Terrorist Threat Warning and Embassy Closings — a Little too Convenient — the Price of Impenetrable Government Secrecy Is that It Makes Cynics and Slaves of Us

© 2013 Peter Free

 

05 August 2013

 

 

The Obama Administration decided to give terrorists a minor victory — so that it could continue to justify its ridiculously proliferating and anti-democratic national security infrastructure

 

From Bloomberg Businessweek:

 

 

At least 19 U.S. embassies and consulates in predominantly Muslim countries will remain closed through the week as the State Department stays on guard for potential terrorist attacks.

 

Yesterday’s initial one-day closing of 22 U.S. outposts followed the State Department’s issuance of a worldwide travel alert warning of planned attacks in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia by al-Qaeda or its affiliates. The decision to extend the selective shutdown through Aug. 10 “is not an indication of a new threat stream,” Jen Psaki, a department spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

 

© 2013 Michelle Jamrisko and Nicole Gaouette, Terror Threat Extends U.S. Embassy Closures Through Aug. 10, Bloomberg Businessweek (05 August 2013)

 

 

What America loses

 

Closing embassies, because one is afraid, sends a signal of weakness and lack of resolve.  Al-Qaeda must be delighted.

 

 

What the Administration gains

 

By reinforcing the public’s fear, the Administration gains continued justification for its impenetrably secret Fourth Amendment-trashing.

 

What better way to counter Bradley Manning/WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden — all three of whom revealed details about the American police state — than to demonstrate that American survival continues to be the sole issue of any importance.

 

 

The moral? — Big Brother-like  psychological manipulation in action

 

Making people continually afraid boosts support for the plutocratic power-wielders that run the country.

 

I do not think this is what Patrick Henry’s — “Give me liberty or give me death” — meant.