9/11 CultWatch

A blog dedicated to exposing some of the more ludicrous theories concerning 9/11, and discussing the people responsible for such nonsense. With occasional forays into 7/7 'truth' and similar curious beasts.

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December 25, 2015

Happy Christmas Conspiracy Fans

All of the writers and researchers behind 9/11 Cultwatch would like to wish our readers a very merry Christmas.

Thank you to the wesbite It Goes to 11 for providing all conspiracists with the essential item of clothing for the festive period - a tin foil Santa's hat.


December-20-2012-preparing-for-the-end-of-the-world-680x453

Posted at 01:01 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (1)

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July 22, 2015

Faith and Conspiracy Theory

Whatever people's views on David Cameron's speech on extremism on Monday, one element was encouraging. 

The Prime Minister recognises that conspiracy theories can be important, and that British Islam has been deviled by them. That at least is a positive development. But why are some religions so convinced everyone is out to get them? Or that any bad deed committed in its name must automatically come, not from co-religionists, but outside, from the 'other'? 

Andrew Mueller, in the Autumn 2014 issue of the New Humanist, offers some explanation:

"Because belief in conspiracies surely comes from the same place as belief in gods - the human need to reassure ourselves that the world is ordered, that things happen for a reason, that someone, somewhere is actually in charge."

Is there a correlation between religious adherence and support for conspiracy theories? That probably requires much further investigation. But certainly some of the societies which appear most riven by conspiracism - the United States, Pakistan and Egypt to name just three - are all deeply religious countries with a small ruling class that moves at a considerable distance, from its citizens. 

Food for thought? 

Posted at 10:12 PM in Editorials, Islamic Conspiracy Theories | Permalink | Comments (0)

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February 12, 2015

Is Political Correctness A Conspiracy Theory?

The current issue of The Spectator is devoted to the subject of political correctness. 

Part of this is an article by Damian Thompson, who conspiracy watchers will be familiar with for his 2008 book 'Counterknowledge'. Thompson gives a decent enough over-view of those he calls the young puritans, busily changing how we speak and interact, especially on campus. What most impressed me though was a small section of the article quoting an American commentator called Robert Wargas, a name new to me. Wargas states of political correctness:

"People must understand that PC works like a conspiracy theory. The more vigorously. you argue against it, the more its proponents see the need to affirm it. That's because, under their rules, logic and free speech are tools of oppression, at least when used by non-favoured groups. They've created this perfectly circular, perfectly sealed universe, packed with bizarre terms and theories that explain why they're always good and their opponents always evil. By definition, reason will not work against this. PC is like a church whose only sacrament is excommunication."

The question then emerges, as it does with conspiracy theories. If refuting point by point (debunking) a particular ideal does not work, what will? Or is political correctness, and indeed conspiracy theory, destined to act as Japanese knotweed in our culture until all the remaining plant life is suffocated out of existence?

 

Posted at 12:12 PM in Editorials, Healthy Opposition, Media | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Conspiracy Theory, Damian Thompson, PC, Robert Wargas, The Spectator

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December 25, 2014

Happy Christmas

This is just a short post to wish all vistitors to the 9/11 Cultwatch blog a Happy Christmas, be you friend or foe.

Compliments of the season. 

Posted at 10:45 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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February 01, 2014

A Depressing Library Experience

Browsing the terrorism studies section of the University of East Anglia library this afternoon, I saw many of the books I expected to see. 

Gilles Kepel, probably the leading French expert on Islamist and jihadist organisations. Then there were the primary sources - books written by terrorist actors, and/or collections of their speeches and statements. So far so good. However, I next saw something which made my blood pressure rise very quickly indeed. No fewer than four copies of 9/11 truther Ian Henshall's "9/11: The New Evidence". There - right amongst serious books on the subject. It was like finding a caterpillar in a freshly served salad on a summer's day.  

And the UEA library sums up the problem I - and hopefully others - have with the 'truth' movement. If these ideas are not critiqued and batted away early, they take root. They begin to be placed on university bookshelves, considered alongside primary sources, and serious investigators like Kepel. Next, some students are taken in by such nonsense. And we end up spending our time in seminars, not debating Al Qaeda or 7/7, but debating whether the Neo-Conservatives allowed 9/11 to happen, or whether the 7/7 bombers were patsies. 

Its is not just that students paying £9000 per year deserve better than that - we all do. 

Posted at 09:36 PM in Books, Editorials | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 'Truth', Ian Henshall, Libraries

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January 01, 2014

Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to all visitors, contributors and supporters of the 9/11 Cultwatch blog. 

Here is to a busy 2014...........

Posted at 09:23 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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October 22, 2013

Getting Ready For JFK +50

The November issue of Fortean Times is a special issue on Conspiracy theory, timed no doubt to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy on 22 November 1963. 

This begins with Robin Ramsay on what he sees as the 'Ghettoisation of JFK Studies'. Ramsay has always been a Lyndon Johnson man when it comes to the Kennedy killing, although he qualifies this by stating that the shooting was carried out in aid of LBJ's careeer, by the big Texan money that stood behind Johnson. Ramsay is broadly correct when he states that three elements in what he calls the 'knowledge industry' are disinterested in the case - the major media, the political system and academia. He is however over generous in stating that "Something very similar is happening to the 9/11 research effort, and for similar reasons" - the quality of most 9/11 'research' falls well short of that produced by assassination researchers in the 1970s and 1980s. 

One backward step for Fortean Times is an 'Advertorial' on 28-29, "The Conspiracy to Create a New World Order" is designed to look like part of the magazine, and apparently advertising a forthcoming DVD called The Conspiracy. I am sure they took a lot of the money for the advert, but at the price of confusing readers? Tom Heywood is on much safer ground examining five decades of literature on JFK's assassination, and its evolution through distinct phases. Richard Leon's "The Tin Foil Hat Machine" struggles to stay on the correct side of flippant, but is at its best when considering some of the long forgotten theorists who were arguably conspiracy theorists before the term was widely used - Peter Beter to take one example. 

Perhaps the strongest article is David Ray Carter on 'Conspiracy Cinema'. It would be comparatively easier to have written a piece on the all the 'truth' movies knocked out in the post 9/11 era, but Carter correctly locates such film in its correct historical context, beginning with the 1937 (yes 1937) "The Man in the Barn" which considers the fate of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln.  "The Man in the Barn" even implies that the Lincoln assassination was an inside job and that Booth was recieving hush money from his co-conspirators in the US government!

Browsing through the magazines in my local Tesco today, I came across a publication that was new to me, but is apparently on its fifth issue - All About History. Its front cover, naturally - JFK 50 Years On. Getting ready for plenty more over the next month. 

Posted at 08:03 AM in Editorials, Other Conspiracy Theories | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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October 21, 2013

Still Blogging

Just a quick note to readers that the 9/11 Cultwatch blog is still very much alive, and to thank those who have been sending in little snippets of information and news over the past few weeks. 

Some of it will appear on the blog in the coming weeks and months, and there will also be a new issue of Notes From the Borderland in 2014. On a personal level, part of my PhD covered the persistence of conspiracy theories in British Muslim communities. I am keen to build on that work, most probably for an academic journal article, again in 2014. Any information, suggestions or comments on this theme is of course welcome. 

Posted at 02:02 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

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January 07, 2012

Happy New Year To 9/11 Cultwatch Visitors

There has been a quiet period on this blog, but that will soon change.

We will soon start again the series of conspiracist quotes, as allowing truthers to express themselves in their own words is one of the best mechanisms against them we have. Over in the United States the issue has emerged of the extent Republican Presidential hopeful Ron Paul is a support of the truth movement. Certainly here in the UK truth activists regarded him as their man, hence the regular presence of 'truth' activists bearing the words 'Google Ron Paul' on major demonstrations in the capital. If Paul's candidacy is to continue, he will have to decide which side of the fence he stands.

I am currently working on an article for the next issue of Notes From the Borderland magazine on a decade of 9/11 truth, which should appear in the next month or so. In the meantime, 9/11 Cultwatch relies so heavily on those who send us information. Keep it coming!

Posted at 08:24 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 Truth, Ron Paul

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November 15, 2011

Uncon 2011 - Views Sought

It seems Fortean Times are emailing those who bought tickets online for Uncon 2011, asking for their views.

I am never sure how much surveys are listened to, but I completed it, urging Fortean Times to reduce or hold the prices next year, to vastly increase the number of stalls, and to seek to involve the magazines readership far more in the event. A series of small talks or discussions is more people centred and progressive than being lectured at on six seperate occasions from a big stage.

Lets see what happens in 2012..............

Posted at 01:26 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Fortean Times, Uncon 2011, Uncon 2012

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October 29, 2011

From Wellington: Activism Based In Reality

It is fantastic to see the type of ideals 9/11 cultwatch holds, being picked up and adopted elsewhere.

For years we have warned of the dangers of activists being lead up the garden path with fantastical stories, and/or missing the fact that if we are to develop influence, we have to criticise our rulers for things they have done, not things they have not.

Libcom.org features the text of an excellent talk made at an Occupy meeting in Wellington, New Zealand on 27 October. Against Conspiracy Theories!

Posted at 10:07 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Activism, Anarchism, Conspiracy Theories, Occupy

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September 24, 2011

Conspiracy Theory Conference - 25 September, Conway hall

It is pleasing to see conspiracy theory as a subject being taken seriously.

Sunday 25 September sees the British Humanist Association organise a full day conference at Conway Hall in Holborn. Details of the event can be seen here - with a cost of £10 or £8 deductions. Speakers include Jamie Bartlett of Demos, Chris French and Robert Brotherton, Karen Douglas, and from the other side of the fence, Ian R Crane.

I shall be there and encourage others to attend.

Posted at 12:01 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: British Humanist Association, Conspiracy Theory, Demos, Ian R Crane

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September 23, 2011

On The Appeal of 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

I have just finished drafting the outline for a lecture on Terrorism and 'Conspiracy' Theory for the Terrorism module I convene at the University of East Anglia.

Whilst preparing the readling list and module guide I came across this leader from the Economist of September 3rd:

Messing with the mind of Islam
Al-Qaeda has not just poisoned relations between countries. It has poisoned minds as well. In all of the Muslim countries polled recently by the Pew Global Attitudes project, majorities still refuse to believe that the perpetrators were Arabs.

I am not sure The Economist is correct to blame Al-Qaeda for this, indeed their strategists expressed considerable irritation that the 'credit' for 9/11 did not always go to them. This anger even amounted to seeing such views as a plot by Shia Iran to discredit Al Qaeda with Sunni Muslims. Al Qaeda also claimed responsibility for the attacks, and released propaganda to that effect. How is that consistent with 'poisoning minds' in the opposite direction?
Sadly more significant explanations for these attitudes may be found in the war-weariness of much of the Muslim world, which means some can arguably believe virtually anything of the West. Equally historical anti-Semitism, the propagation of conspiracy theories by a host of Muslim governments for a generation and a refusal to grapple with the extremists that have emerged with the Islamic resurgence all combine to give the message 'it can't be us, so it must have been you'.

In 9/11 truth circles such as Ian Henshall's Reinvestigate 9/11, there is excitement at opinion poll data which they argue shows increasing evidence in Europe that their message is getting through. A recent email to supporters was headed 'Breakthroughs in UK, France, Italy and Canada for 9/11 Truth Movement' thanks to what they see as a succesful media offensive. There tends to be little or no attention to what evidence such as The Pew Global Attitudes survey may indicate, or what such 'breakthroughs' in Muslim majority countries may signify in practice. To quote from Pew:

"There is no Muslim public in which even 30% accept that Arabs conducted the attacks. Indeed, Muslims in Jordan, Egypt and Turkey are less likely to accept this today than in 2006."

If such figures eventually emerge in the UK, US and across the European Union - does that constitute success? Progress? Does that take us closer to a better society, where politicians and the powerful are accountable for their actions? It does not. But I suspect it does to the 'truth' movement.

Posted at 03:17 PM in Editorials, Jihadist Terrorism, UK Truth Activists | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11, 9/11 'Truth', Economist, Ian Henshall, Muslim Attitudes, Pew Global Attitudes Project, Reinvestigate 9/11

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September 13, 2011

Cultwatching

This site has had a lot of new visitors over the past two to three weeks.

It is timely perhaps to remind people of some of the historical articles on the 9/11 and 7/7 'truth' movements that I and Larry O'Hara (mostly) wrote for the old 9/11 Cultwatch website. These are now compiled together in a cultwatching section on the Notes From The Borderland website.

More will follow.

Posted at 07:02 AM in Editorials, Notes From The Borderland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Notes From The Borderland. Cultwatch

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September 09, 2011

Talksport and Press TV Interviews

As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches media coverage has also included the 9/11 'truth' movement and 'truth' theories. I was interviewed for Press TV and Talksport today, with the Press TV interview due to go out on Sunday in the George Galloway show 'The Real Deal'.

Posted at 11:50 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Debunking, Media, Press TV, Talksport

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September 05, 2011

Documenting 9/11 Fatigue

Well, which of the half dozen 9/11 documentaries shall I watch today?

The answer is none, as I shall be working on a paper for the 9/11 Ten Years On conference at Strathclyde University, from 8-11 September.  It will be the second conference I have attended this year with 9/11 in the title, and there were several others I declined.

I have not yet read a 'truther' argue that 9/11 was caused by documentary film makers or academics desperate to secure work for themselves, but even I am beginning to have my suspicions......

Posted at 07:40 AM in Editorials, Film | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11, Academia, Film

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July 14, 2011

CIA's Fake Immunisation Programme: A Victory For Conspiracy Theorists

Recent reports suggest that the CIA set up a fake immunisation programme in Pakistan, in order to get the DNA of Bin Laden family members from his Abbottabad compound.

Of all the CIA's actions in Pakistan, this may prove to be the most stupid, and in terms of its effect on Pakistanis, the most damaging. Pakistan's many Islamists have frequently attempted to convince people that immunisation programmes against polio are in fact American plots to sterilise expanding Muslim populations. Similar campaigns have been found in Afghanistan and Muslim areas of Nigeria. The work of those striving to undermine such attitudes has been undermined, perhaps for a generation, by this ill-considered approach.

In the West it is now fashionable, in liberal circles, to rediscover the past contribution of Arabs to science and medicine. This is often, although not always, cast as demonstrating evidence of the advanced nature of Islam at a time of Western stagnation. Such commentators however are less comfortable with discussing contemporary reality, where certain Islamists are attempting to re-position knowledge in a manner which will be familiar to anyone who has dipped into the debate surrounding creationism in American eduction. With Saudi money on their side, opposing voices face a struggle to be heard.
Here, all knowledge originally comes from the Qu'ran - what need is there for medical or scientific developments from outside the Muslim world? Indeed as such trends are outside of Islam, how can they not be an attempt to damage Islam, and Muslims?

Whatever the CIA gained by getting a sample of DNA in Abbottabad, they have boosted the type of attitudes set out above. And that could lead to many more deaths, and much more suffering, than Bin Laden himself could have dreamed of.

Posted at 10:04 AM in Editorials, Other Conspiracy Theories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Bin Laden Capture, CIA, Conspiracy Theory, Immunisation, Islamic Science, Science

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January 26, 2011

The Redemption of Annie Machon?

What happens to 9/11 'truth' activists when they give up 'truth' activism?

Well in the case of former MI5 officer Annie Machon, they put on a new cloak and get welcomed through the doors at The Guardian. Styling herself as "an author, journalist, civil liberties campaigner and international speaker" Ms Machon's Comment Is Free profile makes no mention of 9/11 truth, despite the funding and accomodation she received, for several years, from 9/11 'truth' activists such as Belinda McKenzie.

If Annie Machon can't remember what she was doing just a couple of years ago, why should we take seriously her views on MI5 and the security services - a world she tells us she left nearly fifteen years ago?

Posted at 08:40 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 Truth, Annie Machon, Comment Is Free, Mark Kennedy, Security Services, The Guardian

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January 03, 2011

David Icke: 2011 Looking Rather Like 2010..........

David Icke's final message of 2010 was to remind us all of the importance of what he refers to as 'Rothschild Zionism'. 

It seems to understand the financial crisis, 9/11 and much more, we have to understand the role of this entity. Icke's email subscribers received this latest blast of anti-semitism on New Years Eve. Not so much a case of ringing out the old, as ringing out the very old. 

There is little to suggest 2011 will be much different. Indeed as the financial crisis grips countries such as Greece, Ireland and Spain, and austerity measures batter both the working class and middle classes in the UK, we can sadly expect an expanded market for those with ready explanations. Icke, 7/7 and 9/11 truth activists all offer ready explanations, if little else. 

This blog will continue to expose and work to counter attempts to drag anti-semitism and whacko conspiracy theories into left, green and Anarchist currents. Please work with us in our task. 

Posted at 04:26 PM in David Icke, Editorials | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 2011, David Icke, Recession

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December 25, 2010

Happy Christmas

To all readers of this blog - both friend and foe. 

Posted at 12:01 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Happy Christmas

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May 25, 2010

Where Have We Been?

May has been a quite month on the 9/11 Cultwatch blog - mainly due to work commitments and a few IT hitches.

That will change however over the next few weeks. Thanks to those who have made comments and sent in information over the election period - it was much appreciated.

Posted at 10:49 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 'Truth'

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April 01, 2010

A Reply From Rev Ray Gaston

I decided to email yesterdays article re the Birmingham Interfaith Statement on the Moscow Suicide bombings, to signatory Rev Ray Gaston for comment. 

Here is his reply:

E: A Quick Question on the Interfaith Statement

Thursday, 1 April, 2010 13:07

From:

"Ray Gaston" <>

Add sender to Contacts

To:

"Paul Stott" <>

Hi Paul
I was asked to sign the statement by Adam of Saltley Peace group and it seemed a good statement to me so I signed it.
Ray

Posted at 09:15 PM in Editorials, Exposing Anti-Semitism , Jihadist Terrorism | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Interfaith

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March 25, 2010

'Dr Hemp': Anti-Semite

One of the moderators on the David Icke forum is an individual who calls himself Dr Hemp. His real name is Chris Bovey. 

You may have spotted Dr Hemp's advertisements for a range of legal highs in alternative publications, most notably Fortean Times. He also trades as Pot Seeds. 

As well as a commitment to 9/11 truth and getting stoned, one of the good Doctors core beliefs is racism, demonstrated in the particular form of anti-semitism. One wonders how many of those he does business with, including the publications he advertises in, are aware of this. Take for example Dr Hemp's comments on this thread about the notorious anti-semitic forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
On 25 March at 12:35, to Dr Hemp we should not be concerned about whether the Protocols are fake, but are they accurate? He quickly answers his own question, stating that whoever wrote them had a good insight into the future. Yes folks, in this analysis the Jews run the world, and everything is their fault. I think we all know where this type of politics ends up............

It was perhaps no surprise that Dr Hemp's good friend David Shayler began jew-baiting not long after arriving in the world of 9/11 'truth'. Shayler has carried on going down hill since then, but for the sake of others in Dr Hemp's orbit, be it in Devon or elsewhere, we need to be clear just how despicable his brand of politics is. When I made the point on the Icke forum that Dr Hemp and Shayler appear to be a pair of anti-semites, Dr Hemp responded in the way that truth activists so often do when challenged (cf Tony Gosling on his 9/11 'truth' forum) - he deleted my post! And these people complain about censorship from the Neocons and New Labour. Physician heal thyself! 

I urge all those with principles to boycott Pot Seeds and Dr Hemp's various business interests. 

Posted at 04:18 PM in Editorials, Exposing Anti-Semitism , UK Truth Activists | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Anti-Semitism, Protocols

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March 14, 2010

Take A Damaged Individual, Marinate With 9/11 Truth, Then Stew......

The case of Californian John Patrick Bedell comes as little surprise to 9/11 Cultwatch. 

Take a damaged individual, encourage their paranoia, construct a world view that centres on both weakness and an over powering system, then having lit the fuse, step back and watch them explode. Bedell, a 9/11 'truther' travelled from his home in Hollister all the way to the Pentagon, where on 4th March he opened fire on guards outside the military complex, before being shot himself.  

There will be others. 

Future incidents like this are as good as guaranteed and those in the 'truth' movement need to think long and hard about what they say, what they do and how they say it, especially when dealing with individuals with mental health problems. 

Sadly, the chances of such responsibility being displayed by the likes of Alex Jones, David Icke or Webster Griffin Tarpley are extremely low. 

Posted at 01:10 PM in Editorials, US Truth Movement | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: John Patrick Bedell

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January 31, 2010

Anarchist Placed on US No-Fly List

I am sure this makes everyone feel safer!

Gabriel Kuhn and the no-fly list.  

Posted at 11:58 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: US Security

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January 05, 2010

Special K

Thank you to the comrades over at Freedom Press, for drawing my attention to a fascinating little piece which appeared in the Anarchist fortnightly Freedom on 21 November 2009. 

"Ketamine: counter-revolutionary drug" looks at research carried out by the University College London into the horse tranquiliser, known as 'Special K' by its users. 

And what does this have to do with a blog examining the dangers of 9/11 and 7/7 conspiracy theories? 

"....all groups of ketamine users, according to the psychological questionnaires used, showed evidence of unusual beliefs or mild delusions such as conspiracy theories"

Is it time to bring in random drug testing in the truth movement? 

Posted at 08:15 AM in Editorials, Other Conspiracy Theories | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 'Truth' Movement, Freedom, Ketamine, UCL

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January 03, 2010

On Religion..........

Hello to Richard Bartholomew, who runs the always interesting blog Bartholomew's Notes on Religion.  

His writing provides a fascinating insight  a weird and not so wonderful world, with full marks due for some of his digging into one of the UK's 'experts' on jihadism, Glen Jenvey, who appears to be experiencing a potential fall from grace......

Posted at 12:01 PM in Editorials, Religion | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Blogging, Religion

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January 01, 2010

Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to all visitors to both 9/11 Cultwatch and the 9/11 Cultwatch blog.

2009 saw a great deal of information come in to us from those who share our concerns about the development of the 9/11 cult, and its various offshoots. Lets continue our progress in 2010 - only by doing so can a rational, progressive politics dominate the fight against the powers that be. 

Fight the power! 

Posted at 04:01 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 Cultwatch, Progressive Politics

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December 25, 2009

Happy Christmas

Well there are certainly a few turkeys who visit this site!

I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all visitors to 9/11 Cultwatch, both friend and foe. Let battle recommence another day.........

Posted at 12:54 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Christmas

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December 21, 2009

Are Good Advisors Listened To?

We will soon see. 

One of the more curious selections as speaker at 9/11 and 7/7 truth meetings in London in the recent past was Nafeez Ahmed. This is not to criticise Ahmed, who is a well informed writer (particularly with regards to the former Al-Mujihiroun group's activities) but I came away from the two truth meetings at which I saw Ahmed speak with the impression that they were a lot more taken with him, than he was with them. 

Ahmed's fascinating blog The Cutting Edge is well worth a visit, but I wonder what his contacts in the 'truth' movement make of the fact that he is currently advising the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on engagement with Muslim communities.

I have no idea what advice precisely Mr Ahmed is giving the top brass at Sandhurst, but I think we can safely assume he is not telling them that 9/11 and 7/7 were inside jobs............ 

Posted at 12:14 PM in 7/7 Bombings , Editorials, Jihadist Terrorism | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 7/7 Truth, 9/11 Truth, Sandhurst

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December 14, 2009

It's A Bit Quiet Here..........

Not many posts this month?

No - but plenty to come later this month, and especially in 2010 from 9/11 Cultwatch. Watch this space.........

Posted at 07:09 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 Cultwatch

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November 28, 2009

Pakistan Imperiled By Conspiracy Theories

Ahmed Rashid has been responsible for some of the most incisive writing about Pakistan in recent years. 

This article, on the scale of conspiracy theories in his home country, and the fact they stifle debate, is timely. We urge visitors to this site to read it.  

Posted at 10:17 AM in Editorials, Jihadist Terrorism, Media, Other Conspiracy Theories, Terrorism In Britain | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Conspiracy Theories, Pakistan

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November 27, 2009

One Way Leaks?

To the University of East Anglia, where Clive Stafford Smith of Reprieve spoke yesterday evening on "Reuniting Prisoners With The Rule of Law".

An Anglo-American, Stafford Smith is known for his long term defence work on death row cases in the southern States of the USA, and then more latterly for his work on 'rendition' cases - where the CIA have kidnapped alleged Jihadists then taken them on a magical mystery tour of detention and torture.
There was much that was new in Stafford Smith's talk - how many people know that 11 Britons are on death rown in Pakistan? Omar Saeed Sheikh yes, but even those well versed in British Jihadism would struggle to name the other ten.

Perhaps most interesting of all was the amount of information Stafford Smith and his investigators have gleaned about the United States secret prisons worldwide (including sites in Hungary, Poland and the British dependency of Diego Garcia) and the flight logs that have emerged concerning journeys between these sites. The details of one pilot, Eric Fain, even emerged via the Sheraton hotel he stopped of at on Palma de Mallorca for a spot of R&R in the midst of a rendition!

What's all this got to do with 9/11 'truth'? Well on one level, quite a bit. Stafford Smith commented that vast amounts of information is leaking out from the American side, and of course from others appalled at just what the Americans have done and are still doing with regards to rendition and torture. Some of these whistle blowers, such as Captain Kirk Black, have shown extraordinary degrees of commitment to truth and justice, regardless of their political backgrounds.

Which raises the obvious question. If so much has been discovered about US crimes post 9/11, with the American establishment leaking like a sieve, why has this not occured with regards to 9/11? If 9/11 was an inside job, surely someone, somewhere would have said so by now?  

Posted at 10:21 AM in Editorials, Jihadist Terrorism | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 Truth, Rendition, Torture

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November 24, 2009

A Depressing Sight

As if the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war could not get any worse.........

Sky News live coverage this lunchtime - featured a report on the first mornings proceedings, accompanied by the backdrop of a lone activist waving the placard "America did 9/11, 7/7 for Oil." 

As this blog has said repeatedly: What Tony Blair and George W Bush have done in Iraq and Afghanistan is bad enough. Why criticise them for things they have not done? 

Is the Chilcot Inquiry damaged in any way, shape or form by such activities? Or does it serve as a distraction? 

Visitors to this blog should know our answer by now. 

Posted at 12:31 PM in Editorials, Television | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 7/7 'truth', 9/11 'truth'

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September 19, 2009

Something That Should Be Commemorated

This month has naturally seen a series of '9/11 nine years on' pieces in the media, coupled with the now obligatory demonstrations and rallies by 'truth' activists.

Nearly all of these were distinctly missable, however Rebecca Solnit's excellent piece was distributed around various websites, blogs and email lists. I make no aplogies for encouraging you all to read what is a moving tribute to people's inate tendency to help one another and work together, even in the most difficult and shocking of circumstances.

Read How 9/11 Should Be Remembered.

Posted at 05:24 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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September 07, 2009

102 Minutes

Tonight sees a Channel 4 documentary, "9/11, 102 Minutes That Changed America," at 9pm.

Weighing in at over 2 hours, this may be a very significant programme if, and I stress if, it sources the excellent "102 Minutes - The Untold Story of the Fight To Survive Inside The Twin Towers", by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn.

We shall see.

Posted at 10:37 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11, Twin Towers

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August 20, 2009

Heidi Svenson Joins The 9/11 Cultwatch Blog

It has been a little bit quite on this blog during August, in what is traditionally the holiday month. 

That makes it all the more encouraging that we have been able to persuade Heidi Svenson to join us as a columnist. Well known to many of you from her work in Notes From the Borderland magazine and with Paul Stott on exposing the 9/11 'truth' movement, Heidi certainly packs a punch. 

Welcome on board Heidi! 

Posted at 09:01 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: 9/11 Truth, Cultwatch

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July 22, 2009

Welcome To Our New Visitors

9/11 Cultwatch seems to be getting quite a few new visitors at the moment. 

If this is your first visit here, welcome - do stay and have a good look around, and feel free to add comments. Interestingly a few of the hits coming this way have come from people placing insulting comments about 9/11 Cultwatch on other sites, and at the same time linking to us. 

We appreciate this, as we feel our arguments more than stand up to analysis. Thanks very much for the hits guys! 

Posted at 11:23 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

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July 08, 2009

Gary McKinnon Campaign Getting Weighty Support

9/11 Cultwatch would probably find little to agree with Gary McKinnon about should we meet him.

That does not mean we should not support his campaign against extradition to the USA. Just recently support for Gary has sky-rocketed with even the Daily Mail(!) and Sarah Brown weighing in behind him. There article is being eagerly disseminated across Facebook - view it here.   

Posted at 09:00 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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June 03, 2009

That's One 9/11 Conspiracy Theory Nailed

Dick Cheney has finally admitted that there was no connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11.

You can read his speech here.

Now if we can only nail the other million and a half daft theories...........

Posted at 01:49 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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May 29, 2009

A Big Thank You To The Truth Movement

Without the 9/11 truth movement, we might never have had the genius of Rod Shepherd, conspiracy theorist. 

Here's the great man in action. 

Posted at 08:18 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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May 01, 2009

International Workers Day

A happy May Day to workers everywhere!

Posted at 07:26 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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January 01, 2009

Happy New Year

9/11 Cultwatch wishes a Happy New Year to all who visit this site.

Keep coming back throughout the year - we have much to tell you about!

Posted at 12:04 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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December 25, 2008

Happy Christmas

9/11 Cultwatch would like to wish a happy Christmas to all (yes all) our readers.

Keep coming back in 2009 - you might learn something!

Posted at 01:00 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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December 14, 2008

Is This Blog Connected To Private Eye?

Well, you can always rely on Tony Gosling for a rib-tickler or two!

Over on the 9/11 forum that he is allowed to edit, Gosling is busy insisting that the recent Private Eye piece about  his homophobia must have been written by either Paul Stott, Larry O'Hara or Ian Bone!

It is perhaps indicative of Gosling's ego that he goes on to comment "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win".

You can imagine a lot of things happening in 2009. Tony Gosling "winning" is not one of them.........

Posted at 09:58 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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November 26, 2008

An Early Christmas Present

Do not buy one of these for the 9/11 truther in your family!

450_rug_081119[1]

These rugs have (not surprisingly) caused a bit of a storm in Canada, where thay have been on sale. Its nice to see the Bayeaux tapestry is still spawning imitators all these years later!

Posted at 08:52 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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November 11, 2008

Dumfries Cultwatch Talk - Some Additional Information

The bulk of the 9/11 Cultwatch talk at Glasgow University concentrated on the 9/11 Cultwatch paper presented to Loughborough University in September.

However, the organisers in Dumfries requested some additional information as regards background, methodology and motivations. These comments are reproduced below:

What This Talk Is

My talk is about the 9/11 'truth' movement - very simply those groups, individuals and organisations who reject the view of Al Qaeda responsibility for the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. This is not a talk about 9/11 itself, or US foreign policy or Osama Bin Laden. What I will focus on is 9/11 and the Muslim world, the anti-semitism of the 9/11 truth movement and finally the offspring that 9/11 truth is nuturing - for example the 7/7 truth movement.

Why?

Two things motivated my interest in the 9/11 'truth' movement. I'd been writing for many years for a magazine called Notes From the Borderland. NFB had taken a long term interest in two former MI5 officers - David Shayler and Annie Machon, who had fallen out with the Security Service and launched new careers as public figures. 

We were unhappy at the naive and unquestioning welcome many in left/liberal circles gave them, especially when they offered no substantive information on the disruption of radical political groups by the police and security services, and worse their main argument seemed to be for a more efficient MI5.

In 2005 Machon and Shayler abruptly left the anti-war movement and moved into 9/11 truth circles, even though both had written articles on the dangers of Islamist terrorism, using 9/11 as an example. Something did not ring true.

The second motivation  was the behaviour of 9/11 truth activists themselves, particularly at the 2005 Anarchist Bookfair, where they used a high degree of subterfuge, coupled with intimidation on the day, to get David Shayler and Annie Machon into an event they would never otherwise have been allowed to enter.

Something was clearly happening here, and if we did not comment on it, no one else would?

Methodology

My colleague Larry O'Hara likes to use the term 'oppositional observation'. For many years now he and I have gone to 9/11 truth meetings, spoken to their members and debated on their Internet forums. We have interviewed disillusioned truthers, and been hissed and booed by those still active in the truth movement. I have now seen nearly all of the truth movements main speakers - certainly those who have visited the UK.

We have attempted to move beyond the truth movements obsession with the Internet, trying to keep a handle on the ever shifting volume of books on Islamist terrorism and 9/11, with a desire wherever possible to look at primary sources. Whatever its faults, people do need to read the 9/11 Commission Report, they do need to look at Bin Laden's statements since 9/11 (how many truthers have looked at either?) and they do need to compare the shifting comments of some 9/11 truthers, especially as the truth industry continues to grow.

Background

When I spoke at Loughborough University, one questionner rightly pointed out that in my paper there were few sources from 'radical' publications. In a way, I am a bit of a lone wolf in the developing field of Terrorism Studies, and even more so in writing critically about Islamist organisations.

Many of those writing on this subject come from political backgrounds sympathetic to the security industry (e.g. the school at St Andrews University) or from left/liberal gackgrounds, perhaps journals such as Race & Class, where society is usually see through a prism where the only real evils come from the West, and the United States in particular. 

I have issue with both of those traditions.  

Posted at 01:08 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBack (0)

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November 09, 2008

9/11 Cultwatch North of the Border

Paul Stott of 9/11 Cultwatch donned his tartan scarf last week for a trip to Dumfries, to raise the dangers of the 9/11 'truth' movement. 


Speaking at Glasgow University's Crichton Campus in Dumfries, approximately 30 people heard Paul speak for  about 40 minutes followed by 20 minutes for questions. Issues raised included 9/11 'truth' in the Muslim world, the anti-semitism of the truth movement, the worrying rise of British Jihadism, and the 7/7 'truth' movement. 

Here's some pictures from the day: 

DSC00630DSC00628

Posted at 02:00 PM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

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October 21, 2008

Support Gary McKinnon

The 17 October issue of Private Eye has a piece 'Geek Tragedy' examining the case of north London's Gary McKinnon, facing extradition and an American jail for hacking into Pentagon computers to discover information about UFO's.

Private Eye suggests McKinnon's influences were the X-Files and 9/11 'truthers'. Whether true or not, a rather fragile individual is in danger of being greatly mistreated, and he deserves our support. Do visit his campaign website to find out more.

Posted at 10:44 AM in Editorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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2009 The Exhibition Of The Universe, Blackpool

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