1984, 22 years late.

Has Orwell's world come at last to the United States of America?

The war on Terror is a remarkably easy one. No victory is needed - just vigilance. No evidence is needed - just whisper "national security". Meet every question with the accusation of "fellow traveler". Seize absolute power - and claim it's the only way to keep everyone safe.
How quickly we forget.
This generation's islamofascist is last generation's commie, with the black cloak and homberg replaced by a turban and robe. Again he waits under the bed, waiting for you to grow complacent so he can sneak out and enslave you.
The march of time has changed him a little - he now wants to blow you up instead of fluoridate your water, but he's the same guy. The same imaginary bogeyman used by demagogues all over the world to keep the masses quiet and obedient.

The McCarthy tapdance is back.
"What are you doing?"
Can't tell you. Top Secret."
"Is it working?"
"Can't tell you. Top Secret."
"You're breaking the law."
"Traitor! Only a commie or fellow traveler would say that. I want a list of anyone you know who thinks like you do."
"You can't do that!"
"If I don't, communists will pollute our precious bodily fluids. You don't want that, do you?"
And on and on.
And when it was all over, the commies turned out to be a bunch of geezers on the other side of the world, and McCarthy turned out to be a panic-monger.

Only a nation can defeat a nation. Only if we are all looking, all peering into the alleys and listening at the next table, can we beat terrorism. Together, we can find and defeat the terrorists. A secret organization listening to taped conversations cannot do that. Nor can a government that won't tell us what's really going on, that won't trust us.
We have to have a government that trusts us, our judgment, and our loyalty. A government that restricts our freedoms and lies to us will collapse to outside attack.
If you don't believe me, just look at Russia.