In Orwell's '1984', he describes a way in which the tyrannical government was able to psychologically control the public called 'two minutes hate'.
For two minutes the people would stare at a screen, portraying an enemy of the government's choosing, and scream at it.
"But even as we grasp at victory, there is a cancer, an evil tumor, growing, spreading in our midst. SHOUT! Shout! Shout out his name!"
Atrocities and images of war race across the screen as the people rage. No one asking any questions, and, of course, no one was actually there to personally witness these atrocities. None the less, any passion that could be channeled to confront the actual oppressor is refocused and diffused at an imaginary one.
Sound familiar???