AFTER 9/11: Fear Destroys what Osama could not

[NVMojo]

One wonders if Osama bin Laden didn't win after all. He ruined the America that existed on 9/11. But he had help.

If, back in 2001, anyone had told me that four years after bin Laden's attack our president would admit that he broke U.S. law against domestic spying and ignored the Constitution -- and then expect the American people to congratulate him for it -- I would have presumed the girders of our very Republic had crumbled.

Had anyone said our president would invade a country and kill 30,000 of its people claiming a threat that never, in fact, existed, then admit he would have invaded even if he had known there was no threat -- and expect America to be pleased by this -- I would have thought our nation's sensibilities and honor had been eviscerated.

If I had been informed that our nation's leaders would embrace torture as a legitimate tool of warfare, hold prisoners for years without charges and operate secret prisons overseas -- and call such procedures necessary for the nation's security -- I would have laughed at the folly of protecting human rights by destroying them.

more...

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/13487511.htm

[WLKjr]

1. It couldn't have been said better

I really think it's why Osama hasn't attaked again. He doesn't have to. We are rotting from the inside, and it's because of W and the GOP.

[PDittie]

2. The true use of terror as a weapon

Fear instilled in a shallow mind.

*, and most Republicans and the Republican-thinking were terrified after 9/11. (Cheney, of course, just saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for generational wealth.) That's why they are so fixated on it, that's why they repeat "9/11 changed everything", and that's how this mantra provides the cover for falsifying intelligence to invade a nation unprovoked and seize its petroleum reserves, spy on its own citizens, manipulate the corporate media to catapult the propoganda and all the rest.

A low-level -- let's call it 'elevated', and color it orange -- current of fear, constantly engaged. Like an electrified wire keeping the animals enclosed in an unfenced yard, or a running-in-the-background program on your computer. Barely noticeable.

Fear and greed, of course, are the two most powerful motivations for action. Usually irrational action. But when you put them together you have a recipe for disaster: blend on frappe' setting *'s terror and Cheney's avarice, add a heaping tablespoon of Rove Enhancer, drop in a few leftovers like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, and voila! Super Grape Mind Control Kool-Aid. Have a big swig; it's absolutely delicious.

The poor sheople living in Middle Red America -- relying on their weekly newspaper, Fox News, and the Bible to keep them informed -- got swindled by the Flim Flam Men. No tall buildings or even airports within hundreds of miles of them, and yet they've been permanently imprinted to be scared shitless of swarthy men. Well, 'permanently' might be a little harsh; quite a few of the poor beasts have since come up from the ether to realize they have been had, but their numbers still don't seem to be quite enough to kick all the lying bastards out of office.

Gotta keep shaking them, waking them up.

[liberal N proud]

3. Exactly!

The bu$h regime is far more guilty of attacking America than Osama because they exploited the Fear in Americans to push their agenda and grab power, stealing the peoples liberties in the process.
The American people who supported and still support the dumb ass in the oval office are equally guilty for so easily allowing their civil liberties to be taken from them.

Recommended!

[izzie]

4. I go along with this guy. Sure did not take Osama long to win

He seems to be gone but what he wants has lived on in many ways. We seem to be putting the lid on many of the things that he really does not like about us. He needs to make no more tapes, we put Iraq on the news daily for him to use. Now So. Am. is starting to rebel and we are seeing blow-back from them. I think it is time we had some new thinking in DC. Large corp. with their govt. military behind them to keep them in power in these countries seems to be on the way out.:think:

[ixion]

5. Thanks, Mr. Steinback

for stating so eloquently and succinctly what needs to be said.


As one who has been nothing short of incredulous about the behavior of our supposed liberty-lovin' peers, I'm glad this is out there. It should be the topic of conversation at every dinner table.

[personman]

6. They did win.

If you buy *'s statement "They hate us for our freedom.", then they won.
We are less free as a nation as a result of 9/11. Let's just remember which side Bush was on in this. Bin Laden couldn't have done it without Bush and vice-versa.

-personman

[TallahasseeGrannie]

7. And that's why they call it terrorism

and I guess it works.

But I think this country has gotten over its initial shock and is beginning to grow up.

[OneBlueSky]

8. just replace "Osama" with "BushCo," and the article's right on . . . n/t

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