Antiwar League.com: "Why the Left Should Not Be Hostile to 9/11 Truth Efforts"

(The article "Why the Left Should Not Be Hostile to 9/11 Truth Efforts" by David Slesinger is prominently featured on the Antiwar League homepage. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. -r.)

Editor's note: Antiwar League is posting this article because it makes important points for the whole antiwar movement. Regardless of what particular theory about the events of September 11 you subscribe to, it is important to put aside our differences and work for a common goal we can all agree on. There must be a new investigation, a full and truthful investigation, unimpeded by secrecy and conflict of interest.

Why the Left Should Not Be Hostile to 9/11 Truth Efforts

by David Slesinger
www.911Courage.org

(March 1, 2007)

The war on terror is being used to open the door to serious threats to our civil liberties. Exposition of any lies supporting such threats could be helpful to the protection of our Constitution.

If the current regime lies about so much, why shy away from asking the hardest questions about 9/11?

The lies which brought about the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution were a landmark lesson for American anti-imperialists. Why is Operation Northwoods unworthy of our concern?

It is said that the first casualty of war is the truth. If both major parties and the leaders of the antiwar movement have no interest in researching lies used to justify our current war, who deserves the most criticism?

Ultimately, we don't have to prove who did what. All we have to prove is that the government is lying. The fact that we still need the power of subpoena means we shouldn't be charged with the responsibility of already having answered all the hardest questions.

The burden of proof for "debunkers" is not the preponderance of the evidence. Their burden of proof is to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that a thorough investigation could disprove our case. This also means than if a debunker makes a good case about some aspect of our case, they still face the burden of making just as strong a case against ALL of our arguments. David Ray Griffin lists 115 different omissions and distortions of the Kean/Zelikow Commission. View it here. http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20050523112738404

Did you know that the US Military's timeline was changed twice, without explanation? Do think there should be a mulligan for citizens who salute?

Did you know the official theory assumes the FAA violated their own procedures 16 different times that day? Should we think twice before boarding an aircraft as a result?

Since the event of 9/11 is the most central event in the recent history of the US, it is not unreasonable that some people would speculate about the details of what happened. Since the US government has been proven to have a history of funding and directing disruptive agents, focusing criticism on our weakest arguments does not serve the search for understanding. (As I used to say the first time I thought my phone was tapped, "They must have money to burn.")

There are increasing numbers of 9/11 whistleblowers. The most recent, Robin Hordon, is a former air traffic controller. Are they fools for calling down the wrath of the state on them? How do their efforts differ from the efforts of Dan Ellsberg and others? Should Dan be criticized for helping 911 related whistleblowers like Sibel Edmonds?

My question for leftist debunkers in general is why can't they take Howard Zinn's position? To quote Howard in a letter to me, "while I am not devoting my time to this issue, I am glad other people are doing that. Surely there needs to be a division of labor and we can't all concentrate on every aspect of the horror represented by this administration. I surely agree we should ask all the hard questions barring none. And if there is solid evidence which, even if not conclusive, raises questions about the Bush Administration's relationship to 9-11, it should be exposed, and could become part of the arsenal calling for radical political change."

The institution on the left which monitors journalistic cowardice is Project Censored. Their recent media conference included a keynote speech by Prof. Steven Jones, the now former BYU Physics professor who makes the case for controlled demolition.

Even Chip Berlet and Matt Rothschild, respected leftist critics of 9/11 skepticism, agree there should be a real investigation. A shill for PNAC would never agree to that. Did you hear the Popular Mechanics guy on Charles Goyette's radio show actually argue there is no need to release ALL the photos of the Pentagon?

While most engineers and scientists have not condemned the official theory, it is hardly scientific to suggest we can be sure this can be explained by some reason other than the fact that most people will always be hesitant to risk their careers.

How are the entreaties to trust government experts when these experts are structural engineers defending the official theory of 9/11 any different from when the experts were war planners defending the Vietnam War?

If one could demonstrate that some other "conspiracy" is not accompanied by strong evidence, that in no way justifies using such a label to dismiss our hardest questions. The ability of someone to compare our efforts to the misguided efforts of others and use this as an excuse for personal attacks is itself misguided. Accusing us of various forms of religious nuttiness is a reference to unquestioning acceptance of unproven theory, which is the case I'm making here against our critics.

Most present day leftists carry the traditions of the New Left and its anti authoritarian tendencies rather than the Old Left with its residual Stalinism. Anti-imperialist activists of a certain age have been more than willing to attend large rallies in coalition with a good variety of more authoritarian activists. 911Truth activists are generating large numbers of anti-imperialist, anti-corporate activists. Why shouldn't these people be treated as brothers and sisters? Anti-authoritarian anti-imperialists wouldn't think of wasting their time publicly attacking the choice of focus of our Marxist-Leninist brothers and sisters. They certainly wouldn't make the primary criticism of these comrades that they are wasting time exposing insufficiently important ruling class or government lies.

While the 911truth movement is hardly free of sectarianism, the tendency of respected left commentators to attack ALL efforts to expose the lies about 9/11 is simply another form of left sectarianism. All ideological endeavor is plagued by sectarianism. Whenever one analyst believes another analyst is too far afield, they may justifiably draw lines until more evidence or analysis comes forward. When it becomes hairsplitting is anyone's opinion.

If a longtime adversary accuses you of being a conspiracy theorist, should this always mean you'll stop some legitimate line of research?

The religious left is showing itself to be increasingly open to asking the hardest questions about 9/11 and the war on terror. An anthology including major progressive religious scholars is coming out edited by Kevin Barrett. David Ray Griffin has published a whole volume with religious focus. What do secular leftists have to say to Rabbi Michael Lerner or in response to comments by Rev. William Sloane Coffin?

At what point is it reasonable to insist that "left gatekeepers" individually respond to criticism they are sold out to ruling class foundation funds? Should anyone be considered beyond reproach?

Well said. I'm glad we are

Well said. I'm glad we are seeing more of the "Left" alternative media loosening their attack stance against 9/11 truth. We in the movement need to show up at their events and pass out DVDs and flyers for our film screenings to the "rank and file". Many in the lower and middle rungs of the peace movement are open to or even actively pushing for 9/11 truth. If we can swell their numbers and make it an acceptable topic within the movement, the leaders with vested interests will be forced to follow along or lose their positions.

The bad guys infiltrate and corrupt from the top of organizations, we can infiltrate and enlighten from the bottom. We all know you have to take out the foundational supports to get towers to fall.

Oh, I've found that when I'm passing out DVDs to peace groups (or anyone really) it helps to give them “Freedom to Fascism” at the same time along with a contact to get involved in local truth groups.

Wow what a statement!

Extremely well-written and timely--thanks to David and the Antiwar League for helping the cause of truth and for taking such a principled stand viz the antiwar left!

____

Real Truther a.k.a. Verdadero Verdadero

WTCdemolition.com - Harvard Task Force

 

yes, it's a good one.

Hopefully, we will se a different attitude from now on?
Nothing has puzzled me more than the behavior of the anti-war left towards 911 truth. They do everything they can to defend the Bush adm when it comes to the 911 issue...this is an extemely strange behavior.

Because they invested so heavily in the blowback theory

Right after the attacks, they strolled into the wet cement of the blowback theory, and it quickly calcified around their ankles, and they haven't been able to bring themselves to budge since. It's as if they don't mind the administration having all the advantages afforded by the official story, so long as they can keep criticizing U.S. foreign policy on the grounds that it led to these attacks on Americans. (As if there aren't plenty of other grounds for criticizing U.S. foreign policy!)

Well then , why don't they at least consider LIHOP, which is still consistent with the blowback theory of the attacks? Because to do that would mean letting go of that other premise to which they are so firmly wedded, that of the stupidity and incompetence of this administration. It's as if their own sense of self-worth is inseparable from maintaining this perception of the Bush-Cheney administration as a bunch of bumbling incompetents, incapabable even of purposely disenabling U.S. intelligence, law enforcement and defense so that attacks might succeed, to say nothing of actually organizing the attacks themselves.

Then, too, they might surmise that one can't speculate about LIHOP without being forced to ponder MIHOP at some point, wherein angry Middle Eastern Muslims are regarded essentially as mere pawns and patsies. And when that point is reached, so much for blowback in accounting for the events of 9/11--and, as noted above, they are simply too wedded to this understanding of the attacks that they won't let it go, and won't consider things which might force them to let it go.

Thus, they cling to the official story with the same tenacity as do politicians and the media, now just as they did in the immediate aftermath of the events.

"Blowback and Incompetence"....

.....and these beliefs have been so ingrained in the left that they are not even aware of it...it's like breathing for them at this point....it allows them to feel smarter and superior to this regime (and who doesn't want to feel that?....).

Unfortunately, 9/11 Truth threatens that self-image....and we all know how resistant people are to altering that.....no one wants to feel like they've been played....

Truthers should consciously bring up B&I when talking to leftys, get on the same page and then show how those two things don't apply with regard to 9/11.

Yes, there was "incompetence" on 9/11, because the attacks didn't go as planned by the High Perps....but not in the sense the left wants to believe.

what happened to the

what happened to the 911blogger/Alex Jones blog sbg? afraid of stepping on some toes are we? :)

Please answer Chris' question

I too was looking for the 911blogger/alex jones blog. Was it pulled off? If so, why? and by whom?

Thanks.

huh?

What are you talking about? I see your post has 2 "up" votes, so it must mean something, which means I'm in need of educatin'! :-)

What is this "911blogger/Alex Jones blog sbg" of which you speak?

Want to figure out 9/11? Ponder the 9/11 "Mineta Stone"

SBG "pulled it"

DZ says it looks like Somebigguy deleted it. Move along... no conspiracy here.

;-)

pulled what?? from where?

Ahhhhh, I hate it when only everyone else knows what's going on! %)

Want to figure out 9/11? Ponder the 9/11 "Mineta Stone"

Relax PS

SBG posted a blog responding to AJ's claim that the 911 sites were ignoring Rosie's coming out story.

Although AJ didnt mention 911blogger specifically, SBG wanted it known that we were on the Rosie story from day one.

Some of the responses started dogging AJ and all of a sudden the blog disappears.

Apparently SBG decided to remove it, but we don't know why.

Hope that helps.

thanks

I figured out SBG/sbg = Some Big Guy and I recognized AJ = Alex Jones, so with your explanation, I'm now relaxed.

Ahhhhhh.

Want to figure out 9/11? Ponder the 9/11 "Mineta Stone"

thats weird, it didnt seem

thats weird, it didnt seem like people were dogging him, it was mostly just contsructive criticism. some good discussion going on there, its too bad SBG "pulled it"(sorry, i know that joke is very old by now,haha).

People who said it best...

Wasn't it Jon Gould who said in respnse to Cindy Sheehan's noncommital flirts w/ 9/11 Truth that to end the war, to end the state-sponsored torture, and to bring justice tho those who lied us into war, seek the truth to 9/11?

It's so simple.

David Ray Griffin also suggested that once you have accepted the possibility that either the government let 9/11 happen, or made it happen, it is your moral imperative to do everything in your power to expose the cover-up.

The emails and letters I have written, and the person-to-person connections I've made have only exponentially increased since I read those words.

Anti-war activists who neglect 9/11 Truth is like a patient comlaining about body cramps without looking at the Doctor's MRI and pathology report. Pain is not the cause, it is a symptom. Likewise, everything is done these days in the name of 9/11 - be it a bomb dropped, suspension of habeus corpus, tapped phone lines, occupations of sovereign governments, increase in black budgets. These are all symptomatic of that fateful day in 2001.

They invoke 9/11 for everything. But if you question 9/11, they brand you as a heretic. You have to wonder why.

Cut the snake of the new world order off at the head - 9/11.

A new investigation, even to the truest skeptic, is nothing outrageous.

Here's a plea...

I wrote a long time ago that talked about that...

Our Finest Hour


"So where is the oil going to come from?... The Middle East, with two-thirds of the world's oil and the lowest cost, is still where the prize ultimately lies."

Richard Cheney - Chief Executive Of Halliburton

Thanks for the reply

I still have some catching up to do. And sorry for mispelling your name.

What's remarkable is the number of everyday people I deal with who are willing to accept the LIHOP theory. But these same people are not quite "connectors" but rather "receptors." At this stage, they are willing to listen, read and learn. But not to process and and tap into unfamiliar territory.

However, once this reaches a critical mass (Rosie will certainly help) then you will see more people converting to not only hear it, but speak and spread the truth.

Knowledge Is Power...

The more knowledge one has about 9/11, the clearer the picture becomes.


"So where is the oil going to come from?... The Middle East, with two-thirds of the world's oil and the lowest cost, is still where the prize ultimately lies."

Richard Cheney - Chief Executive Of Halliburton

How long before Buzzflash.net deletes this post?

This is a good article to post at Buzzflash.net, a notorious "left gatekeeper". Although some of the most "buzzed" articles indeed the two "most buzzed" articles ever at Buzzflash both deal with 9/11 Truth, they have become increasingly intolerant of 9/11 Truth "news". Rarely do my posts last more than an hour or two before they mysteriously disappear.

So I am eager to see if this particular post is deemed acceptable by the Buzzflash Gods.

It was posted at 4:30p est on Monday. Let's see how long it lasts.

Damn gatekeepers!

5:15p and my post has been pulled!

That one did'nt even last an hour! Talk about "hostile".

Ironically, Buzzflash had a headline up over the weekend bragging about how they had won the "Project Censored" award 3 of the last 4 years.

So I went to Project Censored, found an article relating to WTC7 and posted the link at Buzzflash.net.

You guessed it... Buzzflash CENSORED it!

Go figure.

Big Surprise!

I was actually able to see it posted, but in the time it took to register at buzzflash (so I could vote on it) the story disappeared. What I don't understand is why do some of the people commenting on buzzflash and digg get so nasty. If they said the things they say about "truthers" about women or a racial minority they would be lynched by the progressive left, but it is ok to say this stuff about us.
Another thing I don't understand is why does buzzflash bother to censor these stories? Either they view them as spam, which is strange since there are about a million stories about Iraq that have been linked to there. Or they view such stories as some kind of threat. So either they are controlled somehow or they are just massively biased against 9/11 truth. Either way the moderators there are DICKS.

I will shake your hand, but I will not believe your lies.

Incredible, Chris. Buzz is

Incredible, Chris. Buzz is such a hypocrite -- it's beyond belief really. I've totally stopped going to both BuzzFlash sites for months now after seeing how they CENSOR. They've got to be one of the worst.... along with truthout too (which ironically reports on Project Censored stories, but also refuses to publish anything that questions the official conspiracy theory).

Agreed

I've developed quite a reputation as the "911 Truth Guy" over at Buzzflash. They even docked my karma points in an effort to send me a message that 911 Truth is not welcome.

I think history will judge their Karma more harshly then they judged mine.

What get's me is the Buzzflash.net site is supposed to be for "user-driven" news stories. The top two Buzzed stories of all time are both 911 Truth stories! That should tell the editors of Buzzflash something!

It would almost be amusing if it were'nt so goddamned pathetic!

Buzzsaw

Buzzsaw, more like it. Anything related to 911 truth, Israeli atrocities or criticism of democrats gets fed into the buzzsaw. That site's a joke.

The Eleventh Day of Every Month

a duck is a duck

and to my mind, a buzz is a mockingbird. And deserving only of loathing.