Rummy's Subtle Spell

It all begins with a subtle idea implanted in the national psyche: Someone is a threat.

Sure, sometimes we should take heed and do what's in the nation's best interest. But most of the time, we need to be wary of such statements, like today, when Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon said that weapons entering Iraq are coming from Iran.

The fact that he didn't provide further specifics leads me to believe that the specifics will be doled-out in small portions over the next several months, probably attached to "reliable intelligence sources" and fueled by news organizations eager to scoop a story.

Next, they'll intensify the message, saying Someone is a threat to us, causing a buzz among the masses and making us worry.

Then they will say Someone is an imminent threat to us. By then we'll be driving ourselves crazy with worry and screaming "Why aren't you doing something about it?"

Finally, they'll have us worked-up into such a frenzy that we'll actually cheer when they say Someone is an imminent threat to us, and something has to be done about it.

And before you know it, we're marching more of our kids off to war.