Posted on 12/16/2004 9:12:06 AM PST by jmcclain19
Sept. 11 Conspiracy Theorist Offers $100,000 Prize
By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jimmy Walter has spent more than $3 million promoting a conspiracy theory the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States were "an inside job" and he is offering more cash to anyone who proves him wrong.
The millionaire activist is so convinced of a government cover-up he is offering a $100,000 reward to any engineering student who can prove the World Trade Center buildings crashed the way the government says.
"Of course, we expect no winners," Walter, 57, heir to an $11 million fortune from his father's home building business, said in a telephone interview from California on Wednesday.
He said a panel of expert engineers would judge submissions from the students.
Next month, he also launches a nationwide contest seeking alternative theories from college and high school students about why New York's World Trade Center collapsed. The contest offers $10,000 to the best alternative theory, with 100 runner-up awards of $1,000. Winners will be chosen next June.
The World Trade Center's twin towers were destroyed after hijackers slammed two commercial airliners into them. The attack in New York killed 2,749 people.
Various official investigations give no credence to Walter's theory. A Sept. 11 commission spokesman did not return calls seeking comment.
Walter insists there had to be explosives planted in the twin towers to cause them to fall as they did, and also rejects the official explanation for the damage done at the Pentagon (news - web sites).
"We have all the proof," said Walter, citing videotapes and testimony from witnesses.
"It wasn't 19 screw-ups from Saudi Arabia who couldn't pass flight school who defeated the United States with a set of box cutters," he said. He dismissed the official Sept. 11 commission report, saying, "I don't trust any of these 'facts.'"
Walter has spent millions of dollars to bolster support for his case, running full-page ads in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and Newsweek, as well as alternative newspapers and 30-second TV spots.
He points to a Zogby poll he commissioned last summer that showed 66 percent of New Yorkers wanted the 9/11 investigation reopened.
Walter has spent about 30 percent of his net worth on his efforts.
"I am a patriot fighting the real traitors who are destroying our democracy. I resent it when they call me delusional," he said.
Obviously the planes filled with jet fuel and the fire that resulted had NOTHING to do with the Towers collapsing.
This tactic is catching on with liberals as of late. Both Moore and the idiot behind Doonesbury did this.
The trick is, since this little challenge isn't legally binding, all they have to do is refuse to pay anyone anything and then they can say "I offered $100,000 dollars to prove wrong but nobody could do it!".
Our country is in real trouble when "patriotism" is being re-defined as siding with our nations enemies.
That money is as good as mine. Surely I can come up with a great Bush-did-it story that will blow them away.
I just noticed the author of this article:
"By Larry Fine"
Moe should slap him in the face for giving this idiot publicity.
Sure, now you're going to tell us that you sound EXACTLY like Dean Martin.
;O)
that thread reads like a who's who of the idiot brigade.
Look like him, too.
Same decaying body 'n everythin'.
Safe?? He inherited 11 million and has burned 3 million already. He will be broke in 3 years:)
"Of course he is fully aware that you cannot EVER PROVE a negative. Friggin blowhard."
I thought he was offering the 100K if you proved that the collapse DID happen the way it did.
on = one
It's heartening to see inheritance money used so wisely.
I might float one of those conspiracy theories out for the $10K prize and if something is awarded to me I would say what a bunch of BS it all is after I cashed the check.
A whole lotta dollars, but not alot of sense.
He could save $100K and just have his panel of expert engineers explain it to him.
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