An interesting take from Britain's Guardian on why an Indiana popcorn business in the middle of Amish country ended up being a "terrorist target": It's all about the money:
Five years after the World Trade Centre fell, a highly lucrative industry has been born in America - homeland security. There has been a goldrush as companies scoop up government contracts and peddle products that they say are designed to make America safe.
The figures are stunning. Seven years ago there were nine companies with federal homeland security contracts. By 2003 it was 3,512. Now there are 33,890. The money is huge. Since 2000, $130bn (£70bn) of contracts have been dished out. By 2015 annual federal spending on the industry could be $170bn.
But state officials want in on the government handouts too. That is why Indiana ended up identifying 8,591 potential terrorism targets (including Lehman's farm) inside its Midwestern borders. But they went too far.
I guess this could come under the heading of war profiteering. My question would be: Is there a better way to do it? As the article notes, there is a real terrorist threat. Can we ensure that what needs to be done is done and keep the rascals and charlatans out of the loop at the same time?
