I wonder why the politicians quit using our fears to increase their power and control over society over the Soviet threat?

Maybe because that threat went away?

I wonder why the Clinton administration did not use our fears to increase it's power and control over society over the Al Qaueda threat?

The dumb ass ignored it and it became a bigger threat which could not be ignored after 9/11.

Yes there are threats and we have a government to deal with those threats: "To provide for the common defense"

Or would you prefer "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."