# Did Larry Silverstein know about 9/11? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 5, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340 "2015-07-05T20:17:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/81 "2015-07-06T07:33:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Where did Silverstein get the explosives? Why didn’t anyone think it was suspicious that he bought all those explosives right before one of his buildings blew up and mention it to the investigators? I think it seems clear that he disguised those explosives as simple office furniture, and had it brought in and placed by simple office furniture delivery men. Instead of asking questions of engineers and physics teachers you guys should be looking for the delivery boys, thats the only way you are going to get a real answer here. > [@bombthefeds](#): > > This was only one of 2 days he did not have breakfast there from when he had obtained ownership of the property on July 24th, 2001. Makes you wonder what was supposed to happen on the other day, don’t it? ---
**Author:** ![bombthefeds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bombthefeds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bombthefeds)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/82 "2015-07-06T07:36:36Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > I think it seems clear that he disguised those explosives as simple office furniture, and had it brought in and placed by simple office furniture delivery men. Instead of asking questions of engineers and physics teachers you guys should be looking for the delivery boys, thats the only way you are going to get a real answer here. > Makes you wonder what was supposed to happen on the other day, don’t it? Cool so basically, you can’t rebuttal my point, and I’m sure no one here can other than by questioning my credibility or some other form of character assassination. But, the science can’t be debated because its so utterly objective, and so I expect no one will make a contest against that. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/83 "2015-07-06T07:39:16Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > Cool so basically, you can’t rebuttal my point, and I’m sure no one here can other than by questioning my credibility or some other form of character assassination. > > But, the science can’t be debated because its so utterly objective, and so I expect no one will make a contest against that. Why are you so quick to deflect attention away from the delivery boys? What are you trying to hide? This all seems very suspicious, and there is no smoke without explosives so I must be on the right track. ---
**Author:** ![bombthefeds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bombthefeds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bombthefeds)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/84 "2015-07-06T07:48:22Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Why are you so quick to deflect attention away from the delivery boys? What are you trying to hide? This all seems very suspicious, and there is no smoke without explosives so I must be on the right track. That’s been stated several times before, I’m not a CT, I’m an investigator. I don’t make theories, I didn’t even make this theory, I found it somewhere and I thought about it and looked into it. Let someone else figure out these other logistics, all that we can say for sure is that the collapse of WTC 7 cannot be explained physically by fire. Now I’d love for there to be a deeper investigation into other conclusions that could be based on that fact. But, let’s get that damn fact straight first! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/85 "2015-07-06T10:30:35Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > Also, for completeness sake here, many CT’s believe WTC 7 was destroyed to hide information. Yeah in 2001 everyone was still using typewriters. The concept of digital data and offsite backups was unheard of. So it was just a small matter of completely destroying their own offices, as well as those of many other agencies. Or, you know, learn to use the shredder. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/86 "2015-07-06T11:12:55Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > First of all, even the NIST states that debris from tower 1 wasn’t the cause of the collapse and that collapse was due to fire fueled by “office combustibles” You miss the point. The collapse of the towers is what resulted in the fires starting in WTC7, ergo this is not a conventional fire starting. Convention fires tend to start in one location and move around. WTC7 probably had multiple fire starting locations. > [@](#): > > Many will say “jet fuel can’t melt steel” however they fail to realize that steel at temperatures as low as 800 degrees loses most of its strength. > > There is no evidence that WTC 7 ever reached those temperatures, Steel loses starts to lose its structural integrity at much loser than 800C. At just 400c it [starts to weaken](https://fireworld.com/Archives/tabid/93/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/87379/Critical-Moments.aspx). So it doesn’t matter if the heat did not reach 800C. > [@](#): > > it is also apparent from the photos that the fire was not burning uncontrollably, it was fairly tame, [No, it was not](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afb7eUHr64U). Just because some 911 conspiracy kooks cherry pick photos of low smoke does not mean the fires were not out of control. The video I just linked to shows roaring flames and points where smoke is pouring out of windows on multiple floors. More failure on your part. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/87 "2015-07-06T11:14:00Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > Let someone else figure out these other logistics, all that we can say for sure is that the collapse of WTC 7 cannot be explained physically by fire. Keep begging that question, sunshine. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/88 "2015-07-06T11:17:21Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > They dismissed the basis of the the lack of evidence of window breakage and the sounds of explosives. > > However, there isn’t sufficient evidence to dismiss window breakage or the sounds of explosives entirely. Are you kidding me? Use explosives in lower Manhattan and people are going to notice. They are going to hear it. You can’t dismiss that with a hand wave. > [@](#): > > Well given how poorly the fire model matches, even the NIST would have to admit that the explosive model FITS much nicer to how that building fell. And what expertise do you possess that let’s you say that so definitively? Are you a demolitions expert? A structural engineer? A materials engineer? Or are you just another person trying to find a jew to blame? > [@](#): > > Physics wins again. > > AHHHHHHHH science… I’d advise learning some. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/89 "2015-07-06T11:24:13Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > I think we could agree it would be almost impossible for a terrorist group to plant the explosives, however not so impossible for the owner of the building to do so, especially if he had ample time. Especially given the tenants that occupied the building. So nobody made a fuss when all the plaster was removed from the walls, structural columns were cut half way, large wood boxes full of explosives were placed on the columns in people’s offices, and yellow demolition cable was run by the mile out their doors, down the hallways and down to the street. Nobody noticed this? Nobody? Because the CIA had an office there every other office goes blind and doesn’t care that their walls have been stripped and guys are cutting into their structural columns? Does it ever occur to you to look into what demolition involves and maybe see how silly your ideas are? Or do you just assume you are an expert in all things and go from there? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/90 "2015-07-06T11:26:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Because it’s **traditional.** Be patient, **Monty** – the Jews are centuries ahead of you in this regard, but the Mormons’ time will come! 🙂 Is not the recent history of the Romney campaign enough to give you hope?! I’m kind of hoping Chick or another of his flacks decides that we LDS were “created” by the Jews or the Vatican–or, better yet, by both, for the Trifecta! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/91 "2015-07-06T11:27:28Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > There is no anti-semetic claim being made here in fact the blog that I cited specifically has a post which states that [there is no Jewish conspiracy](http://whatistheilluminati.tumblr.com/post/122780357724/are-the-evil-illuminati-jewish). You are most certainly making an anti-Semitic assertion when you link to the Illuminati. Come on. Get original! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/92 "2015-07-06T11:30:43Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > So, physically a fire on one side of a building at a low temperature would spontaneously cause the building to collapse as if all the lower supports were taken out at once causing the building to fall into itself. Spontaneously does not mean what you seem to think it does. > [@](#): > > Alright that’s not the type of thing my physics professor would have taught but hey maybe your Russian. Why do you think **Mr. Miskatonic** has a Russian? Anyway, a Russian what? > [@](#): > > But, yeah I don’t understand physics apparently. Demonstrably, not apparently. You do not understand physics at all. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/93 "2015-07-06T11:38:39Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > Well that’s true it was steel enforced concrete If you knew what you were talking about on the subject, then you would already know that _steel enforced concrete_ is not a term used. Care to try again? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/94 "2015-07-06T11:41:24Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > in free-fall demolition fashion that makes the official story so unbelievable. And here you go with the trite, and completely nonsensical, mantra of the CTers. Why don’t you give it a rest? And why won’t a mod move this to the Pit where the responses you so richly deserve can be posted? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/95 "2015-07-06T11:47:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Since no one else has pointed this out yet… No, we can’t. To be fair, we haven’t ruled out 1920s-style death rays yet. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/96 "2015-07-06T11:55:43Z")
If there was anything to the idea that WTC 7 came down other than as the accepted narrative, engineers would be all over themselves to be the first to point that out. Finding mistakes of others is what we do, it’s a damn good day when you can ferret out someone’s mistake. The idea that the official version is full of holes is, well full of holes. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/97 "2015-07-06T12:01:52Z")
Dopers show their gullibility by falling for the party line. The secrets even Wikileaks won’t leak are right under your noses. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > No, as all others point out, we do not agree with you. > > [QUOTE=Dan Nigro, Chief of Department FDNY (retired)] > Conspiracy theories abound and I believe firmly that all of them are without merit. [/QUOTE] I’m sure many of us agree that Dan _Nigro_ is a leading light in the Black Illuminati and probably orchestrated the collapse of Seven. If there was any doubt, his “firm denial” of a conspiracy is a smoking gun. Especially cunning was the way GWB sat in Kindergarten with a simpleton’s expression on his face. Only a great mastermind could have planned an alibi as convincing as that. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/98 "2015-07-06T12:26:52Z")
[QUOTE=bombthefeds] He’s an old man, I’m sure he has many rashes… If anyone has alternative theories they are more than welcome [/QUOTE] I don’t see why it had to be a rash. Skin cancers are more common in that age group. Or perhaps it was just an unsightly wart. I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that it was a rash. Are there eyewitnesses to the condition of his skin on or just prior to 9/11? Have any of them mysteriously disappeared? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/99 "2015-07-06T12:47:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Why do you think **Mr. Miskatonic** has a Russian? Anyway, a Russian what? I have some vodka on the shelf? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340/100 "2015-07-06T13:21:00Z")
> [@bombthefeds](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Preparations for a blast scenario would have been almost impossible to carry out on any floor in the building without detection. Preparations would have included removal of column enclosures or walls, weld torches to cut column sections, and placement of wires for detonation. Occupants, support staff, and visitors would have noticed such activities, particularly since they likely would have occurred around more than one column. > > I think we could agree it would be almost impossible for a terrorist group to plant the explosives, however not so impossible for the owner of the building to do so, especially if he had ample time. Especially given the tenants that occupied the building. I am not following you. Why would it be easier for the building owner to cut away support columns and walls without being spotted? If someone is stuffing explosives into the office where I work, I am going to notice, no matter if he is wearing a NY Mets baseball cap or a khaffiyeh and an “I ❤ Terrorism” button on his lapel. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-larry-silverstein-know-about-9-11/724340.md?page=6)