Jim Hightower

Once again, DHS – the Department of Homeland Security – is showing why it’s worth the megabillions of tax dollars we pour into it.

DHS has funded an academic study to determine which U.S. cities are most vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Of the 132 urban areas analyzed, which one do you think is numero uno in terms of danger? Washington, DC? No. New York City? Uh-uh. LA? Not even close.

Get ready for a bombshell: It’s Boise, Idaho.

Yes, bucolic Boise – with 200,000 easy-going residents, a western outdoorsy ambience, and a skyline that tops out at 20 stories. As the director of The Boise visitors bureau put it: “Is this a typo or what?”

The Washington Post reports that the study is the product of four years of work by three professors using a series of mathematical formulas. The researchers examined not whether Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda allies would want to attack a particular city, but rather, if they did, how well the place could withstand the attack. Geophysical hazards ranked high in the professors’ formulations, so Boise’s vulnerability to wildfires and floods apparently earned it the top ranking. Just light one match, said the lead professor, “and you’re all set.”

Of course, since this is a DHS product, the rankings were conveniently color-coded – green for the least vulnerable, yellow for those at middling risk, and on up to red for… well, for Boise. Still, locals are puzzled by their sudden star turn in the national security game. Indeed, a sales person down at the Fancy Pants boutique said, “I’m less scared than I am confused.” Well, yeah, and imagine how confused folks are in New York and Washington!

Meanwhile, our stalwarts at DHS are not saying how much money this terrorism study cost us taxpayers. I’m sure they think that information would aid the terrorists.