Amalgam Virgo 01" NORAD exercise just prior to 9/11
http://www.indybay.org/news/2002/09/149985_comment.php

Amalgam Virgo was a multiagency, bilateral air security exercise sponsored by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
http://sf.indymedia.org/uploads/tab_01_report_of_ftx_amalgum_virgo_01_30_june_2001.pdf
The one in this pdf report happend just prior to 9/11 in the summer of 2001. They didn't know about the attack? So they say.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2002/n06042002_200206043.html

NORAD-Sponsored Exercise Prepares For Worst-Case Scenarios
This year's exercise is a commercial airliner-hijacking scenario -- planned before the Sept. 11 attacks, Snyder said. Last year's exercise, he said, was a scenario involving a cruise missile launched by "a rogue (government) or somebody" from a barge off the East Coast. http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/AVE_STE.html - more on Amalgam Virgo and other pre-9/11 war games (military, biowar, financial crash)


from AMALGAM VIRGO 01 military exercise, June 1 - 2, 2001 (unclassified report)



Note the obvious implication of a potential terrorist attack against the US Capitol building in the graphic on the right side
(most of the report is about the military response to a cruise missile launched by terrorists into the US - the picture
of the Capitol building is the only photo of a potential "target" in the report.

Pentagon prepares for airline crash, October 2000

Contingency planning Pentagon MASCAL exercise simulates scenarios in preparing for emergencies
http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/linkscopy/ContPlanP.html archive of article by Military District of Washington on emergency response planning for a plane hitting the Pentagon



A plane crash is simulated inside the cardboard courtyard of a surprisingly realistic-looking model Pentagon. This "tabletop" exercise was designed to help emergency relief personnel better prepare for disasters when they occur.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

66. One step at a time, Will, one step at a time.

[mwdem]

68. bump

:kick:

[TomNickell]

69. This man could benefit from psychological counseling.

C'mon Will.

What does this man 'know'? Bush causes earthquakes?

Get a grip.

[OKNancy]

70. I haven't read the other posts yet

but if you want to be considered a serious journalist/writer, I'd stay on the tract you are on now.

[jokerman93]

72. Trust your instincts Will

Through your own thoughtful hard work you've established, and been writing for, a certain audience. That's a good thing and not easy for any writer to accomplish these days. I say trust your sense of that audience, but remain open to this man's fire. He's your ally because he respects you. I'd encourage him to start writing and publishing for himself actually -- that way he can say what he believes has to be said, instead of prodding you do it.

On the other hand, this national crisis of ours is far from over. I think when (or if) the time comes for you to act as a "town crier", you'll know what to do. And you'll say what has to be said.

[sangha]

75. Put 10 liberals in a room, and you get 100 hundred opinions

and sometimes, more than one of them are right. And sometimes, the choices that lie before us have effects both good and bad. It's easy to do the wrong thing, but sometimes it's impossible to commit an act of pure good.

You have to look at the facts, and as best as you can, weigh the likelihood of various results (good and bad) and make a decision as to which path you think is the one most likely to lead to a positive conclusions. You also have to take responsibility for your conscious decision.

Make your decisions with the absolute knowledge that by choosing, you are cutting off some possibilities, ones that might very well lead to some benefit. Know that your choice means rejecting some other choice. And know why you've made that choice - because you tried to do what you thought was best. IMO, trying to do the right thing is most of the battle. And take responsibility for that.

Every moment of your life you choose to do something, and not something else, so you might as well take responsibility for it. The sum total of what we choose, and why we choose, combined with how it turns out and how that effects the following choices adds up to who we are, and the only person who really HAS TO live with you is you.