Do Not Panic: The Culture of Fear is Still Alive and Well

For those of you who were worried that an Obama Administration might bring an unwelcome sense of moderation regarding the projection of the War on Terror, let us (and the President-elect) reassure you:

"I think it's important to get a national security team in place because transition periods are potentially times of vulnerability to a terrorist attack," Obama told CBS's "60 Minutes." "We want to make sure that there is as seamless a transition on national security as possible."

Comments

[Dave]

But it does make you wonder. It must take a some period of time for the new office holders to settle in and they're probably not as fluid with everything that is going on. It's like a person that owns a car with a gearshift mounted on the steering column. When on holiday, he hires a car with a gearshift mounted on the floor. Used to his own car, he reaches for the steering column on the hire car when he wants to change gears, activating the windscreen wipers. I've done it. But maybe that's a bad analogy.

[Canuckistan]

Afraid that I must once again spring to the defence of the president-elect.

How is simply ensuring that one's administration is prepared for all possibilities supporting a "culture of fear"? There is a possibility of a terrorist attack. It's not likely but the possibility is there. In the same answer he added that they are also working to get an economic team in place. In other words, they are taking a professional and thorough approach to governing.

[Politics After 50]

When has a terrorist attack ever occurred during a political transition? I don't know the answer worldwide, but it's never happened here in the US. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I think that Obama mentioning terrorists IS fear mongering, or pandering to the fear mongers. He could have said "It is prudent to make sure that a national security team is in place, and that transition goes smoothly." I would agree with that, and it wouldn't be evoking the big T word.