When mythmakers believe their myths
At what point does a conspiracy theory become accepted reality?
The first of three parts of The Power of Nightmares described how a conservative think-tank looked to explain the failed liberal policies of the 60s & 70s. A Jewish political philospher, Leo Strauss, claimed the greed, conflict and loneliness of Western society was a necessary consequence of the individual right to freedom.
Strauss taught that cultural leaders had to create a shared pride, creating myths if necessary.
Consequently, neo-conservatists sought to influence American politics. In order to engender a mass belief in America, the neo-cons needed an enemy -- The Soviet Union.
So Donald Rumsfeld and an 'independent' commission exaggerated Soviet military capabilities. If this doesn't sound familiar enough, the neo-cons actually persuaded the Reagan administration that the USSR was behind ALL worldwide terrorist networks.