'9/11, mission impossible for poor-at-planning Arabs'

Months, if not years, of planning must have gone into the execution of the most devastating terrorist attack to date, which stunned the world on the morning of Sept 11, 2001.

Those responsible had reportedly trained as pilots, hijacked planes, and then crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, reducing the structures to nothing more than a pile of rubble.

But Dr Mahathir Mohamad is certain that Arab terrorists could not have pulled off this feat since they are not exactly the brightest of bulbs when it comes to planning.

According to the former premier, terrorists from Arab simply strap on explosives and charge their targets.

"Four planes were hijacked at the same time to initiate the attack, this needs a very good plan. You can imagine the comprehensiveness of the plan.

"These people are not good at planning, they just strap bombs to themselves and storm into a crowd.

"That's what they can do, they are not very good at planning," he told a function in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

'Avatar and Sept 11'

Following a barrage of criticisms concerning his 'Avatar and Sept 11' comment, Mahathir had also explained in a blog posting today why he believes there is more than what meets the eye behind the so-called terror attack.

The former premier denied that he had insinuated, as suggested by press reports, that it was a mere theatrical trick and no real destruction took place.

The octogenarian firmly believes that the planes struck the two towers and that the skyscrapers came tumbling down.

But as for the other 'black and white' details on the incident, Mahathir felt there is evidence to suggest that the facts are still shrouded in hues of gray.

"A lot of people in America (the apologists will dismiss them as conspiracy theorists) questioned whether the towers collapsed because the planes crashed into them or that something else caused them to come down.

"These people have reproduced videos taken by media people showing the attack and the collapse of the towers, pointing out certain peculiar features. I have seen the three-hour long video which is widely distributed," he said.

Mahathir said those who watched the live telecast of the attack and the collapse of the towers will remember that both towers collapsed straight down, floor upon floor.

"They did not lean to their sides as they collapsed. The manner of their collapse was like the pictures we see of multi-storied buildings being demolished by demolition experts.

"When demolishing a skyscraper in a built-up area the experts ensure that as the towers collapse they will not lean to the side and strike neighbouring buildings," he added.

Mahathir noted that the collapse of the two towers was typical of demolition of skyscrapers by experts in America.

"It was too clean, each tower collapsing upon itself, not touching each other or the buildings surrounding them," he said.

What about building No 7?

One thing that has always been kept under wraps, according to Mahathir, was the collapse of a third building which was neither hit by aircraft or by the two towers.

"This building, described as building number 7, is slightly more than half the height of the World Trade Centre towers. This building also collapsed down upon itself. Again it looked like a demolition job.

"Why did it collapse? Nothing struck it. It did not catch fire. Yet it collapsed straight down without touching any other building or the towers," he said.

As for the Pentagon, Mahathir said American investigators also showed pictures of where the third aircraft was supposed to have crashed into.

But, he added, there was no aircraft or debris. "I have never seen the picture of the crashed aircraft."

"Nor have I seen pictures of the fourth aircraft which crashed somewhere. Maybe others have seen pictures of these two crashed aircraft. I would like to see them," he said.

The 84-year-old former premier also questioned why the quick-footed American media had dragged its feet with regards to the Pentagon crash.

"The American media work very fast. They are usually on the crash scenes minutes after the accident.

"Yet I do not remember seeing pictures of the crashed aircraft which were supposed to hit the Pentagon and the one which crashed somewhere," he said.

Mahathir said structural engineers and other experts also expressed doubt that the twin towers collapsed because the aircraft crashed into the upper stories.

Meeting with the janitor

Adding more twists, the former premier said he met a janitor who worked in the World Trade Centre and helped rescue many people. He was subsequently proclaimed a national hero.

"However, the official report did not carry his statement that there were explosions in the building which appeared to be quite unrelated to the plane crash," he added.

"Some people have condemned me for doubting that the attack was mounted by Arab Muslim terrorists. Perhaps one of the television stations will care to air the videos mentioned without censorship," he added.

The Sept 11 attacks were blamed on the Al-Qaeda terrorist network headed by Osama bin Laden, who is reportedly still at large.

The incident also paved the way for the 'war on terror', which witnessed the American war machinery being mobilised against Afghanistan and Iraq.