My buddy of many years David Goldenberg, who's found his real vocation in blogging, nailed something that had been bothering me but I hadn't had time to write about:

October 6, 2005
Two Minds with but a Single Thought
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.—Edward R Murrow
Bush’s ratings in the polls stink. He gives a speech saying Iraq is the answer to fighting worldwide terrorism to try to bolster some kind of support. Mayor Bloomberg of New York is having political difficulties as he faces re-election. He “had been invited to appear at a mayoral debate Thursday evening, but declined -- a decision that has brought him considerable criticism.”What’s the quickest way to create a diversion and make leadership look solid and in control?
New York City's subway system was put under heightened alert Thursday after officials received information from the FBI about a "specific threat," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.—CNN
And to help with the Iraq connection:
A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the threat was “specific to place, time and method,” which was a bombing. The official said the information resulted from the arrest of al-Qaida operatives in Iraq.—MSNBC
But there is a soft underbelly to this fearmongering:
The Department of Homeland Security said the intelligence community believes the information is of "doubtful" credibility.—Newsday
It’s not as if this scare is a total loss—there is still the undercurrent in the media about bird flu pandemic, which could kill millions. Don’t think Bush hasn’t got some ideas about how to fight bird flu:
A call by President George W. Bush for Congress to give him the power to use the military in law enforcement roles in the event of a bird flu pandemic has been criticized as akin to introducing martial law.Bush said aggressive action would be needed to prevent a potentiallydisastrous U.S. outbreak of the disease that is sweeping through Asian poultry and which experts fear could mutate to pass between humans.—CNN, Bush military bird flu role slammed
What this country needs is a calming assurance from our leaders that will let us all sleep better and build our immune systems so we won’t be so susceptible to all these viruses—and work for common goals, instead of constantly playing “duck and cover.”
That takes courageous leadership, because the consequence of a fearful populace is an easily led one, like sheep, which helps if you’re a fearful leader.

This kind of thing greatly increases the danger that just when the sheep really do need to listen, they'll think their government is crying wolf. - CD

See:
Essential Emmes