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Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth

Founded	2006
Founder	Richard Gage
Type	Political advocacy
Focus	9/11 Truth movement
Area served	United States
Website	http://www.ae911truth.org

Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth is an American non-profit organization that disputes the results of official investigations into the September 11 attacks, including the 9/11 Commission Report. It advocates that the World Trade Center was destroyed by explosive demolition, a 9/11 conspiracy theory.

The group, which was founded in 2006, demands that the United States Congress pursue "a truly independent investigation" into the September 11 attacks, and says that the investigations into the collapse of the World Trade Center conducted by government agencies have not addressed what it sees as "massive evidence for explosive demolition." The mainstream scientific and engineering community has generally rejected the position taken by the group.

Activities

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Richard Gage, a San Francisco Bay area based architect, founded Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth in 2006. Gage, who is a member of the American Institute of Architects, has worked as an architect for twenty years and was involved in the construction of numerous fireproof steel-frame buildings. He became convinced of the need to create an organization that brings together architects and engineers when he listened to an independent radio station interview with theologian David Ray Griffin.

The organization is collecting signatures for a petition that demands an independent investigation with subpoena power of the September 11 attacks, specifically the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and 7 WTC. By March 2011, nearly 1,500 architectural and engineering professionals and 11,500 other supporters had signed the petition. According to the organization, the identities and qualifications of all licensed architects and engineers whose names are being published on its website as well as those of other supporters who are listed separately are subjected to verification before acceptance. Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth publishes The Blueprint, a periodic e-mail newsletter.

Gage has given speeches at conferences organized by supporters of the 9/11 Truth movement in various locations in the United States and Canada, and has presented his multimedia talk "9/11 Blueprint for Truth – The Architecture of Destruction" in 14 countries. His presentations focuses on the sequence of events leading to the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings and include videos of their collapses and footage of other high-rise building fires. He went on a tour of European countries in 2008 and gave speeches in Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 2009. In 2009, Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth had a booth at the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects.

The controversial two-hour movie 9/11 Blueprint for Truth, popular among members of the 9/11 Truth movement, is based on a presentation given by Richard Gage in Canada. Gage was also interviewed for an episode of the BBC television program The Conspiracy Files, an episode of the ZDF's series "History", based on a co-production of the BBC and the ZDF, as well as for a documentary produced by the Canadian television news magazine The Fifth Estate.

Advocacy

Template:Image Members of the organization argue that the buildings of the World Trade Center could not have collapsed only because of the impact of the planes, or as a result of the fires that had been caused by them, and claim to have identified evidence pointing to an explosive demolition of the World Trade Center buildings. The group does not blame any particular individuals or organizations for the September 11 attacks, and Gage stated that avoiding speculation on the attacks on the Pentagon or on the involvement of the Bush administration was critical to the mission of the organization. However, Gage also said that, if the destruction of the World Trade Center was the result of a controlled demolition, this would mean that part of what happened on September 11, 2001, would have been planned by "some sort of an inside group". According to Gage, an elevator modernization program that had taken place before the attacks would have provided an opportunity to get access to the core areas of the WTC towers without creating suspicion.

After the publication of the results of NIST's inquiry into the collapse of 7 WTC, Gage called a news conference, and leaders of the group dismissed NIST's investigation as flawed. When told of the claims, Shyam Sunder, lead investigator from NIST, responded: "I am really not a psychologist. Our job was to come up with the best science." A spokesperson for NIST said the agency's computer models were highly reliable in assessing the amount of fireproofing dislodged, a factor that would not be present in other steel buildings cited by Gage.

The mainstream scientific and engineering community has generally rejected the position taken by the group. In 2005, a report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded that the destruction of the World Trade Center towers was initiated by a "progressive collapse" caused by the jet impacts and the resultant fires. A 2008 NIST report described a similar progressive collapse as the cause of the destruction of the third tallest building located at the World Trade Center site, the 7 WTC. Many mainstream scientists choose not to debate proponents of 9/11 conspiracy theories, saying they do not want to lend them unwarranted credibility.

References

1. Gage, Richard (May 7, 2010). "AE911Truth is Now a 501c3 Tax-Exempt Non-Profit". Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
2. ^ Harper, Jennifer (February 22, 2010). "Explosive News". Washington Times. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
3. Blatchford, Andy (April 30, 2010). "U.S. skeptics to speak of 9-11 cover-up at three Canadian universities". Toronto: Canadian Press. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
4. "Architects and Engineers Seek 9/11 Truth". KGO Newstalk. June 3, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
5. Sutcliffe, Thomas (July 7, 2008). "Yet more tall stories with no foundation". Independent Extra. London. Retrieved May 24, 2009. {{cite news}}: More than one of |work= and |journal= specified (help)
6. ^ Moskowitz, Eric (November 29, 2007). "Airing of 9/11 film ignites debate". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
7. ^ Rudin, Mike (July 4, 2008). "The evolution of a conspiracy theory". BBC. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
8. Janich, Oliver. "Wir glauben euch nicht!". Focus Money. No. 2/2010.
9. Phillips, Peter (2007). "Chapter 2: Censored Déjà Vu". Censored 2008: The Top 25 Censored Stories. Seven Stories Press. p. 138. ISBN 1583227725, 9781583227725. Retrieved 2010-08-06. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
10. Wagh, Manasee (March 25, 2011). "Group's 9/11 theories draw controversy and indignation". phillyBurbs.com. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
11. Warner, Trevor (September 11, 2010). "9 years later, Sept. 11 questions linger". Paradise Post. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
12. Carrig, David (December 6, 2009). "Verification Team Assures a Sound Foundation". Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
13. "Welcome to Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth!". Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
14. "9/11 Truth movement" is the collective name of individuals and organizations that are questioning the veracity of the results of the investigations by United States government agencies into the September 11 attacks. See Barber, Peter (June 7, 2008). "The truth is out there". Financial Times. Retrieved May 23, 2009. an army of skeptics, collectively described as the 9/11 Truth movement; Powell, Michael (September 8, 2006). "The Disbelievers". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2009. The loose agglomeration known as the '9/11 Truth Movement'; Barry, Ellen (September 10, 2006). "9/11 Conspiracy Theorists Gather in N.Y." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2009. a group known as the 9/11 Truth Movement {{cite news}}: More than one of |work= and |journal= specified (help); Hunt, H.E. (November 19, 2008). "The 30 greatest conspiracy theories — part 1". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved May 30, 2009. A large group of people — collectively called the 9/11 Truth Movement; Kay, Jonathan (April 25, 2009). "Richard Gage: 9/11 truther extraordinaire". National Post. Retrieved October 14, 2010. The '9/11 Truth Movement,' as it is now commonly called.
15. ^ Abel, Jennifer (January 29, 2008). "Theories of 9/11". Hartford Advocate. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
16. Kay, Jonathan (April 25, 2009). "Richard Gage: 9/11 truther extraordinaire". National Post. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
17. "9/11 skeptics launch Canadian speaking tour". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 30, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
18. Ravensbergen, Jan (May 2, 2010). "9/11 skeptics to speak at UQAM". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
19. "Un arquitecto estadounidense presenta en Madrid su versión alternativa al 11-S". Telecinco. November 8, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
20. Schröder, Sophie (November 18–24, 2009). "Did Bush knock down the towers?". Capital Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
21. McKnight, Jenna (May 1, 2009). "AIA 2009: Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth". Architectural Record. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
22. ^ Rudin, Mike (June 27, 2008). "Controversy and conspiracies II". BBC. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
23. "Die lange Nacht der Verschwörungstheorien. Eine andere Sicht auf 9/11". ZDF. September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
24. "Die lange Nacht der Verschwörungstheorien. Eine andere Sicht auf 9/11". ZDF. September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
25. "The Unofficial Theory" (Flash video, only available in Canada, no transcript). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 27, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
26. Ryan, Andrew (November 27, 2009). "Was 9/11 a conspiracy? 'Truthers' make their case". Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
27. Lisée, Jean-François (November 29, 2009). "9/11: CBC à la rescousse de Richard Bergeron". L'actualité. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
28. Beam, Christopher (April 8, 2009). "Heated Controversy". Slate. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
29. Reuters (November 8, 2008). "Arquitectos estadounidenses piden a Obama que reabra la investigación sobre el 11-S". Retrieved May 27, 2009. Aseguran que las Torres Gemelas no fueron derribadas por el choque de los aviones. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help) (Press agency report. Translation: "They argue that the Twin Towers were not destroyed by the impact of the planes.")
30. Lachapelle, Judith (May 1, 2010). "Le "mystère" de la Tour 7". La Presse. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
31. Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth (June 30, 2009). "Architect to Speak in D.C. on 9/11 World Trade Center Destruction". PRNewswire-USNewswire. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
32. "Corrections". National Post. April 28, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
33. Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth (June 30, 2009). "Architect to Speak in D.C. on 9/11 World Trade Center Destruction" (PDF). Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
34. Kay, Jonathan (May 16, 2011). "This is my destiny". Maclean's. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
35. "Jonesy & Amanda Jamcast". WSFM 107.1. November 19, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
36. "Terrorist attack or controlled demolition?". Television New Zealand. November 27, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
37. Trembath, Brendan (August 22, 2008). "Sept 11 building downed by fire, not explosives: inquiry". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
38. Eric Lipton (August 22, 2008). "Fire, Not Explosives, Felled 3rd Tower on 9/11, Report Says". New York Times. {{cite news}}: More than one of |work= and |journal= specified (help)
39. Levin, Jay; McKenzie, Tom (September 9, 2009). "Explosive Theory". metroactive. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
40. Pope, Justin (August 6, 2006). "9/11 Conspiracy Theories Persist, Thrive". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved August 27, 2009.

External links

• Official website of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth
• National Institute of Standards and Technology: NIST & The World Trade Center

v t e 9/11 conspiracy theories
Key topics	Advance-knowledge conspiracy theories Opinion polls 9/11 truth movement World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theories
Groups	Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth Million Muslim March
Film and TV	911: In Plane Site A Few Days in September Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura Loose Change "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce" Zeitgeist
Books	9/11: The Big Lie American Conspiracies Among the Truthers Debunking 9/11 Myths The CIA and September 11 The New Pearl Harbor The Terror Timeline
Category

• Organizations established in 2006
• Non-governmental organizations based in the United States
• Political advocacy groups in the United States
• 9/11 conspiracy theorists