Pentagon plans terrorism futures market:

The Pentagon (news - web sites) is setting up a stock-market style system in which investors would bet on terror attacks, assassinations and other events in the Middle East. Defense officials hope to gain intelligence and useful predictions while investors who guessed right would win profits.

Two Democratic senators demanded Monday the project be stopped before investors begin registering this week. “The idea of a federal betting parlor on atrocities and terrorism is ridiculous and it’s grotesque,” Sen. Ron Wyden (news, bio, voting record), D-Ore., said.

….

Dorgan described it as useless, offensive and “unbelievably stupid.”

Glad to see people aren’t totally insane. But holy christ, I really wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at this. It’s both scary and hilarious at the same time. People think this is a good way to get intelligence? I had to keep checking what section of Yahoo! news I was in just to make sure it was real. It’s very scary that they think this is a worthwhile endeavor. Holy shit. I’m damn near speechless.