9/11 Truth Red Herring (by Scott Creighton)

[Ed Jewett]

9/11 Truth Red Herring: Neoliberal BYU Has Financed, Staffed, and Peer-Reviewed Prof. Jones’ Flawed Thermite Distraction Since Day One

Posted on May 26, 2010 by willyloman
by Scott Creighton

“It may even be that [the Lord] will hold us responsible if we try to impede or hedge up the way of those who are involved in a contest with forces of evil and repression.” Gordon B. Hinckley, 2003

Prof. Jones is at it again; he is attempting to fool the Truth movement into believing that the physical evidence of explosive demolition has been found and that we need not do more research into the field.
It’s bullshit and he knows it.
Prof. Jones refuses to run tests to see if there is trace evidence of high explosives in all that dust he proudly admits he has. The following is a comment Prof Jones left on the 911Blogger forum thread that he started…

We’re in this together.
There appear to be two main WALLS of defense for the “official story” of 9/11.
1. People’s extreme reluctance to question a BIG LIE, especially when the lie comes from their government. This “Big Lie principle” was enunciated by Hitler and used by him, and is the basis of “false flag events.” This is seen also in the refusal of NIST to even LOOK for residues of explosives in the WTC dust — and they are getting away with it.
2. The wall of nonsense thrown up around solid evidence by so-called “debunkers”. For example, the notion that the red/gray chips are merely flakes of primer paint (suggested by Eagar of MIT and others). This notion ignores the fact that the primer paint contains significant ZINC whereas the red/gray chips contain NO zinc (looking at an inside surface freshly exposed by fracture); it also ignores the fact that the red/gray chips produce iron-rich spheres upon ignition which burning paint does not do. There are many other examples.
With the solid evidence we have published, we are breaking down wall #2… but how to break down wall #1?? Prof. Jones

There are several conflicting aspects of Prof. Jones’ little bit of propaganda that I just have to point out.

1. The Audacity of Hype

Prof. Jones has the audacity to post this comment on a thread he started about AE911Truth nearing the 10,000 signatures mark on their petition for a new investigation. This a remarkable accomplishment and it should be celebrated by all Truth advocates. However, Steven Jones has certainly not forgotten that when he was asked to present at the Press Conference for the 1,000 architects and engineers signed onto the petition, he chose that specific moment to delve into the Judy Wood world of “earthquake weapons” as if it were something that should be considered along with other 911 research.

If Jones wants to speculate about man-made earthquakes as part of some new world order plot to capture the world’s oil supplies, he should say so elsewhere and refrain from sticking it up the 911 Truth Movement’s arse. dearth

Prof. Jones deliberately undermined the credibility of the event to not only the press but to other engineering professionals who may have been considering joining up with Richard Gage’s group. This cannot be more obvious and the audacity of Jones to use this other milestone of Gage’s as an opportunity to push his own “red herring” agenda again, is nothing more than a perfect insight into a man who has effectively been hired to undermine our efforts from the very beginning.
Prof. Jones couldn’t have provided better ammunition to our critics if they had asked for it directly. And they used it.

… but the biggest news, as far as the nutters on 911 Blogger are reporting it is that Steven Jones is now into researching “man-made earthquakes” and “weather modification”, which should come as no surprise as he announced his interest in chemtrails last year. Good thing they have serious science on their side. ScrewLooseChange

2. Professor Jones and Gregg Roberts are “Getting Away With It”

Prof. Jones makes the following claim “the refusal of NIST to even LOOK for residues of explosives in the WTC dust — and they are getting away with it.”
Steven Jones has been asked by myself and others, repeatedly, to test for residues of high explosives in the dust he is in possession of – and he has all but flat-out refused to do so.
Steven Jones is a physicist who has done work for the Idaho National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy (Division of Advanced Energy Projects), and U.S. Department of Energy and Electric Power Research Institute. Not to mention the fact that Steven Jones was a professor at BYU.
In several email attempts to get Jones to agree to run tests for residues of high explosives (PETN, RDX, TNT) in the dust in his possession, this highly decorated and experienced educator attempted to tell me there was no way to test for such residues and then he tried to tell me he didn’t know how to test for the residues and would not have access to the equipment to do so.

I am supposed to tell you (Prof. Jones) how to run the tests?
Well, I did. 4 times and I gave him 3 options…
“I responded 3 times you your question about how to test for these explosive
signatures.
1. I sent you PDFs and links to a place where you can purchase a registered
testing kit that uses a reagent process.
“Sirchie – Explosive Residue Test Kit – cat ERTT10″
2. And I sent you links to a company that you can send the materials off to
in order to have them test the samples in their labs.
“Leeder Consulting: Explosives Residue Analysis”
3. And I also sent you detailed information on how to use the Griess reagent
process, not only how to use the process but detailed information on the
preparation of the reagent itself.
“The key to selective and sensitive explosives trace identification by TLC
lies in the visualization reagent. Griess reagent, in a number of versions,
has proven to be the most popular means of visualization.”
One question, three clear and precise answers.” AE April 7 2009

Prof. Jones never acknowledged receiving these emails. Apparently these were the only ones that were “diverted” that I had sent him. But then Steven Jones even went so far as to put me in contact with Gregg Roberts (for what reason, I do not know). After writing him several times, Jones finally told me it sounded like a good idea, but he had to ask Gregg Roberts, formerly partnered with Jim Hoffman and Victoria Ashley (take from that what you will). Roberts replied back that he didn’t think it was a good idea, but that he would pass it along to others in the movement. He never responded back.

Back in May of 2008, my conversations with Jones moved beyond the 911 Blogger thread that I put the article up on. In an email response to me, he expressed an interest in looking into this further, but then he referred the matter to Greg Roberts and my discussion about the subject went forward with him.
At long last, after being told that they were really more interested in pushing for political or legal action, Greg Roberts told me something quite amazing in one of his last emails to me.
“However, our detractors could be counted on to do their best to use a negative result against us for P.R. purposes. They would say that we have a non-scientific belief, since a negative outcome from an experiment fails to shake it. Thus, the potential costs of doing what you’re proposing and coming up empty-handed, or worse, must be considered.” Roberts
The idea that you wouldn’t run a scientific test that is standard investigative procedure when an explosive is suspected, for any reason, let alone for “potential P.R.” consequences… was astounding to me. AE April 7 2009

For Steven Jones to make the claim that NIST is “getting away with” not testing for explosive residue in the Ground Zero dust is one of the most hypocritical statements I have ever heard. Jones and Harrit and Roberts all make the claim in their “peer-reviewed paper” that they did NOT test for these finger prints of high explosives and that someone else should.

“ The red material does burn quickly as shown in the DSC, and we have observed a bright flash on ignition, but determination of the burn rate of the red material may help to classify this as a slow or fast explosive. It may be that this material is used not as a cutter-charge itself, but rather as a means to ignite high explosives, as in super-thermite matches [30]. Having observed unignited thermitic material in the WTC residue, we suggest that other energetic materials suitable for cutter charges or explosives should also be looked for in the WTC dust. NIST has admitted that they have not yet looked for such residues.” Steven Jones, Gregg Roberts, Harrit, et al

We can all understand why NIST doesn’t run the tests; because they are a branch of the Department of Commerce and they essentially worked for the people who carried out 911. But Jones. Harrit, and Roberts are SUPPOSED to be a different story. They are SUPPOSED to be an unofficial investigation into the demolition of the Twin Towers and Building 7.
Why would Jones, Harrit, Roberts, et al deliberately chose to not run these tests? And who exactly is “getting away” with not running them? NIST is condemned for it, Jones is given a pass.

3. BYU and the the Truth Movement

At this point, the scientific aspect of the Truth Movement is a whole-owned subsidiary of Brigham Young University (BYU).
Many Truth Advocates wrongly believe that Prof. Jones’ 911 Truth work cost him his career. That is NOT true. In fact, it has apparently gained him professor emeritus status at BYU.

A professor emeritus or emeritus professor is a title that may be given to a full professor who retires in good standing. According to the American Council on Education it is typically awarded for “long and distinguished service”.
The term is also used as a title given to retired professors who continue to teach and to be listed; they may also draw a very large percentage of their last salary as a pension.

Less than 3 months after BYU elevated Prof. Jones to the professor emeritus status, securing for him what Jones calls a “nice’ pension and an office to work in (as well as the maintainance of his webpage) BYU had Dick Cheney deliver the commencement address to their graduating students.
Contrary to popular belief, BYU has been paying Prof. Jones all this time.
BYU freed up his schedule so that he could do the work, his 911 Truth work, at BYU and in BYU labs.
BYU provided an office and equipment so that Prof. Jones could do the work.
BYU supported Prof. Jones’ research and provided him with additional help.
BYU paid for the Jones, Harrit, Roberts “nanothermite” paper to be published in the vanity press Bentham Open journal.
BYU provided the “peer review” official seal of approval for the Jones, Harrit, Roberts, et. al “nanothermite” paper.
The following is from Prof. Jones’ own statement regarding his affiliation with BYU…

… BYU allowed me to continue my research on 9/11 after I was placed on admin leave, particularly regarding the dust generated during the collapse of the Towers, and even encouraged that research. It was important to the work that I was allowed to use the electron microscopes at BYU for this research.
Based on that research at BYU, a group of scientists wrote the paper now published in the Open Chemical Physics Journal, “Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe,” April 2009. BYU reviewed the paper prior to publication and found it to represent sound science, and approved it for publication in the Open Chemical Physics Journal. Specifically the chair of the BYU Department of Physics and Astronomy approved publication and told me personally this was sound scientific research and that he was now persuaded that explosives/pyrotechnics were involved in the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11.
There were two authors from BYU listed on that paper, Dr. Farrer (as second author) and Daniel Farnsworth. Their affiliation with the BYU Department of Physics and Astronomy was listed in the paper, with the approval of BYU.
… About the same time as this paper was published, I was made an Emeritus Professor of Physics at BYU
… BYU provided a nice (not large) pension as I accepted their offer of early retirement, gave me a (shared) office that I still use. They allowed me to keep my research web page, which links to three formally-published peer-reviewed papers regarding 9/11 in technical journals, here: http://www.physics.byu.edu/research/energy/
… We know from press releases that Dick Cheney’s office contacted BYU; and this resulted in Cheney’s coming to BYU to give a commencement address just three months after my “early retirement” from BYU. Prof. Jones on his association with BYU

Prof Jones has been working for BYU since his involvement with the Truth movement began. He never lost his job because of his involvement, but rather HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE TRUTH MOVEMENT WAS HIS JOB. And he has been handsomely rewarded for it. He still does research at BYU to this day.

With regard to current activities, I am pursuing energy-related research at this time. This is another where I continue to have support at BYU. For example, see: http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/4CF06/Event/55778 . Our experiments at BYU involving a low-energy deuteron beam impinging on a liquid lithium target are ready to launch… stay tuned. Prof. Jones

4. BYU and the Neocons

In April of 2003, the president of the Mormon Church and a Board member of BYU, Gordon B. Hinckley, made the following statement about the Iraq War…

… “One of our Articles of Faith, which represent an expression of our doctrine, states, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law”
… “…as citizens we are all under the direction of our respective national leaders. They have access to greater political and military intelligence than do the people generally,” adding, “Furthermore, we are a freedom-loving people, committed to the defense of liberty wherever it is in jeopardy.” He also noted that “It may even be that [the Lord] will hold us responsible if we try to impede or hedge up the way of those who are involved in a contest with forces of evil and repression.” Gordon B. Hinckley, 2003

In 2004 President Bush gave the president of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2006, ground was broken at BYU for the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center.

http://i.ixnp.com/images/v6.31/t.gif

In 2006 President Bush met with the president of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, who was also on the Board of Directors of BYU.

In 2007, BYU extended an offer to George W. Bush to give the commencement speech. Bush refused and Dick Cheney gave the speech instead and received a honarary degree at the same time.

In its invitation to Cheney, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and counselors President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust wrote, “Along with BYU graduates, their parents and the faculty and staff, we would be honored to welcome you on this special occasion and to hear your commencement address.”

Does it not seem odd that such an institution would keep Prof. Jones on the payroll and even give him more money, research assistants, and then even peer review his paper and pay to get it published in a vanity press? Especially since the “research” Jones does practically accuses Bush and Cheney of conspiring to attack the United States on Sept. 11th 2001?
However, considering the fact that Jones’ research is seriously flawed and that it is leading the movement nowhere, that makes perfect sense… yes, they would indeed fund THAT KIND OF RESEARCH wouldn’t they?

5. BYU and the Neoliberal Milton Friedman Ideology

from EZRA TAFT BENSON -A Vision and a Hope for the Youth of Zion - given at Brigham Young University on 12 April 1977.

… As citizens of this noble land, we have marched a long way down the soul-destroying road of socialism. If you question that statement, consider the recent testimonial from the Nobel prize-winning economist, Milton Friedman. He indicated that government spending in the United States at all levels amounts to over forty percent of today’s total national income.
…Today’s socialists (doesn’t Glenn Beck, Morman, call Obama a “socialist”)–who call themselves egalitarians–are using the federal government to redistribute wealth in our society, not as a matter of voluntary charity, but as a so-called matter of right… This means that the federal governments collects from one income group and transfer payments to another by the tax system. These payments are made in the form of social security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid, and food stamps, to name a few. Today the cost of such programs has been going in the hole at the rate of 12 billion dollars a year…
When you accept food stamps, you accept an unearned handout that other working people are paying for. You do not earn food stamps or welfare payments. Every individual who accepts an unearned government gratuity is just as morally culpable as the individual who takes a handout from taxpayers’ money to pay his heat, electricity, or rent. There is no difference in principle between them. You did not come to this University to become a welfare recipient. You came here to be a light to the world, a light to society–to save society and to help to save this nation, the Lord’s base of operations in these latter days, to ameliorate man’s social conditions. You are not here to be a parasite or freeloader. The price you pay for “something for nothing” may be more than you can afford. Do not rationalize your acceptance of government gratuities by saying, “I am a contributing taxpayer too.” By doing this you contribute to the problem which is leading this nation to financial insolvency.

Conclusion

There is no way that BYU would do anything to directly oppose the stance of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and counselors President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, by supporting the work of someone who was actually attempting to prove George Bush and Dick Cheney conspired with others to attack the United States on Sept.11th 2001.
The facts as represented here and admitted to by Prof. Steven Jones show that BYU not only continued to pay Jones during his tenure with the Truth Movement, but in fact, they financed his studies, peer-reviewed them, and paid to have them published at a vanity press. Subsequently the editor of that journal quit her position there upon discovering Prof. Jones’ work had been published in her absence. Her explanation was that the work was not science and that it had been published for “political reasons”
Steven Jones did not lose his job because of his work on 911 Truth… his work on 911 Truth WAS HIS JOB. And he was being paid to do the work by an institution with close ties to the Bush/Cheney administration who also seem to possess a neoliberal economic agenda.