Article note: I'm not sure that 9/11 started it, but it certainly did illuminate to a large swath of politicians that "Fear + Bullshit = Power" is a winning strategy.
When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way. Their movements become headlong – faster and faster and faster. They put aside all thoughts of obstacles and forget the precipice does not show itself to the man in a blind rush until it’s to late.