Mr. Hauer didn't say what writing his friends had sent him, but I'm not surprised to learn he's a fan of this cold blog.
I have mentioned Mr. Hauer several times, primarily because of his television appearance on September 11, 2001, in which he told Dan Rather and Rather's audience that the twin towers of the World Trade Center had "collapsed" due to the impact of the planes that had hit them, and the "intense heat" of the resulting fires.
In the same segment, Hauer also told Rather that the attacks bore the "fingerprints of somebody like [Osama] bin Laden."
To me, the fact that Jerome Hauer was spreading both main parts of a clearly false story, that early and with that much confidence, indicates that his role in the events of the day was to help get the big lie in first.
I can't say for sure what prompted Mr. Hauer to write to me; I can say that in addition to referring to my writing as "nonsense", Mr. Hauer suggested that I "must have inherited a gene for creativity and one for stupidity." I already knew he had a good sense of humor, but in my opinion he's missed the point.
So I've replied to Jerome Hauer, as follows:
You may be quite correct about my genes for creativity and stupidity. But I also have genes for truth and justice.I was serious about that. If I'm wrong about Jerome Hauer, I will have no problem saying so.
If you can convince me that I'm wrong about you, I'll publish a retraction and an apology.
I can't say I'd do it gladly, but I'd much rather get the story right than pretend to be infallible.
So ... What do you mean "nonsense"? Specifically:
[1] Did you talk to Dan Rather on 9/11/2001?
[2] Did you tell him the towers "collapsed" because of the "intense heat" of the fires and the impact of the airplanes?
[3] Did you tell him the attack bore the "fingerprints of somebody like bin Laden"?
[4] And if so, how could you have know[n] these things at the time, when they still haven't been proven to this day?
I look forward to your response since I think it might help me to understand what actually happened.
The ball's in his court. I'll keep you posted.