S6E38:9/11: The Collapse of Building 7
On the tragic day of September 11, 2001, much attention was focused on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, overshadowing the mysterious collapse of Building 7, a 610-ft tall building with 52 floors. What made this collapse so perplexing? Let's unravel the layers of this conspiracy.
The Blueprint of Building 7
It stood as the 28th tallest building in NY and was one of the 7 buildings on the WTC complex, completed in 1987.
Key Occupants: The building housed notable tenants such as the CIA (on the 25th floor), the Department of Defense, Secret Service outpost, NYC Emergency Command Center, and the Office of Emergency Management.
Strategic Importance: It was owned by the Port Authority of NY and NJ, which owns vital infrastructure in the city.
Accessibility: An intriguing factor to consider was that ANYONE could rent space in the building.
Structural Challenges: Interestingly, it was built over a subway and an electricity substation. This meant floors 5-7 and 22-24 had extra reinforcement on the East side.
Suspicious Factors that Raised Eyebrows
Government Presence: The building housed crucial government agencies, such as the CIA, US Secret Service, and Department of Defense.
Early Collapse Reporting: The BBC shockingly reported the collapse 20 minutes before it actually happened.
Owner's Statement: The owner, Larry Silverstein, remarked in an interview that he gave the ok to “pull it.” This raised questions on whether "pull it" signified a controlled demolition.
Insurance Mystery: A whopping $3.5B insurance claim was taken on the building just 2 months prior to the attack which pays out if there's a terrorist attack.
Unique Collapse: Although the building wasn't hit by a plane, it fell straight down. Experts commented it looked precisely like a controlled demolition. It's the first and only steel building to collapse solely because of a fire. But can fires get hot enough to cause such a collapse?
Delayed Report: An official report on the collapse took an astounding 7 years to complete.
Conspiracies Involving CIA and USSS
The theory that holds the government, especially the CIA and USSS, responsible emphasizes that they had key offices in Building 7. The speculation is that these offices controlled and planned the 9/11 attack and destroyed Building 7 to eliminate evidence. Evidence pointing towards this includes:
Debris Investigation: CIA and Secret Service searched all Building 7 debris at Staten Island Landfill, possibly looking for lost intel reports and classified info.
Undercover Operations: The CIA office in the building was reportedly engaged in undercover operations, including spying on foreign diplomats at the UN.
Lost Documents: Surprisingly, no federal agencies reported any lost documents to the US National Archives and Records Administration, which they are mandated to do.
Theories of Controlled Demolition and the Use of Thermite
Steven Jones, a physics professor, remarked, “We’ve all seen controlled demolitions. They proceed rapidly and straight down. But that’s with explosives.” Some supporting factors for this theory include:
Witnesses reporting sounds similar to blasts before the building's collapse.
The discovery of small iron-rich spheres in the rubble, often linked to thermite explosions.
Official Explanation
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) report, which took 7 years to complete, attributed the collapse to fires that burnt uncontrolled due to a broken water main. They explained a process of "progressive collapse" initiated by the failure of a steel girder on Floor 13.
Conclusion
In the vast tragedy of 9/11, Building 7 remains a topic of intrigue. As with all conspiracies, the lines between truth, speculation, and misinformation can blur. However, questioning and understanding every facet of that day is essential to remember, learn, and hopefully prevent such events in the future. Stay curious, and keep asking questions.
