please don't be afraid

Yesterday, Michael Chertoff, the director of Homeland Security, told the nation that they should be scared out of their minds, because he has a "gut feeling" that Al-Qaeda will launch a terrorist attack within the United States sometime this summer, and a bunch of anonymous government sources are breathlessly leaking truly scary things to Mass Media.

Bull. Fucking. Shit. This is the same recycled crap that we've heard over and over again from this administration, and I'm really fed up with my government doing its best to terrify me and my fellow Americans.

As Radley Balko said in Reason:

By definition, the aim of "terrorism" is not to topple the U.S. government, or even to rack up a massive body count (though that seems to be a perk for them). The aim of terrorism is to cause terror. It's to scare us. Frighten us. Alter our way of life, and get our government to change its policies.

In this sense, the very people who are supposed to be protecting us from terrorists are playing right into the terrorists' hands. Despite the absence of any specific information, and despite the fact that his saying as much would do little if anything to actually thwart a pending attack, Chertoff still feels he has to go public with his "gut feeling" that something awful might happen this summer. And so the newspapers and Drudge and the blogs run with it. And now we get to go about our summer business with the foreboding cloud of a possible terror attack looming on the horizon.

This is pretty consistent with how the government has behaved since 9/11: vague warnings, a lack of specific information, and lots of hassle. We now go through an expensive, invasive, tedious, basically useless ritual every time we get on an airplane because the government feels like if we're hassled and frightened, we'll at least feel safer. When Britain broke up a half-assed attempt at an attack using liquid explosives, the government decided to add a complicated sorta'-ban on carrying gels and liquids onto flights, too. Never mind that the broken-up attack wouldn't have worked, or that it would be nearly impossible to bring down a plane with liquid explosives stored in a carry-on bag. And now, Chertoff casts a shadow over the summer based on rumbles in his gut.

Al-Qaeda doesn't actually have to kill people to cause terror, especially if we're doing their PR work for them.

This is part of a long-established pattern from this administration: when the public begins to see them for what they are, they scramble to issue a bunch of terrorist attack warnings, so we'll be afraid and give them whatever they want, so they can "protect" us. Perfect example: the stupid security theater in airports isn't about safety (certainly not the War On More Than Three Ounces Of Liquid), it is about keeping people afraid and under control.

What's going on right now? Ah, yes, Bush and Cheney have the highest disapproval ratings since Nixon, and Bush's approval among Americans is in freefall. The opposition to Bush's complete failure in Iraq is at an all-time high. The outrageous commutation of Scooter Libby's jail conviction -- well within federal guidelines -- because Bush thought it was "excessive" has infuriated Americans across the political spectrum. The Attorney General is quite clearly a liar, acting not to uphold the Constitution, but in fealty to Bush and Bush alone. Cheney brazenly claimed to be his own branch of government. The US Attorney Firing scandal shows no sign of going away, as Congress finally brings some investigation and oversight to a criminal administration which has acted as if the laws don't apply to it since the day the Supreme Court put them into power. Americans are waking up to all of this, and the reality is difficult to deny: Bush, Cheney, Rove, and everyone in their rotten administration are crooks.

So, in a transparent effort to distract us from the damage they've done to our country, all they have is fear. All they can do is terrify people into submission, and it's disgusting.

We're better than this. We're stronger than this. We're smarter than this.

So, please, don't be afraid this summer. Don't be part of Bush and Cheney's Culture of Fear. Don't let the terrorists win.

Comments

[davehog]

Time to go buy some stock in duct tape manufacturers and garbage bag companies.

[chuckgoolsbee]

Here is a fact to chew on: There has never been a successful hijacking of a commercial airliner since the second plane flew into the WTC on 9/11/01. Passengers and crew will never just sit back and hope for the best anymore. Every idiot who stands up in a plane and announces that he's taking over will be literally ripped to shreds by every man woman and child on board... using their plastic forks if necessary.

Therefore the security theatre is completely useless. They should disband the TSA and stop with the bullshit at airports. It is useless.

As for your other assertions, I'm right there with you Wil.

--chuck

[tesla89]

I agree with so much of what you say, Wil, and greatly enjoy your blog, but when you start talking politics, I have to part ways with you.
I think that we have all had quite enough of the color coded threat level nonsense.
I wish, however, that folks who see themselves as clear headed and rational when talking about terrorism (which, bear in mind, has killed over 3,000 Americans in the past decade), are so totally irrational and willing to be caught up in the hype about global warming and "catastrophic" climate change, which, as best we know, has killed no one and presents no real, present danger of doing so in our lifetimes. But by all means, lets drastically impact the world economy and alter the way of life which has made us the healthiest and wealthiest civilization in the history of the world.

So, to review:
Terrorists
- 3000+ on 9/11
- previous World trade Center bombing
- Anthrax in the mail
- 2 US embassies bombed
- London Subway bombings
- Attempted London car bombings last month
- Fort Dix attempt
- Shoe bomber attempt
- ongoing video threats from al-qaeda

Global Warming:
- nothing but supposition of something maybe happening in a few decades

I think there's too much hype on both subjects, but it just seems so blatantly hypocritical to accuse the current administration of fear mongering and then give a total pass to the elements of the previous administration (Al G.) when they are so blatantly doing that very thing.

While I agree that we cannot live in fear, at least there is evidence that terrorists really are after us in the here and now.

But my real point is that too many folks have been blinded by their emotions about the president to think clearly. Would you be expressing the same disdain for the warnings about possible terrorist attacks in our country if the London bombers had killed hundreds of people just a couple of weeks ago? Our guys are scared sh**less that they are going to be on watch when the next big thing happens and everyone s going to ask "why didn't you warn us?"

[sognatrice]

I couldn't have said it any better myself, Wil, so I won't even try. I'll just say "bravo!" from an American living in Italy who can't wrap her head around what the hell has happened to her country in the last several years.

[Savannahlayne24]

Wil,

Ok so aside from being a fan since like 1912 (ok maybe not that long as we are the same darn age) I am so with you on this blog. I have a blog on FoxLa.com and I just did a whole thing about Bush and how he went from being someone I thought was worthy of respect to the nut job he is now!

I am at a loss as to what to do these days because nothing seems good anymore. Our Country which I love dearly makes me question it everyday now. If it is not ridiculous over protection from Janet's breast it is complete disregard for laws and guidelines by the government. What are we turning into? It seems as though Americans are being scared into submission and our borders are flinging in the breeze while we sit scared in our houses afraid to make a stand and show our strength.

[DPoem]

Oh for crap's sake, Tesla, pull your head out of wherever you have it crammed and stop being such a senseless and uninformed apologist for this corrupt and incompetent administration.

Americans have gotten tired of the Boy Who Cried Wolf.

[Kate]

DON'T PANIC. I'll be okay as long as I have my towel.

tesla89 - being angry that our President and his staff have repeatedly broken the law and not faced justice does not make one "blinded by emotion". Indeed, it indicates someone who is quite observant with their eyes wide open.

Yes, there is evidence that terrorists are after us in the here and now, but I would much prefer specifics rather than "We have a hunch that some people might attack us...at some point... some where....so look out!!!!"

[Amber J]

The only thing we should fear this summer is of what is in room 1408.

[Andrew]

Question for Tesla89: How would warning us about terrorist attacks protect us against them?

Answer: It doesn't.

Second question: How would warning us about terrorist attacks assist our intelligence efforts to root out and eliminate these terrorist threats?

Answer: It wouldn't.

Third question: Given that, what other reasons could this administration have for repeated warnings about terrorism that have utterly failed to pan out?

Answer: Left as an exercise for the student.

[Hisham]

I saw a bunch of terrorists terrorize an American city the other day. Thankfully the Autobots were there to stop them.

[Tim]

Just another gallon of gas to toss on ol' Tesla's fire there, but I'm fairly certain many, many more people died from various reasons since 9/11 and there's no media hysteria or "gut feelings".

I have a "gut feeling" that a few thousand people will die in auto accidents over the summer. And it's a far, far more likely supposition than terrorism.

[Max]

I'm going to play devil's advocate:

Just as the government's vague warnings about attacks don't change the fact that they are doing some truly unforgivable things to our country... the fact that the government is doing unforgivable things doesn't change the fact that an attack might be attempted.

I'm not sure that came out right. Let me try again:

Look, let's be careful out there, okay? Don't do something stupid as a knee-jerk reaction against the government. Chertoff saying that he has a "gut feeling" isn't a good enough reason to barricade ourselves in our homes, but it's also not a reason to start dismantling metal detectors.

[Atomicat]

"...which, bear in mind, has killed over 3,000 Americans in the past decade."

Right. 3,000 on 9/11 and how many in the other ten years? With 35,000 gun deaths in the US every year, why is even a single penny being spent on anti-terrorism? Guess what, the terrorists lost. If the best they can do with SIX MONTHS of planning is to duct-tape some nails to some jerry-tins of gasoline and crash it into a building, set off firecrackers by fuel lines, or attack Fort Dix with handguns then yes, they've lost. Each of these incidents highlights what's really going on... a completely laughable threat being completely blown out of proportion.

Of course there was always 9/11... Don't look too close though or you'll see all the warnings that were received from foreign governments INCLUDING the warning given to the head CIA chief in Afghanistan in the summer of '01... from the head of the Taliban foreign ministry. Oh, missed that one did you?

Rule #1... follow the money. In this case, follow it all the way from the Saudis to the bushies.

Cui Bono?

[tesla89]

DPoem: I agree that there is an argument to be made on the incompetence side, though no more so than any other administration in history. Its the assumption of corruption that I have a real problem with. Trying to portray political actions as criminal is deceitful. Presidents should not be threatened with investigations and subpoenas for exercising their constitutional prerogatives. You know, like replacing US Attorneys or commuting sentences.

Kate: I fear that you missed my point. If you re-read, you'll see that I,too think there is too much covering of asses in the warnings we get, but that's human nature. Politicians don't want to be blamed for not warning you if something does happen, especially when we're already (God help us) in an election cycle.

Andrew: See above.

[Andrew]

Max, no one's pushing to undo reasonable precautions. Metal detectors are reasonable precautions. X-raying luggage is a reasonable precaution. Even profiling airplane passengers, I regret to say, is a reasonable precaution.

Banning all fluids is not reasonable. Banning cuticle scissors is not reasonable. Pulling otherwise inoffensive citizens out of line because they look like Arabs is not reasonable.

And Chertoff's gut warnings are not only unreasonable, they are actively unhelpful. They do NOTHING to prevent further terrorism; they may even impede legitimate investigations as scared people call in all kinds of spurious tips. What they do is attempt to use the fear of another 9/11 -- which, as Tim pointed out, was horrible but pales in comparison to the carnage we wreak on our freeways every year, and we consider that an acceptable risk -- to distract us from things that they don't want mentioned in the news. Politicians are well aware that sensationalism is sexy, and network news is all about the sexy. If the networks decide to run a 90-second story on Chertoff's gut rumbles, those 90 seconds have to come from somewhere. I'm pretty sure they won't be cutting into the latest celebrity faux pas.

[giantblah]

Anyone else find it funny that although we should be worried, the terror alert system wasn't elevated?

[DPoem]

Tesla: DPoem: I agree that there is an argument to be made on the incompetence side, though no more so than any other administration in history. Its the assumption of corruption that I have a real problem with. Trying to portray political actions as criminal is deceitful. Presidents should not be threatened with investigations and subpoenas for exercising their constitutional prerogatives. You know, like replacing US Attorneys or commuting sentences.

And this has WHAT to do with the latest "tummy rumblings" of that half-wit Chertoff?

The fact is, they are playing upon the fears of Americans so as to distract from the never-ending series of failures in the White House. You keep tossing out these non-sequiturs, Tesla, and they make you look blisteringly foolish.

Bush's incompetence has put the entire nation in danger, and the subsequent attempts to cover up his administration's failures by issuing these ridiculous and unfounded threats is what we are discussing here. We're not talking about global warming or the dismissal of the U.S. Attorneys. We're talking about Bush playing on the fears of everyday Americans who just want to live their lives in peace. Dig?

[Matthew J. Sanderson]

I don't usually play the part of the conspiracy theorist, but I wouldn't be surprised if something did happen, now that they've said something about it. Kind of like the kid who goes, "Hey guys, I know something, but I'm not going to tell you what. But listen to me, okay? It's important and stuff." He could be bluffing for the attention...

Bah, I don't know where I'm going with this. The government is more fucked up than it's ever been. This administration is a wounded animal and, to quote an MST3K film, "Wounded animal that large isn't good." I don't trust them, and you know what? I voted for Bush.

[Kate]

tesla89: I didn't miss the point...I was responding mainly to this sentence "But my real point is that too many folks have been blinded by their emotions about the president to think clearly." I know you had other points, but I choose to respond to that one.

[GeekPride]

Damn, I knew we should have invested that $13,000 on building a bomb shelter instead of buying that Prius. I'll tell you the Prius is very sweet (46 miles to the gallon -- average) but it is not going to stand up to any kind of a terrorist attack. In fact, what am I supposed to do? Not go outside? I can't stay inside -- bathtubs killed 332 people in 2003. Falls involving furniture took 838 precious lives. Falls on the same level that did not occur from slipping, tripping, or stumbling killed 597 people. I can't go out, I can't stay in the house, I'm afraid to even stay in bed. It doesn't matter, 3,004 people died from "Inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract." All these lives needlessly lost in 2003 because we insisted on keeping our Constitutional rights and not passing enough laws to restrict people from living so that they wouldn't die. (statistics source: http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm)

Did that sound sarcastic? I hope so, because the hardest part of living is having the courage to live. Mame said it best, "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." Unfortunately, your odds of dying are 1 in 1. Make the most of your life while you have it. And think before you do stupid shit. Ask yourself, "What will happen if I die doing this?" and the answer involves a Darwin award nomination, don't do it.

Oh, and as to global warming? It isn't decades away. It is now. Yes, it is possible that it is a cyclical thing that we have no control over, except for all of the things that we are doing to make it worse. Do we really want to make it worse? Again, don't do stupid shit.

Unreasonable, abstract, general fear of an unknown assailant attacking at an unknown time from now in an unknown place keeps us from thinking clearly. And worse, the threat of attacks that don't come make some people believe that the Government officials who made wild, outrageous statements about impending doom have somehow managed to avert the danger and protect us. It's like the old joke about the guy blowing a bugle and someone asks why he is doing it. He says that it keeps away the elephants. "See, it's working."

See, it's working. Blow the bugle, no terror attacks. Except for the terror attacks that have been elected in the last decade, we are doing just fine as a country.

Ben Franklin is my hero (in spite of Daylight Savings Time): "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

[Val]

I was arrested on the Fourth of July for fireworks. I was being a dumb kid playing with jumping-jacks in the street, and a cop saw this.

Part of my charges were "assaulting an officer with a lit explosive," which is a charge reserved for terrorists under the Patriot Act. I spent 24 hours in jail before it went in front of the DA who promptly threw it out, because they were completely trumped, bullshit up charges.

However, until I get that off my record, I can't travel, I can't buy a plane ticket home, and I'm right screwed if I ever get pulled over.

Yes, I shouldn't have been playing with fireworks inside city limits, but having that lead to anything related to "terrorism" on my formerly-pristine record is unbelievable and more than a little inconvenient. I'm a blond-haired, blue-eyed, All-American girl from rural Oklahoma who's moved to the big city but recently. I am related to the chief of police back home. I've never even had a cop give me a stern look, and now the mere fact that a cop over-reacted to make an example of me, even though the charges were dropped, I'm considered a potential enemy of the state.

Throwing that threat around is another way to keep people in line. It's also an effective one, because, I tell you what, I haven't left the line once since they released me.

[sarchix]

I flew home from Germany with my three kids (10, 7 and 20 months) and had an easier time dealing with the airport (and security) in Germany, even though England was having the bombings in their airports.

I don't understand why TSA had to go all "Stormtrooper" on those flying in the US. There were folk on my flight home that had to transfer to a domestic flight. They had to get off the plane, go though customs, claim their baggage (and repack if they had bought any liquids at the German duty free), then recheck their bags, go through TSA hell (sorry, the security check point) and then find their connecting flight's gate. How fracking ridiculous! I even have a friend that works for TSA and he says its a total joke!

We need to do something different because all TSA and their policies are doing is pissing off travelers.

[Marc Gunn, Bard]

What blows my mind is that the Bush Administration continues to TRY to scare us even though most intelligent people realize that the arse has been lying to us since day one.

[GeekessDaisy]

Although I 100% believe you Wil, and trust that it was a joke for them to do this, how bad are we all going to feel 'if' it acutally happens.

Me as a Canadian I'm no scared today then I was 10 years ago. (not sure if it's because we weren't attacked or because we don't have Bush running our country)

[savage]

You're right... terrorists want to scare us. But I don't know anything scarier than our government not acting after the terrorist attacks. Would you have been happy had security remained the same?

Listen, I won't claim to know much about politics, and I don't know whether or not this statement is some sort of political tactic. But I do think that every now and then America needs a reminder of what we're up against. I hear complaining so much, and I just don't understand. These people want to kill us, but folks will still complain about "outrageous airport security." I think America needs a good kick in the pants, and I'd rather it be a warning from our government than a mass killing by a terrorist.

---

Marc Gunn, Bard? Brobdingnagian Bard? Oh, wow. I think you guys are great. Sorry, I just... I had to say that.