The World's Most Persistent Conspiracy Theories

SEPTEMBER 11

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The theory: Al Qaeda was not (or was not solely) responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. government either allowed the attacks to happen or orchestrated them.

The details: Dubious theories about what really occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, began to circulate almost immediately after the attacks took place. For instance, one Arab satellite network reported that 4,000 Jews had skipped work on the day of the attacks. Several books released in the following months in Europe and the Middle East postulated that the attacks had been a "false-flag" operation orchestrated by neoconservatives within the U.S. government to drum up support for the war in Iraq.

It's hardly surprising that such misinformation would spread in the wake of such a catastrophic event. What's more shocking is that a recent poll of 17 countries showed that a majority of people still aren't convinced that Al Qaeda was responsible.

Many "truthers" take issue with other aspects of the official explanation. The popular 2005 documentary "Loose Change" argues that airliners could not have caused the twin towers to collapse in the way they did and that the lack of debris at the Pentagon and Flight 93 crash sites is inconsistent with what a destroyed jet would create. Popular Mechanics devoted an entire special issue to debunking the theories but "Loose Change" remains as popular as ever, with a host of sequels and spinoffs proliferating online.

The "truther" controversy hit the Obama administration this month when "climate czar" Van Jones was forced to resign after it was revealed that he had signed a petition calling for further investigation into who was behind the 9/11 attacks. Other signatories included erstwhile presidential candidate Ralph Nader, historian Howard Zinn, and Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Actor Charlie Sheen has also emerged as a prominent advocate for the "truther" movement.

The truth: The bipartisan 9/11 Commission thoroughly investigated the events of September 11 and found conclusively that Al Qaeda was responsible for the attacks. Osama bin Laden himself claimed responsibility for the attacks in 2004, saying they were in retaliation for U.S. policies in the Middle East.

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ELLIO

1:36 PM ET

September 11, 2009

conspiracy theories???

Gentlemen, it seems you did not bother to visit the links provided by Sheen.

You stated:
"The bipartisan 9/11 Commission thoroughly investigated the events of September 11 and found conclusively that Al Qaeda was responsible for the attacks"

The reality is that 6 of the 10 911 Commission members are now distancing themselves from and repudiating the findings of the Commission, using words such as fraud, criminal, and scam.

Until you are able to do more than a cursory examination of the present evidence (not theories) I would respectfully suggest you be quiet on this issue.

An uniformed opinion is worse than no opinion at all.

OHMYGODNOTAGAIN

8:05 AM ET

September 14, 2009

9/11 has not been explained

It is unfair to lump all conspiracies together, I am one who still has not heard a convincing scientific argument as to how 3 building collapsed with their own footprint on September 11. One of which was not hit a plane. It is common knowledge in demolition circles that split second shaped charge detonations are required to implode buildings so they collapse in their footprint. Somehow we are expected to believe that these conditions did not happen once by chance but in three separate buildings one of which was not hit by a plane, one of which collapse in less than an hour after a plane hit it.

Sorry it just does not add up, neither does the maths for pancaking floors.
Something does not add up here, and deriding those willingly to question merely shows your ignorance

GGMARQUEZ

8:36 AM ET

How does it go?? If we don´t learn, history repeats itself...

So Irak was invaded because it was developping weapons of mass destruction.......

Now iran is developping nuclear weapons.......

Someone trying to fool us again???

Be careful

MOTAMANX

10:46 AM ET

The Truth?

The Truth? The 9/11 Commission didn't even mention Building Seven. Any Commission that has to have the President's hand held by the Vice President, and their disposition off the record, cannot be a commission one would have any faith in.

The hole in the Pentagon was too small for a Boeing 757 to fit in, and the plane was never found.
The 9/11 Commission stumbled very badly. Was the truth that bad? Was it too horrible to contemplate?

JAY GETTY

4:32 PM ET

September 17, 2009

We see who can not spell the name of countries

It does require at least a third grade education to read my post; so do not bother.

8:24 AM ET

September 12, 2009

Poorly written; pathetically researched

Poorly written; pathetically researched; no credentials/sources

What types of certificates of live birth existed in Hawaii in 1961; which type does Obama have? Did Hawaii post ads announcing births automatically with applications for certificates of live birth: including applications submitted by non hospitals: relatives? Could Vladimir Putin, if born in 1961, have gotten a certificate of live birth, complete with goverment ordered newspaper ad, under the Hawaiin rules of 1961: just like the one that Obama has?

BY JOSHUA KEATING, JAMES DOWNIE: only politically correct considered; This article does not disprove Michael Savage’s assertion/theory: “that liberalism is a mental disorder”.

Most of the rest is just as pathetic and inept. Nobody that actually researched what credible people say on most of the subjects written here could write what: BY JOSHUA KEATING, JAMES DOWNIE wrote. They did no research beyond what “Sally” said. facts mean nothing to Poorly written; pathetically researched; no credentials/sources

9:19 AM ET

What are you trying to

What are you trying to say???

Did you ever attend a school?

LADYMOONSTONE5

10:55 AM ET

Speaking of...

Speaking of poorly written, Mr. Getty, your comment was not only that. You make no real point, overuse capital letters, and seem to have copied and pasted your views from another source.
How many kinds of birth certificates were available in Hawaii in 1961? Just one: the official, notated and verified by a medical professional, easily confirmed kind. Obama has produced one of these. The announcements generally come directly from the hospital or midwife, whoever delivers the baby in question. It is not possible to get a certificate of live birth in a given state without having actually been born there. Even those who create false identities have to use the official certificate and alter it, and then there is a great risk of exposure after some careful digging.
The whole idea of Barack Obama being somehow ineligible for the presidency due to circumstances of his birth is absurd. It shows just how far people such as yourself will go to distance yourselves from our new president, and how gullible you are for believing this nonsense.
By the way, "liberalism is a mental disorder" is the kind of statement that divides people and prevents anything resembling intelligent discourse. Sadly, it is the only thing neoconservatives have left.

11:49 AM ET

The point is the writers, like yourself, did no research;

The only capitals in my post are a cut and splice of the writer’s names; but your post does intentionally use capitals out of place. “Liberalism is a mental disorder” is a hypothesis that is assumed true unless proven otherwise, which your post certainly does not.

As to the types of certificates of live birth that were available in Hawaii in1961: you have clearly not done your research and merely parrot others who did no research; even in the face of clear evidence that a person born at home in hawaii in 1961 could only get the exact type certificate of live birth that Obama has; you remain in denial: Had Obama been born in any hospital in Hawaii in 1961; the hospital and attending doctors’ name would be printed on the certificate of live birth; The type Obama has is the mail order version which any family member could have applied for by mail: Obama could not have been born in a hospital in Hawaii and have that version of certificate of live birth.

Liberalism remains a mental disorder till proved otherwise.

AMERICANKOCHEVNIK

10:43 PM ET

Then I suppose, Mr. Getty, that...

...the hypothesis that you are actually an anti-American terrorist is also true until proven otherwise?

Hypotheses aren't "true" until proven otherwise; hypotheses are potentially true and potentially false until proven definitely false - it is only when all attempts to prove a hypothesis false fails that we consider the hypothesis to be very likely true, at which point it becomes a theory or a 'scientific fact.' This, of course, supposes that the hypothesis has the attribute of falsifiability, without which it is not actually a hypothesis and is nothing more (or less) that someone's opinion. Your 'hypothesis' that "liberalism is a mental disorder" does not have the attribute of falsifiability - it's not possible to prove a negative, in this case that "liberalism is NOT a mental disorder" (caps for emphasis), as there exists no procedure for proving things not to be mental disorders. Mental disorders are defined as aberrations from normal behavior originating from chemical, physical, or psychological reasons. However, it's not possible to prove that something does not meet this definition because it is entirely dependent on what the person takes "normal behavior" to be. Just as with the Marxist "Theory" of History, your hypothesis is not falsifiable because any event can be made to fit within the hypothesis simply by massaging the definitions implicit in your hypothesis.

Therefore, your point is moot.

Unless, of course, you're happy living in a pseudo-scientific world where we are all welcome to consider you a rabid anti-American until conclusively proven otherwise.

5:45 PM ET

September 13, 2009

Liberalism is a mental disorder

Liberalism is a mental disorder is not provably false because it is not false under any circumstances. I wish I had thought of the cliché; but Michael Savage has that honor. Of course one can demonstrate that liberalism is a mental disorder; EG: Liberals still do not get it that Obama is a radical socialist, closer to Hugo Chavez and Che than free market Americans; that demonstrates clear mental disorder and lack of rational thought. Liberals hate free speech: that is not liberal; because they are unable to mentally analyze and process information that disproves their: ultra religiously secular mindlessness.

9:31 AM ET

I see... you are trying to

I see... you are trying to say he wasn´t born in the us.....

Powerfull argument... Congratulations...you are getting better and better everyday....

How about you??? were you born in the US?? and are you proud of it? Why?? what did you do in order to derserve being born in the US???

REDPINE

4:57 PM ET

It's really amazing how this

It's really amazing how this type of article calls the self same crazies described in the article out of the wood work to frolic in their unerring fondness of irrationality. Seems like this observation has accumulated enough empirical evidence (based on data collected from previous posts) to qualify as a natural law. Perhaps Getty's Law?

5:48 PM ET

redpine describes herself nicely

Another suffering with: ultra religiously secular: mindlessness. If you do not agree with my post; feel free to spell it out.

JAYD

3:49 PM ET

September 15, 2009

Jay Getty Doesn't Know How To Use Colons or Semi-Colons

Not only is your use of grammar appalling, but your connection of a "religiously secular: mindlessness" displays a non-secular attention span that conforms only to Savage-induced propaganda. What, prey tell, does REDPINE's post have to do with religion? Please: Explain:This: Absurd: Idea

4:38 PM ET

GGFARQUEZ, JAYDed: Sorry, my post require at least a third grade eduction to understand!

RAYED878

5:16 AM ET

Not so conspiring

Noam Chomsky once said that "conspiracy" is a term debunked by the controlling elite so that the "dumbed" masses don't get too smart for their own good. For a governments greatest fear is not war against other nations but a war againt an educated pppulation.

Has "every" so-called conspiracy theory been proven wrong? Every scientific theory been debunked? Humans are inquisitive creatures. Why should we accept - blindly - "official" statements from authoritive institutions like the government and police all the time? In that case, Vietnam was an overwhelming victory for not only the US but for democracy as well. And the 2000 US Elections was a fair and balanced occasion void of corruption and rigging.

Until a so-called conspiracy theory been proven inconclusively wrong, then it shall remain a tenable reason as to why something happened.

9:40 AM ET

I agree. I also think that

I agree.

I also think that people who accept blindly "official" statements from authoritive institutions like the government and police is because it is in their own interest and of course because they are lazy people who are too busy with their lives and don´t want to look an inch ahead of their nose.....They are scared.

YOUNGCOLLEAGUE

11:58 AM ET

September 18, 2009

True, we are inquisitive. And

True, we are inquisitive. And we should be skeptical of any official story. But there comes a point at which some people suspend reason and their arguments become so convoluted even in the face of reasonable evidence and explanation. When does it end? Some conspiracy theories never die because of one's unwillingness to resolve it. It becomes more about the psyche of a conspiracy theorist than any discrepancies of the official story. It seems, for some people, no amount of explanation and scientific research is good enough. Only when their version of the story is proven will they be satisfied.

QUESTION_EVERYTHING

11:24 AM ET

"Authority"

The evidence "debunking" the 9/11 "myth" is weak. The conspiracy theory is that the government perpetrated the attacks. You use the government, the 9/11 commission (part of the government), and Popular Mechanics, part of a media conglomerate that probably has ties with the government, as sources of "real" evidence against the claim. Basically, some concerned and critical citizens have accused the government of a horrific crime and you side with the government because they say they didn't do it.

Oh Foreign Policy, are you in the pockets of the elite too?

4:54 PM ET

JOSHUA KEATING/JAMES DOWNIE conspired to avoid truth !

No research; just listen to CNN and parrot rubbish! You know CNN don’t you? Terrorist Ministry of Propaganda!

APARICIO

2:10 PM ET

Give some arguments next time

Joshua, my man, seriously, try a bit harder next time. If you are gonna det into a such an interesting topic, at least do some research, or even develop your arguments a bit more. I know that time is consuming but this does not deserve a reading. If you best arguments are "Commission said" and "Obama said". You, at least, need to say that much of the so called "truthers" have challenged the report of the Commission, and many more say that the commission misrepresented truth in many respects.

Seriously Joshua, do it well or dont do it at all.

DON MAC NAMARA

5:36 PM ET

The World's Most Persistent Conspiracy Theories

I've read somewhere about ' nanno explosives ' as being responsible for bringing down the towers in their own footprint .
Whether it was suggested that there were pre-loaded into the 3 towers I do not recall.
If there was a conspiracy required , my view would be that Chaney abd the neo cons were so determined to effect a war against Iraq , that the sacrifice of 3000 of his own citizens would not be deemed nearly too exorbitant a price.
In the event conspiracy or otherwise the carnage did succeed in apeasing their insatiable appetite for war and the Military Industry Disaster Complex
Halliburton et al were lining up in legions for the post invasion clean up.
The oil at this stage is peripheral. The money is in supply of arms and feeding the army.
The oil will be an added bonus ,
Conspiracy or otherwise ; it was a heavenly convenience for Cheney and his business associates .
It might have also spared him psychiatric bills given his monstrous bellicose persona .

UZBEKPOLICY

12:35 PM ET

Consipiracies, you say???

I don't want to comment on Obama's birth certificate, because I still support him despite his broken promises, but I have to say that AUTHORS of this article did POOR on 911 conspiracy theory.

Just take a look at history -- all major international conflicts, including two world wars, were started by conspiracies. The most popular example (among historians) is the Gleiwitz incident, when Nazi forces posing as Poles staged an attack on Germany on 31 August 1939. The very next day Nazi Germany declared war on Poland using the provocation as a justification for aggression. This date is commonly referred as the start of World War II.

Now take a look at George W's neocon-initiated so-called "Global War on Terror". Don't you, for a second, question their official version of events on 911? Last century, some Europeans also believed the official version and thought that there was no conspiracy on the part of Nazi German government. Now almost any high school student knows (I hope) that it was a plot. Why in the world you are so sure that 911 was not planned ahead and US government had no idea about it?

C'mon. "Plot an attack on yourself, if you want to start a larger attack on someone else" -- this is the oldest trick in the book.

AUTHORS, PLEASE, DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST.

DAVID LAOSHI

9:48 PM ET

September 20, 2009

The section on Chinese anti-semitism is quite biased

because it doesn't mention that Chinese stereotypes on Jews are overwhelmingly positive. While Chinese tend agree that the Jews control world finance, the point (for them) is to emulate the Jews, not fear them. I happen to own a book, in Chinese, titled "the money-making secrets of the Jews." A Chinese friend explained to me that "we Chinese think that the smartest people in the world are Chinese (of course,) and Jews." By and large, China is the only pro-Semetic (but not Jewish) country in the world.

The World's Most Persistent Conspiracy Theories

With “truthers,” “birthers” and “deathers” in back in the news, here’s a look at five conspiracy theories the won't go away.

BY JOSHUA KEATING, JAMES DOWNIE | SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

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