Scholars for 9/11 Truth

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Scholars for 9/11 Truth ("S9/11T") is a group including 300 people of varying backgrounds and expertise[1], who question the mainstream media and government account of the September 11, 2001 attacks.[2] The group was founded on December 15, 2005.

Part of a series on:
The 9/11 Truth Movement
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[edit] Overview

"As the founder of Scholars for 9/11 Truth, I would observe that our members, building on prior research by earlier students of 9/11, have established more than a dozen disproofs of the official government account, the truth of any one of which is enough to show that the government's account--in one or another of its guises--cannot possibly be correct." - James H. Fetzer

The group provides scientific research and evidence that question the official theory for the destruction of the World Trade Center building on 9/11.[3] The group concludes that the investigations by FEMA and NIST of the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings are inadequate, and that crucial facts and questions pertaining to the attacks have been ignored, omitted, or changed by senior government officials. These questions include:

  • What could have caused building 7 World Trade Center to collapse other than being hit by a plane?
  • How did all three WTC buildings collapse close to the speed of which they would have collapsed had there been no structural stability at all?
  • What happened to the towers during the collapse?
  • What is the source of molten metal which was observed pooling in the rubble?

The group is petitioning Congress[4] for access to the remaining evidence in order for scientific research to be carried out to determine whether or not explosives were utilized to bring down the WTC buildings. One of their suggestions is that thermite, which can be used to weld or cut metal, might have played a role in causing the collapse of the towers.

According to the S9/11T website, "The members of S9/11T are encouraged to take an active role by devoting themselves to reporting the results of research on 9/11 to the nation and the world by means of lectures, articles, and other venues."

[edit] Theory

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According to the Scholars for 9/11 Truth, political forces in the United States government planned and executed the attacks on September 11, 2001. They question the physics involved with the structural collapse of the World Trade Center Plaza, assert that five of the nineteen high-jackers were interviewed by the BBC months after the attack, and suspect thermite or thermite-based incendiaries[5] were implemented around key support beams in critical areas of the Towers prior to the attack. The Scholars for 9/11 Truth believe that these incendiaries could then be remotely triggered, eat through core columns in key locations, such as on each region of windowless, reinforced mechanical floors (the light bands that can be observed in each Tower), and allow the Towers to fall straight down upon themselves with virtually no resistance.

[edit] Criticism

Critics observed their website lists only three structural engineers as members [5], and argue that the engineers involved with the scholars have little or no relevant experience or qualifications in the disciplines related to structural engineering or controlled demolitions. [6]. Critics also noted that they have just one American Society of Civil Engineers member, Joseph M. Phelps [6]. Other critiques have noted the bias in the website's Pentagon views and the inclusion of information which has little basis in evidence[7].

Two members of the group, Judy Wood and Morgan Reynolds, left the Scholars due to disagreement with the organization, objecting in particular to the Scholar's rejection of their 'no plane' theories (theories arguing that no planes hit the World Trade Center).[8] However, st911 co-founder, co-chair and webmaster James Fetzer has recently spoken and written positively about Judy Wood's views - a piece by Fetzer on the st911 website argues that the Scholars should now broaden their research to consider the possibility that "directed energy...space based" weapons or "mini-nukes" were used to bring down the World Trade Center [9]. Former co-chair Steven E. Jones resigned over a dispute regarding "star wars beam weapons" as a plausible theory [10].

[edit] Members

Scholars for Truth's membership includes approximately 75 academics. Members included in this society are:

James H. Fetzer:
McKnight Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and co-chair of S9/11T. [7]
Paul W. Rea humanities lecturer at St. Mary's College in Moraga [8]
Stephen LeRoy an economics professor at UC Santa Barbara who has been a visiting economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco[8]
Tracy Belvins a research scientist in bioengineering at Rice University [8]
David Gabbard an education professor at East Carolina.[9] [10]
Jim Marrs Author of several books on the September 11 attacks, such as Inside Job: The Shocking Case for a 9/11 Conspiracy
Daniel Orr retired economics chair at the University of Illinois [11] [10]
Kevin Barrett adjunct lecturer at the University of Wisconsin on the subject of Islam: Religion and Culture.[12],[13],[14],[15]
Robert M. Bowman Former director of the US Advanced Space Programs Development in the Carter and Ford administrations, former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with 101 combat missions. Bowman also holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Nuclear Engineering, and is currently attempting to run for Congress in Florida. Bowman has never held an academic position at any university. [16],[17],[18]
David Ray Griffin Professor of philosophy of religion and theology emeritus at the Claremont School of Theology.
Wayne Madsen investigative journalist, author, and syndicated columnist. [19]
John McMurtry FRSC, moral philosopher, ethicist, and author of six books on public policy issues, who works at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.
Don Paul American peace movement activist, writer, musician, and poet.
Kevin Ryan former Site Manager for Environmental Health Laboratories in South Bend, Indiana, a subsidiary of Underwriters Labs(UL) responsible for water testing. He was fired after writing a letter to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the government agency investigating the collapse of the World Trade Center, claiming that, among other things, UL had certified the steel used in the Twin Towers to survive temperatures far hotter than those that were actually reached on 9/11. However, Underwriter Labs never certified the steel used in World Trade Center. Both UL and NIST completely reject Ryan's allegations. [20]
Webster G. Tarpley author of George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography (1992) and 9/11 Synthetic Terror: Made in USA (2005-6), historian and terrorism expert.
Andreas von Bülow former state-secretary in the German Defense Ministry, minister for research and technology, and member of Parliament for 25 years.
William Woodward Professor of psychology[21]

[edit] Media coverage and works

Televised symposia:

Television Interviews:

Radio Interviews:

Papers:

  • “Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse?” by Steven E. Jones, Ph.D. [12]

Books:

  • Marrs, Jim (journalist). Inside Job. Origin Press, 2004. 240 p.


[edit] "Reclaiming Our Future" conference

In July 2006, many members of the group met in Chicago, Illinois, for a conference on 9/11 theories, which was covered by some international media.[22]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Scholars for 9-11 Truth: Who Are We?
  2. ^ Pope, Justin. "9/11 Conspiracy Theories Persist, Thrive", The Washington Post, 2006, August 6.
  3. ^ Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse? by Dr. Steven E. Jones
  4. ^ thepetitionsite.com: Scholars Call for Release of 9/11 Information
  5. ^ Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse? by Dr. Steven E. Jones
  6. ^ Professor Steven E. Jones and the "Scholars For 911 Truth"
  7. ^ University of Minnesota Duluth: James H. Fetzer
  8. ^ a b c San Francisco Chronicle [1]
  9. ^ CNN August 6, 2006
  10. ^ a b http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2279929&page=2
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ Curriculum in "UW Instructor Defends Plan to Teach 9/11 Conspiracy Theory in Class", WKOW 27 News, July 10, 2006
  13. ^ Lincoln Tribune: Activist Claims Bill O'Reilly Threatened Him; File Complaint with FCC
  14. ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 9-11 flap won't stop UW lecturer
  15. ^ National Ledger: Activist Kevin Barrett Claims Bill O'Reilly Threatened Him
  16. ^ Robert M. Bowman site
  17. ^ Madison Capital-Times: Media hide truth: 9/11 was inside job
  18. ^ Fox News: 'H & C' Update: Supporter Defends Controversial Univ. Lecturer's Theories About 9/11
  19. ^ emediawire: press release
  20. ^ Dobberstein, John (2004-17-22). Kevin R. Ryan Terminated at Underwriters Laboratories. South Bend Tribune. Retrieved on 2006-09-09.
  21. ^ [3] [4]
  22. ^ Canada National Post: A theory that just won't die

[edit] External links

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