dimanche 3 octobre 2010

Buildup

Today the U.S. government has advised its citizens to avoid airports, train stations and underground transportation when traveling abroad because of terrorist threats.  It says U.S. interests and citizens are at severe risk of being attacked.
It sounds as if the terrorists are winning the war of nerves…unless said government is cleverly playing on fear to build up the case against Iran.   Iran, the rogue state developing nuclear power, maybe for weapons production, advocating the destruction of Israel and supporting terrorism in neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan and, why not, elsewhere,  is a danger to world peace.
The military/industrial complex has been rattling sabres for a few years over Iran.  Cranking up fears through innuendos and travel advices would be a nice way to prepare the world to a pre-emptive strike à la W.M.D in Iraq.  Sinister echoes seem to reverberate here.

11 commentaires:

  1. If we wish to know why we are constantly being inundated with messages of fear from our governments, we should always "follow the money", as this article from *the Guardian (UK)* explains.

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  2. So sad. Quelle domage. Fear is being used to keep people "in place," and following the government's dictates. Fear also diminishes trust, sadly.

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  3. @Philippe: Most interesting article that of the Guardian. I so agree with it.
    @Rob-bear: yes and we buy into that manipulation. As for trust in our governmemnts it has never been lower and our cynicism higher.

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  4. Fear, this old trick to keep the people obedient. I saw last night an Italian movie, 'Magnificat', by the Italian dorector Pupi Avati which described the life of the people in Italy before the year 1000 CE. Terrors (and horrors) everywhere, and the clergy and the nobility profiting from it.

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  5. Of course, MoR, fear is the oldest weapon around. Sorcerers and shamans used it profusely and our own religious upbringing was all about fearing God.
    Humankind is a very slow learner.

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  6. Just doesn't matter what they say. I'm going anyway: airports, train stations, underground transportation. Bring it.

    To borrow some famous words spoken to Abraham: Lech lecha!

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  7. Way tom go Jenny. Although my Hebrew or Yiddish or Russian are non-existing, I think I get the drift; que sera sera!.

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  8. If it reassures anyone about human nature, I see very few signs here in the US that anyone is taking this greatly to heart. The general sentiment seems to be "What have you told us that we don't know already?"

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/AR2010100403090.html

    I think we were already starting to get jaded about terror when former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told us all to buy plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal our windows if the terrorists used poison gas. My overzealous ex-cop ex-boyfriend of the time insisted on buying me both things. The duct tape sealed some wasps out of my attic and the plastic I used to keep my Bengal cat from messing the bed when her tummy was upset. Our fearless leaders...

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  9. At least the material was of some use.
    Our "fearlsess leaders" are somewhat hard to follow but keeping the herd uncomfortable makes it more pliable. They only forgot about the boy yelling WOLF!

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  10. As an American citizen, I am deeply outraged at the extent to which the American government is willing to subvert our democracy by lying to its citizens (to say nothing of the many other evils it undertakes). If it happens that I refuse to vote for Obama again, it will largely, but not exclusively, be because of his contempt for the people.

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  11. All governments everywhere have been lying to their citizens for the last 45 years in the name of security and to maintain order. A frightened citizenry, unless profoundly unhappy, does not revolt.

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