The future has been revealed to us today and that future is terrorism.
Is there any other way to interpret the very strange Policy Analysis Market proposal that came out of the Pentagon today–that countries and corporations can bet on where the next terrorist attack will take place?
Ken Guggenheim for the Associated Press described that the market would work as follows:
Traders would buy and sell futures contracts -- just like energy traders do now in betting on the future price of oil. But the contracts in this case would be based on what might happen in the Middle East in terms of economics, civil and military affairs or specific events, such as terrorist attacks. Holders of a futures contract that came true would collect the proceeds of traders who put money into the market but predicted wrong.
This news make me contemplate a couple scenarios:
1) Isn’t it plausible that if countries and corporations "can profit by correctly predicting terror attacks or assassinations in the Middle East," that they might get involved with planning their own attacks in order to win the bet?
2) Knowing how involved our administration is in corporations who are looking for the latest-and-fastest cash cow (i.e., Haliburton), what if these corporations (under the auspices of the government) concocted this plan?
The motives behind this proposal are suspicious; they suggest that terrorism is not something that might occur; it’s something they plan on occurring, with the help of other world organizations and companies.
The issue with this lies in the fact that people know there is money to be made in this program; and when it comes to money, there will be protection.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-ORE, commented: "The idea of a federal betting parlor on atrocities and terrorism is ridiculous and it's grotesque."
Late this afternoon, the proposal was scrapped. But whoever they are revealed too much about how some people are viewing terrorism in this new millenium. This vision of terrorism might be more than a by-product of 9-11; it might yet just be some corporations cash cow and the little people's worst nightmare.
