9/11 CultWatch

9/11 'Truth' Activists Declare Michael Meacher MP's Death May Be Suspicious

This evening Reinvestigate 9/11, the 'truth' organisation headed by Ian Henshall, has circulated supporters with a press release concerning Michael Meacher, the late MP for Oldham West and Royton.

This mostly focuses on parts of Meacher's back catalogue most in the Labour Party politely ignored (his views on 9/11, his giddiness about the Bilderbergs) and makes the very sweeping claim that Meacher, a buy to let landlord before it became fashionable, was "in many ways the intellectual powerhouse behind the insurrection that saw Jeremy Corbyn elected leader of the Labour Party this summer."
We are also reminded that John McDonnell is not the only Labour MP to entertain 9/11 conspiracists in the House of Commons - Michael Meacher had been doing so for many years, right up until his recent death.

The really odd stuff comes towards the end though, and serves as a neat example as to how the conspiracist mindset operates. R911 write:

"News reports have given no details of the cause of Michael's unexpected death beyond a statement from Peter Dean, his constituency office manager, who said: "We are extremely sad and it has been quite a short illness he has had and we just don't know the details at present. Ian Henshall an organiser of Reinvestigate 9/11 said: "I hope that, to put to rest any lingering doubts, his aides will take a close look and divulge full details of what happened."

Whose lingering doubts? What doubts? We are not told, but the impression, that Meacher'a death may be suspicious, is ever so subtly placed in the readers lap. From there, the story can run and run.

The full text of the R911 press release, plus an article asking "Was British MP Michael Meacher Murdered to Cover Up 9/11?" may be viewed here, courtesy of the ever excitable Veterans Today website.

Late News From the Anti-Austerity March

Saturday 20 June saw major protests against austerity in London and several other British cities. The 9/11 'Truth' movement has long sought to attach itself to parts of the left, the anti-war movement, Muslim community representative groups - basically anywhere it might come in from the cold for a bit of a warm. 

This is how the Reinvestigate 9/11 group's newsletter, covers their intervention, in an email of 27 June:

Noel reports that he had a warm reception on the anti-austerity march in London with the new RI911 leaflet. "I managed to distribute more leaflets than ever before, 700 of them... Attitudes towards 9/11 seem to have changed dramatically.  I was never once called a conspiracy theorist...  I met lots of people I hadn't seen for years... One enthusiastic student told me they had debates on 9/11 at his university: York others told me of new 9/11 groups."

Given the outcome of the general election this year was hardly a ringing rejection of austerity, activists will have a hard job convincing the public of their case. Groups like The People's Assembly may wish to consider whether they also wish to lug a dead dodo in the shape of the 9/11 'truth' movement with them as they march from A to B.....

Fight Terrorism - Boycott The Licence Fee?

There are lots of sound arguments for boycotting the BBC's licence fee.

Perhaps the easiest to make is that it is a regressive tax - everyone pays the same, regardless of their income or ability to pay. As the licence is compulsory for all households watching television or TV programmes via a computer, we all pay the same whether we want to watch the BBC or not. Thirdly the BBC as an institution represents a rather narrow cultural elite - overwhelmingly middle class and London based, it grows fat on money taken from working class licence payers across the whole of the United Kingdom.
Perfectly sensible alternatives, such as the abolition of the licence fee and the BBC becoming a subscription service, exist. There is also an e-petition against the licence fee.

For the 9/11 Truth movement, such sensible arguments are of course irrelevant. The text below comes from the latest kick-start to Ian Henshall's Reinvestigate 9/11 campaign:

Congratulations to Anthony Rooke of Christians for 9/11 Truth. Anthony is refusing to pay his TV license on the grounds that, by suppressing the truth about 9/11, the BBC is aiding and abetting terrorism. Under Section 15 Article 3 of the draconian Terrorism Act 2000, if there is any possibility that you might be aiding terrorism you are obliged to refuse. 

The outline of Tony's case has been accepted as arguable, and a full hearing is scheduled for the morning of Monday 25 February at Magistrates' Court, Horsham, West Sussex in front of a judge.

Sadly we are not told who has 'accepted the outline of Tony's case is arguable' - presumeably someone who takes the view the taxpayers has limitless funds to entertain conspiracy theorists. It seems 25th February will bring some of the truth movements 'stars' to Horsham - Niells Harrit and Ian Henshall are both poised to give 'evidence'. Sadly, as with any truth movement intervention, the biggest fear for activists is not the state but the potential problems posed by other activists. Reinvestigate 9/11's email warns:

"You are invited to attend and respectfully show support for Tony. Please do not assume the judge is biased against us. Even if he finds against Tony he may make comments which could be very useful in confronting the BBC Trust."

There are plenty of things the BBC Trust should be worrying about. The BBC's coverage of 9/11 is not one of them.

 

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?