This morning I was perusing my friends page and on the libertarian list there is a post questioning if or how many libertarians are "nutjobs" that believe in 9/11 conspiracies. It interests me to what degree any consideration of our government's possible complicity in this violent act qualifies one to be a nutjob in so many eyes. Just the word "conspiracy" evokes an emotional response of hatred. By suggesting that our government might consider killing our citizens for its benefit reaps outrage. Why?
I don't remember the exact quote or origin, but somebody said (and I paraphrase extensively) that new truth is at first taboo, then later hilarious, and finally it becomes widely accepted as common knowledge. I think this is the case. It is too painful for people to think that our democracy has sunk so low, that our government could be so corrupt. But facing the pain, one can see that it is not only possible, but probable.
It is plain enough that the lives of regular citizens, in the form of people desperate enough to join the armed services, are disposable to the government. It is clear that the lives of simple non-military folk in other lands, such as Pakistan or Afghanistan or Iraq, are worth nothing to the neocons as well. For a regime that does not value life, what do you expect? They can and will do anything in their power to hold onto power, and to increase their wealth. I see no reason for it to be so outrageous to suggest that they might have a hand in the attacks. It benefitted the war hawks directly, just as Pearl Harbour did, by unifying the simpletons of the nation behind a plan to tax and spend on war, to spy on everyone, to torture whoever they please and to deny habeas corpus to prisoners.
Is it such a big leap to imagine them capable of killing citizens to help fund a war?
What is it about the word CONSPIRACY that raises so many hackles?
I am not going to argue here for a conspiracy, as the arguments are well-state elsewhere. If you are open-minded enough to be curious about this possibility, try the links that you find by clicking the 9/11 tag below.