9/11 In Memorium

"It's easy to imagine an infinite number of situations where the government might legitimately give out false information. It's an unfortunate reality that the issuance of incomplete information and even misinformation by government may sometimes be perceived as necessary to protect vital interests." - Solicitor General Theodore Olson, whose wife Barbara was killed on September 11th, 2001.

"Here we're talking about plastic knives, and using an American Airlines flight filled with our citizens, and the MISSILE USED TO DAMAGE THIS BUILDING, and similar (inaudible) that damaged the World Trade Center." - Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, in an interview with Parade Magazine on Oct. 12th, 2001, from inside the Pentagon

Today is Sept 11th, the eighth anniversary of the day planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa., a day never to be forgotten in American history. The result of this act was the loss of thousands of lives, two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands if Iraqi citizens. The reason given for the U.S. reaction? Retaliation for a terrorist attack led by Osama Bin Laden without prior knowledge of White House officials or provocation. Looking back from the perspective of eight years and a son who served in the Iraq war, I have a few questions. For instance, could someone please tell me:

Why many eye witnesses of the plane crash into the first Trade Center building said they heard secondary explosions after the plane hit the building, and also as the building was falling down. Why thermite was detected in both buildings, a material which burns/explodes hot enough to melt metal, while air line fuel doesn't burn at a high enough temperature to melt metal.

Why prominent newscasters commented at the time of the buildings' collapse that the way the buildings fell into their footprints had to be "a result of something that was planned."

Why, until Sept. 11, 2001, there had been no report of any protected steel structure collapsing from heat caused by fire anywhere in the world.

Why the damage at the Pentagon was completely inconsistent with being hit by a Boeing 757.

Why eye witnesses said they saw no evidence of a plane crashing anywhere near the Pentagon. The only sight was the hole in the side of the building, a hole which just happens to be the size of a Tomahawk cruise missile.

Why the odor emanating from the Pentagon site was identified as that of cordite, a compound found in aircraft ammunition.

Why eye witness reports showed that officials who controlled the streets around WTC building 7 evacuated the area an hour before its collapse, and that various officials forwarded verbal warnings conveying certainty that the collapse would occur. Why thermite was also found in that building.

Why television broadcasts, notably the BBC, announced the collapse of WTC 7 at least 23 minutes before the event.

Anyone?