Now, I'm not so cynical as to think the current administration would generate hysteria and fear to create political cover for its security lapses and dictatorial agenda, but there are those who think otherwise:

Britain's Guardian agreed, declaring, "By their words and actions, George Bush and senior US administration officials may be doing more to terrify American citizens than the al-Qaida terrorists they have vowed to destroy." The editorial concluded, "Too much of what Mr Bush and his officials say … looks politically-driven, partly by a belatedly rising tide of domestic criticism, partly by a rightwing agenda. Too much of what they do lacks perspective. When fear usurps reason and becomes the ruling principle of governance, terrorism wins."