Fear and Smear

An article at The Nation by William Greider.

An evil symbiosis does exist between Muslim terrorists and American politicians, but it is not the one Republicans describe. The jihadists need George W. Bush to sustain their cause. His bloody crusade in the Middle East bolsters their accusation that America is out to destroy Islam. The president has unwittingly made himself the lead recruiter of willing young martyrs.

More to the point, it is equally true that Bush desperately needs the terrorists. They are his last frail hope for political survival. They divert public attention, at least momentarily, from his disastrous war in Iraq and his shameful abuses of the Constitution. The "news" of terror--whether real or fantasized--reduces American politics to its most primitive impulses, the realm of fear-and-smear where George Bush is at his best.

So, once again in the run-up to a national election, we are visited with alarming news. A monstrous plot, red alert, high drama playing on all channels and extreme measures taken to tighten security. (all at link above)

Interesting how the latest terror plot affords our VP a chance to come out from hiding,to make outrages statements about the so-called "war on terror" and things political. Senator Edward Kennedy wrote an interesting article about this called, "Demeaning Democracy."

"The comments he, [Cheney], made on the result of the Connecticut Democratic primary - that it might encourage "the al-Qaida types" who want to "break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task" - are an attack not just on Democrats, but on democracy itself."

Will there be enough people in the US who see through this kind of fear and smear and vote accordingly? When will there be a movement to change this destructive political practice? Here's hoping, soon.

me in the EE