Seven Years Later: Was TWA Flight 800 a First Strike By Jihad Terrorists? (posted 7/17/03)

Capitalism Magazine ^ | July 17, 2003 | Scott Holleran

[presidio9]

It's been seven years since the July 17, 1996, crash of TWA Flight 800 near Long Island, New York, and the cause remains unknown; the lingering mystery of one of the nation's worst aviation disasters is now a forgotten media spectacle. The $ 40 million federal investigation concluded that the plane was probably brought down by a fuel tank explosion, leaving the question of the blast's origin unanswered. The unexplained explosion of TWA 800 claimed 230 lives.

Two days after the crash, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch told CNN: "We're looking at somebody who either put a bomb on it or shot a missile, a surface-to-air missile." Sen. Hatch has yet to explain his early comments.

During the probe, investigators appeared to be trying to have it both ways; the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was operating under the authority of the FBI, which was involved on the grounds that a crime might have caused the crash, though FBI investigator James Kallstrom refused to confirm or deny even one shred of criminal evidence.

The CIA, in a highly unusual procedure, was asked to produce a video to counter the missile theory. Kallstrom testified before Congress that the FBI had tracked "all air and waterborne vessels" in the area and conducted appropriate interviews.

Yet radar of the area in which the plane went down picked up four unidentified tracks. One of those, according to the NTSB, is consistent with a surface vessel moving at 30 knots; it was within three nautical miles of TWA 800 when the 747 exploded.

Most alarming, the NTSB reported that the puzzling radar track, which remains unidentified, continued to move after the plane broke apart. Nearly every boat within miles had rushed to the disaster area to assist any rescue efforts --- but not this vessel, which was directly underneath TWA 800 when it became crippled.

Skeptics questioned the investigation, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Thomas Moorer, a retired admiral, who added his name to those who believe a missile destroyed the plane.

Moorer -- joined by Vernon Grose, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board -- expressed grave doubts about the investigation. "All the evidence," Moorer said, "would point to a missile."

At the time of the crash, 270 eyewitnesses reported seeing a streak of light. Nearly 100 eyewitnesses said that the streak of light *originated* from the earth's surface, contrary to the CIA's animated simulation.

There is also the case of M. Victoria Cummock, the Pan Am flight 103 widow was appointed by President Clinton to an aviation safety commission after the TWA disaster. Cummock refused to sign the commission's report and sued then-Vice President Al Gore, claiming that, despite Cummock's security clearance, she was denied access to classified information.

The authors of a new book, First Strike, posed the question of whether Islamic terrorists attacked the plane and their conclusions, based upon heaps of evidence systematically concealed, lost, damaged and ignored by the government, are disturbing.

In their preface, Emmy-winning writer and producer Jack Cashill and investigative reporter James Sanders, who was arrested for receiving stolen crash evidence from a whistleblower, quote Congressional Terrorist Task Force Director Yossef Bodansky following the disaster:

"The case of TWA 800 served as a turning point because of Washington's determination and to a great extent ability to suppress terrorist explanations and 'float' mechanical failure theories. To avoid such suppression after future strikes, terrorism-sponsoring states would raise the ante so that the West could not ignore them."

Bodansky's comments are dated 1999.

Whatever happened to TWA 800 and her 230 passengers and crew, the case ought not to be considered closed.

As one NTSB investigator reportedly asked, when overwhelmed by the swarm of federal agents in what was supposed to be an accident probe: "What do they know that I don't know?" Seven years after TWA 800 went down in flames, America still deserves a straight answer.

[presidio9]

How do you link Oklahoma City, carried out by a white Christian, with the others, all carried out by arab Muslims? What am I missing here?

[backhoe]

The continuing saga of Flight 800 really heated up about this time last year- the Wall Street Journal weighed in, which seemed to temporarily move it from the realm of Kookdom ( at least as far as the media is concerned- I have always doubted the official story. ) to legitimate news.

Unfortunately. it cooled off again.

The little bit I reasearched on my own is dated... FWIW:

TWA 800- who speaks for the dead?

[lelio]

The fourth strike was Operation Bojinka.

Thanks for the info, I've never heard of it. A quick google for it gives this chilling story about it. Yikes.

[NetValue]

It was not a missile that brought TWA-800 down, it was an on-board shoe-bomber. The way the aircraft came apart is a perfect sequence for a small shoe-bomb detonated over the center fuel tanks. Nothing like the "accident" ever happened before, or since. There were traces of C-4 on upholstery in the passenger compartment..

[Cindy]

Thank you Backhoe.

[presidio9]

Nothing like the "accident" ever happened before, or since.

Forgetting, for a moment, American 587? Sure, tails fall off of planes all the time...

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Iraqi agents.

Jayna Davis. David Schippers.

[Cindy]

re post no.10...

NEVER FORGET!
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: ATTACK ON AMERICA

APRIL 19, 1995: ALFRED P. MURRAH BUILDING, OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING

FEBRUARY 26, 1993: WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING

DECEMBER 7, 1941: "JAPAN ATTACKS PEARL HARBOR"

[presidio9]

Stop being so damn cryptic. Tell me more.

[BudgieRamone]

Actually there was a very short lived news story that McVeigh and Nichols had met with Abu Sayaaf rebels in the Philipines at some point one or two years before OKC

I heard that and my first thought was, The Enemy of my Enemy is not necessarily my friend.

Also, if you can find the comparisons...Juan Padilla and John Doe #2 look frighteningly similar-----
just a thought....but then I'm paranoid anyway

[mr.pink]

The U.S. Navy shot that plane down. (accidentally of course)

At first I bought into that story, but I've moved to the small boat terrorist thesis as the most sensible.

One reason that I give the small boat terrorist thesis credence is that as an ex-Long Island surfer I have always kept an eye on surf conditions there. The week prior to the shoot down, the seas were remarkably rough for L.I. in July. In a small boat in those conditions all your attention would be directed toward keeping afloat. The ocean calmed to about as "flat" as it can get the day before the shootdown and held that quality for over a week.

[lelio]

How do you link Oklahoma City, carried out by a white Christian, with the others, all carried out by arab Muslims?

Tim McVeigh's cohort, Terry Nichols, frequented the Philippines and met with Muslim extremists. Perhaps Tim knew this, perhaps he didn't.
If I were looking out for a patsy to do my dirty work I would search out for a not so bright person that's on the fringe of society that everyone can demonize for some reason (ie "ex military" "pro white race" "radicial Christian" etc).

[CJ Wolf]

It's been going on longer then that.

[Savage Beast]

Yes, but

"There is something about a closet that makes a skeleton restless."

[kallisti]

if the premise of "first strike is correct", they didn't.

[nyconse]

There is a video which my brother former special ops (recon marine) swears shows a missile trail. Also, he said if the navy shot the plane down, someone would have leaked it to the press-too many people would know about it.

[nyconse]

They were not Christians! (bombers)

[presidio9]

OK. Now we're getting somewhere. More please.

I'm ignorant I tells ya.