One of the most amusing features of the so-called “9/11 Truth Movement” is a tragic, desperate search for evidence suggesting its theories are gaining mainstream support. “Troofers” believe that the 11 September 2001 terrorist atrocities in New York and Washington were an inside job, orchestrated by the Bush administration/military-industrial-complex/Israel/Illuminati/Bilderbergers/Space Lizards (they can’t make up their minds). Thankfully, acceptance for their crackpot theories is pretty thin on the ground.
Cynthia McKinney’s candidacy in the U.S. Presidential elections provides an example of the Truth Movement’s failure to translate their feverish internet activity into tangible political results: Ms McKinney not only supported “troofer” claims, but even made her own contribution to counterknowledge with the claim that “up to 5,000 prisoners were executed by the U.S. government after Hurricane Katrina”, an atrocity which seems to have escaped the attention of the U.S. and international media, not to mention the relatives of around 5,000 people who somehow disappeared in the vicinity of New Orleans in September 2005 without anyone noticing. Ms McKinney managed to gain a mere 152,811 votes on 4 November 2008, and even that figure does not allow for the probability that some of her support was from traditional Green supporters (i.e., pacifist environmentalists) who have no time for 9/11 conspiracy theorists.
Across the pond, connoisseurs of nut-jobbery enjoyed the spectacle of Michael Meacher - the former UK Environment Minister - announcing to the press that he’d just discovered the internet, and gosh, it seems that those nasty neo-cons connived in the 9/11 attacks. Mr Meacher’s political career has not exactly advanced by leaps and bounds since then, as demonstrated by the ignominious failure of his bid for the Labour Party leadership in the spring of 2007.
This leaves Truthers with few options, except perhaps for the venerable Andreas von Bülow (often incorrectly described as a former German Defence Minister), who claimed that the airliners flown into the Twin Towers were piloted by remote control. On closer inspection, it is evident that von Bülow is simply repeating established claims, rather than contributing specialist knowledge and insight acquired during his political career. It is also worth asking why no other former senior Ministers from other Western democracies have stepped forward to back him up. (Incidentally, Truthers did briefly get excited when Francesco Cossiga - the former President of Italy - apparently offered his endorsement for their theories, without realising that he was in fact taking the piss out of them.)
Now, Truthers have found themselves a new champion, leading to declarations that “Japan Questions 9/11″. Japan has been a long-standing U.S. ally in East Asia since 1951. Its government supported the U.S.-led interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and after September 2001 the Japanese Self-Defence Forces were deployed for the first time beyond Japan’s borders, and in support of coalition operations (as opposed to U.N. ‘blue helmet’ peacekeeping missions). If the powers-that-be in Tokyo had come to the conclusion that they had been duped into backing the U.S. on the back of a “false-flag” operation, the consequences for U.S. foreign policy would be calamitous. After all, if one long-established ally of America was questioning the integrity of its allies’ policies - not to mention its own government - how long would it be before other hitherto staunch allies did the same?
On closer inspection, the poster-boy for the “truth movement” turns out to be a minor member of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan - a certain Yukihisa Fujita. Mr Fujita sits in the upper house of the Japanese Diet (Parliament). Details of his career suggest that he’s not exactly a high-flier.
Mr Fujita made three presentations to the Diet, rehashing myths that have done the rounds on Truther websites for the past seven years (NORAD was stood down; the WTC towers were brought down by controlled demolitions, etc.). Mr Fujita’s claims received no endorsement from the DPJ (or its leader, Ichiro Ozawa) and have had little apparent impact on Japanese public opinion. They would presumably have remained unnoticed had it not been for the internet. In this case, the Truthers have a certain John Spiri, who writes for the English-language Japan Times, to thank.
The calibre of Mr Spiri’s reportage may be gauged from his less-than-critical coverage of fringe religious cults and UFO abductions. His shortcomings as a journalist are also exposed by one correspondent for Japan Times who did what Mr Spiri failed to: i.e., to investigate the veracity of Mr Fujita’s claims and examine their origins. Simple fact-checking not only showed that Mr Fujitu’s claims - which Spiri repeated verbatim - had no basis in fact (for example, the assertion that there was no aircraft wreckage found that the Pentagon crash site), but that the former had relied considerably on an anti-Semitic crank and a Holocaust denier called Akira Dojimaru for his “evidence”.
The end result provides a perfect example of the way the 9/11 Truth Movement (and counterknowledge in general) operates. An obscure member of a legislative body makes a fool of himself by parroting the melange of myths and outright bullshit touted by conspiracy theorists, some of which he derives from a website produced by a neo-Nazi. Said parliamentarian’s claims would have disappeared into the ether had they not been publicised online by a practitioner of counterknowledge masquerading as a journalist. And the kooks who thrive on 9/11 conspiracy theories breathlessly declare Mr Fujita’s regurgitation of their claptrap to be evidence of their own success, in the process exaggerating his status and significance.
Is this latest, disingenuous Truther trickery a sign of desperation, lunacy, or both?
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24 responses
I think that the demise of the “9/11 Truth Movement” is evidenced by this years election. I think that the thinking, progressive people who voted for Obama are finally getting off their lazy “thinking” butts and saying that enough is enough.
If McCain had won, the religious right (who already believe in enough counterknowledge - and I’m not talking necessarily about religion or god) would probably have insured that the “Troofers” could stay afloat. Along with the IDer’s.
Thanks, an excellent article.
The claim that the 9/11 truth movement is somehow in decline is not supported by statistical evidence.
Google Trends shows the real situation.
http://www.google.com/trends?q=alex+jones%2Cinfowars%2Ccounterknowledge&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
Yes one of my ex freinds who is an anti - semitic looser has stopped sending me (and 12 other people) e- mails supporting 911 conspiracy garbage. I was able to debunk all his “best evidence” through sites such as “screw Loose Change” and the “Popular Mechanics” articles. After a year of sending out the garbage, he asked for a poll of all the other 11 people who received the e- mails.
Only one other person supported 911 conspiracy bollocks. He was a 36 year old virgin who still lives with his mum and does not have a job. A very angry young man…..
I think the tide has turned on conspiracy theories (also the excellent Southpark episode probably helped to discredit 911 conspiracy garbage)
Here’s a more accurate picture of how ‘truthers’ are doing than that wingnut Fraser provides:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/sep08/WPO_911_Sep08_pr.pdf
Note the fact that the two countries that show the most support for ‘truther’-type theories (Egypt and Jordan) are the two authoritarian states bereft of a free media, and where anti-Semitic conspiracy theories (e.g. ‘Protocols’) are rife. It’s funny that ‘trutherism’ does so poorly in democratic countries with an open media and freedom of speech.
PLEASE! Some of you “non belivers” are so totaly biased and ignorant its painful and truly saddening to read. Please: so many humans around the world (and in particular in the middle east) are suffering greatly from an in my opinion unjust war. The least one could do is demand a proper (uncensoured) investigation into what actually happened that day.
This is not about prestige; its about justice and morality!
Christian, it may surprise you to know that people can oppose the war in Iraq (and maybe Afghanistan too), without going bonkers and becoming a ‘truther’. I know many decent and intelligent people who think that we should never have invaded Iraq, but still have the common sense to recognise that 9/11 conspiracy theorists are nutters.
And if we’re talking about investigations and reviews, it’s worth noting that the 9/11 Commission Report is critical of the Bush administration’s decision to effect ‘regime change’ in Iraq, and does not treat it as part of the necessary effort to combat the phenomenon of radical Islamism.
Furthermore, with all your talk about humanitarian suffering maybe you should ask yourself if you gave any thought to the countless victims of the misery inflicted by Salafi Islamists and Taliban-style theocrats before a single Western boot stepped into Afghanistan or Iraq. I’m talking about the carnage in Algeria during the 1990s, the 1998 bombings in Nairobi and Dar e Salaam, the civil war in Sudan, the plight of Afghanistan during the civil war and Taliban rule, and the sectarian massacres in Indonesia in the late 1990s for starters.
Ah, ok, the South Park episode did it right? Great source of info to be sure, I base all my opinions on big events like 9/11 based on what Trey and Matt write. Uh huh. And why were you friends with such a loser in the first place? What does that say about you?
‘I base all my opinions on big events like 9/11 based on what Trey and Matt write.’
Seeing as ‘truthers’ take as gospel the output of 3 film school drop outs, 1 fat redneck disc-jockey in Austin, 1 ex-copper fired from the LAPD for being a loon, and 1 ‘physicist’ who specialises in the non-existent field of cold fusion, you’re in no position to scoff.
says the guy who fears Isal like a rightwing zombie bitch. gullible mf’er.
oops, i meant fears Islam like a little coward bitch.
Hello Cr
Southpark is usually very perceptive about most things. You can argue against it through a cogent argument. What is your “best evidence” that 911 was not performed by muslim fanatics?
I’ll bet you do not really have anything do you?
’says the guy who fears Isal like a rightwing zombie bitch. gullible mf’er.
oops, i meant fears Islam like a little coward bitch’
First you get your spelling wrong. Second, even when you correct it, you still manage to write something exceptionally moronic.
This is the standard we deal with - the people whose lips move when they type.
I think people are beginning to realise that rabid anti semetism is the underlying venom that drives Truthers. When they are not blaming the Jews for 9/11, they accuse any critics of working for the Jews…Many of the Neo Nazi groups think the Jews were behind 9/11, and like your average truther- holds hatred for the Jews…
I think Truthers are sick of bigots…
Also, I think with Obama as president, and the attempt to improve the country and get on a positive track, its gets tiresome hearing Truthers bitch and moan how much they hate America.
Truthers usually go through a whole laundry list of all the things they hate about america- NEVER ONCE have I heard them say anything positive about this country.
Between their hatred of the Jews and anti Americanism, people are fed up with the hatred and venom of the truthers- That, plus the fact many of these Truthers are textbook case tinfoil hat wearing nutcases.
Truthers are not sick OF bigots, they are sick bigots….
Typo on my part
9/11 was infact an inside job!!!
Why real “terrorists” ( USA elite, CIA) wanted 9/11 terroracts?
* to round constitutional rights with antiterrorist laws ( Homeland security, Patriot act, Real id)
*invade Iraq for oil
*invade Afganistan for oil and pipelines
* big corporation interests in gun trade and chaos in Iraq and Afganistan.
* turn USA in police state ( laws controlling “terrorists”)
terrorist in their thoughts are free US citizens
Real id coming to us!
search youtube for “Real ID”
and “Fema concentration camps”
“Operation Northwoods” in 1962 was a plan by governament to stage acts of real terrorism on US soil and against U.S. interests and then put the blame of these acts on Cuba in order to generate U.S. public support for military action against the Cuban government of Fidel Castro.Kennedy did not approve it in 1962.Bush did in 2001. 9/11 inside job.
It is in wikipedia!!! google “Operation Northwoods”
And the purpose of that incontinent rant was what, exactly?
Truthers rank as some of the most obnoxious people i’ve ever met- Their idea of ‘debate’ is shouting people down, or constantly interrupting-and Truthers have a habit of fabricating and manipulating ‘evidence’ to support their theories.
When presented with FACTS that discredit their fantasies, Truthers fly off into a rage. Truthers have been known to use threats of violence againts people who discredit their lies.
The Truther movement looks more an more like a cult to me each day- The movemeant is filled with people who need to be told what to think, as well as the mentally ill. In that sense, it is exactly like a religious cult.
If 9/11 was an inside job- then WHY was it done? Other than blaming the Jews, Truthers have yet to spell out WHY such a scheme would have been carried out.
And WHY hasn’t there ever been a leak, from the thousands of people that would be needed in such a undertaking and coverup?
Many truthers have asserted Bush and Cheney were behind 9/11, so Bush could assume dictatorial powers- But last time i checked, Bush and Cheney left office once Obama was sworn in…..If they carried out 9/11, would they really allow a new president to take over? unless……..obama was in on it too!
Unless obama is a hologram!
To the poeple trying to debunk the ‘truther movement’. Some of you should pickup a book or ten and learn just how geopolitics work. ‘Remenber the Maine’?, conclusively proven to have been blown up by your own government to enable them to snap up the last of the spanish possessions in the americas. There are many instances of this procedure around the world thoughout history.Flase flag attacks are the stock in trade of geopolitical machinations. Here in the emerald isle it has been recently reported that up to 90% of the bombings we experienced during the ‘troubles’ were ordered and instigated by the british secret services in order to prolong the conflict so as to keep us divided as a nation. It worked quite well and we are still dealing with the aftermath.
MSM provides the cover stories which are drilled into the populations subconcious minds preventing most from looking at things objectively. Many of the truthers can’t see the bigger picture themselves and blame Bush, Cheney et al. as the prime movers in the game which is unfortunately way off the mark. They were, just like Obama is today, nothing more than puppets and frontmen. A PR screen if you will hiding the real movers and shakers which has always been the financial houses and banking cartels.
And before anyone accuses me of anti-semitism or the like let me say this. The religious denominations of those responsible is irrelevant. Claimed denominational affiliation by the people at the top of this ponzi scheme we call ‘civilisation’ is quite irrelevant to them too, it is just a cover which confers victim status whenever anyone gets too close to the truth. Palestinians are also semetic poeple by the way if anyones interested. Knock Knock.
Anyway you will all learn the truth over the next few years as the plan for global enslavement is accelerated. Try reading 1984 for a look at your childrens future if you like. George Orwell was a british agent and was well versed in the long term plan for us and bravely attempted to warn the world. He paid for this with his life not twelve months after publication
gee, i wonder why the above comment is the last to have been posted on this issue in the past 17 or so days. maybe because it’s the truth and there’s really nothing more to be said?
toldyouso
It is true that there is nothing more to be said. All of the 911 conspiracy theories have now been debunked.
The only people who believe them now are white supremacists and neonazis.
Otherwise, why don’t you just give me your best piece of evidence that 911 was an “inside job”.
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