Terrorist threats or the politics of fear?

It is becoming increasingly apparent that government whipped up media hysteria about the alleged plot was prompted not by security concerns but rather by a politically motivated desire to divert attention from the present crisis of both the Bush and Blair Governments.

The worsening of the situation in Iraq, mounting domestic disapproval of the war, a deteriorating military situation in Afghanistan and the unfavourable outcome of Israel’s war in Lebanon causes one to consider that the latest terror alert may have been but a diversionary tactic that both governments intended would foster an atmosphere of fear and panic so the public was distracted from other events.

The war on terror, from an official point of view cannot be allowed to leave the headlines for too long lest the public begin to question just how “at risk” they actually are and whether in fact the threat is any greater than it ever was prior to September 11, 2001. Such a conclusion could lead to doubt regarding the justification and legality of US and British strategy in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The latest terrorist scare seems to follow what is now becoming an established pattern contrived when attention from world events is deemed necessary, or the support for current geo-strategic policy is desired. It must be acknowledged that there has been no further terrorist attack in the US since 9-11. As a consequence the Bush Administration and its coalition partners have to take the necessary measures to keep the threat of terrorism alive and firmly at the forefront of the nation’s collective consciousness. Declaring an imminent attack from terrorists keeps the threat “on the boil”.