This autumn the US is voting on the congress. All seems to point towards a shift in favour of the Democrats. In order to stemm this development the US government, as ever so often, will try to make these elections more nationalistic.

By proclaiming the recent events (Irak, Middle East, Sept 11 as well as the arrest of several ALLEGED terrorists) to actually be part of WW3 the republicans will try to stand out as the strategic administration "whom you do not change". Nobody questions actions and decisions taken during wartime.

"Wenn man das einmal als Krieg bezeichnen und anerkennen würde, würde auch die Zurückhaltung einbrechen. In einem Krieg könne man schließlich fragen, wer gewinnen soll."

http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/23/23136/1.html