| Everyone thinks of terrorism and homeland | | | | proposed by Congress, still must meet the tough |
| security for lessons learned from 9/11. There is | | | | ratification requirements of Article V. Though all |
| another opportunity. Make our government | | | | 50 states have applied for a convention, well in |
| trustworthy and truthful. | | | | excess of the 34 required by the Constitution, |
| The 9/11 truth movement is stronger than ever, | | | | Congress has refused to call one. The nonpartisan |
| though it is generally derided by politicians and | | | | Friends of the Article V Convention works to get |
| ignored by the mainstream media. It is fueled by | | | | the nation's first Article V convention. |
| people passionate about alternative explanations | | | | The Framers of our Constitution created the |
| to the official 9/11 story. Understandable, | | | | convention option because they feared one dark |
| considering that the co-chairs of the 9/11 | | | | day the public would lose confidence in the federal |
| Commission admitted: "We were set up to fail." | | | | government. With record-low approval of |
| In 2006 Time magazine said: "The population of | | | | Congress - just 11 percent - and so little truth |
| [the 9/11 truth movement] is larger than you | | | | about 9/11, that day has crashed our democracy. |
| might think. A Scripps-Howard poll of 1,010 adults | | | | Unsurprisingly, just like a new 9/11 investigation, |
| last month found that 36% of Americans | | | | Congress fears what may come out of an Article |
| consider it 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' that | | | | V convention. The truth is not politically popular. |
| government officials either allowed the attacks to | | | | The nexus between the 9/11 truth movement |
| be carried out or carried out the attacks | | | | and the Article V convention effort is this: When |
| themselves. Thirty-six percent adds up to a lot of | | | | a sizable fraction of the population wants a more |
| people. This is not a fringe phenomenon. It is a | | | | comprehensive and credible government |
| mainstream political reality." | | | | investigation into a matter of great public concern, |
| A 2006 Zogby International poll found that 42% | | | | but Congress and the Executive Branch refuse, a |
| of Americans more likely agree with people who | | | | new legal mechanism is needed. Considering how |
| believe that "the US government and its 9/11 | | | | the Bush administration used 9/11 to start the |
| Commission concealed or refused to investigate | | | | insane Iraq war, the public has profoundly good |
| critical evidence that contradicts their official | | | | reasons for a new option for obtaining |
| explanation of the September 11th attacks, saying | | | | trustworthy information. Surely there will be other |
| there has been a cover-up." | | | | events and issues in the future that raise the |
| This year Zogby found that 31 perecent of likely | | | | same need for reliable analysis and conclusions |
| voters do not buy the official 9/11 story [72 | | | | independent of the usual web of government |
| percent for ages 18 to 24 and nearly 60 percent | | | | circles and tricks. |
| for Hispanics and singles]; 51 percent still await a | | | | A new constitutional amendment can establish a |
| congressional investigation of Bush's and Cheney's | | | | framework for citizens to petition and seek |
| actions before, during and after the 9/11 attacks | | | | "redress" from their federal government without |
| [88 percent for ages 18 to 24 and 77 percent for | | | | going through elected representatives adept at |
| Hispanics and singles]; and 67% fault the 9/11 | | | | ignoring them. Here is a possible approach. The |
| Commission for not investigating the anomalous | | | | highly respected and independent General |
| and still unexplained collapse of World Trade | | | | Accountability Office could be given constitutional |
| Center building 7. | | | | responsibility for collecting citizen petitions for |
| So, six years later, a large fraction of Americans | | | | investigations. If a threshold number is reached, |
| question the government's official 9/11 story. | | | | then GAO would conduct a nonpartisan |
| Countless groups and websites sustain the 9/11 | | | | investigation using its staff and any other persons |
| truth movement with many conferences held | | | | deemed necessary. This would be a taste of |
| nationwide. There have been several best-selling | | | | direct democracy, akin to a national referendum. |
| books and many well known political, military, law | | | | The threshold might be one million citizen |
| enforcement and academic persons publicly | | | | requests, with at least 10,000 coming from each |
| support alternative theories of 9/11 and/or the | | | | of at least two-thirds of the states. |
| need for a new investigation. Yet being a 9/11 | | | | The intense 9/11 truth movement has a historic |
| truth seeker exposes one to ridicule as a | | | | opportunity to seek a permanent means to |
| conspiracy nut by those brainwashed by | | | | counter bipartisan government intransigence and |
| establishment propaganda and lies, or afraid to | | | | untrustworthiness that now is the rule, not the |
| face the painful truth, or too lazy to think for | | | | exception. |
| themselves. | | | | I urge 9/11 truth seekers to join Friends of the |
| Writing recently in the Guardian, Peter Tatchell | | | | Article V Convention, recognizing that Congress' |
| made important points: "The 9/11 Commission | | | | refusal to re-investigate 9/11 is matched by its |
| was hamstrung by official obstruction. It never | | | | refusal to permit an Article V convention. Our |
| managed to ascertain the whole truth of what | | | | common goal is to compel the federal |
| happened on September 11 2001. ...What | | | | government to be accountable to the |
| happened on 9/11 is fundamentally important in its | | | | Constitution, federal law and the people. 9/11 truth |
| own right. But equally important is the way the 9 | | | | seekers must become government reform |
| 11 cover-up signifies an absence of democratic, | | | | seekers to achieve their objectives through smart |
| transparent and accountable government. | | | | political strategy. |
| Establishing the truth is, in part, about restoring | | | | Other political strategies also merit support, |
| honesty, trust and confidence in American politics." | | | | notably the current effort in New York City to |
| In other words, the truth movement has set the | | | | obtain a ballot initiative to establish a new |
| stage for taking their passion to a higher political | | | | independent commission and investigation. |
| level that even more Americans can support - | | | | Consider what Mark Twain wisely observed: "In |
| government reform. | | | | the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce |
| Specifically, waiting is a reform mechanism as old | | | | man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his |
| as the Constitution itself. Few Americans realize | | | | cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it |
| they have a constitutional right to a national | | | | costs nothing to be a patriot." Our patriotic |
| convention of state delegates that can propose | | | | crusade for 9/11 truth and systemic government |
| constitutional amendments. Once convened, | | | | reform is still at the first stage. Courage is needed |
| delegates can debate and propose amendments | | | | to persevere. Truth does not come easy. |
| without government review, but like amendments | | | | |