Source: harpers.org

By Benjamin DeMott
October 2004

No book in memory has stirred greater anticipatory frenzy than The 9/11 Commission Report—or more universal acclaim at its appearance in July. Before it was out, news and interview shows were welcoming the Commissioners whose labor had produced it. CNN ran film footage of copies tumbling off printer-plant conveyor belts. Stores reported overnight sellouts of their orders. Officialdom, Republicans and Democrats, spoke of the work as magisterial. David Brooks hailed its “moral aura” on PBS's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. The President himself—at one time he not only had declined an invitation to answer the Commission's questions but had opposed the Commission's creation—praised the work as “very constructive,” and he and the Vice President commenced citing it in speeches; so did John Kerry. By mid-August, 630,000 copies, priced to move at $10, had been sold.

http://nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tbx2008_1120_wtc7.htm

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today released its final report on the Sept. 11, 2001, collapse of the 47-story World Trade Center building 7 (WTC 7) in New York City. The final report is strengthened by clarifications and supplemental text suggested by organizations and individuals worldwide in response to the draft WTC 7 report, released for public comment on Aug. 21, but the revisions did not alter the investigation team’s major findings and recommendations, which include identification of fire as the primary cause for the building’s failure.

The extensive three-year scientific and technical building and fire safety investigation found that the fires on multiple floors in WTC 7, which were uncontrolled but otherwise similar to fires experienced in other tall buildings, caused an extraordinary event. Heating of floor beams and girders caused a critical support column to fail, initiating a fire-induced progressive collapse that brought the building down.

Thanks to simuvac

Jon Gold
11/20/2008

Remember when the "bailout" was first being discussed, and Rep. Brad Sherman said, "the one thing that’s been proven is the absolute fear-mongering that’s being used to drive us is false." [...] "I’ve seen members turn to each other and say if we don’t pass this bill, we’re going to have martial law in the United States."

The other aspect of the fear mongering had to do with comparing the situation to 9/11. Over, and over again. Here are several examples:

McCain Calls for Regulation and A 9/11-Type Commission
"McCain also called for a commission like the one set up after 9/11 that would examine the mess on Wall Street." - [, 9/16/2008]

Comparing Economic Crisis to 9/11, McCain Wants Friday's Debate Delayed; Obama Rejects Pushing Off Debate

http://www.truthout.org/112008J

THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2008

Against the Militarized Academy
by: Henry A. Giroux, t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced an effort to increase the militarization of higher education. (Photo: FilmMaker Magazine)