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5 Companies That Make Money By Keeping Americans Terrified of Terror AttacksA massive industry profits off the government-induced fear of terrorism.
AlterNet * By Alex Kane * August 16, 2013
Michael Hayden, the former director of the National Security Agency, has invaded Americas television sets in recent weeks to warn about Edward Snowdens leaks and the continuing terrorist threat to America.
But what often goes unmentioned, as the Guardians Glenn Greenwald pointed out, is that Hayden has a financial stake in keeping Americans scared and on a permanent war footing against Islamist militants. And the private firm he works for, called the Chertoff Group, is not the only one making money by scaring Americans.
Post-9/11 America has witnessed a boom in private firms dedicated to the hyped-up threat of terrorism. The drive to privatize America's national security apparatus accelerated in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, and its gotten to the point where 70 percent of the national intelligence budget is now spent on private contractors, as author Tim Shorrock reported. The private intelligence contractors have profited to the tune of at least $6 billion a year. In 2010, the Washington Post revealed that there are 1,931 private firms across the country dedicated to fighting terrorism.
What it all adds up to is a massive industry profiting off government-induced fear of terrorism, even though Americans are more likely to be killed by a car crash or their own furniture than a terror attack.
Here are five private companies cashing in on keeping you afraid.
1. The Chertoff Group
2. Booz Allen Hamilton
3. Science Applications International Corporation
4. Center for Counterintelligence and Security Studies
5. Security Solutions International
Many interesting details about each company at:
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/5-companies-make-money-keeping-americans-terrified-terror-attacks
LWolf
(46,179 posts)Stop allowing ourselves to be fearful.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)LWolf
(46,179 posts)what the fear mongers would like us to think, anyway.
Fuck 'em. I don't live in fear, and I don't give up civil liberties to provide myself with a false security blanket.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)fostering distrust of government?
Nah probably not, surely there's nothing to be gained by trying to derail the current administration with a constant barrage of over hyped scandal. IRS targetting of tea party, bengazi...
Just saying.
Our defense spending is out of control no question.
I have very little fear of terrorism, never have had simply because as you point out the odds are very small of me ever encountering it personally. That has very little to do with the reality of terrorism or the need to address it. Or are you suggesting that since the odds are small of it affecting us we should just do nothing and allow it to go on unfettered?
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)but the government's. By functioning in a manner that is worthy of trust and respect.
And right now it's not doing so well.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)plenty of people make it their job to discredit or erode trust in government. One need only look at fox news to see that is true or do you think there is no money being made there?