Summary: Another day, another info op run against us. Thermite is bad; bigger budgets for HomeLand Security are good. It’s easy for them because we’re so fearful and gullible. When that changes America will change, and meaningful reform becomes possible. {1st of 2 posts today.}
Follow the narrative of fear
It started with a routine TSA bulletin, 16 December 2014: “Attn Intelligence Customer”, explaining that thermite (discovered 1893) is dangerous when exploded on airplanes. The first page was released by The Intercept, who says it was marked “secret”. Like the thousands of such memos produced daily by our vast public and private “security” machinery, this normally would have quickly been forgotten. It served its purpose, generating fodder to keep these legions of bureaucrats employed (a flood of more memos, interdepartmental memos, meetings, seminars, follow-up memos).
But an immediate threat arose that required re-purposing this memo. In response to a rising tide of criticism. Congress threatens to cut the Homeland Security budget. So they deploy their most powerful weapon: leaks to the press. So we read in The Intercept of 25 February: “Exclusive: TSA Issues Secret Warning on ‘Catastrophic’ Threat to Aviation“. Opening:
The Transportation Security Administration said it is unlikely to detect and unable to extinguish what an FBI report called “the greatest potential incendiary threat to aviation,” according to a classified document obtained by The Intercept. Yet despite that warning, sources said TSA is not adequately preparing to respond to the threat.
The next day Fox News, a loyal ally of the security services, repeats and amplifies with “TSA: incendiary device a ‘catastrophic’ threat to passenger planes“. Fox & Friends Weekend tells the story for the masses with picture: “TSA Warns of ‘Catastrophic’ New Threat to Aviation“!
And so Americans’ fears are boosted for another day.
What does this mean?
This is a terrifying warning! Only the most severe threat could prompt this. Such as what’s happening in Congress right now, as they go to DEFCON 2 over this threat to their budget.
How many scores of these warnings have we heard since 9/11? They justify the vast bureaucracy — civil servants, contractors, and the countless associated security departments in private industry that mirror and support them. But the cost is high, as their repeated cries of “WOLF” inevitably deaden our awareness of danger, and responsiveness to the eventual real warning.
Let’s take a step back and see what we have become; let’s see ourselves through the eyes of our forefathers. Pavlov’s dogs would be embarrassed to be trained as the American public has been conditioned since 9/11. Government officials ring a bell; we wet our pants. Perhaps someday we will laugh at these repeated exaggerated warnings. On that day we will have stepped back onto the path to self-respect and perhaps even to self-government.
You can take that first step. Every American can be a leader in these things.
Why did TSA leak to The Intercept …
…not Fox News? Because the entire news media is becoming like Fox News (the WaPo is an extreme example of evolution from Left to Right).
@FabiusMaximus01 Intercept’s writers for the story: Winter, a formerly Fox & NY Post and Weinberger, a former DoD contractor (now editor).
— U.S. Dept. of Fear (@FearDept) March 1, 2015
For More Information
See all posts about the rising tide of fear in America, making us even easier to rule. Also see the posts about information and disinformation.
