Indiana leads all states in targets for terrorism

david sumner · Post by **david sumner** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:32 am

Many find Homeland Security list puzzling

Eric Lipton, New York Times
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

It reads like a tally of terrorist targets that a child might have crafted: Old MacDonald's Petting Zoo, the Mule Day Parade, Sweetwater Flea Market and an unspecified "Beach at End of a Street."

But the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, in a report released Tuesday, found that the list is not child's play: All these "unusual or out-of-place," sites "whose criticality is not readily apparent," are inexplicably included in the official federal anti-terrorism database.

The National Asset Database, as it is known, is so flawed, the inspector general found, that Indiana, with 8,591 potential terrorist targets, had 51 percent more sites listed than New York (5,687) and nearly twice as many as California (3,212), ranking the state the most target-rich in the nation.

The database is used by Homeland Security to help divvy up the hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-terrorism grants each year, including the program announced in May that cut money to New York City and Washington by 40 percent, while significantly boosting spending for cities including Louisville, Ky., and Omaha, Neb.

"We don't find it embarrassing," said Jarrod Agen, Homeland Security's deputy press secretary. "The list is a valuable tool."

But the audit says that lower-level department officials agreed that some older information in the inventory "was of low quality and that they had little faith in it," the report says. "The large numbers of out-of-place assets taints the credibility of the data."

In addition to the Huntsville, Ala., petting zoo and the Mule Day Parade in Columbia, Tenn., the auditors questioned many entries, including "Nix's Check Cashing," "Mall at Sears," "Ice Cream Parlor" "Tackle Shop," "Donut Shop," "Anti-Cruelty Society" and "Bean Fest."

Even people connected to some of those businesses or events are baffled at their inclusion as possible terrorist targets.

Angela McNabb, manager of the Sweetwater Flea Market, which is 50 miles from Knoxville, Tenn., said: "I don't know where they get their information. We are talking about a flea market here."

New York City officials, who have questioned the rationale for the reduction in this year's anti-terrorism grants, were similarly blunt.

"Now we know why the Homeland Security grant formula came out as wacky as it was," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday. "This report is the smoking gun that thoroughly indicts the system."

Shrugie · Post by **Shrugie** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:48 am

I bet they say that in every state. "Tennessee Aquarium, Target for Terrorism", "The Alladdin Las Vegas, Targer for Terrorism". It's easiest to lead a nation that's in fear.

fragile_funk · Post by **fragile_funk** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:17 am

They should rename the Department of Homeland Security the "Department of Nonsense that Only Wastes Money and is Run by Jackasses."

Sankofa · Post by **Sankofa** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:28 pm

criticality?

heaven's chimney · Post by **heaven's chimney** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:45 pm

fragile_funk wrote:They should rename the Department of Homeland Security the "Department of Nonsense that Only Wastes Money and is Run by Jackasses."

hahaha

=^-..-^= · Post by **=^-..-^=** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:29 am

The terrorists hate our freedom . . . and my 1992 Pontiac.

Homeland Security needs to front me some cash to upgrade it to a more terrorist-friendly model.

The safest place in case of a terrorist attack on FW will be Powers Hamburgers . . or Build-a-Bear Workshop.

MrSpall · Post by **MrSpall** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:48 am

david sumner wrote:The database is used by Homeland Security to help divvy up the hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-terrorism grants each year.

Might be interesting to see who helped compile this list. Perhaps a senator from IN practicing with his pork-barrel?

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:14 am

Indiana has always been a target not just for Terrorism, but in war too. Our GM plant for one was a big war target. So was Phelpes Dogde and Raytheon (Magnavox), to name a few, thats just Fort Wayne.

sharkmansix · Post by **sharkmansix** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:24 am

...but a popcorn factory in Berne?

WBOB · Post by **WBOB** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:34 am

...but a popcorn factory in Berne?

...yeah the one right in the middle of "Amish" territory.

They're probably harboring a secret weapon.

Something to do with road apples and a sling......

Massage...Bored · Post by **Massage...Bored** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:02 am

That Popcorn Factory, or as my folks like to call it, "Ground Zero" is right by my parents house.

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:21 am

Massage...Bored wrote:That Popcorn Factory, or as my folks like to call it, "Ground Zero" is right by my parents house.

lmao