Yes, the pearl clutching going on in FR is ridiculous.
Eh. It’s always this way. After 9-11 there was a huge population of jingoists who shouted down anyone who was worried about the Patriot Act’s assault on personal liberty. Anyone who was against it was a traitor and supported Jihad and yada yada yada. This happens regularly depending on the issue de jour. The claims that China or NK was hacking US Navy ships on behalf of the Saudis or something is another more recent example.