But, do Americans even know what the U.S. is still responding to? I write that with the utmost respect for all the 9/11 First Responders and families who were involved in pulling bodies out of the rubble or who were involved in the clean up in the aftermath of the attacks.

Aside from the fact that 9/11 continues to provide justification for the United States to commit atrocities in any country in any place on the globe, there is also the reality that many questions about 9/11 remain unanswered. And, unfortunately, it is politically untenable for leaders to seek answers to those questions on behalf of 9/11 families and first responders.

Last night, it was reported by ABC News, a mainstream corporate news media source, that:

“[36-year-old Elie] Assaad, who posed as ‘Mohammed’ – a personal representative of Osama bin Laden, says he’s a “million percent positive” the 9/11 attacks could have been stopped if the FBI had gone after Atta and Shukrujumah. But because Atta and his men were suspicious of the FBI undercover operative, and secretive, Assaad says his FBI agent handlers sent him after the easier target – two wannabe terrorists whose cases were easy to crack and who were both eventually convicted and sent to prison.

“I was right, I was a hundred percent right,” Assaad says of his suspicions. He says that when he learned that Atta was one of the 9/11 hijackers, when the FBI asked if he could identify any of the attackers, he was “very upset, angry” and cried.”

News stories of this type have seeped out into the public sphere regularly since the 9/11 attacks.

Like it or not, as uncomfortable and insecure as it may make one feel, there are significant questions about 9/11 that remain unanswered.

These aren’t questions coming from tinfoil hat wearing crazies who would also claim the government keeps secret information about UFOs. These are questions that 9/11 families, first responders, and leaders have been trying to get answered for over five years now.

Unfortunately, instead of backing up these people who have signed on to letters and initiatives to get answers to questions all Americans deserve to know the answers to, too many cower with fear. Americans worry that they should not doubt their government, they are afraid of actually thinking government somehow had some role in letting 9/11 happen.

Americans do not want to entertain the possibility. Connect the dots but don’t connect all the dots. Connect enough dots to get a good enough picture of what really happened but don’t go too far.

And so, when people like Van Jones rightfully sign on to documents that ask for questions to be answered, a majority of Americans refuse to admit that Van Jones may have had a good reason to sign on to a 9/11 “truth” document.

Read these questions and honestly ask yourself if it is unreasonable to want to know the answers to these questions. (Note that none of these questions mention the possibility of controlled demolitions or that no plane hit the Pentagon; these are completely legitimate questions.)

We want truthful answers to questions such as:

1.     Why were standard operating procedures for dealing with hijacked airliners not followed that day?

2.     Why were the extensive missile batteries and air defenses reportedly deployed around the Pentagon not activated during the attack?

3.     Why did the Secret Service allow Bush to complete his elementary school visit, apparently unconcerned about his safety or that of the schoolchildren?

4.     Why hasn't a single person been fired, penalized, or reprimanded for the gross incompetence we witnessed that day?

5.     Why haven't authorities in the U.S. and abroad published the results of multiple investigations into trading that strongly suggested foreknowledge of specific details of the 9/11 attacks, resulting in tens of millions of dollars of traceable gains?

6.     Why has Sibel Edmonds, a former FBI translator who claims to have knowledge of advance warnings, been publicly silenced with a gag order requested by Attorney General Ashcroft and granted by a Bush-appointed judge?

7.     How could Flight 77, which reportedly hit the Pentagon, have flown back towards Washington D.C. for 40 minutes without being detected by the FAA's radar or the even superior radar possessed by the US military?

8.     How were the FBI and CIA able to release the names and photos of the alleged hijackers within hours, as well as to visit houses, restaurants, and flight schools they were known to frequent?

9.     What happened to the over 20 documented warnings given our government by 14 foreign intelligence agencies or heads of state?

10.  Why did the Bush administration cover up the fact that the head of the Pakistani intelligence agency was in Washington the week of 9/11 and reportedly had $100,000 wired to Mohamed Atta, considered the ringleader of the hijackers?

11.  Why did the 911 Commission fail to address most of the questions posed by the families of the victims, in addition to almost all of the questions posed here?

12.  Why was Philip Zelikow chosen to be the Executive Director of the ostensibly independent 911 Commission although he had co-authored a book with Condoleezza Rice?

 

These questions were asked with support from 100 prominent Americans and 40 family members of those killed on 9/11.

Understand that the 9/11 “truth” document was put out in reaction to the failures of the 9/11 Commission that the Bush Administration reluctantly organized to appease vocal critics.

Prior to the 9/11 “truth” document, a Family Steering Committee in February and March of 2004 put forth a report asking questions of the Bush Administration and individuals who may have had an effect on the impact of the attacks on 9/11. These were some of the questions submitted:

 

On the morning of 9/11, who was in charge of our country while you [Bush] were away from the National Military Command Center? Were you informed or consulted about all decisions made in your absence?

 

Why was our nation so utterly unprepared for an attack on our own soil?

 

Is it normal procedure for the Director of the White House Situation Room to travel with you? Please cite any prior examples of this occurrence.

 

At what time were you made aware that other planes were hijacked in addition to Flight 11 and Flight 175? Who notified you? What was your course of action as the President of the United States?

 

What defensive measures did you take in response to pre-9/11 warnings from eleven nations about a terrorist attack, many of which cited an attack in the continental United States? Did you prepare any directives in response to these actions? If so, what results?

 

Please explain why you remained at the Sarasota, Florida, Elementary School for a press conference after you had finished listening to the children read when as a terrorist target your presence potentially jeopardized the lives of the children,

 

What prompted your refusal to release the information regarding foreign sponsorship of the terrorists, as illustrated in the inaccessible 28 redacted pages in the Joint Intelligence Committee Inquiry Report? What actions have you personally taken since 9/11 to thwart foreign sponsorship of terrorism?

 

Please comment on the fact that Usama Bin Laden’s profile on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives poster does not include the 9/11 attacks.

 

Which individuals, governments, agencies, institutions, or groups may have benefited from the attacks on 9/11? Please state specifically how you think they have benefited.

 

Please explain your 14 month opposition to the creation of an independent commission to investigate 9/11 and your request to Senator Daschle to quash such an investigation.

Now, eight years later, with the support of the Family Steering Committee and other survivors, several in New York City are fighting for a ballot initiative that will uncover the “full truth.”

The group, New York City for Accountability Now, has collected 80,000 signatures. A statement detailing their mission is as follows:

Today, the feeling persists among many of the families and many New Yorkers that the full truth has not been uncovered and justice has not been served. The growing number of ill and dying First Responders without access to adequate healthcare and financial support adds the necessity of an investigation into the false assurances that the air at Ground Zero was safe to breathe, and immediate remedies for the healthcare crisis afflicting First Responders and nearby residents.

 

With the federal government failing to deliver an impartial investigation, the 9/11 Families, First Responders and residents of New York City are moving ahead with the conviction that NYC CAN.

 

New York City voters have the power to legally mandate the formation of a new investigation with subpoena power by petitioning to place a referendum on the ballot in the November 2009 General Election. In September 2008, the petition reached a milestone of 30,000 signatures, the minimum number required to submit the petition to New York City Council for its approval. By June 2009, NYCCAN will eclipse the 45,000 signatures required to bypass City Council, ensuring its placement on the ballot. With the passage of this referendum New York City will take the first giant step towards truth and justice.

Each American impacted by the events of 9/11 has had eight years to grapple with the events, to recount and retell their stories in passionate ways that would bring tears to millions. And now, we Americans must be willing to do more than tell stories of what we remember from 9/11.

We Americans now must be willing to confront illusions and delusions that have been created by 9/11. Americans must be willing to challenge the taboo that one cannot ask questions or have questions about 9/11.

Find the courage within your heart and mind to follow your curiosity. Support the right of families and first responders to have their questions answered.