Suggesting that Americans prepare disaster kits, ordering airports to conduct random vehicle searches for bombs, the U.S. government conjures up fear instead of a sense of security for its citizens. By disseminating widespread panic attacks the Bush administration has strategically placed itself to be looked upon for guidance.
About two weeks ago, the government raised the terrorist alert level from yellow to orange, which meant that government intelligence suspected high levels of terrorist activity. What specific terrorist activity they were referring to remains unknown. However, what is clear, is that the government has been very vague and selective about the information it decides to share with the public.
Fearful of chemical and biological warfare, people are rushing to their local Home Depot to stock up on plastic sheeting and duct tape. Warning Americans of suspicious terrorist attacks only leaves us with a minimal sense of security. Such unjustified warnings create a Big Brother mentality where the only person we can trust to watch over all of us turns out to be our fearless leader, George W. Bush.
After Americans had been in a panic for about a week, homeland security secretary Tom Ridge announced the orange high-level terrorist alert was intended for law enforcement rather than the average citizen. It was supposed to signal security personnel to be more alert, which Ridge said he believed could act as a deterrent to terrorists.
For whatever reason, the alert was broadcast to the general public. Government officials have strategically censored public warnings of the nation’s impending danger in an administrative effort to round up public support for Bush. Since the Bush administration has met resistance from key NATO allies, it seems desperate to rally Americans against Iraq.
Tensions between the United States and Iraq are escalating daily. What better way to prepare the nation for war than to constantly remind us that we are vulnerable to attack?
