The Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand)

August 2, 2003, Saturday

SECTION: FEATURES; OPINION; Pg. 5; WORLD VIEW; B

HEADLINE: Betting on terror

The Guardian -------------------- LONDON

NOW the Pentagon has scrapped its bizarre plan for an online terror 
futures market in which punters wager on predicted atrocities or 
assassinations, what's the bet that the scheme's chief whipper-in, 
John Poindexter, will be fired? The New York Times shortened the odds 
when it described him as "a man of dubious background and dubious 
ideas" who should be sent packing. But criticism from such liberal 
quarters may yet induce his contrary boss, Donald Rumsfeld, to keep 
him on or move him up.

Some believe Poindexter is Washington's answer to Lord Voldemort. But 
maybe such carping is unjust. Given the dismal failure of America's 
intelligence services to foresee or stop the 9/11 horror, as detailed 
in last week's congressional report, perhaps an inspired guess, a pin 
in the map, a private hunch, a twinge in the bones, and a modest 
flutter on where and when the next attack may come is as much 
preventive use as anything the CIA or FBI can manage.