Bumper Sticker War, Part Two

The car bombs discovered by London authorities provided more evidence of how several of the Republican candidates for president, particularly Rudy Giuliani, are using threat of terrorism as a campaign devise, or as John Edwards suggests, as a campaign bumper sticker. After the extremely unsophisticated car bombs were accidentally discovered and effectively disarmed Giuliani said: "This is an object lesson, We have to be on offense in the terrorist war against us…" He mentioned how this event reminded him of being in London of 7/7/2005, when terrorist bombed the London subway and he seldom misses an opportunity to remind us that he was in New York on 9/11.

Giuliani said that the fact that the car bombs were discovered and disarmed shows that the Brits are "on the offensive against terrorism." Of course, that is a totally inaccurate characterization since the car bombs were discovered due to the ineptness of the terrorist who planted them and through no intelligence or effort on the part of British anti-terrorism forces.

Giuliani also mentioned that if we were president he would "look into" the possibility of surveillance cameras in American cities to help us apprehend terrorists after they attack us.

My point here is that Giuliani, and many of the other Republican candidates, never miss an opportunity to frighten us into voting for them, by suggesting the world is a much more dangerous place than it actually is.

It is the same argument that President Bush has used throughout his term to justify starting two wars and more and more limitation on American civil liberties. Giuliani has taken a page from the Bush playbook. Scare them to death and they will vote for you.

Now before anyone misunderstands me, let me say that I do understand that terrorism is a real threat and we would be foolish not to recognize it. While nothing can make us absolutely safe, I believe we can protect our selves without invading every country we see as a potential threat or denying Americans the civil liberties that help make us the great country we are.

Technorati Tags: Arts Bumper Sticker War Civil Liberties Giuliani London Car Bombs Terrorism