Write on the competing theories surrounding the attacks of September 11, 2001. The “official,” or “mainstream,” theory holds that the attacks were orchestrated by the al-Qaeda terror network, headed by Osama bin Laden, and that the attacks caught U.S. officials by surprise. But critics argue that the official theory raises numerous unresolved questions, and on some points flies in the face of available evidence. Some critics even advance an alternative theory, according to which U.S. officials deliberately allowed the attacks to happen, and perhaps even participated in planning them and carrying them out. Give your own critical analysis of these competing views.

     Another possibility is to focus on just one aspect of the case. For example: Why did the Twin Towers and/or Building 7 collapse? What hit the Pentagon? Why did the U.S. air defense system fail to intercept any of the four planes? Was Hani Hanjour capable of flying American 77 into the Pentagon? There are many other possibilities.

     For whatever question you choose to address, be sure to discuss objections and counterarguments to your own views. Explain not only why you support your own position, but also why you reject these alternative positions.

     Your paper should be about five pages long.