The State Department recently released a list of the top eight most prevalent conspiracy theories about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The top theory suggests that controlled demolitions destroyed the World Trade Center’s twin towers, a theory that is refuted by the National Institute of Science and Technology in its new “Answers to Frequently Asked Questions” about the attacks. NIST says that controlled demolitions would have blown the bottom of a building out first. It also claims that demolition firms around Manhattan were operating sensitive seismographs, none of which recorded explosions from the towers.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.