Conspiracy claptrap

When Rosie O’Donnell proclaimed on The View on March 27 that she doubted the official story behind 9/11, it gave me one more reason to hate her. As she put it definitively, “I do believe it’s the first time in history that fire has melted steel. I do believe that it defies physics.” Admittedly, I have long refrained from turning to Hollywood for careful scientific analysis. So it was quite easy to dismiss her ranting as a ploy to boost visibility. As we near the sixth anniversary of 9/11, however, the voices that support a conspiracy theory are getting louder. Even more disturbing is the seemingly distinguished credentials that these theorists possess. \nProminent among the skeptics is Steven Jones, a physicist who retired from Brigham Young University after publishing a paper that hypothesized a controlled demolition of the World Trade Center. Jones will be making a stop in Bloomington Sept. 10, accompanied by Richard Gage from the American Institute of Architects and Kevin Ryan, the whistleblower from Underwriters Laboratories. Jones helped found the Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice, a group dedicated to debunking myths about the attacks. \nWhat separates people like Jones from O’Donnell is his use of scientific theory to address several apparent mysteries like the collapse of the WTC 7 building. The building, which was adjacent to the Twin Towers, suffered massive structural damage as a result of heat from the debris and collapsed several hours after the initial attacks. Conspiracy theorists allege that since the building itself was not hit by a plane, it proves their claim of a controlled demolition. In spite of established groups such as FEMA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology refuting these claims in an extensive report, the 9/11 Truth Movement presses ahead. \nAnd herein lies the paradox. As the movement attempts to make itself more legitimate, theorists are abandoning their adherence to limited scientific inquiry and embracing old-fashioned wingnuttery. Jones has publicly stated that 9/11 was the result of an “inside job,” an excuse to pursue military action in the Middle East. While no one denies the complete incompetence of this administration, implying that President Bush was somehow involved in planning 9/11 is the political equivalent of claiming that Bill Clinton was responsible for the attacks: equal doses of insanity.\nAnd more incongruous claims include the Mossad’s involvement in carrying out the attacks, to the “fact” that not a single Jew was killed on 9/11 since they were issued a directive to stay home. Not to be outdone, Jones speculated that Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and an “international banking cartel” were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. \nConspiracy theorists would have you believe that they play an important role in the political process with their quest to seek out the truth. In reality they are guilty of oversimplifying a complex tragedy, much like the Republicans did after 9/11. Their mindless chatter only obscures the real conspiracy: where is Bin Laden?