“We engage them with intimidation and bait them with lies to trip them up and trap them in emotional and costly accusations.”
“That sounds, however, like something they could avoid.”
“Some of them can, but we have successfully undermined – made elastic – the ethical foundations of others so much so that we are able to keep a significant part of their population fearful and gullible about anything their media gives us the opportunities to tell them.”
“What backup is there if this doesn’t work?”
“As backup we have compromised key politicians, officials and professional leadership who can be blackmailed if need be to act in our interests and we’ve manipulated their radicalized stooges to foment social unrest – and, don’t forget, our scientists have now proven that they can engineer targeted and deadly viruses.”
“So, if what you’re telling me is true, as long as they keep shooting themselves in the foot, we have a chance to get our hands around their throats.”
Linked to Six Sentence Story where Denise offers the prompt word “elastic” which must appear somewhere in a story of only six sentences.


Very well written, Frank! Unfortunately, it also seems to be very true! 😱
LikeLiked by 1 person
Although I am not that knowledgeable about world politics, it might well be. If it were, it would be difficult for us to know. I think of this story as the beginning of a longer dystopia. Thank you, Crystal!
LikeLike
Sounds like a political party manifesto!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was wondering how an outside group might try to infiltrate a country. I imagined this as one of their discussions. Thank you, Peter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The start of a dystopian future, perhaps?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the dystopia started with last week’s story and continued here. Thank you!
LikeLike
Wow wow wow, sharp-edged–good work, Frank!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
You’re welcome, my pleasure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This may be actually happening…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it well may. Thank you, Romi!
LikeLike
When the demarcation line between fact and fiction disappears, the path towards dystopia lay unobstructed.
Most excellent use of the prompt word, Frank.
Powerful and thought provoking Six.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Denise! Good point about the demarcation between fact and fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pandemic
Partying
ViRuSeS
Human
Folly ‘They’
‘Enjoy’ Most
Capturing
Our
Breath
Whipping
Us For Stealing
Other Animal Homes
Continuing DeSCenT SLoW HeLL oNE EartH
SMiLes Frank Fires And Hurricanes First
And
Last
Responders
True As Not So Well..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Fred!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dude! Too true and surely is proof of the curse of the Fruit of the Garden*
Good Six
*not so much the knowledge of good and evil as it is the false confidence in being able to distinguish the two
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do have a lot of false confidence in being able to distinguish the two. Thank you!
LikeLike
Frank, I love your thinking! Wish I could do that. The danger of having your hands around their throats while they shoot themselves in the foot is that if they go down, so might we go down with them. We live in very sad and evil times. I’m thankful for poets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do live in very sad and evil times. I think there are ways to protect against them, but I often mess that protection up even with good intentions. Thank you, Mary!
LikeLike
Sadly, ethics in our public discourse seem to be a thing of the distant past. Even those looking for the truth often cannot find it. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree that it is very hard to find today. Thank you, Kerfe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am desperatley trying to hold on to the fact that truth is truth and will always be truth. This is terrifing and comforting at the same time. Stretching the truth is still lying. Great post. Very thought provoking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point that stretching the truth is still lying. Perhaps the worst form of lying since the truth that remains justifies the lie. Thank you!
LikeLike
I pondered using “elastic” in a SSS that would touch upon this very topic, but left that challenge to a much more talented writer such as yourself. So many things to consider when almost moment by moment the news bombards us with the latest act or statement beyond belief. Glad you tackled this SSS.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pat! I found this difficult to write. There were many revisions.
LikeLike
Fine line between truth and fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa! There is a fine line between them and one can get confused trying to discern where it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish this was fiction, but I fear it is not. Great six!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Although I wrote it as fiction, since I have limited information, this is what I imagine could actually be going on given the riots and the corona virus. The truth may be worse than I imagine.
LikeLike
Foment – such a descriptive verb! Brilliant SSS Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Laura! The word “foment” replaced many words in a previous revision.
LikeLike
The state of the world to-day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. That seems to be the case. Thank you!
LikeLike
Chilling and thought-provoking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Magarisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicee 🌼🌼
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person