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Interesting Background: "The Evil Scourge of Terrorism," by Chomsky

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Ufomammut Donating Member (576 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-27-06 09:22 AM
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Interesting Background: "The Evil Scourge of Terrorism," by Chomsky
"There is a standard device to whip the domestic population of any country into line in support of policies that they oppose: induce fear of some terrifying enemy, poised to destroy them. As discussed in chapter 5, "the evil scourge of terrorism" was a natural choice for this role in the early 1980s, as the US sought to concoct an enemy weak enough to be attacked with impunity but sufficiently threatening to mobilize the general population in support of the Reaganite expansion of state power at home and violence abroad. The threat waned when it became necessary to face the costs of these policies a few years later. The media rallied enthusiastically to the enterprise. ...there are many terrorist states in the world, but the United States is unusual in that it is officially committed to international terrorism, and on a scale that puts its rivals to shame." ~ Noam Chomsky, from his 1989 book, "Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies."

I realize many here may already be aware of this maneuver, but for those who aren't ...sure sounds familar, doesn't it?

"..the US sought to concoct an enemy weak enough to be attacked with impunity but sufficiently threatening to mobilize the general population in support of the Reaganite expansion of state power at home and violence abroad."
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Ufomammut Donating Member (576 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-27-06 09:28 AM
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1. Some linkies
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Ufomammut Donating Member (576 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-27-06 10:34 AM
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2. Kick
A bit surprised that there are no views on this.

??? Now, if I were certain that most of the people were well aware of this tactic, I'd understand. However...
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Ufomammut Donating Member (576 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-27-06 12:06 PM
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3. kick
Doesn't it make sense that since this strategy from the favored playbook didn't foment back then as it was likely hoped it would, that the propaganda effort would need be "stepped up" throughout the 90s, up to 9/11, in order to further the fascist's want of creating the perpetual-war "National Security State?"

As in, "okay, they're not buying the scare tactics in word only, so let's ante up to make sure we steer events in a benefitial way for the military industrial complex."
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