THE POLITICS OF FEAR

by

JOHN ROBERTS (2003)

An Internet friend has suggested that I might write an essay on the subject of the “Use of Fear, as a tool by ruling politicians”. Well, it had occurred to me that, particularly in recent months and since the Sep ll, 2001 incident, that “fear inducement” as a means of disciplining populations, has become increasingly fashionable.

In the USA, the controlling establishment has been quick to take advantage of the shock and alarm, induced by the most calamitous internal event since the tragedy of the Civil War of the l860’s. President Bush’s initial response was to “Declare War on Terror!” Not the type of terror served up so consistently by the US War Department or Secret Services, in sundry assaults upon those victims of its aggressive tactics over a period of fifty or so years, but the terror created in the minds of innocent civilians by the use of cowardly and unforeseen attacks: Aircraft hijacking, bomb plantings, suicide attacks by “Terrorist” groups and so on.

There are thus, at least two kinds of “Terror” for the purpose of this discussion:

1. State conducted terror.

2. “Terrorist” induced terror.

The first type of terror is, of course, perfectly legitimate and may be administered wherever Armies, Navies or Air-Forces choose to carry out their perfectly “lawful” exercises. The second type of terror is to be utterly deprecated and will not be tolerated in this modern world. That the two types of terror produce precisely similar effects, is irrelevant to our present discussion. It is the induction of “Fear” that is our main subject for discussion.

Terror undoubtedly induces fear and fear gives rise to a certain response in everyone. We wish to avoid the object of fear-inducement and take whatever steps are available to us to do so. During Wars, soldiers dig trenches as deeply as they possibly can, whilst civilians also provide air-raid shelters for themselves. The enemy in this instance is known and his preparations can be anticipated. Random attacks and unforeseen terrorist raids, give rise to uncertainty and alarm and induce panic and hysteria in civilian populations. The underlying cause of this activity is not appreciated, even if there is a valid reason for the terrorist activity. Civilian populations are vulnerable and little can be done to protect large centres of population from such attacks. Even the United States is seen to be, at risk, either from internal dissent or from external enemies.

Following the Sept ll incidents, within the USA, the Bush administration initiated draconian security measures to reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of further attacks. It declared its “War against Terrorism!” “Terrorists” the world-over are now formally enemies of the United States and its allies. The fear induced by this lunatic and utterly futile activity shook the world, not only the USA, and generated a thorough review of the Security Agencies within the United States and its allies.

President Bush was quick to exploit this overpowering fear within the US community. He has had no difficulty in pushing measures through Congress, having the effect of creating a totalitarian society, in which civil liberties are a thing of the past. Congress has even given its support to his proposed assault upon Iraq. He has been able to achieve this by exploiting prevailing levels of fear, without regard to the question of how effective they will prove or what damage will be caused to the rights and liberties of the ordinary citizen. As a result of this climate of “Fear”, those nations allied or associated with the USA have also been affected Great Britain is exposed to threats from Muslim extremists and, having a considerable Islamic population, might well be expected to suffer from various kinds of Terrorist activity. The use of poison gas in heavily populated areas or public places, has already been suggested as presenting a danger to the British man and woman in the street, who has no personal interest in creating enemies within the ranks of Arabs or any other Ethnic group.

Tony Blair, British PM, has been vocal in his anti-terrorist rhetoric and has introduced measures to protect the public from terrorist activities. There is little opposition to these steps, which limit or abolish long-standing civil liberties. Mr. Blair fails to acknowledge that his own, openly-expressed, opposition towards Islamic Terrorist groups, and his sustained involvement of the Armed Forces against Iraq, is calculated to create further resentment and even enmity within the ranks of British Muslims. Blair knows very well that his “sabre-rattling” will generate hatred within Great Britain between indigenous and migrant populations. When suspicion and mistrust become commingled with a fear of the foreigner, Blair will be able to more easily manipulate the majority of the population, who will fail to appreciate that they are being used by their political leaders.

Here in Australia, John Howard was quick to jump upon the bandwagon of George W. Bush, thereby aping the previous conduct of Harold Holt during the Vietnam War. He promised Bush, Australian support and this has been forthcoming in the provision of warships in the Persian Gulf and of a small number of troops during the assault upon Afghanistan. It has evidently never occurred to either John Howard, or his advisers, that Australia has no business sending troops or ships to support the USA, in its blatantly wicked activities in this region. Yet it has been going on for years!

It was natural that Howard would seek justification for his actions in the claim to be joining the fight against “world-terrorism”, meaning thereby, those Islamic militants who were fighting the United States, by waging a terrorist campaign against that Nation. His enthusiastic support and adoption of the policy of “Fear Inducement” in the minds of the Australian people really came to fruition, when it transpired that Muslim terrorists in Bali had bombed a Holiday Resort and in the process killed or injured a large number of Australian and British citizens. This disaster confirmed the Prime Minister’s worst fears. As a result, we have witnessed increasing Anti-terrorist activity and attempts to grant sweeping new powers to the Australian Security Organization. When it was suggested to Mr Howard that his unconditional support of George Bush, together with his anti-Islamic statements, was the catalyst leading to the Bali bombing, he was shocked. Yet, such a possibility should not be overlooked. Howard’s attempt to incite antipathy towards Islamic nations in the Near and Middle East was certain to produce a corresponding backlash from the Islamic peoples of Indonesia, Malaysia and, not impossibly, within Australia itself.

Since the Bali bombing, Government propaganda in Australia has increased considerably, the ordinary person being reminded daily, per Television advertisements, of the danger facing all Australians, from Terrorism. We are told to be on the look-out and to report suspicious characters. Security at Airports and Harbours throughout Australia is being tightened. Meanwhile War preparations continue. United States Naval vessels are in Australian waters: preparing to carry out joint manoeuvres. This is very reassuring to those of us who live in Australia, as we feel much more secure with the presence of the Yankee ships. Not, of course, that we are any the less liable to attack from internal terrorists, who must lurk in the vicinity of every Mosque in Australia. It is gratifying to be aware of the fact that our security organization is keeping a close eye on our Islamic citizenry.

Of course, Government by terror is nothing new. Politicians have always been “past-masters”, at inducing fear into the hearts and minds of the ordinary man in the street. The people of the USA have long been exposed to anti-Communist propaganda. The Soviet Bogeyman was hiding under every American bed for years. The Catholic Church controlled nations for Centuries by threat of damnation for heresy, or “falling out of line”. As this was accompanied by the certainty of an extremely painful demise, it always worked.

Here in Australia, at the last Federal Election, John Howard’s Party was returned to power by a last minute fraud upon the Electorate. News was circulated just prior to polling day, to the effect that illegal immigrants, presumably of Islamic origin, had thrown their children overboard from a sinking vessel, necessitating their rescue by Australian ships. This report (which was, evidently, false) created a voter backlash against the Opposition Parties, which had supported a more tolerant attitude towards “Boat People”. The “Liberal” Government of John Howard was accordingly returned to power. Who was responsible for this falsehood remains uncertain, although the blame has been placed upon one of the naval officers, involved in the incident, in question. Here we have an example of the manipulation of the minds of the electorate by the operation of fear, in order to induce a desired response.

Certainly, at the present moment, there are many of us who are affected by a real fear of the commencement of a War against the people of Iraq, in which Australia will be involved, even though our leaders and our thinking people know, very well, that it involves the working out of a personal vendetta between George Bush and Saddam Hussein. A further and, perhaps, more important factor, is the assertion and consolidation of the power of the United States in the world.

One thing is clear, that the Australian Government is increasingly manipulating the population of Australia, by exploiting the fear of possible terrorist activity within Australia itself. This, in order to justify its support for and involvement in the belligerent activity of the United States towards Afghanistan and, latterly, Iraq. For most of us living in Australia, such a possibility remains remote. We will rest content, until something occurs to confirm the forebodings of Government propagandists. We sincerely trust that no such incidents will take place in this country.

Most Australians have sufficient trust in our Islamic friends and fellow citizens of Australia, to know that they appreciate the benefits of life here in the antipodes. We live in an atmosphere of civil and religious freedom unparalleled in human history and which has prevailed here for many years. We cannot foresee our Islamic Brothers committing any offences against this Society, which will have the effect of confirming the opinions of John Howard or of consolidating his political power within Australia. This present Government will be a passing phenomenon: dismissed, we sincerely trust, at the next Federal Election. Hopefully, to be replaced by people whose sense of values embraces the concept of “live and let live”: folk who will not follow the slavish and simple-minded policies of the Howard Government.

One day, Australia will shed the shackles that presently bind it in thrall to the corrupt and decadent US Military-Economic Empire. Then Australians will be free to develop their own, truly Australian culture and way of life: not some utterly hypocritical, false and perverted, drug-crazed, “Follywood” image of the “Good Life”.

Finis

John Roberts.

Sydney. Australia.

13th January 2003.

mailto:robertsjno@gmail.com