9/11 CultWatch

John McDonnell And 9/11 'Truth' - You Read It Here First

The Sunday Times has today run a major article on John McDonell and his engagement with leading activists in the 9/11 'truth' movement. Sounds familiar?

It certainly is familiar to readers of this blog. As far back as September 16th, we examined some of the "Curious Friends of the Shadow Chancellor and Labour Party leader." Nobody from the Times has been in touch since, but there article does seem an example of the old maxim that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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?

 

Daniel Finkelstein on Anti-Semitism and Conspiracy Theory

The Times has a two page piece today, by the above, on the rise of anti-Semitism in the UK. 

He puts this down to two things - 9/11, and the development of social media and electronic correspondence. We could say rather similar things about the development of conspiracy theory, although as with anti-Semitism, these are phenomena that long pre-date the latest gadget or terrorist outrage.  

Of 9/11, Finklestein comments:

When baffling events happen, planes coming out of a clear blue New York sky, people look for an explanation, a wrong that can be righted, an appeal that can be made to reason. And very often in history, the answer involves doing something about the Jews. 

I have not yet read a substantial analysis of contemporary British Islamic anti-Semitism. But when one is written, I suspect it will begin with a very similar starting point to Finkelstein's post 9/11 analysis. 

 

9/11 Truth? Transcript of My September 2011 Interview With George Galloway

Who said 'truthers' were useless?

One conspiracy site, Living With The Conspiracy 24-7, has been good enough to type up a transcript of my interview on George Galloway's Talk Sport programme on 9 September 2011. There is the odd typo in there, and the transcript slightly mangles my explanation of why we consider 'truth' activists to be a cult, but all in all its probably more accurate than any other 'truth' material to come out this year!

You can read the transcript, and play the interview again, here.

Finally I was greatly impressed by the titles added to the article at the end, as subject headings:

"Published April 21, 2012 9-11 , conspiracy , false flag , lies , Mass murder , scam , sci-fi , spin , war OF terror , Zionist fetish"

I am not sure what 'Zionist fetish' is, but if my wife finds out I have been engaging in it I may be in some trouble..........

The Circled A Radio Show: Conspiracy, Truth, Cults and Who Really Killed JFK

The interview I did way back on 13 September with Yodet from The Circled A radio show is now available for download.

I am delighted that within a few hours of it being available on the Circled A site, a 'truther' had popped by to denounce me as a Neo-Con. If you need a chuckle with your cornflakes this morning, do check out the comments. I must go now - I have a meeting with Paul Wolfowitz and Dick Cheney at 0900!

BBC World Service Considers 9/11 Truth

Yesterday evening BBC World Have Your Say devoted a whole hour to the criticism from Al Qaeda of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and his belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories.

US 'truth' activist James Fetzer represented the 'truth' movement, a man who in a modern variation on coals to Newcastle, has been busy pushing 9/11 truth in the Muslim world. No one from 9/11 Cultwatch was able to get through to take part in the World Service phone-in, but I was able to post several comments on the Facebook page, which quickly degenerated into the usual spat between truthers and sceptics. What better way to spend an evening than having someone yell 'nano-thermite' at you?

You can download the podcast of the programme here, and follow some of the comments made about it on the Wall of World Have Your Say. Only at the close of the programme was perhaps the most important issue mentioned regarding 9/11 'truth' theories and their adoption globally - where do they leave the Middle East, and how do they impact on countries going through seismic political change?

I see no evidence truthers are even considering such questions.

 

George Galloway Interviews Paul Stott on Talksport

This is the interview from Friday 9 September:

 

Press TV Interview 9.30pm Tonight

I will be appearing on Press TV with George Galloway this evening at 9.30pm, on his show The Real Deal.

The subject? 9/11 'truth' theories.

A Chance To Talk Turkey

Not too many posts on here this month, but that does not mean 9/11 Cultwatch has been idle. On Tuesday 13 September I will be joining Yodet of the Circled A on what is fast becoming the UK's best hour of Anarchist radio. I have been asked to talk about 'conspiracy theory' and hope to go through the sort of issues raised on this blog, plus a lot more. I will post further details nearer the time.

National Geographic: The Liquid Bomb Plot

We hear very little from the UK's conspiracists about the 2006 liquid bomb plot.

No doubt if the attacks had gone ahead, and thousands been killed when airliners were blown up over the Atlantic, we would hear plenty. Those that comprise the 7/7 Truth movement would tell us that the attacks had been planned by Israel or the US, or that they had been discovered by the authorities and then allowed to happen. The MIHOP (Made It Happen On Purpose) and LIHOP (Let It Happen On Purpose) model is applicable, to those afflicted with it, in virtually every circumstance. Except of course where those involved are caught and convicted before they can carry out their planned attacks........

All the more reason then to turn to the National Geographic channel at 9pm this evening, for their two hour investigation Liquid Bomb Plot.

Conspiracy Radio

Tune in to BBC Radio 4 at 2300 this evening for Dave Against The Machine.

This is billed as a comedy about a fictional conspiracy theorist, Dave Railings. It ceertainly seems to have put the Telegraph's radio guide on the defensive. This evenings programme focuses on Dave's concern about a dirty bomb, prompting the Telegraph to warn "If a real bomb (threat or actual) should manifest itself the BBC will pull this quicker than you can say 'bang'."

Other 'conspiracy' based comic characters have been tried before, without prospering. Lets see how this four part series develops before speculating if Dave Railings will be a permanent fixture in conspiracy culture.

David Shayler: The Second Coming

It is always nice to see a good act endure.

David Shayler has reprised his role as the messiah in a National Geographic documentary, The Second Coming. Two rivals - from Siberia and the Phillipines -  also feature. Can they all be the messiah? Produced by the UK based Wild Dream Films, the programme is not yet listed on the UK listings for the National Geographic channel.

Two 9/11 Documentaries

Both I think repeats. 

National Geographic gives us an hour on 9/11 Conspiracies at 9pm on Monday 14 June, then a further hour on Inside 9/11 - The Pentagon, at 10pm. 

Competition is provided however by Italy v Paraguay, which kicks off at 7.30pm. 

ITV On 21/7 Bombers

Tune in to ITV 1 on Tuesday 1st December for an ITV examination of the failed 21/7 bombings in London in 2005.

As all four of these explosions failed to detonate, and in each instance the would-be bombers were subsequently arrested alive, the issue of these attacks has always presented a considerable challenge for 'truth' activists.  

Early press releases suggest this programme will focus on the views of police and witnesses to the attacks. It is also likely to be rather ignored by those in the 'truth' community.....

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.  

Wake Up And Smell The Coffee - And Reinvestigate 9/11

Congratulations to Ian Henshall and all those at Reinvestigate 9/11.  

Some 13 months after it was first attempted (for the seventh anniversary of 9/11 in September 2008) they have finally succeeded in placing a Reinvestigate 9/11 advert in the Independent. At this rate, they may get a new investigation by 2025! If you want to see the advert, its page 26 of todays paper if anyone is interested. Its easy to spot - its the page in smaller type than the rest of the newspaper. 

It is very clear that Reinvestigate 9/11 is very much Mr Henshall's baby. Stating the groups case in The Indy has been somewhat tempered by giving part of the advert over to an a section promoting Henshall's book, and another section advertising his coffee business. Clearly when we started taking adverts on the 9/11 Cultwatch blog we started a trend!

Reading the (advert free) articles about the truth movement in the new Notes From The Borderland, I can't help wondering if we are missing a trick. Perhaps we should emulate Mr Henshall and Reinvestigate 9/11's approach? A section devoted to my stepbrother's french polishing business perhaps? Adverts from Larry O'Hara's chiropodist, or that nice Vietnamese lady who does Heidi Svenson's nails once a month? 

Wake up everyone - it is time to smell the fair trade coffee! (And to call for a new investigation into 9/11!)

The Conspiracy Files on 7/7

This Tuesday, 30th June, the BBC's Conspiracy Files turns its attention to the 7/7 'truth' movement.

A one hour programme is scheduled, which is set to examine the campaigners themselves, and those who recognise the dangers such theories provide. Lets see what Tuesday evening has to offer.....

Pakistan: The Key?

For those looking to increase their understanding of issues around Islamist violence, US imperialism and Afghanistan, the issue of Pakistan looms large. 

Today marks the start of three days of reporting by Sky News devoted to Pakistan and the war on terror. It will close on Wednesday at 8pm, when Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall chairs a debate on issues raised. 

Will this coverage be good, bad or indifferent? We shall see, but you will probably learn a lot more than you would spending your time on 9/11 truth websites or discussion forums..........

Anthony Beevor on Loose Change (and other such problems)

This article is a couple of weeks old, but raises a fundamental question:

Where do films such as Loose Change, and the rise of 'truth' ideologies takes us? Read Beevor's views here.

Resonance FM Interview For Download

On 11th January I was interviewed by Ian Bone on Resonance FM as part of Ian's "Anarchism In Britain" series. 

Amongst the many topics covered were the dangers of Islamism in Britain, its reactionary history and of course dealing with the 9/11 'truth' movement. 

You can download the interview (along with two others) here. 

International Terrorism Since 1945

This week sees UKTV History launch a series on International Terrorism since World War 2. 

Of the various programmes this evenings at 9.30pm covers Al Qaeda and the 2001 attacks on America. 

On The Ball!

Last Sunday The Observer served up one of the dodgiest press stories in years, trying to create an eco-terrorist scare. 

You can laugh at the sorry efforts of Mark Townsend and Nick Denning here. As Ian Bone has pointed out with some glee, Nick Denning is no ordinary journalist - he is in fact a senior British Army officer. It really is a broad church down in Farringdon these days! 

To return to the original Observer piece, how about this little gem:

"Reports on the Earth First! Journal website, which tells users how to send encrypted emails, reveals connections to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) which has been linked to a series of violent attacks in the US. ELF was classified as the top domestic terrorism threat in the US by the FBI in March 2001."

So, just six months before 9/11, the FBI's main concern was a handful of Greens who specialise in setting fire to 4x4's and putting sand in the engines of loggers trucks. Talk about priorities. 

And taxpayers pay for this shambles................... 

Conspiracy Files - Tonight

Just to update an earlier post.

This evenings Conspiracy Files programme is an update, containing fresh material with regards to the controversy re WTC7.

Back For More

This Sunday at 9pm, BBC2 are repeating the Conspiracy Files programme "The Truth Behind The Third Tower".

WTC7 is an issue 9/11 'truther's never fail to raise - here's how the BBC responded.

For Those Of You With Good Satellite Packages....

The UKTV History site's 'Infamous Assassinations' series looks at the death of Pakistan's military dictator General Zia Ul-Haq, at 10pm this evening.

Unpleasant though he was, General Zia appears to have walked the balancing act between pleasing the US and the Islamists rather more skilfully than some subsequent Pakistani leaders.......

Two Upcoming Documentaries

As we approach the seventh documentary of 9/11 this Thursday, two programmes of interest appear on the horizon.

This evening Channel 4 shows "The 9/11 Hotel" - where holiday makers and business visitors resident in the WTC complex saw events unfolding around them.

At 9pm on Thursday Channel 4 feature someone who has given a dishonest account of what they saw on 9/11. No, we are not talking about William Rodriguez, but "The 9/11 Faker" Tania Head.

On The Run?

The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, hits the airwaves this evening.

Got to Radio 4 at 8.30pm for Analysis: Al-Qaeda's Enemy Within. The gist appears to be the hypothesis that Al-Qaeda is now facing serious difficulties from staunch Islamists who now oppose the organisation.

You can listen to Radio 4 live here. Should you miss the programme, it can be played again using this page.

National Geographic Documentary Repeated

This afternoon at 3pm National Geographic repeat their documentary about the attack on the Pentagon.

Inside 9/11 is at Sky Channel 526 and Virgin 230.

Robert Baer Returns

The second and final part of Robert Baer's series "Car Bomb" is this evening at 7pm on Channel 4.

Pakistan Acting Independently?

According to much of the 'truth' movement, major Muslim nations such as Pakistan act solely as puppets of the United States.

Could things possibly be more complicated than that?

This evenings Nuclear Secrets programme, on UKTV History at 9pm, tells the story of the development of Pakistan's independent nuclear weapon.

UKTV History is as Sky Channel 537, Virgin 203 and Freeview 12.

A History Of The Car Bomb

Sunday 27 July sees the first of a two part series on that most urban of weapons - the car bomb.

Presented by ex-spook Robert Baer, Car Bomb is at 7pm on Channel 4.

Guardian's Charlie Brooker on 9/11 'Truth'

Today's G2 section in the Guardian is enlivened by a piece by Charlie Brooker, attacking the absurdity of 9/11 'truth' theories.

He draws the eminently sensible conclusion "a conspiracy this huge would be impossible to pull off".

Yes but imagine - without 9/11 we would never have had the joy of encountering Loose Change,Dylan Avery and his Kevin the Teenager act........

WTC 7: The Debate Continues

Ahead of the BBC Conspiracy Files programme this Sunday, the Beeb are trailing several articles to promote their programme.

One, is describing the 'mystery' of WTC 7 as 'solved'.

Perhaps so.

But to describe any issue surrounding 9/11 as 'solved' is to fundamentally mis-understand the mindset of the 9/11 'truth' movement. Osama Bin Laden could walk into the front room at Belinda McKenzie's Highgate home tomorrow, confess all and explain exactly how it was done, and the UK's 9/11 truth activists would still be in denial.

Truth, evidence, facts all come well below belief in 9/11 'truth' circles.

Whatever impact the BBC's programme has this weekend, one thing is for certain. It will do little or nothing to derail the 'truth' movement or its activists............

Three 9/11 Documentaries This Week: BBC Return To The Fray

This evening at 7pm the Crime and Investigation channel examines the story of 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta.

A potentially interesting programme, unless you happen to be Mohammed Atta's dad or a 9/11 'truth' activist, in which case you no doubt believe Atta is still alive and that he likes nothing better than to ring up old Grandpa Atta for a chat.....

The C&I channel is at 531 on Sky and 237 on Virgin.

Tuesday 1 July sees the BBC repeat its Conspiracy Files documentary on 9/11, on BBC2 at 11.20pm.

This is a taster for the second Conspiracy Files programme on 9/11, which is screened on Sunday 6 July at 9pm BBC2.

Some of the issues about that programme can be found on editor Mike Rudin's blog. We won't comment on the programme until we have seen it, but knowing the 9/11 'truth' movement as we do, we think it prudent to point out to the producers that they can expect a hysterical reaction from some of the more unbalanced 'truthers' out there..........

Counterknowledge versus Conspiracy?

Yesterdays Daily Telegraph had a fascinating article by Damian Thompson on the rise of quack theories.

You can view the article here, and Thompson's Telegraph blog here.

Thompson sets out strongly the spread of gibberish on any number of issues - from 9/11 through to religion and even medicine. He complains rightly that the line between fact and fiction is now harder than ever to draw - what else needs to be said about the Da Vinci Code?

Weaknesses are however apparent. The term conspiracy theory is a highly pejorative one, and one that needs to be used far more sparingly than it is (and we count ourselves in that criticism). If used as a bludgeon, it will stifle debate on major political issues. In part conspiracy theories exist because so much is hidden by the political class, and decided in secret. It is hardly a surprise when ill-informed speculation emerges, as we have a system where the majority - even in Western democracies - are further away from the decision making process than ever before.

Also people and organisations do conspire. How would Thompson describe a highly complicated process such as Iraqi WMD's - where virtually all the players were conspiring against each other, for years? When the music eventually stopped, there were no victors - America's international standing ended up lower than ever before, whilst Saddam not only lost power, but ultimately lost his life.
In the end the only victors appear to be Iraq's resurgent Islamists, and Iran, who now have more influence across the border than ever before. Perhaps the biggest failing of Western advocates of 'counterknowledge' though, is that they utterly refuse to count Islamist organisations such as the Al Sadr Brigade - or for that matter Shia Iran - as players in the big game. Everything is always the fault of the USA, or the old whipping boys - Israel.

Taken initially, Thompson's concept of 'counterknowledge', if anything appears over generous to many pushing alternative theories on issues like HIV, 9/11, 7/7 or vaccination. Many in these fields appear to think less than they believe, and study less than they speculate. Their 'counterknowledge' is all too often without any base in research, save for access to google and Youtube. If you don't believe us, take a look at the UK and Ireland 9/11 Truth Forum.

Thompson's book "Counterknowledge" will be reviewed by the 9/11 Cultwatch team in due course - either here, or in Notes From The Borderland.

Don't Mention Bin Laden

A rational discussion of the threat from Islamist Terrorism is not something you will find in either the truth 'movement' or indeed huge swathes of the mainstream media.

Over in the US, journalist John Hockenberry has been dishing the dirt on his time at NBC. It seems one of the main US networks did not want serious coverage of Osama Bin Laden and his motivations, instead looking for cheap human interest stories from New York.

Perhaps more interesting still is the pressure he was put under by General Electric, NBC's parent company, not to go into General Electric's vast business interests in Saudi Arabia, including long standing one's with the Bin Laden family. After all, even events like 9/11 cannot be allowed to interfere with big business.

Read some of Hockenberry's comments here.