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Op donderdag 16 maart 2006 13:58 schreef Oversight het volgende: ![]()
Ooggetuige USA Today's Mike Walter: "It was like a cruise-missile with wings on it."
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Dezelfde ooggetuige USA Today's Mike Walter:
QUESTION: As you know, a descriptive phrase you used was taken to mean an aircraft didn't strike the Pentagon. How has this affected you?
MIKE WALTER: I don’t really remember the questions that were asked that day, I don’t really even remember what my answers were. The day became a blur really. But
I do remember using a metaphor to describe what happened. I indicated to Jamie that the jet had become a weapon that day. I said it was like a cruise missile with wings. I never imagined for a moment that a statement like that would come back to haunt me over and over again. A French author would come out with a book describing in detail the conspiracy theory and he would use that quote out of context to help promote his conclusions. I was very angry about all of this, and I remain angry about it today. I’m also upset that so many people lost their lives that day and while some people who have written about that tragic day have donated any and all proceeds to the victims of 9-11, he has capitalized on it to make an awful lot of money. His book went on to be a best seller in France. My suggestion, buy “Covering Catastrophe” instead. It was written by the reporters who were there in Arlington, and in New York, and in Pennsylvania.
The conclusion in the French book is absurd. I saw the jet; there is no doubt in my mind it was a jet that slammed into the Pentagon. ![]()
Ooggetuige USA Today's Mike Walter:: I will never forget that day, trapped in traffic and then I rolled down the window and heard the sound of the jet overhead. I wasn’t surprised.
I worked in the USA today building in Roslyn nearby and we were used to seeing a lot of choppers coming to the helipad at the Pentagon and a lot of commercial jets heading to Reagan which is nearby. But for some reason I looked up and saw the underbelly of the jet as it gracefully banked, then I watched in shock as the jet basically lined up the Pentagon in its sights and began to scream towards the mammoth structure. I watched as it continued to dip from the sky, diving towards the Pentagon. There are some trees that are adjacent to 27 the road I was stuck on, so the jet went out of sight momentarily. Then I picked it up as it struck very low into the Pentagon. The wings folded back and it was like watching someone slam an empty aluminum can into a wall. The jet folded up like an accordion. There was a huge fireball. ![]()
MIKE WALTER:
I know a lot of people have different theories about what happened that day. I don’t have any theories, I just have two eyes! I saw what I saw. It was an American Airlines jet that slammed into the Pentagon that day. I have nothing to gain or loose by saying this. The truth is the truth, that’s what happened. The reason why I’ve consented to this interview is because I’ve learned a lot as a result of that day. I’m a guy who grew up reading books, newspapers, and magazines. I’m a guy who watches television and listens to the radio. Those are the mediums that I’m comfortable with and understand. I’ve written for radio, TV, newspapers and even contributed to two books. Having said that, I understand the power of the web, and did before 9-11. But it really hit home afterwards.
So many websites have critiqued my words, and added meaning to statements I made by taking them out of context. Some how I’ve been trapped on the World Wide Web and my words have been used to promote this theory or that. I’ve been criticized and critiqued. I’m not sure what the theory will be on this website, in fact I don’t really care what it is. All I know is someone was kind enough to ask me to answer their questions instead of just jumping to conclusions, and for that I thank you. I know people tend to gravitate towards conspiracy theories, I can’t stop them.
People will believe what they want to believe, but I know what I saw that day. http://www.pentagonresearch.com/mike.html