9-11 - LOOKING GLASS NEWS | |
Interview with Scott Forbes...who worked in the South Tower of the world trade center, witnessed a power-down of the tower in the weekend before 9/11. |
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by George Washington George Washington's Blog Entered into the database on Monday, November 28th, 2005 @ 14:09:59 MST |
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Scott Forbes, who worked in the South Tower of the world trade center,
witnessed a power-down of the tower in the weekend before 9/11. I spoke with Scott Forbes by telephone for around a half hour in late
2004. I also arranged a video interview. However, due to delays by a third person
in releasing that video, Scott and I agreed to post a written interview now
to fill in some of the details of Scott's experience. GENERAL BACKGROUND GW: In 2001, you were working as an information technology
specialist for Fiduciary Trust. Were you the main IT person for Fiduciary Trust,
or were you an assistant IT person? SF: I worked within an IT department of around 100 as a senior
DBA [database administrator] and team leader. GW: Fiduciary Trust had floors 90 and 94-97 of the South Tower
at that time. Did you work on a specific floor, or did your duties normally
keep you roaming on several floors? SF: I and my technology colleagues worked on the 97th floor
... in the course of the day we would have meetings or give support on other
floors but most our time would have been spent on the 97th floor. THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 8TH AND 9TH GW: You've previously stated that on the weekend of September
8 and 9, 2001, there was a "power down" condition in world trade center
Tower 2, the South Tower, and that this power down condition meant there was
no electrical supply for approximately 36 hours from floor 50 up. Do you know
what time the power-down started? SF: All systems were shutdown on Saturday morning and the
power down condition was in effect from approximately 12 noon on Saturday September
8, 2001. GW: When did it end? SF: Approximately 2PM on Sunday 9/9. GW: How do you know that there was no electricity from floor
50 up, if Fiduciary Trust was on much higher floors -- starting at the 90th
floor? SF: I can't absolutely verify that there was no power on lower
floors ... all I can validate is that we were informed of the power down condition,
that we had to take down all systems and then the following day had to bring
back up all systems ... GW: You've previously stated that you were aware of the power
down since you worked in the IT department and had to work with many others
that weekend to ensure that all systems were cleanly shutdown beforehand ...
and then brought back up afterwards. How many other Fiduciary Trust folks were
you working with? Can any of them verify your story? SF: Many, many people worked on the power down, both from
the IT department and from the business, revalidating systems when they were
available again. Other people can validate my information. Some people do not
remember the circumstances, some people will not revisit that time ... but others
acknowledge the power down freely and can validate my information. GW: You said the reason given by the World Trade Center or
Port Authority for the power down was that cabling in the tower was being upgraded.
Do you know what parts of the building or how extensive the area would have
been for upgrading cabling? In other words, would the area being worked on have
been near the outer walls of the tower? Near the core? In the middle? SF: I have no knowledge about this and can't comment ... GW: You also stated that, without power, there were no security
cameras. How do you know that? Could there have been backup generators which
powered the security cameras? SF: Within my company security cameras were monitored and
videos retained for reference. They were powered from the usual power supplies
so they would ave been out of action like all other electrical appliances. GW: You also stated that, without power, there were security
locks on doors. Are you just referring to outside doors, or also office doors?
Were the locks electrical or key? If electrical, were they battery-operated? SF: I was referring to the secure doors accessing my companies
floors (and other companies). I do not believe there were any battery operated
doors. GW: You also stated there were many, many 'engineers' coming
in and out of the tower. Did you see any of these folks yourself? SF: Yes. By “engineers” I mean there were workmen
on site, in overalls. GW: Did these folks look "middle eastern"? SF: No, not particularly, I mean I don't recall registering
that the GW: Did you recognize any of them from previous "work"
in the tower? SF: No. THE MORNING OF 9/11 GW: You were home on the shore of Jersey City on the morning
of 9/11, and -- according to what you have said previously -- you were "convinced
immediately that something was happening related to the weekend work".
Why did you think that? SF: When the South Tower collapsed, like a pillar of sand,
it seemed unreal and inconceivable and I immediately thought something weird
was going on. I became more suspicious several months later when the power down
condition was never acknowledged and in some instances was denied by authorities. THE 9/11 COMMISSION GW: Finally, you've stated that you gave your information
to the 9/11 Commission, but it took no interest. How did you get the info to
the Commission (phone, email, letter?) SF: I contacted the commission through their website and by
mail. But I was never acknowledged nor contacted. GW: Did the Commission ever follow up with you? SF: No GW: Anything else you wish to tell us? SF: I have another piece of interesting information ... after
9/11 my company, along with others, was in disaster recovery mode at a location
in New Jersey. At that site were literally hundreds and hundreds of eye witnesses
to the events of 9/11. As a British National I was contacted by Scotland Yard
in London to interview me on the events ... but I've often wondered why us authorities,
like the New York police or FBI, did not interview all those witnesses available
altogether in New Jersey. It seems like incompetence to me at best ... negligence
at worst. Postscript: Scott did not wish to speak with me concerning
reports of explosions above the impact zone in the tower, perhaps because of
privacy concerns for the family members of those who died in the tower. Scott
told me that he was recently interviewed for a Dutch TV Documentary. So stay
tuned: 2 videos of Scott should be coming out soon. |