Registered: Dec 2002
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Pentagon: Rumsfeld misspoke on Flight 93 crash
Defense secretary's remark to troops fuels conspiracy theories

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN Washington


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A comment Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made during a Christmas Eve address to U.S. troops in Baghdad has sparked new conspiracy theories about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In the speech, Rumsfeld made a passing reference to United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to stop al Qaeda hijackers.

But in his remarks, Rumsfeld referred to the "the people who attacked the United States in New York, shot down the plane over Pennsylvania."

A Pentagon spokesman insisted that Rumsfeld simply misspoke, but Internet conspiracy theorists seized on the reference to the plane having been shot down.

"Was it a slip of the tongue? Was it an error? Or was it the truth, finally being dropped on the public more than three years after the tragedy" asked a posting on the Web site WorldNetDaily.com.

Some people remain skeptical of U.S. government statements that, despite a presidential authorization, no planes were shot down September 11, and rumors still circulate that a U.S. military plane shot the airliner down over Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

A Pentagon spokesman insists Rumsfeld has not changed his opinion that the plane crashed as the result of an onboard struggle between passengers and terrorists.

The independent panel charged with investigating the terrorist attacks concluded that the hijackers intentionally crashed Flight 93, apparently because they feared the passengers would overwhelm them.

http://cnn.usnews.printthis.clickab...&partnerID=2004

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Registered: Sep 2001
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Article with audio links here.

Also a few classic comments.... "I cannot see the truth slipping into anything Rumsfield said. That would not be his style".

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Registered: Jan 2002
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tack

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Registered: Feb 2004
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we will never ever know for sure.
anyway.......

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Registered: Aug 2000
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I do not see how it was much of an error. I mean, it's not as if any of the conspiracy theories involve terrorists shooting down planes, right?

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Registered: Aug 2001
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It means Rumsfeld murdered some of GFY's brothers and sisters, or something.

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Registered: Aug 2000
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Sacrafice a few to save many. Morality spells time consumption and red tape.

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Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:

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Originally posted by skalie
Also a few classic comments....

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Registered: Aug 2000
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I just saw that. What is it from?

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Registered: Apr 2004
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Mine? See skalie's post.

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Registered: Feb 2004
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So who lied?

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Registered: Apr 2003
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The fact that this is even being discussed shows how fucking stupid and paranoid a lot of people are. I mean, I had a feeling people were a little crazy...this is just more proof.

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Registered: Jan 2002
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are ou saying that people shouldn't discuss what the US Secretary of Defence says?

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Registered: Apr 2003
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Im saying they shouldnt try to turn an obvious mistake into justification for conspiracy theory bullshit. Clear enough?

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Registered: Aug 2001
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It's an odd conspiracy theory, because even if it was true, people would pretty much agree with the actions. I guess that it would all come down to being lied to by the government, but I'm not convinced that Americans don't expect (and, pretty much, accept) that anyhow.

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Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by Coincidence
Mine? See skalie's post.

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quote:

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Originally posted by 3MTA3
Im saying they shouldnt try to turn an obvious mistake into justification for conspiracy theory bullshit. Clear enough?

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Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:

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Originally posted by memdink
It's from a movie.

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Registered: Jul 2001
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If the government did shoot down the plane to protect the White House, would they tell us?

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Registered: Feb 2004
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No. But it makes alot of sense.
Still. I don't think there was enough time to react.
But there WAS those 5 witnesses...

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Registered: Apr 2004
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Give Rumsfeld a break. It's easy to be misunderstood when your head's up your ass.

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Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:

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Originally posted by philjit
how was it "obvious"?

me personally, I think it was a mistake brought on by the fact that the guy is going the way of Reagan and shouldn't be in office, but I wouldn't say it was an "obvious" mistake. What I certainly wouldn't do either is dismiss out of hand near all discussion of it in an arrogant prickish manner... well not unless I was trying to be ironic and be like Rumsfeld.

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Registered: Apr 2004
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While conspiracy theorists no doubt have a tendency to let their imaginations run wild, the more dangerous of the two ends of the spectrum are those who trust their government implicitly.
If you look back at some of the insane bullshit OUR government has done over the last 50 years or so, documented things like experimenting on unknowing civilians, you're better off trusting the conspiracy folks than the blind trusters.

If you think that no possibility exists that the government shot that plane down and doesn't want to tell us, you're kidding yourself.

Last edited by Rokkr on 12-31-2004 at 07:55 AM

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Registered: Apr 2003
Location: I cant say I buy this completely,
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How about Im not going to listen to any end of any spectrum, ever...and I dont trust anyone(completely) but myself. Im aware that my government...all governments...have done some fucked up shit...but we have got to get past all this paranoia. Its entirely too schitzo for me...

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