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sible to disprove."
the attacks and blamed them
on their enemies:'
In a sense, the
extremist explanations
•A "spy ring" consisting of
young Israelis claiming to be
for 9-11 are merely an
update of conspiracy
art student. They purportedly
theories that have been
had been tracking the 9-11
evolving ever since the
hijackers but did nothing to
Crusades, according to
stop them.
Daniel P ipes
conservative columnist
• Jewish businessmen,
and analyst Daniel Pipes, director
including owners of the World Trade
of the Middle East Forum, who has
Center, who plotted to destroy the struc-
written two books examining con-
tures to collect insurance money, thus
spiracy theories.
perpetuating the "myth of the greedy
Virtually every major conspiracy
Jew," the ADL report says.
theory hatched over the past 900
•"Four thousand Israelis" who alleg-
edly worked at the World Trade Center
years has featured one of two key
but were warned by Israeli intelligence
elements, Pipes says. One is so-
called "secret societies:' such as the
operatives to stay home on 9-11. One of
Trilateral Commission — a coalition
the most widely accepted 9-11 myths,
of influential private citizens — as
some sources say it was initiated by
Hezbollah's Al-Manar television network. well as suspected government cabals;
the other is the Jews.
These assertions have been either
Anti-Semitic 9-11 scenarios have
laughed off as preposterous or "urban
myths" — or have been investigated and staying power, but it's unclear how
widely they're embraced. In the West,
discredited.
according to Pipes and others, 9-11-
Yet a conspiracy-tinged view of world
related Judeophobia seems to have
events seems to be gaining traction in
a limited constituency among both
America and elsewhere, according to
ordinary people and those in posi-
Lou Manza, chairman of the psychology
tions of power and influence.
department at Lebanon Valley College in
No American office-holder, for
Annville, Pa. As evidence of this trend, he
cites polls indicating that suspect theo-
example, has tried to score political
points by blaming the Jews for 9-11
ries of all kinds have gained popularity
— though recently defeated Rep.
over the past 10 to 15 years.
Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., made a
Among the possible explanations
name for herself by repeatedly taking
for this emerging worldview: In today's
anti-Israel stands and alleging that
information-bloated environment, the
the federal government was com-
conviction that all-powerful forces con-
trol global events makes life easier for
plicit in the 9-11 attacks.
All told, the Western strain of 9-
believers by obviating the need to think
11 revisionism seems dominated by
critically about complex issues.
conspiracy buffs rather than bona
"Our environment today is not con-
fide anti-Semites who pose a real
ducive to a critical-thinking approach,
danger to Jews, according to Pipes.
especially with the instant access we
Berlet takes a less benign view.
have to so much information': Manza
"Any form of conspiracy theory
says. "If it's on the Internet and the
is toxic to the democratic process:'
graphics are good, it must be true."
he says. "How can you reach corn-
promise with those 'evil people' who
Why The Jews?
bombed the World Trade Center?
But why does it necessarily follow
That sort of thinking could flare up
that the Jews in particular were the
in hard times and affect policy."
unseen hand behind America's most
Overtly anti-Semitic conspiracy
infamous terrorist attack? Because
theories stemming from 9-11 appear
they had something to gain from 9-
to be more widely accepted and tena-
11, according to conspiracists, who
contend that military retaliation
cious in the Arab and Muslim world
than in the West.
against Arabs was its own reward for
"The implications in the Middle
the Jews and Israel.
East are quite profound:' Pipes says.
Asked why the Jews were implicat-
"It's one more brick in the edifice of
ed in the attacks, Barkun says, "You
fear and loathing of Israel and the
might as well ask,'Why does anti-
Semitism exist?' Unfortunately, the
Jews." 7
concept is deeply rooted in Western
For more 9-11 coverage, see the Arts &
culture. And like a lot of conspiracy
Entertainment section on page 39.
theories, it's a closed system of ideas
that is structured so that it's impos-

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