*Various theories regarding President [[John F. Kennedy]]'s assassination. There are a number of theories proposed here, generally along the lines that the assassination was not conducted by [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] acting alone, but was part of some larger murder conspiracy. This may be the first of the modern conspiracy theories.
*[[Apollo conspiracy theory]]: The theory that the [[Apollo 11]] lunar landing on July 20, 1969, and indeed the entire Apollo program, was fake. Supporters analyze photographs, and often claim that satellite photographs of [[Area 51]] resemble a movie studio.*Various [[9/11 conspiracy theories]]. People who embrace these are called [[Truther]]s. The theories generally state that the World Trade Center buildings were not brought down by airplane collisions, but (typically) by detonation of explosives planted earlier.<ref>They claim that Jewish workers had been telephoned in advance and told not to come to work (false), that airplane collisions would have caused the buildings to topple over rather than collapse directly downward (false, ignorant of high-school physics), or that the heat of burning aviation fuel would not raise the temperature sufficiently to melt the girders (false, the temperature to make iron visibly bend is much higher than the temperature to make it lose the strength needed to hold up a building).</ref> Truthers often ascribe the motivation for this to some kind of nefarious scheme by the [[George W. Bush]] administration. Among the web sites websites promoting these theories are [[Infowars]] and [https://wearechange.org We Are Change].
*The belief that President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] knew about the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] in advance, and allowed it to happen, so America could get into the war; that officers ignored evidence that the attack had started.<ref>From decrypts of Japanese communications, American intelligence expected a major military operation within that time frame, but believed it would take place in southern Asia.</ref>
*A "[[New World Order]]" brought about by a one-world government with a global [[currency]]. Usually this is combined with [[premillenialist]] and/or [[dispensationalist]] views of the [[Bible|Biblical]] Book of [[Revelation]]. Implanted [[RFID]] chips, mandated by the [[Antichrist]] and used for financial purposes, are thought to be the "[[Mark of the Beast]]."
*The influence of [[secret societies]], [[fraternal organizations]], and various [[religion|religious groups]]. [[Freemasons]], the [[Illuminati]], the [[United Nations]], the [[Catholic Church]], [[Judaism]], and the Catholic "Society of Jesus" ([[Jesuits]]) are popular targets. Often these groups are accused of being behind so-called "[[shadow government]]s." [[FEMA]] has been accused of being a "shadow government" as well. This conspiracy theory, and the one preceding, have been around since the 1700's.
*The notion that [[Jews]] are [[Anti-Semitism|conspiring to destroy civilization]]. This one is particularly serious. It has been going on in [[Europe]] for hundreds of years. It led to [[Anti-Semitism]], and, more tragically, the [[Holocaust]] of the [[Nazi Party|Nazi]]s in 20<sup>th</sup> century Germany.<ref>[http://newint.org/features/2004/10/01/conspiracism/ "ZOG Ate My Brains"]</ref>
*Denial that the Holocaust happened, and/or claims of exaggeration. In a number of European countries, Holocaust denial is a criminal offense. [[Iran]]ian president [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] is among this theory's supporters.
*"Chemtrails"—this appears to be one of the "New World Order" conspiracy theories. It says that some entity (the U.S. government? the New World Order?) is seeding the atmosphere with chemicals for weather manipulation, mind control, or some other purpose. Evidence of this can be seen in what normal people would consider to be the condensation trails (contrails) of high-flying aircraft.<ref>http://weatherwars.info/</ref> Some variants of this have suggested that what normal people call cell phone towers are in fact put in place for some other sinister purpose.
*Highway signs—another one of the "New World Order" conspiracy theories. It says that the tiny numbers in the lower corners of direction signs on interstate highways are actually put in place to guide the military vehicles that will be used in some kind of invasion of the United States. The invasion is expected to come from the Unied United Nations, some foreign government, or some other internationalist entity.
*That [[Queen Elizabeth II]] is/was running a drug cartel in England. This one dates back to the 1980's, and appears to have originated with [[Lyndon Larouche]]. It is currently embraced by Jacques Cheminade, a Larouche follower and current candidate for the presidency of France.
*If a president of his quality and insight has failed, it must be because his opponents are uniquely evil, coordinated and effective. The problem is not [[Bill Clinton]] or [[Barack Hussein Obama]] but an imaginary "[[conservative]] conspiracy" against them.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/25/AR2010112502553.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions Washington Post; Liberals resort to conspiracy theories to explain Obama's problems]</ref>
*[[Diana, Princess of Wales]] was murdered by the British security service [[MI5]] at the [[Duke of Edinburgh]]'s orders to prevent her giving birth to a [[Islam]]ic child by Dodi Fayed.
*The [[CIA]] is using [[Wikipedia®]] in a government-controlled disinformation campaign targeting the American public.
==Conspiracy theories proven true==
*[[Project MKUltra]]
* "They" are responsible for our troubles – We are blameless and without fault.
* Time is running out, and we must act immediately to avoid disaster.<ref>[http://newint.org/features/2004/10/01/conspiracism/ "ZOG Ate My Brains", again]</ref>
Conspiracy theories provide an important element of certainty in a world that seems random and perverse. Believing that a small, evil group controls everything is actually more reassuring to some minds than believing things just happen by random circumstance. Often it can be entertaining, and many [[documentaries]] and TV specials have been produced about conspiracy theories.
== External links ==
*[http://www.rense.com/general44/sevenjewishamericans.htm Seven Jewish Americans Control Most US Media.]
==References==
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[[Category:Conspiracy Theory]]
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Conspiracy Theorists]]