Theresa May's Electoral Strategy - Fear-Mongering

by Stephen Lendman

The only terrorist threats Brits, other Europeans and Americans need fear is from their own governments, no others.

In the wake of the May 22 Manchester blast, Britain's home secretary Amber Rudd warned about members of an alleged terrorist network still at large - despite no evidence suggesting anything of the kind exists.

Previous high-profile terrorist attacks in Britain, elsewhere in Europe and America were false flags, Manchester most likely the latest.

Instead of the incident helping May in the polls as she hoped, she's slipping significantly. One poll showed her lead over Corbyn at five points, four others ranging from a two to six-point advantage, a week-and-a-half before snap elections

Though still likely to win, things appear shaping up to be a close race, a surprise outcome possible - not what May imagined when calling for snap elections on April 18.

Post-9/11, GW Bush's approval rating soared from around 50% to about 90% overnight. Post-Manchester, May's sunk.

University of Strathclyde professor of politics John Curtice believes she's "certainly the overwhelming favorite to win, but crucially we are in the territory now where how well is uncertain."

"She is no longer guaranteed to get the landslide majority that she was originally setting out to get" - a surprise outcome possible.

If she fails to decisively best David Cameron's 2015 12-seat majority, her gamble will have failed, her mandate weakened, Tories more vulnerable to losing next time around.

Campaigning suspended post-Manchester was resumed on Friday, focusing heavily on security, Corbyn using it to his advantage instead of May as expected.

Everything reported about alleged suicide bomber Salman Abedi, his family members and associates is suspect, May's fear-mongering strategy not turning out as expected.

So far, 11 arrests were made, individuals still in custody, despite no evidence connecting them to terrorism. Rudd claiming ISIS wants young Brits "weaponize(d)" is rubbish, an accusation with nothing credible supporting it.

At the same time, lots more incidents like Manchester are likely, in Europe and America, all likely part of a scheme to justify imperial wars and convince people to believe sacrificing freedom enhances security, not realizing they're losing both.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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