ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE

So, while FEMA’s truss failure theory blamed the failure of column truss supports for the collapses, NIST’s column failure
theory blames their persistence, stating that they pulled the columns inward -- the first step in the contagious spread of
“column instability.”
Semantics aside, as will be shown here, NIST’s theory proves highly improbable, while the controlled demolition theory
proves highly probable. NIST’s methods will also be addressed, coupled with the “black box” programs used to support its
conclusions in what appears to be a “reverse” model, based on the circular reasoning that fire/plane damage “must” have
brought the buildings down, since the use of explosives is ruled out by default - with no modeling or real investigation into
issues related to evidence found that supports a controlled demolition hypohesis.
(2) With regard to the buildings designed to take an airliner impact:
Based on testimony from the WTC Twin Tower designers, there was no reason to assume the buildings would collapse
due to plane impact or the associated jet fuel. Frank A. Demartini, on-site construction manager for the World Trade Center,
spoke of the resilience of the towers in an interview recorded on January 25, 2001:
“The building was designed to have a fully loaded 707 crash into it. That was the largest plane at the time. I believe that
the building probably could sustain multiple impacts of jetliners because this structure is like the mosquito netting on your
screen door -- this intense grid -- and the jet plane is just a pencil puncturing that screen netting. It really does nothing to
the screen netting.” 1
Les Robertson, the Trade Center’s structural engineer, stated: “I designed it for a 707 to smash into it.” 2 He also stated in
a video interview (as shown in Zeitgeist) that: “We designed the buildings to take the impact of a Boeing 707, hitting the
building at any location.” 3
John Skilling was the head structural engineer for the World Trade Center. In a 1993 interview, Skilling stated that the
Towers were designed to withstand the impact and fires resulting from the collision of a large jetliner such as Boeing 707
or Douglas DC-8:
“Our analysis indicated the biggest problem would be the fact that all the fuel (from the airplane) would dump into the
building. There would be a horrendous fire. A lot of people would be killed...The building structure would still be there.” 4
A White Paper released on February 3, 1964 states that the Towers could have withstood impacts of jetliners traveling 600
mph -- a speed greater than the impact speed of either jetliner used on 9/11/01. “The buildings have been investigated
and found to be safe in an assumed collision with a large jet airliner (Boeing 707—DC 8) traveling at 600 miles per hour.
Analysis indicates that such a collision would result in only local damage which could not cause collapse or substantial
damage to the building and would not endanger the lives and safety of occupants not in the immediate area of impact.” 5
Given the above, it is clear that an airplane impact and burning fuel was taken into account- but- it refers to a 707 not a
767 which is what hit the towers on 9/11. So, how different is a 767 from a 707? NIST points out that the 767 is about
“20% larger than a Boeing 707”, implying the size difference would cause more damage. However, is weight the only factor
which would relate to a more powerful and damaging impact? In an analysis done by scientist Jim Hoffman, taking the
cruise speed into account, he states:
“The Kinetic energy released by the impact of a Boeing 707 at cruise speed is...4.136 billion ft lbs force...The Kinetic
energy released by the impact of a Boeing 767 at cruise speed is 3.706 billion ft lbs force. [So] under normal flying conditions,
a Boeing 707 would smash into the WTC with about 10% more energy than would the slightly heavier Boeing 767.
That is, under normal flying conditions, a Boeing 707 would do more damage than a Boeing 767.” 6
Further Suggested Reading: [ http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/analysis/design.html ]
1 This archived video interview was included in a film called “911 Mysteries”
2 http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2001/sep/12/towers_built_to/
3 This video interview was shown Zeitgeist: The Movie.
4 http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930227&slug=1687698
5 City in the Sky, Times Books, Henry Hold and Company, LLC, 2003, page 131
6 Jim Hoffman: “The World Trade Center Demolition” http://911research.wtc7.net/talks/wtc/index.html