The Ground Zero Grassy Knoll

The New York Magazine brings this story on the various conspiracy-theories surrounding 9/11 out there: The Ground Zero Grassy Knoll - A New Generation of Conspiracy Theorists are at Work on the Secret History of 9/11. Quite an interesting read - even when you don't really believe conspiracies to be more tangible than as a rhetorical strategy (as I wrote about here).

There are four basic stories listed in the article:

(A) The Official Story (a.k.a. ?The Official Conspiracy Theory?). The received Bushian line: Osama, nineteen freedom-haters with box cutters, etc. As White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said, there was ?no warning.?

(B) The Incompetence Theory (also the Stupidity, Arrogance, ?Reno Wall? Theory). Accepts the Official Story, adds failure by the White House, FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. to heed ample warnings. This line was advanced, with much ass-covering compensation, in The 9/11 Commission Report.

(C) LIHOP (or ?Let It Happen on Purpose?). Many variations, but primarily that elements of the U.S. government and the private sector were aware of the hijackers? plans and, recognizing that 9/11 suited their policy goals, did nothing to stop it.

(D) MIHOP (?Made It Happen on Purpose?). The U.S. government or private forces planned and executed the attacks.