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Terrorism Communism – McCarthyism or Reality
by kwang zi Wednesday, Oct 19 2005, 9:31am
international / social/political / opinion/analysis

Analysts and historians would recall the last time ’bogeyman’ hysteria gripped an unwary public; USA of the nineteen fifties and McCarthyism with the ‘red under the bed threat’ is now one of history's embarrassing moments. Joe McCarthy, puppet of ultra-right forces in the US, ruined numerous careers and lives – for nothing! The degree of 'threat’ attributed to the 'reds' proved to be wildly exaggerated, more a product of excited 'judgement' or shared delusion than accurate assessment. US intelligence agencies and ultra-right militarists fell victim to their own propaganda and the (dis)information warfare waged at the time.

In today’s world the past and present are colliding; the product of this warp could lead to a predictable unpleasant scenario. Today, the threat of ‘terrorism’ on our way of life has been vastly exaggerated by the same political forces that engendered McCarthyism; however, the difference today is that the generated mass hysteria is being utilised to manipulate entire societies rather than as a means of eliminating targeted individuals from positions of influence.

Most readers would be surprised to learn that no counter strategies were deployed against McCarthyism; the situation was extremely surreal and divorced from reality, a return to balanced judgement was inevitable, people just woke up and old Joe McCarthy was seen as a pathetic and dangerous alarmist. The principals behind McCarthy were known but not exposed for fear of reprisal. The infamous ‘chicken hawk’, cross-dresser, paranoid, pathological personality, J. Edgar Hoover, had compromising files on everyone. It was the Kennedy brothers who eventually initiated a direct assault on Hoover and other forces that controlled the US. Jack and Bobby Kennedy paid the ultimate price for their effort; but be in no doubt regarding the identity of the ultra-right-wing political executive behind both assassinations; history notwithstanding, it is the present we address.

Pathological personalties in positions of power are a common phenomenon in the US – a glance at the present Bush administration confirms that little has changed. The present hysteria surrounding all that has been designated ‘terrorist’ has exceeded even the extremist paranoia of McCarthyism. Without any further elaboration I would think it’s time to wake up and return to reality. A handful of murdering criminals does not constitute a threat to Western civilisation. When or if you wake up you will realise that someone has stolen your way of life – and it wasn’t a bunch of ‘bearded terrorists’.

Sweet dreams or unpleasant nightmares – your choice.