GWB's* FEAR Factory

Fear Factory
The Bush administration's dangerous manufacturing of post-9-11 dread
By Jim McDermott
Web Exclusive: 7.1.03


Long before I was elected to Congress, I served as a U.S. Navy Medical Corps psychiatrist at the Long Beach Naval Station, home of the 7th Fleet. I treated the walking wounded of the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970. Our brave troops, who endured lies from our leaders in addition to the usual horrors of war, suffered from fear, anger, sleep disorders and depression, among other things. These symptoms came to be known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

On September 11, Americans suffered a horrible trauma, and we still suffer from the psychological fallout of the terrorist attacks. The administration's calculated campaign to raise and maintain fear and anxiety in America has been an effective tool in prolonging the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by 9-11. As the Bush administration builds its military presence in the Middle East, it is upping the psychological ante here at home.

The deputies of the Bush Terror Posse -- Donald Rumsfeld, Tom Ridge and John Ashcroft -- are conducting a deliberate campaign to frighten us. One facet of the campaign has, over the last 18 months, persuaded large portions of the population to rush to the stores for water, food, plastic sheeting and, of course, duct tape. The threats of impending danger are on record for the future, the administration seems to be saying. When something happens, you won't be able to say we didn't warn you.

This is just the latest and most egregious step in a fear campaign designed to prepare Americans to do whatever the administration wants us to do.

Here's how it works: Throw a hundred claims against the wall and poll every night to see what sticks. Leak stories that are later discredited. Get a graduate student's dissertation and plagiarize it. Lift paragraphs from a war-industry magazine. Every so often, raise the danger level to code "yellow" or "orange." Give the people a rest. Then start all over again. Mix it all up and put an official seal on it. Now it seems true, despite the skepticism of intelligence professionals. - http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2003/07/mcdermott-j-07-01.html

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- McDermott's article becomes relevant as we see more and more FEAR INSPIRED stories coming from the Bush* WH and transcribed by the mainstream media. Missiles. Nuclear terrorism. Terrorists under your bed. The transparently corrupt Bush* admin. can stay in power ONLY as long as the facade is kept in place.

...this editorial is...nothing I can say can add to it, it's just...right...

.......and this administration does it well. "Your either your with us or against us."

Truth speaks for itself.

the fear itself is not as bad as those that would manipulate the fear.

he would rally us by the WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR,BUT FEAR ITSELF.
fuck the nambypamby aWol.

The republican "re"-election strategy seems to be that fear trumps economy. Bush believes that if he can keep the level of fear high enough, voters will give him a pass on the economy.