Fact check: Was George Bush behind 9/11?

1. Summary of the results

The evidence conclusively shows that George Bush was not behind the 9/11 attacks. This conclusion is supported by:

• The official 9/11 Commission Report, which was actually initiated by Bush himself to investigate the attacks ^[1]
• Declassified notes from Bush and Cheney's Commission interview showing their reactive measures during the attacks, including authorizing potential shootdowns of hijacked aircraft ^[2]
• Multiple investigations attributing the attacks to al-Qaeda operatives led by Osama bin Laden ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

• There were genuine intelligence failures by the CIA and FBI leading up to 9/11, including failure to watch-list known al-Qaeda suspects and inadequate investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui ^[4]
• The collapse of the World Trade Center towers was due to structural weakening from plane impacts and fires, not controlled demolition as some theories suggest ^[5]
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the civil engineering community have repeatedly rejected controlled demolition theories ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The persistence of this conspiracy theory can be attributed to several factors:

• These theories emerged quickly after the attacks and continue to circulate more than two decades later ^[7]
• They often stem from speculation, misinterpretation of facts, and general distrust of government institutions ^[6]
• Despite extensive debunking, fabricated claims continue to spread online ^[7]

Those who benefit from promoting these conspiracy theories often include:

• Anti-government groups seeking to undermine public trust in institutions
• Content creators and conspiracy theorists who gain followers and engagement by promoting alternative narratives
• Foreign actors seeking to sow discord in American society