Conspiracy Theory Underground And Nico

Ground Zero may be little more than a “hole in the ground” but at least the Sept. 11 conspiracy movement is evolving nicely, even developing its own fringe:

Every Sunday evening at 6:30, about 100 people file into a meeting room at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery. But they don’t go to pray, to take a class or to talk about religion.

They go for the weekly meeting of 9/11 Truth.

Ever giggled, or become enraged, at stickers and signs claiming 9/11 was an inside job? That’s the argument of 9/11 Truth activists.

“We’re talking fact, we’re talking hardcore analysis and research,” said Les Jamieson, a Web and graphic designer who calls himself “kind of the main organizer” of 9/11 Truth in New York City. The movement has chapters around the country.

To varying degrees, the members of 9/11 Truth are convinced that the Bush administration perpetrated the attacks of Sept. 11. Bush’s purpose, the activists argue, was to gather support for war in the Middle East and restrictions on civil liberties.

. . .

One 9/11 Truth member, Nico Haupt, believes the conspiracy behind 9/11 extends beyond the government. At the Aug. 6 St. Mark’s meeting, Haupt criticized the mainstream 9/11 Truth movement, saying it has “oppressed” his questions and research.

“I created a science group in 2002, which were working for four years, hard, 24/7, opposed by leaders close to the 9/11 Truth movement,” Haupt told the audience, adding that his science group consists of nine researchers and 600 members.

The group’s findings were surprising.

“I believe that Cleveland is the final smoking gun for the passengers [of United 93]. I believe the conspiracy theory that the F.B.I. and the NASA together killed these passengers, either there or they got already killed on board,” Haupt said, waving several crumpled sheets of paper as evidence. “I don’t need to prove anymore what happens to passengers. I don’t need to prove anymore what happens to planes. All I can bring is fact.”

Missiles, not planes, hit the Twin Towers, Haupt added, and all the footage on television and in newspapers has been edited.

After Haupt’s speech, one man, who declined to give his name, said Haupt represented “the fringe of our movement.” It’s “irresponsible” to say missiles hit the W.T.C., the man said, but “parts of that argument have merit.”

“Still, we should lead with our strongest arguments,” the man added.

[St. Mark’s Church priest Frank] Morales, echoing that statement, said he didn’t believe Haupt yet but would listen to a full presentation of Haupt’s research and keep an open mind.

In a telephone interview, Morales defended Haupt’s opinion: “What he thinks is his opinion, but he also makes it clear that he separates opinion from conclusion. He’s not prepared to make a scientific conclusion or at least a quasiscientific conclusion. His strong point, which I tend more to agree with, is that the footage, the various mainstream media footage, seems to have been doctored.”

Ed Begley, Jr. has blood on his hands, by the way.

See also: Pod Theory, Controlled Demolition And The Flash Is Not A Sunday Matinee Hardcore Bill At CBGB.