Terrorism inflicts the most damage for the fewest bucks. Besides the carnage, the danger of terrorism is its psychological impact. One terrorist attack can go a very long way. Bush has failed miserably in defending us against the psychological warfare of terrorism despite having spent billions and going unchecked by the mainstream media until recently.
To defend us, Bush and the government would have had to help educate the public about propaganda and mass manipulation, and how people can think for themselves. Instead, the Bushites chose to propagandize and manipulate with abandon. Somehow I don’t see Dick Cheney and Fox News doing a special on critical thinking skills.
Witness the 9/11 attacks. As horrible and brutal as they were, the onslaught could have been far worse. In fact, there could have been hundreds if not thousands of terrorist attacks since 9/11. None of them might have been as spectacular as 9/11. But given the panic that gripped the nation for a few weeks, imagine the terror if there had been an ongoing barrage of anthrax letters.
All around are opportunities for sabotage and terror. I shudder even to think of how even one person so simply could paralyze major portions of vital infrastructure. Let me not count the ways of how easy it would be to take lives, cost tens of millions and inflict serious psychological damage.
All of which Osama and al-Qaeda could have been routinely doing inside America. At least part of the reason Osama hasn’t struck us again is because he hasn’t needed to. Osama doesn’t need to destroy us when we can do it all by ourselves. Hell, Osama bin Laden has had it so sweet that Bush has been doing al-Qaeda’s bidding:
American military out of the holy land? Mission accomplished. On the day Bushie boy landed on the aircraft carrier, Donnie Rumsfeld quietly announced that America would completely withdraw from Saudi Arabia.
America divided? Surely Osama gives thanks many times a day to Allah for this prayer being answered in such abundance. No doubt Osama prays for the Bushites to stay the course.
America scorned? Wonders of wonders, the Bushites took nearly universal worldwide support for America after 9/11 and caused people to see America as a threat to rival terrorism.
Americans killed? Just say Iraq.
Americans mired in endless carnage? Say Iraq again.
American military spread too thin? Add Iran to the chorus.
Western liberalism attacked? Praise the Lord for the Bushites.
American freedom curtailed? Amen for Gonzales.
Holy War? Bushites agree to the terms of conflict. Winner takes all for God.
Ruin America’s economy? When all costs are added in, the war in Iraq will cost at least a couple trillion. At least Halliburton stockholders can profit. After all, isn’t the only legitimate corporate concern is to make money for the stockholders.
Treat bin Laden like a head of state instead of the head of a criminal gang of thugs? Only long enough to start a war and then claim that bin Laden doesn’t matter anymore.
Recruit terrorists? Bush might not be able to get Americans to volunteer to fight terrorists but he can sure inspire terrorists to volunteer to kill us.
Keep the course, W.? Osama says pretty please with an oil barrel on top.
