Poindexter Gone

The Pentagon's Admiral John Poindexter -- of "Total Information Awareness" fame -- was fired last week for his latest fiasco. That was the "futures" market in terrorism, known as FutureMAP, he wanted to set up under DARPA, in which speculators could capitalize on predicting terror attacks. Congress responded with outrage, but some conservative financial pundits, like Lou Dobbs, are now suggesting it was a good idea. Lou Dobbs Laments the Pentagon's Decision to Deep-Six the Policy Analysis Market [USNews.com].

What a load of crap. This Poindexter guy has had more than one screw loose for decades. The idea of offering profits from predicting bombings or assassinations is politically unpalatable and completely against American values. Send him out to pasture. Better yet, shoot him to put the poor befuddled old man out of his misery.

Of course, Washington being what it is, no one will actually admit Poindexter was axed. Defense Secretary Rumsefeld said Poindexter resigned voluntarily but agreed that he "had become too much of a political lightning rod and that it was time for him to go."

 Posted by glenn