Want to learn how to create and sustain a national psychosis? Look no further than the Department of Homeland Security.
While I've not done a scientific review of terror alerts since September 11, I do know that that the phrase "while there is no credible or specific evidence..." (or some variation thereof) is repeatedly used when discussing the potential for terrorist attacks, as shown below. Government warnings that terrorists might use "offensive scuba divers", "floating Styrofoam picnic coolers", "rental cars", "helicopters" and (perhaps one day) even "halitosis" to attack America nearly always contain such wording. Why? Such unspecific language is all that's needed to generate fear, uncertainty, and reignite public concern/interest/support in the so-called "War" on Terrorism while simultaneously allowing government officials to "cover themselves" in the court of public opinion in the remote event such a tactic actually is used during a future terror attack against us. It's also convenient that alerts worded as such don't need to be based on any sound, confirmed, accurate intelligence information in order to generate hysterical media coverage and be effective from an [unspoken] political advantage, let alone the aforementioned "cover-thyself" one. The mere fact it's being announced by the government lends a perceived importance and urgency to the message, even if it's based on three-year-old intelligence information. Consider that Israel, Ireland, the UK, and other nations having dealt with terrorism for decades don't have a Rainbow-Brite National Threat Advisory System nor do they inundate their citizens with vague, goofy, and suspiciously-timed warnings about possible-but-unsubstantiated (read "new and exciting") terror attack methods and targets. The continual public relations scramble by the US government to warn against any and every possible method of terrorist attack indicates that it still does not fully understand the nature of terrorism or unconventional warfare and perhaps is allowing political interests to influence, directly or indirectly, the objective work of protecting this country. The very nature of terrorism is such that no matter what level of effort you devote to the matter, it is NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to prevent (or "eliminate") it -- and running around to place parts of the country on "code orange" while telling other parts to "remain calm" is, in my mind, the wrong approach to protecting the homeland. This response only costs time, money, stress, and gives the terrorists (not to mention other nations) a good laugh as they watch Americans scramble back-and-forth to meet or tolerate the requirements and burdens of our ever-changing color code alert levels. As 'Sir Humphrey Appleby' once said, politicians like to panic -- they need activity. After all, it's their substitute for achievement. Some achievement. -rick Infowarrior.org (1) FDA Warns of Terrorist Drug Tampering New York Times August 12, 2004 < snip > ``Cues from chatter'' gathered around the world are raising concerns that terrorists might try to attack the domestic food and drug supply, particularly illegally imported prescription drugs, acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester M. Crawford says. ``While we must assume that such a threat exists generally, we have no specific information now about any al-Qaida threats to our food or drug supply,'' said Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department. (RICK: This is a politically-timely "terror alert" given the raging debate about the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. Despite a few instances of drug tampering over the years by domestic groups within the United States, publicizing spooky and gloomy "clues from chatter" at this present moment might this be an unspoken attempt to strengthen the government's drug-safety argument in this very hot topic this election year? Conspiracy theories abound.) < snip > (2) Capitol Police Chief Sees No Specific Threat to Hill Washington Post August 10, 2004 "Although there is no credible, specific evidence supporting the use of helicopters in aerial attacks within the United States, the threat cannot be discounted," the FBI said in one of the bulletins. -- You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
