It begins. Again.

Hair-raising media coverage of North Korea's threats glosses over the reality that the country can't mount warheads or perhaps even fuel its air force - a typical example of the US creating "enemies" to generate fear and keep the national security machine fed with currency. The strategy also keeps the public blind to the fact that America's deadliest foe is itself. -- Tom Engelhardt

And of course, the Boston bombings will enhance the United States' fear-generation engine. It's all over, folks. What we used to be is gone forever.