It's time to start examining the reasons behind the terror threats that sporadically befall our country. Even with bigwig Republicans questioning some of Bush's fiscal requests, the threat of terrorist attacks has suddenly cast its vague shadow over the United States. Although, yet again, no specific information was given on how the country might be in danger, the president and his top officials did offer a solution to Congress.
America's best defense: approve Bush's military and anti-terror budget.
That's it, America. No explanation of what preventative measures the government is taking or how it plans to protect the country. If Congress would just stop scrutinizing Bush's budget, the invisible threat will be contained. At least, until he needs something else.
Bush's fear-causing tactics are nothing short of attempts to mislead the American people and bully Congress.
On Wednesday, in a parade-like fashion, Bush rolled out the big guns before Congress: Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, FBI Director Robert Mueller, CIA Director Porter Goss and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Each provided testimony about impending threats, using international issues to create an illusion of a world seething with terrorists that could strike at any moment.
Mueller's portion consisted of warning about "sleeper operatives" waiting dormant for years, only to attack when their terrorist superiors drop the order. In remarks to senators, Mueller said FBI officials are "concerned about what (they) are not seeing." America is, too, Rob.
Meanwhile, Goss cited the possibility of al-Qaida and associated organizations ganging up to threaten the United States with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons - basically, whatever they can find.
Other foreboding issues listed include North Korea, Iran and Rice's mention of the car bombing in Lebanon that tainted U.S. relations with Syria.
Just look at the language that blankets the propaganda spun by Bush's people: "possible" new strikes, "predict" attacks, "matter of time," "potential" pool of contacts, "could" happen. The United States' top-ranking officials sound like a troupe of fortune tellers who are afraid to let on they know nothing.
Not only were these messages masked with probable language, but the solution to the problem lacks logic. If Bush expects America to believe there is a legitimate threat, why would his first response be to request Congress approve his budget? Why isn't he concerned for the American people and what he should be doing immediately to curb these threats? He is screaming wolf with an obvious political agenda.
Bush seems to be applying something he learned during the election - creating terrorist attack scares makes people huddle around him for leadership. He figured out that not only are terrorist attack scares good for boosting ratings, but you can try to use them to control the government, too - genius!
By this standard, the next time terrorists are rallying to attack will be right around the time Congress votes to renew the USA Patriot Act.
