The Challenge of the 9-11 Truth Movement has been the size of the “PROBLEM.” 9-11 was a special operation designed to terrorize the American population, to shut down their rational thinking processes, and instill a sense of fear and insecurity. People did not want to “believe” that such a horrific event could have been orchestrated by their own government, to advance an imperial grab for resources and power, even if it was true. Those who questioned 9-11 were attacked from surprising quarters- “the leaders of the peace movement,” among them.

Thanks to the brave voices of grieving wives, whose husbands had been murdered, the government was forced to create the “Independent Commission,” which permitted the demands for truth to be articulated. However, the Commission’s very existence and mandate was to reinforce the official story, to justify the construction of the National Security State, to protect the American people from future attacks (which they guaranteed would happen). When the Commission’s Official Report was published, many were horrified at family members lobbying for the Commission’s Recommendations. Those who went along with the Commission’s basic thesis received the press’s attention, those who dissented were ignored. A few family members have found the courage to speak at 9-11 Truth rallies, the McKinney hearings that questioned the 9-11 Commission Report in September 2005, but, like an onion, they have managed to provide another layer to the cover-up.

The growing community of 9-11 activists, who felt the “War on Terrorism” was a “War of Terrorism” against the people of the United States and the world, came together in 2003, in Berlin, Germany, in March 2004, in San Francisco for The International Inquiry into 9-11, Phase One, in May 2004, in Toronto at the Citizens’ International Inquiry into 9-11, Phase Two, and in September, 2004, in New York City, where the anti-Bush Movement and the anti-war movement gathered in strength to protest the Neo-Con agenda…

There is tremendous diversity within the 9-11 Truth movement, and a range of opinions about the who, what, why, and how of 9-11. Some activists prefer one of the roles of Rebel, Reformer, Citizen, Change Agent without recognizing that all roles are necessary, and can actually occur simultaneously. The psychological resistance to truth is enormous, and generally individuals, and the public have gone through four distinct stages in their understanding of 9-11-

Stage 1- Traumatized acceptance of official story.
Stage 2- Acceptance of the “incompetence” theory- that the government failed to prevent the attacks and is covering up how incompetent it is.
Stage 3- After looking at some of the evidence, concluding that the government knew that the attacks were going to occur, and allowed it to happen, in order to advance their agenda.
Stage 4- The realization that the government couldn’t have just “allowed it to happen,” but had to “make it happen,” as outlined in the Project for a New American Century.

There are Stages beyond Stage 4 which view Bush, Blair,… as puppets in a larger global game for consolidating world power under a one world government, but how much is disinformation, and how much is true, I don’t know.

The San Francisco Inquiry drew together those who agreed that the U.S. government, and the media have not told us the truth about 9-11, that evidence has been destroyed, that a cover-up was in progress, and that evidence points to complicity at the highest levels of government. The opening press conference, drew attention to the failure of the U.S. military to intercept the “hijacked” planes, in violation of the most standard operating procedures, the strange behavior of government officials on the morning of the attacks, the conflict of interests of the “Cover-Up Commission,” and Ellen Mariani’s RICO suit against Bush and other high officials. Our “allegations” and the Inquiry were reported in several mainstream publications, and the San Francisco Chronicle reported a lame response from the White House- a spokesperson said, “the administration had fully cooperated with the commission, furnishing more than 2.3 million pages of documents and holding more than 100 briefings.”

Our purpose was multifold, the sharing of research, the strategizing, the encouragement of new collaborations, and the creation of space for witnesses to come forward with new evidence and information. The day following the Inquiry, a spontaneous meeting was held which launched 911truth.org. 9-11 TV also began disseminating 9-11 videos and videos to a growing network of community access television stations across the country. More articles, books, radio programs, documentaries on 9-11 Truth began being produced and disseminated. Citizens’ Grand Juries were held in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The ripple effect grew, as well as counter “disinformation projects” to neutralize, and dwarf our efforts. Most 9-11 Truth activists have been wary of the claims of some of the various researchers, whose efforts, they fear, might be an effort to discredit the movement. One lie embedded in a number of well documented facts can cast doubt on all of the facts.

The movement has passed through Step Two of the Social Movement Process- proving the failure of existing institutions. The Truth Movement is linked to the Anti-Corporate Globalization Movement, as well as the Peace Movement or the “Global Justice Movement.” Looking at the larger picture, 9-11 was an act of fear on the part of global elites who feared losing power and sought to hold onto it using traditional methods of “war and terror.” The attack occurred shortly before a mass international protest against the Bush policies and the IMF/World Bank that was scheduled to take place in Washington DC. Those protests were cancelled after the attacks; the movement was splintered, and was placed on the defensive throughout the world. The PATRIOT Act and similar legislation passed in Canada, the UK, and other countries relabeled those opposed to government and corporate policies to be “domestic terrorists.”

The 9-11 attacks encouraged racial and religious divisions, a climate of fear to make it harder to unite and organize. It was an effort to deflect anger from existing institutions towards a fictitious “new enemy.” It was an attack against rational thought. The winning struggles, and movements of the past decades were pruned dramatically by the climate of fear. Activists were unable to unite against every assault with the entire world set on fire. However, the flagrant wave of repression created a new wave of outraged citizens and activists to join in the struggle. The failure of the government institutions to recognize and deal with local, national, and global crisises has become more apparent. While elections have been stolen for decades, public awareness of the stolen elections began in early 2001. The failure of the mainstream press to serve the public interests has also been a growing endemic problem, but only in the past few years has the public seriously lost faith in the corporate press. All of these factors combine to a loss of confidence in the government, the press, the electoral system, in corporations, in major institutions. The headlines might give credit to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, but most people aren’t buying the official story now.

Step Three- Ripening Conditions. We are also here, now, with at least fifty percent of the American public opposed to the “War on Terrorism’s” primary targets- Afghanistan, Iraq, a list of other countries, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Most are dubious of the official 9-11 story, which is the biggest of a multitude of known “lies.”

The ‘story of the battle’ has turned into the ‘battle of the story,’ the battlefield has become “the hearts and minds” of American/and increasingly world opinion.

The government, the giant corporations (particularly the media corporations) have joined forces to create “The Story of 9-11” where a handful of “evildoers” directed by “Osama Bin Laden” from his cave in Afghanistan, struck terror in the hearts of the financial/military centers of Western Civilization. “Good Forces” have been bravely launched throughout the world to battle the Evil Terrorists wherever they may hide (particularly in oil rich countries). This is the Myth, the Story, which the mainstream press has gone to great lengths to sell, to etch indelibly upon the public mind. Our challenge has been to break that “illusion.”

We are not alone. Unlikely folks, such as Curt Weldon and Bob Graham, are challenging the Bush Administration and the 9-11 Commission for covering up what they knew. The erosion of the credibility of the Bush Administration and the 9-11 Commission is a healthy sign, but only tremendous public outcry and a genuine investigation might yield the “truth and some accountability,” more likely, the Bush Regime might come down on minor charges, as Nixon was brought down on something minor, while Congress ignored the horrendous illegal war that was waged on Cambodia during his reign. Certainly, serious damage control operations are afoot, like the Valerie Plame investigation.

The anti-corporate globalization movement did not begin nor end in Seattle, but in Seattle the movement broke the media barricade. 9-11 has drawn the media spotlight, and the attacks upon those of us challenging the official narrative continue, buttressed by elaborate efforts to sell the official narrative in television shows, on film, in print, in song, with all the persuasive powers that Madison Avenue can bring to this issue. Michael Moore’s film, “Farenheit 9-11” touched upon a few points about 9-11, missing the big issues, never really challenging the “Big Lie,” but raising some minor questions and provoking unbridled outrage amongst conservatives.

When the major myth fails, what is going to replace it?

With the “Take Off “Stage eminent, damage control by the Power Elite might be to convict Bush on lesser charges, which won’t cast light on the complicity and support of the Democrats/other players in the whole drama. The Democrats have been as “pro-war” as the Republicans, although they usually aren’t as blatant in their rhetoric and documents. There is a Democratic faction that wants to concentrate on “Al Qaeda” rather than Iraq and perpetuate the bogus “War on Terrorism,” and beef up “Homeland Security.” With the failures of the major parties to seek “truth, peace, and justice,” the Green Party is uniquely positioned to champion the grassroots movements deepest desires for truth, impeachment of corrupt, criminal, treasonous, government officials, repeal of the Patriot Act, the end of imperial, aggressive, unpopular wars.

The Green Party’s key values and vision are key to engaging, empowering, and politically organizing the vast majority of Americans who are not being served by the reigning institutions. We are at a critical stage which demands a rational, clear, understanding of the current situation, problems, and offers hope, a concrete vision of change that is less scary than the Neo-Con promise of perpetual war. The Bird Flu scare is part of the “War of Terrorism” against Americans, another lie which deserves to be shattered, legislation is currently being turned into law which would enrich giant corporations and allow intrusive government control over targeted populations. However, strategically, we still must convince the majority of people that the Commission’s Report is a lie, before we can move them to a deeper understanding of our situation.

When 40% of the public opposes policies and non-violent demonstrations occur throughout the country, then the movement may be splintered or could move into winning the majority of public opinion. Stage Five- The “perception of failure” occurs when the roused public doesn’t see the immediate results of their actions/demonstrations, and the “powerholders” remain in office, numbers of people attending actions and demonstrations appear to be less. However, this is often when the movement is still growing, maybe not in the streets, but within the major institutions and organizations, involving ever larger numbers of people to address the problem, and place it on the political agenda. The 9-11 Truth movement continues to grow, to penetrate the press, academia, and reach into the corridors of power where it is an issue which has, and will, force people out of office.

Who will construct a narrative that is believable for the majority of people?

Official history refuses to recognize facts that inconveniently do not support ruling institutions, facts are being rewritten, erased daily, in our current Orwellian world, in order for the Big Lie to succeed. Fear and denial are still rampant. People who do not want ‘to know,” refuse to contemplate facts, history, data that challenge their comfortable worldview. The Green Party has an opportunity to champion truth and confront the most toxic lie of our time, to become a heroic David confronting the Goliath of Deception.

To win over the vast majority, we must come up with a better story, one that resonates with ordinary people, that gently helps them to overcome their own fears, and engages them to move from being spectators to actors, and to discover their own power and strength. Stage Seven of Social Movements is Success- when the majority oppose current policies, and no longer fear alternatives, for example- shifting the resources out of the military to meeting human and environmental needs. Success means changing policies, changing powerholders, changing the system.

Our story is that ordinary people refuse to be scared or silenced by a desperate Power Elite that seeks to use War and Terror to crush dissent and to consolidate their Power and control over the Earth’s Resources. Ordinary people will not allow Tyranny to strip them of their Constitution, their Rights, for a false sense of security dependent upon Military Force and Technology. True security depends upon the respect of all human rights, not just those of the most privileged and powerful, who can attack the vulnerable, the poor, people of color, with impunity. War is terrorism; the hope for humanity and the future lies in respect for all life, truth, dialogue, cooperation, transparency, accountability, the values articulated to be at the heart of the American experiment- liberty and justice for all. We can champion the Green Party vision to replace the false glory of military world dominance heralded by King George.

Power does not concede without a struggle, and there are attempts to co-opt and undermine all social movements, or to institutionalize minor cosmetic reforms, and allow the injustices, the atrocities, to continue out of public view. Stage Eight takes us back to the beginning, as all social movements are inextricably linked- Continuation to extend the successes and gains of the movement, oppose the attempts at backlash, promote a profound paradigm shift, recognize and celebrate our successes, and push onward to counter the problems which arise.

The tide has turned against a regime which is diametrically opposed to the deepest values the American people believe in, at odds with the world, shrouding itself in secrecy, lies, and the veils of national security, while flagrantly violating moral, national, international laws, and committing war crimes. Our hope is that we can convince the public that the system which is being constructed brick by brick, a merger of state and transnational corporate power using military force and media to exert control over the public mind as well as the world’s resources, is the Problem, and the greatest threat to Americans, as well as the world. The foundation of the biggest lie is the official narrative of 9-11, and the greatest threat to most dangerous empire ever seen is the Truth, which will wrench from them the last veil of legitimacy.

Americans do have a unique responsibility to rein in their own government, before its crimes, and the threat it poses to the rest of the world, elicits help for “regime change” from other nations. The best solution we can hope for is non-violent impeachment through consciousness raising, and the demands of a brave vocal majority of good, honest, life respecting, ordinary people to hold their own government accountable for its actions, and its crimes. This is the time for the Green Party to find the courage to champion truth, to promote rational thinking and dialogue on the serious issues confronting us, to engage and enable public participation at every level of governance, particularly in the realm of communications where we must become the media to insure our right to free speech and freedom of thought.

The Green Party should inspire heroism on the part of ordinary people, who must show greater leadership than most public officials and the press have shown, to stand up for truth, justice, accountability of public servants and corporations who are supposed to serve, and not threaten, humanity. Only a mass movement will give our public servants the courage to do the right thing, to get to the head of the parade, before they are trampled. The Green Party should offer real candidates, honest people, who are not beholden to corporate interests, committed to non-violent solutions, to challenge the pro-war incumbents who have authorized war, the Patriot Act, and Homeland Security. Fortunately, we are on the side of truth, peace, justice, the aspirations of the world’s majority. We can use all our creative skill to be the change we want to see in the world, as we challenge the illegitimate rulers who have hijacked the United States, and are seeking to hijack the world. And we should make the struggle so much fun that everyone will want to be part of it.