Page 34 - 201004 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - April 2010

April 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 22/04/2010 11:27 PM Page 34 34 Shame On Jesse Ventura! Shame On Jesse Ventura! By Jeffrey Scott Shapiro - FOXNews.com The former Minnesota governor has discredited himself, and dishonored and defamed his country by promoting the mistaken view that our government was involved in the Sept. 11 attacks. Jesse Ventura should be ashamed of himself and embarrassed. The former Minnesota governor recently lent his political credentials to the discredited 9/11 “Truther” movement by alleging that the Sept. 11 attacks were either planned or permitted by the United States government. This recent admission was only a small part of Ventura’s new book, “American Conspiracies: Lies, Lies and More Lies the Government Tells Us,” which echoes a revisionist account of American history that holds the Bush administration responsible for already unstable and expected to fall. Northern Alliance, FBI, NYPD and sources the Sept. 11 attacks by implying that the Bush A controlled demolition would have within the Muslim community of New York administration either knew about the attacks, minimized the damage caused by the building’s City. did nothing to stop them or actually participated imminent collapse and potentially save lives. Although I found trace evidence that in them. Many law enforcement personnel, firefighters vague rumors circulated within the Arab- During a March 10 interview with and other journalists were aware of this possible American community that “something was Barbara Walters on “The View,” Ventura option. There was no secret. There was no going to happen” in “lower downtown implied the Bush/Cheney administration used conspiracy. Manhattan” on Sept. 11, I found no evidence of 9/11 as a pretense to start the Iraq War under While I was talking with a fellow any conspiracy other than the one hatched by Al false pretenses. Ventura apparently developed reporter and several NYPD officers, Building 7 Qaeda that was later confirmed by the 9/11 this theory after former Kennedy/Johnson suddenly collapsed, and before it hit the ground, Commission. adviser Robert McNamara visited him at not a single sound emanated from the tower Since Al Qaeda once operated out of the Harvard and allegedly admitted to him that the area. There were no explosives; I would have Alkifah Refugee Center on Atlantic Avenue in Gulf of Tonkin incident, which escalated the heard them. In fact, I remember that in those Brooklyn and had many low level operatives Vietnam War, never actually happened. few seconds, as the building sank to the ground working in the NYC area, it did not surprise me Perhaps what Ventura is missing is that that I was stunned by how quiet it was. that rumors of their plan had leaked within the there is probably more incontrovertible The myth that Building 7 was blown up Arab-American community of New York. Many evidence and more witnesses who have already by the U.S. government is false – and so is the similar rumors and reports occur frequently, established what happened on Sept. 11, 2001 broader theory that our government was however, and so I have never faulted the Arab- than most major historical events. To dispute the somehow involved in the 9/11 attacks. I know American community or our government for not conventional historical account is intellectually this because I was one of the few reporters who acting upon them. dishonest and nonsensical. investigated 9/11 conspiracy theories and urban In no instance did I ever once talk to one I know this because I was working as a legends on location in the immediate aftermath source who even hinted the American journalist for Gannett News at Ground Zero that of the tragedy. government had any foreknowledge or day, and I remember very clearly what I saw and In October 2001, I reported on a story involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks. As an heard. for Gannett newspaper, The Journal News, that investigative reporter who survived the collapse Although I arrived at Ground Zero the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force was of Building 7 and doggedly investigated 9/11 shortly after the Twin Towers fell, I was in the investigating a Brooklyn high school student for conspiracy theories in the wake of the attack, I danger zone created by Building 7 from the predicting the collapse of the World Trade am convinced the 9/11 “Truther” movement is moment it collapsed in the afternoon, an event Center five days before it happened. nothing more than a paranoid, delusional pack that is one of the key cornerstones of the 9/11 To my surprise, the NYC Board of of lies. conspiracy theory. Education confirmed the story on the record and I was there. Governor Ventura and many 9/11 the FBI confirmed there had been rumors I know what happened, and there is no “Truthers” allege that government explosives circulating in the New York City Arab- single credible piece of evidence that implicates caused the afternoon collapse of Building 7. American community about a possible attack on the United States of America in the Sept. 11 This is false. I know this because I remember Manhattan. My story was immediately attacks. Governor Ventura has discredited watching all 47 stories of Building 7 suddenly confirmed by Newsweek Senior Editor himself, and dishonored and defamed his and silently crumble before my eyes. Jonathan Alter, and after I penned a follow up in country by promoting these intellectually Shortly before the building collapsed, The Washington Times magazine, “Insight,” I dishonest views. He should be ashamed of several NYPD officers and Con-Edison workers was interviewed by Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly on himself. told me that Larry Silverstein, the property “The O’Reilly Factor.” developer of One World Financial Center was My investigation into 9/11 conspiracy NOTE: Jeffrey Scott Shapiro is a former on the phone with his insurance carrier to see if theories and urban legends led me to interview Washington, D.C. prosecutor and investigative they would authorize the controlled demolition both American and Israeli intelligence officials reporter who covered the Sept. 11 attacks on of the building – since its foundation was as well as representatives of the Afghan location.