smear campaign, n.All

A Smear campaign (n.) against ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠critics of a favored state does double work: it frightens the critics and clears the way for violence.