[Originally posted on my other blog at Libertarni Klub.]

"Why of course the people don't want war... That is understood.

"But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy.

"All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

- Hermann Goering, Nazi Officer, Statement during his Nuremberg War Crimes Trial.

Quotation is from the Political Psychology of Terrorist Alarms.