Credibility versus Conspiracy

I am often labelled a conspiracy theorist because I am prepared to consider things that I would never have considered a couple of years ago, such as the idea that a secretive, CIA-linked, fascist cabal is taking control of the USA.

The thing about conspircy theories is, there is normally just enough evidence to suggest them but never quite enough evidence to fully prove them.

In a normal world, we Westerners have some degree of faith in our democratic governments and the institutions that are designed to ensure their accountability (Congress, the courts, etc). But when the government loses credibility after lying repeatedly, and when not even the popular press hold our elected representatives accountable, it's not unreasonable to go back and re-examine those conspiracy theories and seriously wonder if some of them might not just be true.

For example, whenever another deadly bomb explodes and "unknown terrorists" are blamed, I always wonder if the CIA planted the bomb. The CIA has a long history of using bombing campaigns to stir up confusion and anger, even in Western countries like Italy. When you think about it, there are certain strategic benefits for the USA in a prolonged (perhaps never-ending) "war on terror" that justifies their invasion of Iraq and one-sided support for an increasingly militant Israeli state, among other neo-con goals. So is the CIA really involved in staging "terrorist" bombings?

Consider the bomb in Spain that went off just before the elections. The reigning Spanish right-wing government immediately tried to blame ETA, yet a van was found near the bomb site wth Koranic verses and other evidence suggesting this was the work of Muslim fanatics. If Aznar had blamed Islamic fundamentalists instead of ETA, he would probably still be in power with the full support of the Spanish people, and Bush would still have a strong ally in Iraq. Is that the way the CIA planned it? Sorry, but I have to ask. For example, are these terrorists really so stupid that they would leave a van at the crime scene, with Koranic verses to top it off?

Now let's imagine that the Spanish investigators found AMERICAN FINGERPRINTS on the van. Not just that, but fingerprints of someone who had served in a US Army Intelligence Unit. Well, guess what? It's happened.

Sure, Brandon Mayfield, a small-time lawyer from Portland, Oregon, might be innocent. Or he might be a Muslim fundamentalist. Or he might not. With Bush's credibility shot to pieces, Attorney General John Ashcroft trashing the justice system, Supreme Court Justices out duck-hunting with the wrong people and CIA agents being fingered for the Abu Ghraib horrors... I just have to seriously wonder.