Thursday, July 20, 2006

Homeland insanity

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, when it isn't busy arresting people for copyright infringement, has compiled a list of critical infrastructure sites and terrorist targets, in order to provide government funding for security.

As the Seattle Times is reporting, there are 77,000 "top terrorist targets" on this list. A few years ago there were 160.

The SuperMall in Auburn, Washington State (population about 36,000), has been listed as "critical infrastructure" by the Department of Homeland Security. That means it is considered vital for the operations of the USA. (Imagine, Joe Sixpack unable to get Krispy Kreme donuts for a few days. Civilization as we know it would collapse.) So critical a terrorist target is the SuperMall that the mall owners have been given $50,000 of tax-payers money to "improve security".

Also on the list of "critical infrastructure" are 1305 casinos, 700 mortuaries, 234 restaurants, an ice-cream parlor, a fishing tackle shop, an Amish popcorn factory, and a pile of trash in Houston.

Okay, I made up the one about the pile of trash.

No comments: