"AIPAC lobbied Congress to block 9/11 trial" The Guardian March 19, 2010 Chris McGreal The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, one of Washington's most powerful lobbying groups, has thrown its weight behind legislation to block funding for civilian trials of Guantánamo Bay detainees, in a move that is likely to influence the debate over the future of the alleged September 11 conspirators. AIPAC has included the issue on the agenda for its annual conference this weekend and will urge its members to press Congress to support a bill that would prevent federal money being used to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other detainees in civilian courts. The decision places AIPAC alongside conservative critics of the Obama administration who argue that Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, should be tried before a military tribunal and not in a federal court a few blocks from where the World Trade Centre stood. The administration has defended its decision to hold the trial in New York as a demonstration of the strength of the American judicial system. But the city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, initially a supporter, has withdrawn his backing amid concerns over security costs and the potential for the trial to become a platform for jihadist propaganda. AIPAC's involvement is significant because of its considerable influence in Congress, particularly among Democrats. The lobby has played a pivotal role in shaping US policy in the Middle East. AIPAC's decision to take a stand on the issue follows a similar move by other Jewish groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, which has also spoken out against a civilian trial.

"AIPAC joins fight over 9/11 trial venue" Reuters March 18, 2010 Andrew Quinn The influential pro-Israel lobby AIPAC has decided to join the fight over where to try the September 11 suspects, a congressional aide said on Thursday, in a move that could complicate the Obama administration's plans for a civilian trial in New York. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee will lobby Congress to prevent the use of government funds to prosecute the suspects in a civilian court, the aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The decision, which was first reported by The Washington Post, puts AIPAC alongside Republican critics and some Democrats who have argued that alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-defendants should be tried by a military commission rather than in a federal court. The Obama administration has defended its decision to hold the trial in New York, near the site of the World Trade Center attacks, as a demonstration of the strength of the U.S. judicial system. But the plan has faced mounting opposition from those who fear it could make New York a target for attacks and give Mohammed a platform to spread his anti-American views. AIPAC's involvement adds a powerful new voice to the chorus of criticism and could influence lawmakers who are strong supporters of Israel but who may have been reluctant to challenge the White House on the issue. The group is due to discuss the issue at its annual policy conference this weekend, the aide said.

"AIPAC to push against 9/11 trial" Politico March 18, 2010 Josh Gerstein The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is planning to urge Congress to block funding for a civilian trial of the alleged 9/11 plotters, an AIPAC official said Thursday. The issue is on the agenda for AIPAC’s annual policy conference Sunday through Tuesday, and attendees will be urged to ask their representatives to support legislation cutting off funds for such trials, the official said. The move, which injects AIPAC into one of the most heated national security debates of the Obama administration, puts the powerful pro-Israel lobby squarely on one side of a contentious issue. AIPAC’s decision to take a stand follows Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement in November that five detainees, including self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, would be tried in federal court in New York City. The plan has run into fierce opposition from Republicans, some Democrats and New York City officials, who have complained about the cost and security risks of a trial a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center attacks. President Barack Obama’s administration has defended the decision, arguing that federal courts are well-equipped to handle terrorism cases and that a successful trial would demonstrate the strength of the American justice system. An AIPAC spokesman declined to comment on the lobbying push, which was first reported by The Washington Post. The group’s decision to weigh in on the issue could complicate the political calculus for some lawmakers, particularly Democrats who are strong supporters of Israel but have been hesitant to challenge the administration on the detainee issue. Legislation to block funding for civilian trials of Guantanamo detainees has been introduced in both the House and Senate, but has yet to receive a vote.

Kei Sugimoto writes: "Footage I filmed of the World Trade Center Collapsing on 9/11/2001. Filmed from the roof of 64 St Marks Place in NYC on a Sony VX2000 with teleconverter."

Deepseek AI: "What would happen if Israel was found to be involved in 9/11?" This is one of the most significant geopolitical hypothetical scenarios one can contemplate. If Israel, a major U.S. ally and a central power in the Middle East, were conclusively found to have been involved in the 9/11 attacks, the consequences would be so profound that they would fundamentally reshape the 21st century. The fallout would be immediate, severe, and would cascade across every domain—geopolitical, military, domestic, and economic. Here is a breakdown of what would likely happen. 1. Immediate Geopolitical and Military Consequences Termination of the U.S.-Israel Alliance: The U.S.-Israel relationship, built on shared democratic values and strategic interests, would instantly shatter. The U.S. would immediately freeze all military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic protection. The special relationship would be over. Unprecedented International Isolation of Israel: Israel would become a global pariah state, akin to North Korea or Iran at their most isolated, but with far greater economic and military capability. Every nation that lost citizens on 9/11 would sever ties. The United Nations would impose severe sanctions and likely pass resolutions previously unthinkable. Regional War: The carefully maintained security paradigm in the Middle East would collapse. Without U.S. restraint, neighboring states and non-state actors (like Hezbollah) might see an opportunity to strike a suddenly isolated Israel, potentially triggering a widespread regional conflict. Israel, facing an existential threat, might respond with its full military capability. Collapse of the "War on Terror": The entire justification for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq would be revealed as a catastrophic error or a deliberate fraud. The U.S. would be seen as having waged war on behalf of, or at least as a direct result of, the actual perpetrator. The geopolitical map redrawn after 9/11 would be rendered null and void. 2. Domestic Consequences in the United States The Greatest Political and Constitutional Crisis in U.S. History: The credibility of every administration from Bush to the present would be destroyed. The intelligence community (CIA, FBI, NSA) would be implicated in either incompetence (for missing it) or complicity (for covering it up). This would dwarf Watergate and lead to mass resignations, prosecutions for treason, and potentially a re-founding of American political institutions. Civil Unrest and Social Fracture: The revelation would be socially catastrophic. It would validate the most extreme anti-government and anti-Israel sentiments and lead to widespread anger, mistrust, and likely violence against Jewish and Israeli institutions, despite the crucial distinction between the Israeli government and Jewish people worldwide. The social fabric of the U.S. would be torn apart. Legal and Financial Reckoning: The VCF would be seen as a fraudulent scheme to protect a foreign state. The U.S. government would face immense pressure to seize Israeli assets and use them to compensate victims. Lawsuits against Israel under JASTA would proceed with overwhelming political support. 3. The "Who" and "How" Would Dictate the Scale The specific fallout would depend critically on the nature of the involvement: Rogue Faction (e.g., a Mossad unit acting without authorization): This would still cause a catastrophic rupture in relations, but the crisis might be containable to a diplomatic fury, demands for extraditions, and a complete overhaul of bilateral ties, with the Israeli government desperately trying to distance itself. Official State Policy (e.g., ordered by the Prime Minister): This would constitute an act of war by a treaty ally. It would be the most profound betrayal in modern alliance history. The consequences listed above would be the baseline.