Market Crash
The Pentagon wants to set up a website that would allow people to essentially bet on (or buy futures in) the the future assassinations of world leaders, terrorist attacks, and the like, was roundly condemned by two Democratic senators, one of whom is Ron Wyden of Oregon. Supporters who claim that the betting could be used as “intelligence information” are apparently lacking a little “intelligence” themselves. If we found out that, say, Albania had a website to predict whether Dubya would be gunned down, I guarantee we’d have troops in Albania by the end of the week.
That’s not to mention what could happen if some nut decided to bet a ton on an assassination, or, heaven forbid, a bombing, and then try to collect by pulling it off himself.
The plan is suppoesd to cost 3/4 of a million dollars this year, and $8 million over the next two years.
Update: Due to the backlash, the plan has been killed.