  |
 |
| |
|
|
|
DIG DIRECTOR
Gore Vidal is an internationally acclaimed novelist, essayist, playwright and screenwriter whose historical fiction and collected criticisms have garnered him the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, among others. An outspoken political activist, he ran for the U.S. House in New York in 1960 and in the 1982 senatorial primary.
|
|
|||||||
President Jonah, Meet Oliver Cromwell!A Dig led by Gore Vidal
Today, as I sit, like so many Californians, at the heart of what seems to be a vast burning bush, I realize that Jehovah’s jinx of the weirdest American president is as operative in this lowering pre-Halloween season as it was last February when, guided by Scripture, I posted here on the Internet the bad news that our nominal president was seriously jinxed by an unrelenting deity who, from his throne of fire, now blows fiercely upon the west coast of the United States, spreading from San Diego to Malibu to Lake Arrowhead. Lucifer’s finest new-minted flames, a reminder to us, President Jonah’s Supreme Court-appointed subjects, that our ruler is triply cursed for his disobedience to obey his Lord not only long ago at Nineveh, but lately compounded by his inability to destroy all of Baghdad, a city hailed in that magical musical comedy, “Kismet,” by a song entitled “Never underestimate Baghdad.” But a jinxed president’s estimate is bound to be fatally wrong even in the eyes of his creator.
While contemplating the ill-starred presidency of G.W. Bush, I looked about for some sort of divine analogy. As usual, when in need of enlightenment, I fell upon the Holy Bible, authorized King James version of 1611; turning by chance to the Book of Jonah, I read that Jonah, who, like Bush, chats with God, had suffered a falling out with the Almighty and thus became himself a jinx dogged by luck so bad that when a Stone Age cruise liner, thanks to his presence aboard, was about to sink in a storm at sea, the crew for safety’s sake threw him overboard and—Lo!—the storm abated. The three days and nights he subsequently spent in the belly of a nauseous whale must have seemed like a serious jinx to the digestion-challenged mammal who extruded him much as the decent opinion of mankind has done to Bush.
Originally, God wanted Jonah to give hell to Nineveh, whose people, God noted disdainfully, “cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand,” (rather like the people of Baghdad who still cannot fathom what democracy has to do with their destruction at the hands of the Cheney-Bush cabal). But the analogy becomes even more precise when it comes to the plague of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico that led to the Curse of Katrina upon a plainly incompetent president, as well as one who has been plainly jinxed by whatever faith he cringes before. Witness the ongoing screw-up of, say, prescription drugs, and the revival of an ancient race war in Louisiana. Who knows what further disasters are in store for us thanks to the curse Jonah is under? As the sailors fed the original Jonah to a whale, thus lifting the storm that was about to drown them, perhaps we the people can persuade President Jonah to retire to his other Eden in Crawford, Texas, taking his jinx with him. We deserve a rest. Plainly, so does he. Look at Nixon’s radiant features after his resignation! One can see former President Jonah in his sumptuous presidential library happily catering to faith-based fans with animated scriptures rooted in “The Pet Goat.” Not since the glory days of Watergate and Nixon’s Luciferian fall has there been so much written about the dogged deceits and creative criminalities of our rulers. We have also come to a point in this dark age where there is not only no hero in view but no alternative road unblocked. We are trapped terribly in a now that few foresaw and even fewer can define despite a swarm of books and pamphlets like the vast cloud of locusts which dined on China in that ‘30s movie ”The Good Earth.” As I mentioned last February, I have read many of these descriptions of our fallen estate, looking for one that best describes in plain English how we got to this now and where we appear to be headed once our good Earth has been consumed by fire and only Rapture is left to whisk aloft the Faithful. Meanwhile, the rest of us can learn quite a lot from ”Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire” by Morris Berman, a professor of sociology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. I must confess that I have a proprietary interest in anyone who refers to the United States as an empire since I am credited with first putting forward this heretical view in the early ‘70s. In fact, so disgusted with me was a book reviewer at Time magazine who, as proof of my madness, wrote: “He actually refers to the United States as an empire!” It should be noted that at about the same time Henry Luce, proprietor of Time, was booming on and on about ”The American Century.” What a difference a word makes! Berman sets his scene briskly in recent history. “We were already in our twilight phase when Ronald Reagan, with all the insight of an ostrich, declared it to be ‘morning in America’; twenty-odd years later, under the ‘boy emperor’ George W. Bush (as Chalmers Johnson refers to him), we have entered the Dark Ages in earnest, pursuing a short-sighted path that can only accelerate our decline. For what we are now seeing are the obvious characteristics of the West after the fall of Rome: the triumph of religion over reason; the atrophy of education and critical thinking; the integration of religion, the state, and the apparatus of torture—a troika that was for Voltaire the central horror of the pre-Enlightenment world; as well as, today, the political and economic marginalization of our culture.... The British historian Charles Freeman published an extended discussion of the transition that took place during the late Roman empire, the title of which could serve as a capsule summary of our current rulers: ”The Closing of the Western Mind.” Mr. Bush, as God knows best, is no Augustine; but Freeman points to the latter as the epitome of a more general process that was underway in the fourth century: namely, ‘the gradual subjection of reason to faith and authority.’ This is what we are seeing today, and it is a process that no society can undergo and still remain free. Yet it is a process of which administration officials, along with much of the American population, are aggressively proud.” In fact, close observers of this odd presidency note that Bush, like his evangelical base, believes he is on a mission from God and that faith trumps empirical evidence. Berman quotes a senior White House adviser who disdains what he calls the “reality-based” community, to which Berman sensibly responds: “If a nation is unable to perceive reality correctly, and persists in operating on the basis of faith-based delusions, its ability to hold its own in the world is pretty much foreclosed.”
Dig last updated on Feb. 7, 2006Advertisement
Elsewhere: .
CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.
Comment Pages:
«1
2
»
By lawlessone, November 12, 2007 at 10:46 am # I gleefully chuckled at Mr. Gore’s idea Bush is really just a jinx who inadvertently causes disasters for all those around him. If I was superstitious or believed in Fate, I would likely find that suggestion a welcome explanation for incredible tidal wave of trouble Bush and his buddies continue to immerse us. The image of Biblical Jonah in the White House, couldn’t help but conjure up for me other walking disasters from literature. I even wondered if instead of Jonah, perhaps the reference shouldn’t be to the eternally wrong optimist, Candide, or maybe Joe Btfsplk, the sad character in Little Abner who was constantly followed by a cloud of rain. Thanks for the mental fun. Ultimately though, I realized that none of them, not even Jonah of whale fame, really apply here since in each case including Jonah, the characters were essentially innocent victims. They did not bring the vortexs of troubles upon themselves. Incompetence, ignorance, ego, hubris, laziness and extremely questionable motives played little or no part in their particular pitfalls. With Bush however, all those are present in unending supply. Moreover, Bush suffers little or not at all the calamities he sows. Other than the occasional disparaging word or image, which he probably never sees or hears anyway, there are few consequences. Unlike Custer, our current leaders are the ones least likely to suffer from their idiocies. Worse, we are not innocent victims ourselves. After all, although we did not put this putz in power, we allow him to remain there where he can harm us and our descendants. Consequently, we probably deserve what misfortunes befall us. This story unfortunately is a tragedy, not a comedy.
By marshall peck, November 12, 2007 at 5:11 am # I feel that “Dark Ages”, in reference to our current predicament, unjustly defiles that unilluminated period. I prefer to anoint this special time we are in as the “Gray Ages”. The gray implies a greater deceit and hipocrisy.
By Adriana Salinas, November 9, 2007 at 5:33 am # I must say that this is an article and a style of writing I can appreciate. The biblical reference is one that hopefully the rest of society could relate to. Also, the American Republic is how I see this country as well, I don’t know about anyone else.
By Guitarsandmore, November 8, 2007 at 10:19 pm # There once was a pundit named Hannity There was an old man named George Bush There was a mean, mad, dog named Cheney When government ignores your commands
By observer, January 9 at 10:38 am # Re: Guitarsandmore Jan 8Man that s- is just too damn FUNNY- take that on the road!
By John Hanks, November 6, 2007 at 7:16 pm # I blame our addiction to media filth.
By Max L. Cadenhead, November 4, 2007 at 1:01 am # Mr. Vidal’s article is thoughtful, humorous, compassionate, and supurbly written. What else should one expect from the greatest literary figure in American letters since Mark Twain? He scatters opprobria over this president and his croneys as a bishop of constitutional orthodoxy wielding an aspergillum filled with holy water, or perhaps filled with ink from Mr. Jefferson’s inkwell.
By Michael, November 3, 2007 at 9:43 am # The “Imperator,” to borrow an expression from the Orient, has lost the “Mandate of Heaven.”
By Bill Blackolive, November 3, 2007 at 9:30 am # Glub, glub. We are in shit swamp. Might a million people howl in unision 9/11 is inside. Can a US Buddhist priest set hisself afire and sit peaceful with the universe in his then horrific final earthy stench. How get attention of the ants who see US corporate television? Is it too late? Glub, glub.
By nils cognizant, November 1, 2007 at 11:40 pm # Revere’s post was nice and hopefilled and somrthing I would have encouraged a young student with some years back. The reality, in its manifold simplicity, is that schoolkids here in USA are fed a stream of nonsense in their history texts, led to believe power is the key to success ( hmmm, true I guess) and left swinging in the noxious breeze of carelessness by their finely brain attenuated parents. And their political candidates. The real problem with Revere’s thinking is that some systems are by nature meant to fail when they become out of control. George Bush has merely been the tool we’ve chosen to help ease us out of global relevance. I don’t go quite as far as my beloved Kurt Vonnegut and state that all we humans should be good syphillis (organisms) and go extinct. I do, though, believe that nature has her uncompromising ways of ridding herself of pointless burdens. We are, after all, part of the natural system.
By Lily Maskew, November 1, 2007 at 12:57 pm # This was a great allegory for this administration. Unfortunately, like Jonah, if Bush was once favored by God, he is no longer. I don’t think Bush is doing God’s will. Did you ever hear of false prophets and pharasees?
By originallycredulous, November 1, 2007 at 10:18 am # Roughly half of Americans do not believe in evolution - Gallup Poll. Over half say bomb Iran as of Oct-31-07 - Zogby Poll. Bush is a product of us.
By Truthisgold, October 31, 2007 at 3:49 pm # When you want the truth—ask Vidal. He’s about the only one who has ever seen the truth the floats behind all the smoke, mirrors and neocon idiocy, and about the only one who has the courage and integrity to speak it. Oh yes, he also writes well, and expresses his ideas intelligently...far too intelligently for the majority of the American public to comprehend, perhaps, but intelligent nonetheless.
By WR Curley, October 31, 2007 at 12:19 pm # I have a plan. Shut it down. Pick a day and shut the whole thing down. Without our disciplined participation - getting up every day and taking our assigned places on the assembly line of empire - nothing happens. The masters and their minions are disempowered. It’s easy, folks. Pick a day and shut it down. If that doesn’t get us what we need, pick a second day. Stay home, put the feet up. Decline to participate, as often as it takes. Let’s simplify this thing. We don’t need nuanced argument. We all know we have a problem. We all know what the problem is. Let’s just shut the whole thing down. WR Curley
By Laura Nason, October 31, 2007 at 7:52 am # Dennis Kucinich will be bringing the Articles of Impeachment against Cheney to the floor for a vote in about 2 weeks. If you want to see this vote take place, please write/call/e-mail your representatives in congress and tell then you want them to vote NO on the Motion to Table that will be introduced to try to STOP the vote on Articles of Impeachment.
By Bob Reed, October 31, 2007 at 6:08 am # A few years ago, California governor, Gray Davis was voted out of office and replaced by Arnold schwarzenegger. It is unfortunate that we cannot do the same for federal office holders like the president and his appointees, eg supreme court justices.
By Nils Cognizant, October 30, 2007 at 11:38 pm # Not to promote my new invention I must, however, tell you about it. The device is an advanced medical imaging system, so sensitive it is capable of detecting even the rudimentary spine sometimes visible in Democrat legislators; those who agree for some reason to be scanned. Ever up to a manly challenge, candidate Hillary, without forethought or hesitation, parked her enticing derriere in my scanning chair. Her confidence was richly rewarded as I imaged one of the most finely contoured backbones I have seen since initially trying out the untested device on my former mother in law. I could not find the words to tell the candidate, though, about the disturbing ghostly image I had been stunned to spy through the lens of my gamma filter. Revealed there from shoulder to sturdy shoulder was the glaring visage of one gaius Caligula. It’s been weeks now, but I have yet to think of a way to get George Bush to sit in the imaging chair. Maybe I’ll tell him it’s a novel torture engine of some sort and he can just sit there for a minute and pretend. Kind of like reading a book.
By rcpmac, October 30, 2007 at 8:46 pm # Bruce Boyle has hijacked this thread of comments. In order to follow the thread, skip the Bruce Boyle series of comments below on WTC Bldg #7. They are not germane to the essay written by Mr. Vidal.
By amir, October 30, 2007 at 6:10 pm # Blackwater
By Randolph Maxted, August 8, 2007 at 5:26 pm # I just want Gore Vidal to know how much I respect him . . . very, very, very, very much!
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 12:17 pm # PART SIX Below you will find a link to the current version of “Why Indeed . . .” a report devoted to the collapse of WTC Building # 7. This report, by Dr. Jones, can be downloaded as a PDF file. It is 48 pages in length --along with photos-- so it can take as much as 3 to 5 minutes (at 56 Kbps --the speed of my set up). My PC uses phone lines, it has a limited modem, and thus it tends to slow things down. Perhaps you have greater speed. If so, less time will be required. In 2005 I carefully went through his earlier draft and concluded that Dr Jones made a strong case by the use of fact based research and scientific methodology. Steven Jones holds a doctorate in physics, has taught astronomy and chemistry, and has in this effort extensive research assistance: he submits his findings to peer review. Back in 05, I also read the official Commission Report on 9/l1 and concluded, reluctantly, that it is filled with fanciful speculation, was replete with avoidance, twisted by a series of omissions, and exhibited some measure of political distortion. Good luck. ~Bruce
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 12:13 pm # Part Five -B After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States Congress approved $8 billion in tax-exempt Liberty Bonds to fund development in the private sector at lower-than-market interest rates. $3.4 billion remained unallocated in March 2006 designated for Lower Manhattan, with about half of the funds under the control of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the other half under the control of former Governor George Pataki [now Gov. Elliot Spitzer]. Negotiations were held to obtain concessions from Silverstein in exchange for allocating the Liberty Bonds to the World Trade Center rebuilding. The concessions were to give back to the Port Authority rights to build and operate the Freedom Tower and another office tower, a share of the insurance payments, and not to contest the allocation to the Port Authority of Liberty Bonds. The Port Authority, a public agency, already has the ability to issue its own tax-exempt debt. The Port Authority will have its proposal in final form in September 2006. In return, the Liberty Bond funds were allocated to Silverstein and government agencies will be anchor tenants in his three office towers. This allows construction to commence. In March of 2007 Silverstein appeared at a rally of construction workers and public officials outside of an insurance industry conference to highlight what he describes as the failures of insurers Allianz & Royal and Sun Alliance to pay $800 million in claims related to the attacks. Insurers cite an agreement to split payments between Mr. Silverstein and the Port Authority as a cause for concern.[19] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Silverstein Background from the main article “the World Trade Center” The World Trade Center in New York City (sometimes informally referred to as the WTC or the Twin Towers) was a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan, mostly designed by American architect Minoru Yamasaki and developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It was initiated in 1960 by a Lower Manhattan Association created and chaired by David Rockefeller, who had the original idea of building the Center, with strong backing from the then-New York governor, his brother, Nelson Rockefeller.[2] Larry Silverstein held the most recent lease to the complex, the Port Authority having leased it to him in July 2001.[3] The complex, located in the heart of New York City’s downtown financial district, contained 13.4 million square feet (1.24 million m²) of office space, almost four percent of Manhattan’s entire office inventory.[4] Lease In 1998, plans were approved by the Port Authority to privatize the World Trade Center.[26] In 2001, the Port Authority sought to lease the World Trade Center to a private entity. Bids for the lease came from Vornado Realty Trust, a joint bid between Brookfield Properties and Boston Properties,[27] and a joint bid by Silverstein Properties and The Westfield Group.[28] By privatizing the World Trade Center, it would be added to the city’s tax rolls.[28] The lease was also intended to raise funds for other Port Authority projects.[29] On February 15, 2001, the Port Authority announced that Vornado Trust Realty had won the lease for the World Trade Center, paying $3.25 billion for the 99-year lease.[30] Silverstein was outbid by $50 million by Vornado Realty. However, Vornado later withdrew and Silverstein’s bid for the lease to the World Trade Center was accepted on July 24, 2001.
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 12:06 pm # PART FIVE-A Negotiations to rebuild at the World Trade Center site Silverstein had the legal right to rebuild office buildings including the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site and while the site is unoccupied, he continues to pay $10 million per month in rent to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. After several months of negotiation, in April 2006 he yielded some of those rights back to the Port Authority. Ground was broken on the construction of the Freedom Tower on April During the 1990s, New York was suffering from the effects of Black Monday (1987) leading to high vacancy rates at the World Trade Center. George Pataki became governor of New York in 1995 on a campaign of cutting costs including privatizing the World Trade Center. A sale of the property was considered too complex, so it was decided by the Port Authority to open a 99-year lease to competitive bidding. [5] In January 2001, Silverstein, via Silverstein Properties and Westfield America, made a $3.2 billion bid for the lease to the World Trade Center. Silverstein was outbid by $50 million by Vornado Realty, with Boston Properties and Brookfield Properties also competing for the lease. However, Vornado withdrew and Silverstein’s bid for the lease to the World Trade Center was accepted on July 24, 2001, seven weeks before the buildings were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. This was the first time in the building’s 31-year history that the complex had changed management. The deal was described in a press release on July 24, 2001: “Silverstein Properties, Inc., and Westfield America, Inc. will lease the Twin Towers and other portions of the complex in a deal worth approximately $3.2 billion – the city’s richest real estate deal ever and one of the largest privatization initiatives in history. [6]” The lease agreement applied to One, Two, Four and Five World Trade Center, and about 425,000 square feet of retail space. Silverstein put up only $14 million of his own money [7]. Silverstein was also given the right to rebuild the structures, should they be destroyed. [8] 27, 2006. [18] Lack of financing had prevented construction from commencing earlier. The proceeds of the insurance payments from the destruction of the previous buildings alone were insufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding all the planned buildings.
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 11:59 am # PART FOUR You ask: “What did he actually pay? What did he actually own? Why was the NY Port Authority sharing in the settlement?” from Wikipedia Larry Silverstein “Silverstein put up only $14 million of his own money [7]. Silverstein was also given the right to rebuild the structures, should they be destroyed. [8]” World Trade Center lease 7 World Trade Center [ “WTC Building 7”] World Trade Center As a private developer with a 99-year lease on the World Trade Center, Silverstein insured the property. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, he sought payment for the destruction of the towers as two incidents. The two dozen insurers held that it was one incident. If it were considered to be a single incident, the payout would be $3.55 billion and if it were two incidents, it would be $7.1 billion. Silverstein sued the insurers. In October of 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a Southern District verdict by a jury that the attacks must be considered a single occurrence. Yet, the same court also upheld a victory in the second phase of trial which was awarded to Mr. Silverstein in which temporary insurance policies in effect when the buildings were destroyed did require that the attack to be treated as two occurrences. Thus, nine insurance companies will pay double the approximately $1 billion in coverage under their policies.[9] At dispute in the trial were interpretation of standard forms used in the application for property insurance and when particular insurers saw which documents.[12] In total, Silverstein was awarded nearly $5 billion in insurance money [$3.55 + $1.1 billion = $4.6 billion] following the destruction of the Twin Towers [13]. He plans to use some or all of the settlement to rebuild. [14] The World Trade Center had a total of 24 insurance policies. In 2007, 6 years after the attacks, Silverstein and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey filed a $1 billion lawsuit ($250 million in unpaid claims and $750 million in damages) against Royal & Sun Alliance Group Plc and its U.S. affiliate.[15]
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 11:55 am # PART THREE Back in July of 2001, Larry Silverstein’s * invested $124 million for a 99 year lease of the WTC complex. In an act of extraordinary foresight Larry insured the World Trade Center for $7 BILLION with a clause added in August (01) for full settlement “in the event of an act of terror.” After 9/11, Larry demanded a settlement of $7 Billion (estimated at 4 times the cost for replacement). There were two major insurers and several reinsurance companies. According to IndyBay .org “The insurance company, Swiss Re, agreed to pay Mr. Silverstein $4.6 Billion - a princely return on a relatively paltry investment of $124 million.” As to be expected, extensive litigation over settlement ensued: Larry demanded the full $7 Billion (estimated at 4 times the cost for replacement). On May 24, 2007 an agreement covering “all outstanding insurance claims of $2 Billion” was announced between Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Co, and Silverstein Properties. Larry will receive approximately double the cost of planned replacement on this “outstanding” resolution. You should be also be aware that the new tower project is something of a scaled back version of the original complex that formerly stood in the early sunlight of 9/11—before the three of seven buildings were demolished. Larry’s crystal-ball and business foresight, and his keen investment stratagem, have finally paid off. Note: “Larry Silverstein is the New York property tycoon who purchased the entire WTC complex just 6 months prior to the 9/11 attacks . . . That was the first time in its 33-year history the complex had EVER changed ownership . . . Mr. Silverstein’s first order of business as the new owner was to change the company responsible for the security of the complex. The new security company he hired was Securacom (now Stratasec). George W. Bush’s brother, Marvin Bush, was on its board of directors, and Marvin’s cousin, Wirt Walker III, was its CEO. According to public records, not only did Securacom provide electronic security for the World Trade Center, it also covered Dulles International Airport and United Airlines - two key players in the 9/11 attack …The company was backed by an investment firm, the Kuwait-American Corp., also linked for many years to the Bush family. KuwAm has been linked to the Bush family financially since the Gulf War. One of its principals and a member of the Kuwaiti royal family, Mishal Yousef Saud al Sabah, served on the board of Stratesec …“Following the attacks, Silverstein filed TWO insurance claims for the maximum amount of the policy ($7B), based on the two—in Silverstein’s view—separate attacks. The insurance company, Swiss Re, paid Mr. Silverstein $4.6 Billion - a princely return on a relatively paltry investment of $124 million.” (actually $2.3 billion, see MORE below) Source of note ** Also see: Larry was understandably eager to be paid, perhaps even more eager to shut the door and avoid ongoing investigation. He will not get this second wish . . .
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 11:51 am # PART TWO “Seven Insurance Companies Pay Silverstein Properties $2 billion As Settlement For 9/11 Insurance Claims” Until I have an opportunity to research the court papers everything below is subject to revision: The key sentence from the Insurance Newsnet article reads. “The courts originally [2004] ruled that Silverstein Properties was entitled to collect $4.68 billion but insurance companies paid only half of the amount while the rest remained under dispute.” The first payment made to Silverstein Properties was $2.3 Billion (“only half of the $4.68 Billion order by a judge”). That suggests that another $2.3 Billion was “outstanding” (being disputed and subject to litigation). The settlement announced this month (May 2007), was over the unpaid balance, the “outstanding” portion. I would guess that the insurance companies dragged it out hoping for lesser settlement on this “outstanding” portion. “Silverstein Properties and seven insurance companies finally ended with the biggest settlement agreement in regulatory history: $2 billion” The replacement cost figure for the WTC most commonly used by the press range from $1.6 to $1.8 Billion. (Mayor Bloomberg demanded the insurers pay $1.5 Billion for the new ground zero project.) The way I read the information presented, it looks like two (half) payments totaling $4.3 Billion in all . . .
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 11:47 am # PART ONE: Will everyone please take the time to read Vidal’s “Imperial America,” and Chambers Johnson, “Nemesis.” Everything that has gone down has helped advance the neonazicon’s war -making agenda. And on the topic of 9/11 It is time to look beyond the official conspiracy theory that has been us to justify preemptive aggression in the Empire’s war against the people of Iraq as it has unfolded in the TV media’ and driven by a massive propaganda campaign to uncritically support “Jonah” and war. Ben wrote: “Keep in mind that 9-11 was also a faith based initiative.” Maybe, but most likely not. You must consider possibility and of insurance lightning as motivation to knock down the Tower complex that had become “White Elephants” with astronomical liabilities. You see, like millions of critically minded people I have come to accept Steven Jones’s findings and most of Griffin’s excellent debunking of the official myth. The facts brought forward by these critics indicate that Building 7 was a controlled demolition. With this the case, I find it is difficult to accept that the owner of that building knew nothing. What did Larry know? And most important, as I work through this ultimately gruesome subject (and with good personal reason), I want to assure the readers that I sincerely hold to “innocent until proven” otherwise. I have many questions about 9/11, about the growth in power of the corporate state and the convenient fit of the impact of 9/11 into the neonazicon’s agenda and into the Bush administrations’ Empire war policies, but the answer to most of these questions are illusive and my research goes in slow motion.
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 11:40 am # PART SEVEN Steven Jones’ Paper: Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse? Dr. Steven Jones, a Physicist and Archaeometrist, is co-editor of the Journal of 9/11 Studies with Kevin Ryan. Article Versions CURRENT VERSION Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Completely Collapse? http://www.wtc7.net/articles/WhyIndeed09.pdf (1.2mb PDF) In the article Jones enumerates thirteen reasons to challenge government reports and investigate the controlled-demolition hypothesis: PREVIOUS VERSIONS Also see comment: # 24168 below.>>>
By Bruce Boyle, June 1, 2007 at 11:27 am # PART THREE Below you will find a link to the current version of “Why Indeed . . .” a report devoted to the collapse of WTC Building # 7. This report, by Dr. Jones, can be downloaded as a PDF file. It is 48 pages in length --along with photos-- so it can take as much as 3 to 5 minutes (at 56 Kbps --the speed of my set up). My PC uses phone lines, it has a limited modem, and thus it tends to slow things down. Perhaps you have greater speed. If so, less time will be required. In 2005 I carefully went through his earlier draft and concluded that Dr Jones made a strong case by the use of fact based research and scientific methodology. Steven Jones holds a doctorate in physics, has taught astronomy and chemistry, and has in this effort extensive research assistance: he submits his findings to peer review. Back in 05, I also read the official Commission Report on 9/l1 and concluded, reluctantly, that it is filled with fanciful speculation, was replete with avoidance, twisted by a series of omissions, and exhibited some measure of political distortion. Good luck. ~Bruce Steven Jones’ Paper: The current version of the article is now available as a PDF file. Dr. Steven Jones, a Physicist and Archaeometrist, is co-editor of the Journal of 9/11 Studies with Kevin Ryan. Article Versions Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Completely Collapse? (1.2mb PDF) In the article Jones enumerates thirteen reasons to challenge government reports and investigate the controlled-demolition hypothesis: 1.Molten Metal: Flowing and in Pools PREVIOUS VERSIONS Also see comment: # 24168 below.>>>
By John Hanks, March 12, 2007 at 7:37 pm # Anger is exhausting, but hatred is serene. Put short computer generated signs in your car windows.
By Scott Brison, February 27, 2007 at 12:08 pm # I know that you must hate to feel that the Bush regime speaks for you. Spare a second now to feel for those of us who are greatly embarrassed to have a neo-con of the religious right as our newly minted Prime Minister. They will feel very cosy together, I am sure.
By Jeff, February 19, 2007 at 10:52 am # kdsg: We do have the same president. However, Celeste is living on another celestial sphere. We obviously do not have the same ability to divide the world into Good and Evil that she and Mr. Bush do. They must be native to the Moon, where there is a clear deliniation between dark and light. Perhaps they were brought back by our astronauts without their knowledge. And as for Jermy Jones, it is not that we “hate” Mr. Bush, it is that we HATE the fact that we have been stuck with him as our president, and we HATE the fact that he has needlessly condemned so many people to death, and HATE the fact that he has undermined our Constitution. Because, believe it or not, we LOVE our country. We just HATE what has been done to it. If Mr. Bush were a private citizen screwing up his own life in Crawford, we wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about him.
By kdsg, February 19, 2007 at 9:41 am # re: Comment #43623 by Celeste Do we have the same president? I can’t imagine this one going down as one of our greatest presidents. I can, however, imagine him as just going down. I can imagine him going down the White House steps for the last time. I can imagine him going down to Crawford. I can imagine him going down in history as a man who divided this country on religious reasons. I very much enjoyed this article.
By Wayne, February 8, 2007 at 11:33 am # One of the reasons I fail to take decisive action is the internet. I spend so much time being enraged by the truth coming out over the web (Gore Vidal’s excellent piece) that I fail to act effectively. Simply condemning the Bush administration will not guarantee the survival of my Republic. I must get off the web and into the streets. That’s where the fight is.
By Jermy Jones, January 30, 2007 at 11:42 am # I don’t agree with most of what Bush says or does, but you all HATE him with such vitriol, that it really makes me wonder. We’re supposed to be the people who remind the world to avoid hate, yet conservatives just think liberals are crazy and out of touch, and it’s mostly because of websites like this. Hijacking elections, lying? Come on.... find arguments that are based on reason, and not just your hate of the man.
By Tim, January 22, 2007 at 4:37 pm # The use of religion in the years since 2000 has been apalling, and I am glad that Vidal comments extensively on it. I recall the 2004 election, when Kerry was assaulted by Catholic ministers because he was pro-choice, and that those who voted for him were “bad Catholics” and would no longer go to Heaven. All other commentary aside, Bush’s divine inspiration alone is cause for worry. If he were not the president, I invision him as one of those poor homeless saps in New York City walking up and down the streets with a big sandwich sign bearing “THE END IS NEAR!” in sloppy, black painted letters. People have been commited for less radical beliefs in the past and in the present; the fact that he is preisdent does not give him immunity - it should be cause for more worry.
By Polly Ester, December 30, 2006 at 8:50 am # “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity” The eerie veracity of this statement certainly rings true today—-the finest become enervated by the forceful temperament of greed, loathing, contempt and corruption.
By Dave Summers, M.D., December 29, 2006 at 2:08 pm # RE: Vidal’s Pearls of History, Truth & Wisdom America should thank Vidal for his astute observations; as revealed in his recent autobiographical people, places & principles, he is an expert in language & expression and has a unique ability to observe and evaluate objectively the sectarian dangers by which his America is becoming more & more characterized. Congress and that American, 90% majority called “Christians” seem unphased by a President who delusionally started a war “to save the world for Christ”, subordinates our laws to his “higher power”, and perpetually confuses philosophy with piety or (Spinoza with an antithetical Pope). Even if America succumbs to a faith or sectarian, 21st century, Osama-George, Crusade-like atrocity which obviously will end “the world’s best hope”, the President & his faith-heads under Falwell-Robertson augmentation, still are unlikely to perceive the tragedy of their
By David, December 29, 2006 at 12:46 pm # Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Add Your Comment |
| |||||||
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Yahoo
Jump to Comments
LISTEN TO THIS ITEM,
Email
Print
Share
Ma.gnolia
Newsvine
COMMENT TOOLS:
Hide comments
Show comments
Comment on this article