On one level, 9/11 presents a rather similar challenge to some Islamists as the Holocaust presents to European fascists. Albeit on a vastly different scale. Put simply, if your ideology or belief system is so brilliant, how do you explain these acts carried out in its name?
One response that emerged within fascist organisations was simply to deny the Holocaust. Hence the time parties like the British National Party spent in the 1980s distributing newspapers such as Holocaust News (a classic example of holocaust denial) or the pseudo-academic efforts put in by David Irving, Fred Leuchter and others. Under this schema, in a cynical twist, one of the prime targets of the holocaust, Europe's Jews, are actually blamed for fabricating the entire process.
Some in the Muslim World have looked to explain away 9/11 in a similar manner. Either the old staple of Zionism is blamed, or the United States did it to themselves, or a combination thereof. After all, if Islam is a religion of peace and justice, its adherents cannot have carried out the murder of over 2000 civilians (including many Muslims) on 9/11?
I am grateful to my friends over at Harry's Place for spotting that Indian Islamist preacher Dr Zakir Naik, banned by the Home Secretary from entering the UK this month for a series of scheduled talks, is a keen 9/11 truther.
What a surprise.
Here is Dr Naik waffling away on the issue, if you can bear it. He seems to be a no-planer.