that there is a "conscious, concerted effort". Wouldn't you say? Only if you make some massive assumptions. You've ruled out two possible explanations without even nodding to them: 1) Subconscious influence: The interest groups & beneficiaries' panic about 'new al-Qaidas' might be motivated by a subconscious fear of losing out financially rather than a conscious one. 2) Difference of opinion: reasonable people often come to different conclusions on important matters. The interest groups & beneficiaries might honestly believe that there are increasing threats to us. Both possibilities would be ruled out by direct evidence of a "conscious, concerted effort" to create unjustified panic about terrorism. There's no evidence of such an effort so its existence is far from "obvious". Hang on, hang on.. hold the phone. Stop it. Al-Qaida is not an organization... it is an umbrella term presented as an organization in order to spread fear. It is not, never was and, for obvious reasons, never will be led by Osama Bin Laden. What Al-Qaida actually is is a number of different, mostly very very small, militant organizations most of whom actively disagree with each other. "There is also a related condition, less severe but also deeply concerning nonetheless. It is the constant search for the new danger posed by militant Islam, repetitive threat disorder." And there is yet another condition. Which is the constant neurotic denial that militant Islam poses any threat to anyone or even really exists except in the minds of Western beholders - one variant