Another conspiracy theory?

Google has just released a list of its 100 most popular videos, in which I found ranked at #2, a documentary called Loose Change (first released in April 2005 and another edition in November 2005), which questions the veracity of the claim that the September 11 attacks were actually external terrorist attacks. Infact, it alleges in no uncertain terms, that the destruction of the World Trade Center and the attack on the Pentagon were carefully planned "inside jobs". The reasons provided for such an attack range from a massive reorganization of the US military to protecting vital business interests and or high profile cover-ups as well as stealing gold! (The last bit really had me thinking whether this was a movie plot or something). Now, I am no fan of President Bush, but the sheer scale of this allegation is mind boggling. We are talking here about the loss of a few thousand of your own citizens' lives, and damages in billions of dollars. But even beyond just that, what I cannot understand is why this allegation would remain so low-key all this time. If just an affair with Monica Lewinsky can lead to impeachment proceedings against President Clinton, then, if any part of the video is to be believed, the entire Bush administration should be on trial for murder.

If the producers of this video can get such detailed references and insightful questions, then I am inclined to believe that all the high powered investigations that would have gone into the details of the attacks would have come up with much more damaging evidence. Further, surely the Democrats would have access to such information. If that was the case why wasn't a similar video made into the Democratic party's election campaign in 2004? All they needed to do was make a few million copies of this and send it to every American household and there would have been nothing stopping John Kerry from getting the Oval Office. At first viewing, the video is quite gripping and convincing. Those who do get convinced of the government's guilt, claim that since the Republicans are in the majority in the Capitol, they would have had a measure of control over the investigations as well. What that would mean is that government has such control as to influence or coerce about 100 Senators and over 400 Congressmen to not raise any objections? If that is true, God save America and God save the world for they can wreak much more havoc with that amount of power!

I am neither ridiculing the documentary nor giving a clean chit to the US government here. It does raise valid questions but also contains some factual inaccuracies. Frankly, sitting a few thousand miles away in India when all this happened gives me a much limited perspective on the whole issue and seeing the seriousness of the allegations and lack thereof of any actions to question the government on them, both in the media as well as the opposition, leads me to still believe in the official line and let the video pass as a conspiracy theory that may yet carry some weight.

Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna....

How often have you cursed people you've seen breaking traffic rules? How often have you been even more agitated that the police just let these guys get away with it? And how many times have you been absolutely furious that at times it is the policemen themselves violating the law? Well, here's a gritty man's account of his fight against the system that tolerates this. Its not exactly Rang De Basanti, as he admits, but is much more practical and I might add, a bit amusing too! We are all for a huge catharsis of the rotten system we have managed to get ourselves into, this is good for starters.