9/11 CultWatch

Shouting About 9/11?

Thank you to the 9/11 Cultwatch correspondent who has recently passed on to me the Reinvestigate 9/11 leaflet that was distributed on the March 26th TUC demonstration against cuts.

One immediate point emerges - what does it tell us that the entire leaflet is written in capital letters?

Have Truth Activists Been Defeated In The Anarchist Movement?

Touring the stalls at the Anarchist Bookfair in London on Saturday, several thoughts emerged. 

Firstly, that for all its faults, the Anarchist movement remains vibrant, and in far ruder health than the last century left. As new struggles and debates emerge during the Con-Dem years, Anarchist ideas and agitation will present an alternative, both here and abroad. 

For nearly a decade now this blog, Notes from the Borderland magazine and a small group of supporters, has worked to reduce, and where possible eliminate the influence and presence of 9/11 and 7/7 'truth' activists in progressive politics. Conspiracy theory weakens the alternatives we are trying to build to the existing system, and worse encourages a world view based not around the reality of the domination of the class system, corporations, political elites or global capital, but instead a world view that is irrational, illogical and all too often racist. 

The anti-war, Green and Anarchist movements have all been targeted by truth activists in the UK in recent years. Walking around the Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday the scale of their defeat, in the Anarchist movement at least, became apparent. There ideas have no resonance, no presence and no influence. 

This blog is proud to have played a small part in bringing that about. Thank you to everyone who has helped us, especially our informants in both the 9/11 and 7/7 'truth' movements. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? 

9/11 Anniversary: Truth Movement Plays The Numbers Game, Badly

Tomorrow is the ninth anniversary of Al Qaeda's attacks on the United States. 

Each September 11th now sees a series of ceremonies in the United States, television documentaries and - on the other side of the fence - a spurt of activity from 9/11 'truth' activists attempting to get their message (or more accurately messages) into the public domain. 

In London Reinvestigate 9/11 is holding an event at the Passing Clouds venue in Dalston. This centre has recently taken down the 9/11 'truth' graffiti that once adorned its frontage, but sadly still encourages the 'truth' narrative. According to its website Reinvestigate 9/11 and Passing Clouds are holding one of no fewer than 20 events across London on September 11th, questioning the established version of 9/11. An email from Ian Henshall of Reinvestigate 9/11 states "for a full list see http://truthrising.org/events/". 

And when you check the details of the '20' events? Twenty turns out to be four actual events, with 'information points' bringing the total up to twenty. In other words a pile of leaflets on a table. Clearly Ian Henshall, Reinvestigate 9/11 and We Are Change are about as good at maths as they have been at establishing that 9/11 was an 'inside job'. 

9/11 Truth and the Left

It seems the 9/11 'truth' movement continues to feel rather cold huddling together in the rain, and is looking for new partners. 

Ian Henshall of the Reinvestigate 9/11 group has popped up, as he usually does when he is trying to either sell his book or hopeful of an opportunity to restart (again) the truth movement. As with previous years, the approach to the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has smoked him out. This time he sees an opportunity to put out some feelers to the left, who it seems he expects to buy into his view of 9/11. 

"It seems a long time ago that the Chomskyite left - Medialens, Alexander Cockburn of Counterpunch (defying many of his own correspondents), George Monbiot (who called us a virus), et al - attacked the 9/11 truth movement as unscientific. Since those days a massive wave of experts - architects, engineers, pilots civil and military, and more - has emerged demanding a real 9/11 investigation and condemning the official story as impossible."

We could also add to that first list the Stop The War Coalition in the UK, the Green Party and the broader Anarchist movement - all areas where truth campaigners expected much warmer receptions than they got, and where attempts to establish viable bases have proved easier to start than complete.  

The Rev David Ray Griffin (not a man who has spent any time in socialist or environmental politics) seems particularly put out by this, and has written an extremely lengthy open letter to several leading leftist and green figures who have declined to embrace truth ideologies. You can view it here. 

It Is Tough On The Way Down

When Reinvestigate 9/11 have tried to get activists signed up, the bait that is often used is a free copy of one of Ian Henshall's three books on 9/11. 

This little picture suggests that large numbers of Mr Henshall's tomes are gathering dust across the country. Thanks to our regular reader the Obese Canary in Norwich (where else!) who spotted Henshall and Morgan's "9/11 Revealed" for sale for just £2 in Publishers Book Clearance, Castle Mall, Norwich. 

Don't all rush down there at once! 

 

Further sightings of 9/11 tripe in the bargain basement are welcome at the usual address. 

The Chilcot Inquiry: An Amusing Diversion

There are not too many laughs emerging from the Chilcot Inquiry.

Anyone who has attended a major criminal trial and seen an able defence Barrister getting stuck in to a police officer's evidence, or seen the accused on the ropes in the face of a Prosecuting onslaught, will know what a combative cross examination looks like. The chummy and sterile nature of the Chilcot Inquiry appears designed to take up a huge amount of time whilst delivering oh so little. Just what is the point?

Still, we should not forget the ability of the 9/11 'truth' movement to deliver clowns to any major event. Useless as Chicot appears to be, Ian Henshall of Reinvestigate 9/11 has today put out a press release looking to add 9/11 to Chilcot's brief. Or in particular their belief that anyone other than the actual hijackers were responsible for 9/11. Is Iraq lacking in detail or something? Not enough big questions there? Is R9/11 worried the Committee need a little extra reading material in the evening? Please.

Still - thanks for the laughs guys.

Sympathy For The Devil

Ian Henshall is spinning hard following Reinvestigate 9/11's meeting on Monday 2 November at Parliament:

"Reinvestigate 911 has gained more momentum following Monday's meeting in the House of Commons. The meeting was attended by one Peer, one senior MP and several aides to various MP's, some senior. About eight more MP's from all parties had asked to attend but due to last minute events and diary clashes were not present. (This is normal, the system keeps MPs overburdened with meetings and short of help)"

Oh please! The 'system' has been more than generous to MP's, who have continuously exploited public good will. You can say many things about MP's - that they are short of help is not only an insult to Commons staff, but also ignores the fact that MP's are perfectly capable of hiring additional support. It is not as if they do not have the resources to do so. 

If only one Lord and one MP could be bothered to go to this meeting, perhaps a good look in the subsidised bars and restaurants may have round up a few more?