[Winstonm]

Do the pieces create a picture yet - not quite but a strange shape is forming. Links are provided in case you want to double check for yourself.

1) Ashcroft denies being briefed by George Tenet before sept 11: http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/03/ame...eb.1003rice.php

2) Ashcroft and Rumsfield received briefing from George Tenet about terrorist plans for an imminent attack against the U.S.: http://www.realcitie...on/15662785.htm

3) With the urging of the F.B.I., Ashcroft stopped flying commercial airlines and instead used chartered planes: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/26/...ain303601.shtml

4) Condoleezza Rice stated "We had no idea that they might use planes..." http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/17/...ain589137.shtml

5) From 1997-2001, there were 36 warnings of possible terrorist airplane attacks on New York and Washington: http://www.villagevo...o4,45990,6.html

6) Condoleezza Rice denied any advance warning from George Tenet: http://www.abqtrib.c...no-warning-911/

7) Tenet and Black warned Rice 2 months before the attack: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...3000282_pf.html

8) DOD and FAA misled and may have tried to obstruct the 9-11 commission: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/05/...in1868087.shtml

9) NIST FAQ, #14, considering blast events at WTC 7: http://911research.w..._FAQ_reply.html

10) Dr. Steven Jones finds preliminary evidence on WTC steel that could be consistent with thermate residue but points out data is inconclusive and further tests are needed which will take time. http://arizona.indym...683_comment.php

O.K., maybe it's a stretch....but maybe it isn't. It will be important to see if Dr. Jones's further tests and findings on the steel can be substatiated by peers.

[luke warm]

i'll just copy/paste from an old post

lincoln had a secretary named kennedy
kennedy had a secretary named lincoln
both presidents were killed by men who used first, middle, and last names
lincoln was shot in ford's theater
kennedy was shot in a ford
booth broke his leg when jumping from the balcony of the theater, and it was set by a dr. mudd.. from this came "his name is mud"
oswald was killed by a man named ruby... from this came 'ruby tuesday' (ok, i made that up)
coincidences? i think not

[EricK]

Aren't you showing us pieces from two entirely different jigsaw puzzles?

In the first (points 1-7), the US government and various of its agencies are entirely incompetent and fail to act against a terrorist plot they knew was going to happen.

In the second (8 & 9), the US government and various of its agencies stage a hoax terrorist event.

If the US government was behind the attacks (planting thermite etc) then what warnings were they ignoring?

If the US government ignored warnings of terrorists hijacking planes to fly into WTC then who plated the thermite?

[Winstonm]

Quote

Aren't you showing us pieces from two entirely different jigsaw puzzles?

You could be right. However, another direction from which to look is that Rice, Ashcroft and co. lied about advanced knowledge. This would be more in keeping with a "let it happen" theory. One of the arguments vilifying the "let it happen" concept was the non-knowledge, the total surprise of the attacks.

In order to let it happen, normal protocal of fighter jet intercepts would have to be overcome; hence, the commission reports of untruths from the D.O.D. and F.A.A. to the point where the commission considered filing perjury charges are of interest as no jet intercept was launched until after the attacks succeeded yet the F.A.A. and D.O.D. lied about this fact.

The "let it happen" theory would say that the plot was known well in advance and arrangements were made to make sure the planes made it to their targets, which had been pre-wired with explosives to provide a "shock and awe" demonstration of the terrorist's abilities to attack and destroy. As to who, how, and why, there is no answer. The only connection is that previously to debunk the let it happen theory the claim was made of no prior warnings and no idea the terrorists would use planes. Now we are finding those claims to be either disinginuous or outright lies. Prior knowledge would be essential to the let it happen theory.

Of course, nothing so far revealed proves anything and other interpretations can be made - lying to cover up ineptitude for example.

I believe the real tests will be the NIST report (due in 2007) of the collapse of WTC 7 (in which they claim to be including explosive demolition) and the further test results not only of Dr. Jones but collaborative test results of the same materials that would prove some form of thermite was undeniably found in the residue of WTC steel.

IMO, the reason this argument will not cease lies in the stature of the doubters - not your typical conspiracy nut internet bloggers but tenured professors, ex-military officers, and others of similar lifetime achievements. That, and in the fact that the government has been less than candid in releasing whatever information it has for independent analysis. It would seem that if the NIST report were a slam dunk, proving beyond a doubt their hypothesis of collapse, there would be no reason to withhold their confirming computer models and data - which the NIST has refused to do although legitimately interested parties have requested same.

I don't see this story going away anytime soon and it may grow larger in time.

Concerning the quality of doubters, this is an interesting website that does nothing but list the doubters, their statements, and their credentials: http://www.patriotsquestion911.com/

It is somewhat of an eye-opener to see just who doubts the 9-11 commission's version of events.