Prof. Scott A. Bonn of Drew University talks about his important new book: Mass Deception–Moral Panic and the US War on Iraq which makes a statistical case and a rational case that BushCo statements led the American public to support the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Bonn had a first career in media and advertising, rising to VP at NBC-TV. The he shifted to academia; he is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Drew University in Madison, NJ. He defines the concept of “moral panic” and argues that our “power elite” engineered a moral panic episode by demonizing Saddam and creating false connections between Iraq, WMD and 9/11. Responding to sound bites from Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rice and Rumsfeld, Bonn defines the criteria of moral panic in the context of Iraq. He used Gallup poll numbers to demonstrate how public opinion moved in response to the propaganda, and he follows the analysis with the blunt opinion that the “Bush administration committed elite deviance, state crime, and violations of international criminal law in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Bonn responds to PBC’s criticism that he failed to show any skepticism about the rigged elections of 2000 and 2004 or the official story of the events of 9/11 as pivotal components of the moral panic scenario. This book offers great insight to those who want to understand what Bush did to America.
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