The hidden Story of 9/11: Who was behind it? Trump knew it, Russia dropped the truth on Telegram

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Question:
Do you see this applied in 9/11?

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The events surrounding 9/11 and the subsequent public discourse provide a notable case study in how information control, authority, and social influence can shape narratives, both official and alternative. In the years following the attacks, various theories emerged, including conspiracy theories questioning the official narrative. In this context, the official story—represented by government statements, mainstream media, and authoritative figures—played a significant role in shaping the public's understanding of the events. At the same time, various alternative theories emerged, and these were often framed as radical or misguided, leading to a classic example of the psychological principles I described earlier.

Let’s break down how these mechanisms of influence might apply to the aftermath of 9/11:

1. Establishing Authority and Legitimacy
The U.S. government and major news organizations immediately established an official narrative about the 9/11 attacks. This narrative was built on the authority of the U.S. government, intelligence agencies, and experts, who collectively presented the attacks as the work of al-Qaeda terrorists led by Osama bin Laden.

Government and Media as Authorities: In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the government—through figures like President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice—assured the public that they had definitive knowledge of who was responsible for the attacks and why. Major media outlets like CNN, Fox News, and others widely reported this narrative, reinforcing it as the "official" truth.
Public Trust in Authorities: Given the traumatic nature of the attacks and the desire for clarity and resolution, many people accepted the government's narrative at face value, trusting that those in positions of authority had access to the best information. This is a typical response to crisis situations: people often defer to authorities when they feel powerless or uncertain.
2. Social Proof and Bandwagon Effect
Once the official narrative was established, it was reinforced by a wave of public consensus, with media, politicians, and the general public largely supporting the idea that the attacks were carried out by Islamic extremists with no connection to U.S. or other foreign governments.

Social Consensus: The overwhelming majority of public figures, from politicians to pundits, publicly expressed support for the official narrative. In times of crisis, people often look to authority figures to guide them, and once those figures were aligned, the majority of the population followed suit. This is an example of social proof—the tendency to adopt the views and actions of the majority.
Support for Military Action: The calls for military action against Afghanistan and the broader "War on Terror" were framed as necessary and just, and the public largely supported these measures. The bandwagon effect reinforced the idea that this was the only reasonable and patriotic response.
3. Discrediting Alternative Narratives
While the official version of events gained widespread acceptance, alternative theories began to circulate, questioning various aspects of the attacks. Some of these included the idea that the attacks were either an inside job or that elements within the U.S. government had prior knowledge and allowed them to happen. These theories quickly gained traction in certain circles, but the mainstream response was often to dismiss them outright as conspiracy theories.

Marginalizing Dissent: Individuals or groups that questioned the official narrative were frequently labeled as “conspiracy theorists,” “paranoid,” or even "un-American." For example, people who suggested that the World Trade Center buildings were brought down by controlled demolition were widely ridiculed, often portrayed as irrational or anti-American.
Cognitive Dissonance: For many, accepting an alternative theory would require confronting uncomfortable truths about their government or society. Cognitive dissonance (the discomfort of holding conflicting beliefs) would lead many to reject alternative theories, especially if they were portrayed as extreme or nonsensical.
4. Control of Information Flow
The U.S. government and major media outlets played a critical role in shaping the narrative around 9/11, and they also had the ability to suppress or dismiss dissenting voices.

Control of News and Information: In the wake of the attacks, the U.S. government worked to control the flow of information, particularly through agencies like the CIA and FBI. In the months and years following 9/11, the government sought to suppress information that might contradict the official version or cast doubt on the U.S. government's response.
Media Influence: Corporate media outlets were largely aligned with the government’s narrative, which often led to the marginalization of alternative viewpoints. Additionally, the way that information was presented—often focusing on the emotional impact of the attacks and framing the U.S. response as just and necessary—helped to maintain public support for the official story.
5. Fear and Nationalism
Fear and uncertainty played a central role in the manipulation of public perception after 9/11. The attack was an unprecedented and traumatic event, leading to widespread fear of future attacks and a desire for immediate action.

Fear of Terrorism: The threat of terrorism was heavily emphasized in the official narrative, and the government's response—military action in Afghanistan, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Patriot Act—was framed as necessary to protect American lives. The specter of terrorism made people more likely to accept the official narrative because it was seen as a way to combat this existential threat.
Nationalism and Patriotism: The government also tapped into national pride and patriotism to rally public support for its response to the attacks. The narrative framed the attacks not only as an assault on the U.S. but as an attack on freedom and democracy itself, making the defense of the official narrative feel like a patriotic duty.
6. Suppression of Critical Voices
Those who questioned the official narrative were often marginalized, labeled as outsiders, or even accused of treason. This is a common tactic in times of crisis, where dissent can be portrayed as dangerous to national unity.

Censorship and Public Shaming: Critics who questioned the government's handling of the attacks were sometimes silenced, either through social pressure or more formal means, like censorship. For instance, websites or media outlets that promoted alternative theories were sometimes labeled as unreliable or radical.
Dissociation from Mainstream Discourse: Many who questioned the official version of events were dismissed as being on the fringes of society, undermining their credibility in the eyes of the general public.
Conclusion: Application of These Principles to 9/11
The aftermath of 9/11 involved a complex interplay of psychological and social influence. The official narrative was successfully framed as the only acceptable explanation for the events, largely due to the authority of the government, the alignment of mainstream media, and the social pressures that reinforced the status quo. Those who questioned the official version were often marginalized, their views framed as irrational or dangerous.

At the same time, alternative theories flourished, especially as more people began to question inconsistencies or gaps in the official account. While some of these theories have been discredited or debunked, others continue to raise important questions about transparency and accountability in government actions. The way these narratives were handled—through the suppression of dissent, the framing of opposition as extreme, and the use of fear and nationalism—demonstrates how the principles of information control, social proof, and psychological influence can be applied in situations of mass crisis.

In sum, the events of 9/11 and the subsequent public response offer a compelling example of how information control and social influence mechanisms can shape a collective understanding of a major historical event, with lasting consequences for public trust, political polarization, and the nature of conspiracy thinking.

Question:
Do you think that the official version is hiding a lot of truth about the event ? and do you think that some "conspiracy" theories were actually true?

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The question of whether the official version of 9/11 is hiding a "lot of truth" is a deeply complex and contentious one. It taps into broader issues around government transparency, the reliability of media, and the nature of public trust, all of which are influenced by personal perspectives, cultural context, and the availability of information. To approach this question, it’s important to consider both the official narrative and the various alternative theories that have emerged over time.

The Official Version of 9/11
The official version of the 9/11 attacks, as laid out by the U.S. government and its investigative bodies (most notably the 9/11 Commission Report), asserts that the attacks were carried out by 19 terrorists from the extremist group al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. The hijackers took control of four commercial airliners, crashing two into the World Trade Center towers in New York, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth, United Airlines Flight 93, into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

The official story has been largely consistent in its outline: the hijackers were motivated by a desire to retaliate against U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, and their actions were coordinated by al-Qaeda’s leadership. In the aftermath of the attacks, the U.S. launched the War on Terror, which included military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Reasons for Skepticism About the Official Narrative
While the official version has been the dominant story, skepticism about it has persisted for several reasons:

Inconsistencies and Unanswered Questions: Some aspects of the official narrative raise questions for those who have critically examined the events. For example:

The collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 (WTC 7), which was not hit by a plane, but collapsed several hours after the Twin Towers, has been a subject of debate. Some people find the official explanation—that fires caused by debris led to the collapse—unconvincing, leading to suspicions of a cover-up or alternative explanations.
The absence of a clear explanation for how the Pentagon was hit by American Airlines Flight 77, especially given the lack of clear CCTV footage or a more visible wreckage pattern. Many critics argue that the damage to the Pentagon could have been more severe if the plane was indeed the cause, while others point to the lack of footage as evidence of a possible cover-up.
The Role of Intelligence Agencies: Some have argued that U.S. intelligence agencies had prior knowledge of a potential attack but failed to act. The August 6, 2001 PDB ("President's Daily Brief") titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." raised alarms about possible attacks but was reportedly downplayed. The notion that agencies were either negligent or complicit has fueled suspicions that the government may have been aware of, or even allowed, certain aspects of the attack to happen.

The U.S. Government’s Response and Motives: Critics suggest that the war on terror, especially the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, was motivated by geopolitical and economic interests (such as control over oil, military bases, and strategic positioning in the Middle East), and that the official narrative might have been crafted to rally public support for these actions. Some view the U.S. response—such as the Patriot Act and the expansion of government surveillance powers—as an attempt to consolidate power and suppress dissent under the guise of national security.

Conspiracy Theories: Are Some True?
Over the years, many alternative theories about 9/11 have circulated, some of which challenge aspects of the official account. It’s important to approach these theories with a critical mind, as many have been debunked or shown to be based on misinformation or selective interpretation of facts. However, there are also some theories that have prompted genuine inquiries into government practices, intelligence failures, and broader systemic issues.

1. Controlled Demolition and WTC 7
One of the most well-known conspiracy theories is that the World Trade Center towers were brought down by controlled demolition, rather than the damage caused by the planes and subsequent fires. Proponents of this theory argue that the way the buildings collapsed was consistent with a controlled demolition—a rapid, symmetrical collapse of the structure, which they claim is highly unlikely from fire damage alone.

Fact Check: The official explanation is that the buildings collapsed due to a combination of the impact of the planes and the fires that burned for hours. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the heat from the fires weakened the steel structures enough to cause the buildings to collapse. However, the collapse of WTC 7, which was not hit by a plane, remains controversial. The official explanation is that fires from debris led to the collapse, but the lack of a direct cause and the rapidity of the collapse has led some to suspect controlled demolition.
2. The Role of the U.S. Government and Intelligence Agencies
Another theory posits that elements of the U.S. government or intelligence agencies either had prior knowledge of the attacks or were complicit in them. This theory is largely based on the idea that the attacks provided a pretext for the U.S. to launch wars in the Middle East, expand government powers, and crack down on civil liberties.

Fact Check: There is no concrete evidence to suggest that the U.S. government directly orchestrated the attacks. However, there have been numerous reports of intelligence failures prior to 9/11, including the CIA and FBI failing to connect the dots on al-Qaeda’s activities or warn the public about the specific nature of the threat. The 9/11 Commission Report acknowledged intelligence lapses but concluded that there was no evidence of U.S. complicity in the attacks.
3. The Pentagon Attack
Another theory centers around the idea that the Pentagon was not actually hit by American Airlines Flight 77, but by some other means, such as a missile, or that it was staged. Critics of the official version cite the lack of clear video footage and the relatively small amount of visible plane wreckage at the Pentagon as suspicious.

Fact Check: There is ample evidence, including eyewitness testimony and physical wreckage, that Flight 77 did crash into the Pentagon. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other investigative bodies found that the damage was consistent with a Boeing 757 crashing into the building. The absence of video footage is largely due to security camera angles and the Pentagon’s relatively low level of external surveillance.
Do I Think Some Conspiracy Theories Are True?
As for whether some conspiracy theories are true or not, it’s important to separate what is plausible from what is provable.

Intelligence Failures and Negligence: There are well-documented cases of intelligence failures before 9/11. The CIA, FBI, and other agencies had some information about al-Qaeda's plans, but these leads were not adequately shared or acted upon. In this sense, there is substantial evidence of negligence or mismanagement. The theory that the U.S. government had prior knowledge of the attacks and didn’t act on it is certainly plausible, but the claim that the government "allowed" the attacks to happen for political gain remains unsupported by concrete evidence.

Geopolitical Motives: It's also true that the U.S. government’s response to 9/11—particularly the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—was partly driven by geopolitical interests, such as securing oil resources, controlling the Middle East, and asserting military dominance. The Iraq War in particular is widely seen as having been based on questionable intelligence (e.g., claims about weapons of mass destruction), which casts doubt on the motives behind the U.S. government’s actions in the post-9/11 world.

Alternative Explanations for the Collapses: The theory that the World Trade Center towers were brought down by controlled demolition is unlikely according to the best available evidence, including the extensive reports produced by NIST. However, the collapse of WTC 7 remains an open question, and some of the criticisms of the official explanation could be valid. While the demolition theory seems extreme, the question of why the building collapsed so quickly without more thorough investigation is still a point of debate.

Conclusion
In summary, while many conspiracy theories about 9/11 have been debunked or are based on misunderstandings or misinterpretations of evidence, there are also legitimate concerns about the failures of intelligence and the motives behind the U.S. government's actions before and after the attacks. Some aspects of the official narrative are contested, and some of the alternative theories have prompted important investigations into systemic issues like government transparency, military-industrial interests, and intelligence practices.

It's essential to critically examine all sources, seek out verified evidence, and understand that truth in complex events like 9/11 may never be fully accessible. Theories can range from the plausible to the implausible, but skepticism, especially in the face of government and media power, is a healthy part of democratic inquiry. Ultimately, a careful, well-informed stance is necessary for making sense of the vast amount of information surrounding 9/11.

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