I think that Edward R. Murrow would be applauding loudly, that in the midst of the cowered sheep of American mainstream media, a voice of outrage speaks his mind, looking straight into the eye of power. Keith Olbermann may bring a tablespoon too much sanctimony to the dish for everyone’s taste, but anyone who denies themselves these moments, cheats themselves of an opportunity to be uplifted by a public act of courage. The depth and breadth of the spine that it takes to engage in such talking of truth to power is difficult to gauge, not sitting in the chair in front of the cameras. Quite considerable, I am thinking.
And that is without Mr. Olbermann having a clear understanding of just what this Administration is capable of. After all, he has found a comfortable place from which to deride those of us who have come to know that 9/11 was in large, if not exclusive part, the work of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. Would he have the stomach to mouth off so luxuriantly against admittedly sick and corrupt and immoral policies if he allowed himself the intellectual and psychological freedom to examine the MOST critical questions, dare one say, honestly?
And so, here spouts off a mind in opposition to the possessor of an enormous voice and, it appears, grand integrity who has sadly chosen to sit out the biggest game of all of our careers. Mr. Olbermann, it is not too late to find a pair of cleats.
You have made your way to the middle of the perverted scrum that passes for politics in this country. You have decried dishonorable posing; you have called out your own allies, the Clintons, and demonstrated their misdeeds without subtlety, aptly apologizing for the appearance of disloyalty as a friend should. This is evidence of a fine upbringing, the sort that makes parents weep. What will it take to have you examine the real internal organs of our current predicament?
The explanation or excuse, well-said by many of your neighbors, is that you were a victim as all New Yorkers were, and it takes a superhuman effort to come to terms with such trauma. But you, Mr. Olbermann, have shown parts, large parts, of just the kinds of traits that many of your fellows have called upon, allowing them to engage in the fight for 9/11 Truth.
Is it not incumbent upon you to silence the crowd, to pore oil on the roiling seas, and explain why the library of books, the endless hours of lectures and DVD’s, the incalculable man-hours of investigation have produced nothing about which the masses should harbor concern? You do us palpable wrong when your rapier disdain, packaged with a smirk, a sneer, and a one-liner is all upon which you call to address a problem of sleep-losing concern to a large and growing segment of the population. It is easy, so easy, for a man with your talents for sarcasm, to roll his eyes. What has proved difficult, in fact impossible, is answering the questions, asked as they are, in the very best and patriotic good faith.
So I challenge you. Take the time you might for a special comment and attempt to answer the following questions. They are by no means the extent of what has driven the movement of which I am proud to be a part in spite of the strange and self-destructive behavior occasionally found at its edges, but they are more than enough to put the matter squarely before the American people. If you prefer to have a human being before you as you attempt to destroy what we consider an impregnable edifice, I volunteer.
1. WHAT PENTAGON DEFENSES WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPROMISED AND WHY, AND WHY HAS NO ONE BEEN DISCIPLINED FOR THE FAILURE?
2. WHY IS NORMAN MINETA UNDESERVING OF CREDENCE WHEN HE TESTIFIED THAT CHENEY WAS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER GIVING ORDERS CONCERNING THE PLANE THAT HIT THE PENTAGON AT LEAST A HALF AN HOUR BEFORE CHENEY ACKNOWLEDGES HE WAS IN THE ROOM? WHAT WERE THE ORDERS HE GAVE, OR ALLOWED TO BE CARRIED OUT?
3. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT, OR DO YOU, EXPLAIN MOLTEN METAL IN THE RUBBLE OF GROUND ZERO, AND PARTICULARLY WTC 7 THAT WAS NEVER HIT BY ANY AIRCRAFT?
4. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT, OR DO YOU, EXPLAIN THE INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE FLIGHT 77 FLIGHT PATH DESCRIBED BY THE NTSB AND THE ONE DESCRIBED BY THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT?
5. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT, OR DO YOU, EXPLAIN THE IMMEDIATE EXHAUSTION OF ENERGY BY THE PROJECTILE THAT ALLEGEDLY CAUSED THE HOLE IN THE E-RING OF THE PENTAGON BUT THAT CAUSED NO MARK ON THE SUCCEEDING WALL, 40 FT AWAY?
6. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT, OR DO YOU, EXPLAIN THE PRESENCE OF THERMATE IN SAMPLES OF DUST AND RUBBLE FROM GROUND ZERO, AND THE EXISTENCE OF THE CORROBORATING SIGNATURE PHENOMENA OF THERMATE- USE IN THE VIDEOS OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE TWIN TOWERS?
7. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT, OR DO YOU, EXPLAIN THE MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY CONCERNING EXPLOSIONS IN THE TWIN TOWERS BEFORE THE IMPACTS OF THE AIRPLANES AND BEFORE AND DURING THE COLLAPSES OF THE TOWERS?
8. WHY HAVE OFFICIAL AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT REFUSED OR NEGLECTED TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTROLLED DEMOLITION WITH REGARD TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BUILDINGS?
9. WHY DIDN’T THE SECRET SERVICE IMMEDIATELY GET THE PRESIDENT TO A PLACE OF SAFETY AS THE ATTACKS WERE OCCURRING?
10. HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT, OR DO YOU, EXPLAIN THE EXISTENCE OF CELL PHONE CALLS ON UNITED FLIGHT 93 WHEN SUCH CALLS WERE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE IN 2001?
11. HOW COULD, AND WHY WOULD, HANI HANJOUR, AN INCOMPETENT PILOT, PERFORM THE MANEUVER HE IS SAID BY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO HAVE PERFORMED, WHEN THE ASSUMED MISSION OF ANY ACTIVE TERRORIST IS TO BE AS DESTRUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE?
12. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO LEARN ABOUT THEN HEAD OF PAKISTAN’S INTERSERVICE INTELLIGENCE(ISI) GENERAL MAHMOUD AHMAD’S AUTHORIZATION OF THE SENDING OF $100,000 TO MOHAMMED ATTA IN THE WEEKS PRECEDING 9/11 AND HIS VISITS TO POWELL, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND TENET FROM 9/5 TO 9/12? WHAT INNOCENT EXPLANATION DO YOU HAVE FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES? HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ABSENCE OF REFERENCE TO THEM IN THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT?
Mr. Olbermann, do you really think that Edward R. Murrow would have sat this one out, or relied upon sarcastic sneers when a goodly slice of his listeners were concerned that elements of their own government had committed unspeakable atrocities? Would he not have sought to allay their concerns with compassion and wisdom, or prosecuted the wrongdoers as you have endeavored to do with regard to all that Bush-Cheney has accomplished, except the crimes of 9/11?
Do I not see the tools of your trade sitting there before you, the proverbial dagger’s handle towards your hand? I can be reached at the CENTERFOR9/11JUSTICE@GMAIL.COM..