CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Reader BES recently wrote a bit about conspiracy theories, so I thought that it might be good to have a little fun.  As Joseph Heller said - “Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you."
I think conspiracy theories are interesting, often fun, and mostly crazy.  I admit to enjoying Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts in Conspiracy Theory.  There are of course the biggies like the fake moon landings, JFK assassination, 9/11, Area 51, etc., but there are literally 100's if not 1000's out there - here's a good list.  One fascinating aspect of many such theories is that they sound plausible, having enough truth in them that the stretch to conspiracy is not too far.  And since I am a member of the Illuminati, I can relate to many of the conspiracy theories!!

Here is what BES recently shared via a comment on this blog - enjoy!!  And chime in with your own favorite Conspiracy Theory!
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Ok. I confess. I enjoy a really juicy conspiracy theory every now and then. Not that I necessarily believe any of them. But conspiracy theories can get amazingly creative in connecting otherwise puzzling or meaningless dots.

For instance, there are some conspiracy theories out there that connect the 19 9/11 Muslim terrorist hijackers to the CIA, who sponsored the attack in order to start a full-scale Middle East war. Considering the trillions of dollars pumped into the military industrial complex to prosecute these wars, there is certainly some Tom Clancy/Oliver Stone plausibility to it. But no hard proof it was a false flag. And speaking of the military industrial complex and conspiracy theories, conspiracy buffs believe some remarks made by JFK affecting the MIC got him killed. Again, no proof and his assassination will remain one of the greatest mysteries of all time.

But other questions remain open and unanswered about 9/11, a Muslim executed terror conspiracy. Most of them were Saudis, our so-called allies. Why did Building Seven, untouched by the two jetliners and the Tower 1 and 2 collapses, implode on its own? Nobody is saying. Why did a white hot fire at the bottom of the two smoking holes burn for almost 6 weeks? The fire burned hotter than jet fuel (and building materials for that matter) for a much longer duration than the one day it would have taken to cook off a jet’s unburned fuel load. There are few things that burn at the higher temperatures recorded at the site and none of them are typically found in office buildings.

Is there a conspiracy theory behind the Muslim “infiltration” of the USG? Not one that I’ve heard. But I have read a lot of email chatter by people who are vocally opposed to it. There hasn’t been any malicious behavior that I’m aware of, but it’s certainly adding to the anxiety (phobia?) about Muslims in America.

I’m not a big Thomas Friedman fan and I think the New York Times is litter box lining, but he wrote an OpEd piece that if nothing else, echoed the sentiments of most of the non-Muslim world asking where is the outcry from the Muslim world condemning the violence? The interesting angle was that he excused BO for skipping the solidarity pageant because it should have never happened in the first place. Instead, it should have been the Muslim world - leaders and followers - conducting that gathering, speaking out against acts of violence.

And to that point, I believe that when you have to demand such condemnation, it will only lack all the sincerity and heartfelt meaning that would come were it delivered without hesitation.

Think about it this way: In many states, it is against the law (as in you can be imprisoned) for failing to report child abuse of any kind. Acts of moral turpitude that evoke no anger or outrage are essentially viewed as socially acceptable, by default. So except for one whisper I heard, the widespread silence of the Muslim community speaks volumes.

An ethical question on conspiracies arises when we dare peak at the dark underbelly and consider how terror plots are foiled. Terrorism conspirators do not file for permits, or issue press releases. This information has to be obtained and doing so inevitably means rules and laws have to be broken. Civil liberties have to be violated. This is a very troubling paradox because I am a staunch believer in the protection of civil liberties that is now horribly perverted by an even greater need to be protected from attacks.

Recently, our leadership from California published a report on the subject that gave us a peak at that underbelly and a national debate ensued. But this all speaks to my earlier concern where the protection of our liberties and freedoms is in conflict with our safety and security. Judge Nepalitano summed it up very well in a striking quote: "The liberties we enjoy today don't necessarily make us a more secure society.” 

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