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4 Jul, 2016 15:33

‘US media presenting Americans false choice over terrorism’

‘US media presenting Americans false choice over terrorism’

American public opinion is being manipulated by the media into supporting a US presence in the Middle East, Daniel McAdams, executive director at the Ron Paul Institute, told RT. He added that jockeying for positions in the Clinton State Department have begun.

A man was killed as he attempted to detonate a suicide vest outside the US Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on America’s Independence Day.

In 2004, the same US consulate was the target for a terrorist assault. Gunmen stormed the compound killing four security guards and five consular staff.

Around 20 people were taken hostage before Saudi security forces entered the building, killing three of the attackers and arresting the other two.

RT: How significant is the timing of this attack given that today is Independence Day in America?

Daniel McAdams: I think that is very important and the whole point of terrorism is to have a psychological impact on people. It’s to convince people to do something they might not normally be motivated to do. And so obviously occurring on Independence Day, I would guess, has an import. But this has been a week of horrific terrorism - from Bangladesh to Iraq and Turkey as well. So I think things are ramping up; what is the reason it is difficult to say, but I think it is to mobilize public opinion.  

RT: This past week has been filled with a wave of terrorist attacks worldwide. Do you see this tempo holding or even escalating?

DM: I think there are things coming to a head. We learn that the US made an attempt to make a deal with Russia in Syria. Certainly, the US plan to have its proxy army overthrow the regime of Bashar Assad has not been successful; they are looking for different means and modes of achieving the goal of the overthrow, and I think this has a lot to do with it. The US has been manipulated by public opinion and by the media into supporting the US presence in the Middle East. And these kinds of terrorist attacks will be portrayed in the US media in a way that will make Americans think: “If only we stayed longer, if only we were still in Iraq, we will not have this bombing.” And it is an absolute false choice.

RT: This is one of the rare attacks that were stopped before serious harm was caused. Do you think it was simply poorly planned or is the world better prepared?

DM: You can be conspiratorial and you can say the effect was already achieved. The idea the US consulate once again in Jeddah would be subject to attack, if that was indeed the case, would have already the effect without even people being killed. The whole Hillary Clinton aspect is very important, too. Because we’ve seen, for example, in the last couple of weeks a sort of minor revolt in the State Department, the neocons say we must start attacking Assad. And I think there is a kind of jockeying in the US now for positions in the Hillary Clinton State Department, which will be much more robust, much more active overseas, and probably will eclipse the George W. Bush administration in overseas intervention and affection for war.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

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