The term "Americofascism" is a political epithet used to describe certain variants of United States alleged to have fascist or authoritarian aspects. It is used to describe the [Monroe Doctrine, and later McCarthyism and Anti-Communism which existed after World War II, particularly with the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings to root out allerged Communist sympathizers, destroying their reputation. Currently it describes certain aspects of American government policies of War on Terror after the September 11, 2001 attacks, such as the USA PATRIOT Act, as well as certain extreme nationalist American groups, particularly George W. Bush supporters.

The USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law on October 26 2001, and was supposed to combat terrorism but is considered by many to constitute a harmful assault on civil liberties. It is possible that the nationalist surge created a political climate for the Bush Administration's actions in the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq War.

As casualties have mounted and opposition to the wars has increased, a pattern seen earlier in the Vietnam War has reemerged: those in favor of war consider that those who oppose it are unpatriotic, or even outright traitors. Several conservative commentators have indicated they feel that news ('liberal media') which paints the US in a negative light is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Since war opponents resent such accusations, the political debate has taken place in an atmosphere of increasing anger.

It has been claimed that nationalist fervor has decreased the ability of Americans to obtain objective or even rational information about the world situation. In particular, the journal Political Science Quarterly published research showing that those who obtained their news from outlets that appear to make an effort to appear 'patriotic' were more likely to have factual misconceptions about the Iraq war. These misperceptions were: that weapons of mass destruction had been found, that evidence linked Saddam Hussein to Al-Qaeda, and that world public opinion favored the war.

Many non-Americans tended to view any ostentatious display of flags and national symbols as small-minded, jingoistic or even racist. While nationalist statements appear to have played well to the US domestic audience, they necessarily exclude foreigners. Further, many abroad feel that the attributes described as typically or exclusively American, such as freedom and democracy, are not only found in the United States, and to claim so is inflammatory.

Application of the term

Among the allegations directed towards the Bush administration and their supporters are that they:

Promote the establisment of a pro-American sphere in the Middle East under infulence of America to stop Al-Qaeda.

Propose the existance of a war between Democracy and Terrorism, that will end with the eventual victory of democracy over terrorism.

Accept militarism and violence to combat terrorism, justifying or turning a blind eye to American military scandals, often citing the 9/11 attacks or how terrorist actions are worse.

Are strongly anti-liberal, anti-communist, and anti-Islam. Groups and nations are perceived as terrorist supporters are enemies of democracy that must be must be subjugated or destroyed.

Do not accept political concepts such as pacifism and liberalism, often attacking liberal journalists, politicians, and celebrities for criticising Bush.

Advocate a concept of Domino theory for America to spread democracy within the Middle East to stop terrorism.

Consider that those who oppose Bush's actions are unpatriotic, or even outright traitors, giving comfort to the enemy, including those who whistleblowed negative actions of American soldiers such as the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse.

Ignorance of nations and groups which oppose America's actions, refering to them as Anti-American, shown by Donald Rumsfeld refering to France and Germany as 'Old Europe'.

Believes the George W. Bush is the only person capable of fighting terrorism, calling him 'Commander-in-Chief' and waving his posters, while digging dirt on his political opponents such as John Kerry.

Dealing with the War on Terror in absolute extremes: "You're either with us or with the terrorists"

An example of such attitudes are seen in this email [http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/foster.asp]
:WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?

:"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

:And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all!

:I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

:I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

:I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat.

:I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

:I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

:I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

:I'll care when Clinton-appointed judges stop ordering my government to release photos of the abuses at Abu Ghraib, which are sure to set off the Islamic extremists just as Newsweek's lies did a few weeks ago.

:In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

:When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.

:When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.

:When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care.

:And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and — you guessed it — I don't care!" I don't give a sheet either about those sheet heads!!!!!"

:Just wanted to let those of you that haven't contact me that I forwarded the "I Don't Care" to my nephew serving in Baghdad after someone forwarded it to me. I don't remember who that was, nor did I think much about it until I received long distance phone calls and lots of e-mail. Everyone has been nice except for some whacko who thinks this government planned and executed 9/11. I responded that we would take up a fund for him and we would send him to any country to live that wasn’t here! In any case, someone else let me know last week that a columnist named Doug Patton (google him) wrote the article and I notifed him of the response and what had happened when I forwarded the e-mail. I still don’t know how it got on the "NET", but I am glad. Lots of people have sent me thank yous and some have said they would send to their government representatives and more than one has told me they sent it to the President! WOW! Had no clue what I was getting started. Anyway, God Bless everyone and the USA!

See also:

Fascism

Nationalism

Patriotism

Jingoism

External links

Political Science Quarterly journal article: Misperceptions, Media and the Iraq War.

Quotes from Tom Davis and Trent Lott on the patriotism of dissenters