Yet again, putative acts of terror — bombs detonated and discovered in New York and New Jersey, and a mass stabbing in Minnesota — conveniently paved the way for an expansion of police and surveillance state powers in the U.S., while providing an instant distraction from multiple ongoing and breaking crucial news topics.

This is not to downplay the severity of injuries to the public or the panic and fresh insecurity witnesses undoubtedly felt, but to avoid governmental manipulation of fear — incidentally a classic tool of fascist regimes seeking greater control of their citizenry — perspective is imperative.

An examination of events and reactions from politicians and the authorities over the last few days already evidences the knee-jerk response to crack down on farcically-nebulous terrorism, as has been typical in the years following the attacks of 9/11.

This weekends 'attacks,' however, brought a telling portent about the government's intent to twist the public's anxiety — but those plans should stoke alarm far beyond the altogether remote possibility of more attacks.

At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, as runners prepared to participate in the annual Marine Semper Five charity race in Seaside Park, New Jersey, a pipe bomb suddenly exploded in a trash can along the route — thankfully injuring no one, but forcing cancellation of the event. Two additional pipe bombs in the same vessel fortunately failed to detonate. Federal authorities swiftly arrived on scene to seek out any additional devices and investigate the matter.

"It makes me very angry that this could happen in a sleepy little town like Seaside Park after Labor Day," nearby Toms River resident Adam Carswell told a local NBC affiliate, according to the New York Daily News.

Then, around 8:15 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minnesota, a man described by corporate media as both "wearing a security guard uniform" and "a security guard" began indiscriminately stabbing people inside a shopping mall, after reportedly asking his first victim if he were Muslim.

Ten people were wounded by the man — later identified by authorities as 22-year-old Dahir Adan — though none of the injuries would prove fatal. An off-duty cop did, however, fatally shoot the attacker.

Friends of Adan expressed shock and confusion he could be responsible for what the FBI is investigating as a possible act of terror. As the New York Times described, he was the "son of Somali refugees, he lived in the United States most of his life, did well in school, played sports, worked as a security guard and took classes at a local college."