Excerpt: How Would a Patriot Act?

In an excerpt from his new book, Greenwald explores how fear-mongering became the most potent political tool in Bush's arsenal.


In one sense, it is difficult to understand how the Bush administration has been able to embrace such radical theories of executive power, and to engage in such recognizably un-American conduct -- first in the shadows and now quite openly -- without prompting a far more intense backlash from the country than we have seen

That is because the Bush administration has in its arsenal one very potent weapon -- and one weapon only -- which it has repeatedly used: fear. Ever since September 11, 2001, Americans have been bombarded with warnings, with color-coded "alerts," with talk of mushroom clouds and nefarious plots to blow up bridges and tall buildings, with villains assigned cartoon names such as "dirty bomber," "Dr. Germ," and so on

We have to invade and occupy Iraq because the terrorists will kill us all if we do not. We must allow the president to incarcerate American citizens without due process, employ torture as a state-sanctioned weapon, eavesdrop on our private conversations and even violate the law, because the terrorists are so evil and so dangerous that we cannot have any limits on the power of the president if we want him to protect us from the dangers in the world.

Here is Dick Cheney in early January 2006, proudly defending the administration's illegal eavesdropping program:

"As we get farther away from September 11th, some in Washington are yielding to the temptation to downplay the ongoing threat to our country, and to back away from the business at hand The enemy that struck on 9/11 is weakened and fractured, yet it is still lethal and trying to hit us again "

http://www.alternet.org/story/36070/

:kick: with a good discussion following article

Their catch-all phrase to excuse each and every one of their illegal, immoral activities.

Appearing soon at a theater near you, the new movie BIRD FLU is the spookiest ever! Be prepared for the horror and thrill as you put on a tin-foil-hat and SPECIAL 3-D GLASSES! BIRD FLU is coming! Be afraid, be VERY afraid!

Flu attacks a cruise ship...... oh my!!!!