9-11 and the Iraq invasion: Conspiracy theories?

[Q]

When someone tells you that something is just a 'conspiracy theory...they're probably right. But do they even know what a conspiracy theory is?

conspiracy

n 1: a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act. 2: a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot). 3: a group of conspirators banded together to achieve some harmful or illegal purpose.

theory

n 1: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses".

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A 'conspiracy' doesn't have to involve more than two people conspiring to 'perform a harmful or illegal act'. The fact that it's a 'secret agreement' makes it difficult to expose to the light of day.

A conspiracy theory is nothing more than a theory about a conspiracy. If someone refers to questions about their actions as a conspiracy theory, it basically shows they have something to hide.

When politicians label Moore's F911 as nothing more than a conspiracy theory...it demonstrates that they're trying to cut off all further discussion about it instead of simply answering direct questions.

We've been programmed to automatically dismiss anything labeled as a conspiracy theory. Bush said something very unusual immediately after 9-11 when he pleaded with Americans not to believe all the conspiracy theories floating around that somehow his government 'allowed' it to happen. That put an end to most speculation because no one wants to be associated with those 'nuts' who ask questions the media won't ask.

It is true that some theories are out of touch with reality...like those espousing that a nuclear explosion caused the eventual destruction in Asia. But that's not a conspiracy theory as much as it is ignorance looking for an audience.

You can always discern between a conspiracy theory and ignorance because a conspiracy theory will always contain a certain number of facts looking for relationships. For instance: it's a FACT that the Bush government did nothing as America was warned of impending terrorism and hijackers rammed airliners into the the WTC and Pentagon. But it's a theory as to WHY they did nothing.

That's why the Bush government refers to questions about 9-11 as conspiracy theories. They want YOU to concentrate on the terrorist event without questioning why they did nothing to try to stop it.

So please don't automatically dismiss conspiracy theories because they can't be proven to your satisfaction right now. Remember the definition of a conspiracy and realize that its very nature is one of secrecy. It's not paranoia to wonder why so many questions remained unanswered in a supposedly open society. You can expect to be called a conspiracy nut if you ask questions about 9-11 and the reasons for the Iraq invasion. But don't let that discourage you wanting to know the whole truth.