One for the conspiracy theorists?

October 2, 2001 2:25 PM

One for the conspiracy theorists? On 7th of September, Governor Jeb Bush signed Executive Order 01-261, revising his powers to call up the Florida National Guard "in the event of civil disturbances or natural disasters", citing as one of its concerns "the potential massive damage to life and property that may result from an act of terrorism at a Florida port". Four days later, after the WTC attacks, his very next Executive Order declared a State of Emergency and activated the National Guard under those revised powers. (It's still in place.) Now, we all know that the President was in the coastal city of Sarasota, Florida on the morning of the 11th, and we also know that Disney World closed its doors as a precaution after the attacks... so, coincidence? (Picked up from media-squatters.)
posted by holgate (19 comments total)

Absolutely not.
Jail him immediately.
posted by dong_resin at 2:32 PM on October 2, 2001

oh, my. loonies.
posted by tomplus2 at 2:38 PM on October 2, 2001

Heh. I just find the wording of that September 7th Executive Order rather intriguing. Compare it to the order it superseded, which had been signed in January 2001. The one difference? That additional clause (Section 3) referring to port security training, based upon "the necessity to protect life and property from such acts of terrorism".
posted by holgate at 2:42 PM on October 2, 2001

I don't follow on the Disney connection. Please elaborate.
posted by NortonDC at 2:49 PM on October 2, 2001

NortonDC, Florida's National Guard is apparently some sort of a Mickey Mouse kind of organization, so therefore, they would not have enough personnel to staff both the Guard and Disney World.
posted by nickonomicon at 2:59 PM on October 2, 2001

There's no Disney connection as such, just a tangential memory, that as I listened in horror to the reports coming out of the US, the BBC noted that Disney World was being evacuated. Of course, many places were cleared out as a precaution, but it just struck me as odd to mention the Magic Kingdom alongside government buildings and skyscrapers. Probably just to reassure those with families on holiday in Florida.

I'm more intrigued that Gov. Bush expanded the remit of the National Guard specifically to include training against terrorist acts: that was the sole function of the Executive Order. And there's no accompanying no press release on www.state.fl.us, although the other Executive Order of the day -- the reading initiative that the President was highlighting in that classroom on the Tuesday morning -- got one.
posted by holgate at 3:52 PM on October 2, 2001

Color me Unamerican if you will, but I don't think you have to be a full on conspiracy theorist to acknowledge that there's often more to government activities than we're told, and times like these are when it's most important to try to keep them somewhat open and accountable. So Holgate, thanks for the links.
posted by liam at 4:14 PM on October 2, 2001

Ethel the Blog points out that as a result of the state of emergency, public records are being withheld. Also, a special security committee has been formed. The last time this happened (1956), "researchers discovered that the committee had interrogated and harassed more than 1,000 suspects in motels, police stations and courthouses. Most were never charged with a crime."
posted by D at 4:17 PM on October 2, 2001

the truth is out there...

So, are the Bush brothers the new Kennedys?
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 4:24 PM on October 2, 2001

Damn, take a week from reading Ethel, and Steven Baum says things first and smartest...

(Also, incidentally, a new report on the Florida recount, assembled through the work of several newspapers co-operating in their research, was due out in the week of the attacks: it's been shelved for the time being.)
posted by holgate at 4:37 PM on October 2, 2001

(Also, incidentally, a new report on the Florida recount, assembled through the work of several newspapers co-operating in their research, was due out in the week of the attacks: it's been shelved for the time being.)

(Things that make you go) hmmm...
posted by rushmc at 4:50 PM on October 2, 2001

So, are the Bush brothers the new Kennedys?


Echo. Someone had to say it.
posted by HoldenCaulfield at 6:06 PM on October 2, 2001

(Also, incidentally, a new report on the Florida recount, assembled through the work of several newspapers co-operating in their research, was due out in the week of the attacks: it's been shelved for the time being.)

read again: according to the article ethel linked, it's shelved forever

on the actual thread topic, it's true that we the public don't know the half of what goes on, but I don't believe that either of the bushes had foreknowledge of 9.11. it makes no sense. the whole thing was a US military/intelligence fiasco, never mind the terrible loss of life.
posted by rebeccablood at 7:12 PM on October 2, 2001

Disney World was viewed as a target because it is a symbol of American money and leisure. Obviously.
posted by noisemartyr at 8:48 PM on October 2, 2001

Well, thank God, Disney World is now in the clear. Otherwise, would Bush have made it a point to tell us (in his get-back-in-the-air-and-spend-some-dang-money speech the other day) specifically that we ought to visit Disney World?

So, are the Bush brothers the new Kennedys?

"Ich bin ein Berlinerite."
posted by diddlegnome at 11:54 PM on October 2, 2001

Does that make Bush sr the new Jo Kennedy?
posted by spinifex at 3:50 AM on October 3, 2001

> So, are the Bush brothers the new Kennedys?

If so, would a Blockbuster warehouse be the new Texas school book depository?
posted by pracowity at 4:04 AM on October 3, 2001

I don't believe that either of the bushes had foreknowledge of 9.11. it makes no sense. the whole thing was a US military/intelligence fiasco

This is utter hearsay, but...my brother was in Saudi Arabia (he's a flight engineer with the Air Force), scheduled to fly a mission on 9/11 in the Middle East. They cancelled the mission and sent him and his crew back to the US the day before and sequestered them instead, saying they'd had warning of an attack on the president. Could my brother have been embellishing when he told this to my mother several days later when he was released? Maybe, but I have to say I don't think he has enough imagination to come up with such a thing.
posted by jenwells at 4:59 AM on October 3, 2001

I've heard there were warnings to US bases in Japan that even mentioned bin Laden. It's not that surprising. Sounds like vague intelligence reports were circulated, but no one knew enough detail to act effectively.
posted by D at 5:46 AM on October 3, 2001