scaring the hell out of the country

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "scaring the hell out of the country" in the following sentences?

The first significant application of the containment doctrine came in the eastern Mediterranean. Great Britain had been supporting Greece, where communist forces threatened the ruling monarchy in a civil war, and Turkey, where the Soviet Union pressed for territorial concessions and the right to build naval bases on the Bosporus. In 1947 Britain told the United States that it could no longer afford such aid. Quickly, the U.S. State Department devised a plan for U.S. assistance. But support for a new interventionist policy, Senate leaders such as Arthur Vandenberg told Truman, was only possible if he was willing to start "scaring the hell out of the country." Truman was prepared to do so.

[archbishop]

Funny old time was 1947. The most underated US President of the 20th Century was in power, Harry Truman.

Basically the Democratic powers at the time didn't want a spread of Communism and that was top of Uncle Joes list. So The US could wave the big stick (and still does) because they had an Atomic bomb and nobody else had. So when you wave the "Big Stick" it scares the hell out of the others and they will always back down.

It might be a bluff but the other side doesn't know that. 

[archbishop]

By the way kjc0123, how are you getting on with the English lessons? You seem to be quite advanced now, but it is a shame you seem to be concentrating on American History.

[kjc0123]

to archbishop

I am studying English every day and nowadays my text is American History, so now the content of my questions are mainly related with the US history. But I am not concentrating on American History. I will study English with various materials and therefore the content of my questions will become various in the future.

Thanks for your concern and tolerance about my incessing questions.

[Ewood27]

kjc, the word is "incessant".  You could say "unceasing" or "ceaseless", but "incessant" is the best word.