Global economic crisis poses top threat to U.S., spy chief warns

The new director of national intelligence told Congress on Thursday that global economic turmoil and the instability it could ignite had outpaced terrorism as the most urgent threat facing the United States.

The assessment underscored concern inside America’s intelligence agencies not only about the fallout from the economic crisis around the globe, but also about long-term harm to America’s reputation. The crisis that began in American markets has already “increased questioning of U.S. stewardship of the global economy,” the intelligence chief, Dennis Blair, said.

Blair’s comments were particularly striking because they were delivered as part of a threat assessment to Congress that has customarily focused on issues like terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Blair singled out the economic downturn as “the primary near-term security concern” for the country, and he warned that if it continued to spread and deepen, it would contribute to unrest and imperil some governments.

“The longer it takes for the recovery to begin, the greater the likelihood of serious damage to U.S. strategic interests,” he said.

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Posted in * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, Economy, Foreign Relations, Globalization, The Credit Freeze Crisis of Fall 2008/The Recession of 2007--

4 comments on “Global economic crisis poses top threat to U.S., spy chief warns

  1. Katherine says:

    I certainly think that the expanding disorder in Mexico has grave implications for the U.S. Control of our southern border is something that needs serious attention and funding.

  2. rlw6 says:

    Do you think now that the House and Senate leadership have paid off their political backers they will start to work on a recovery plan for the economy?

    Paul

  3. Br. Michael says:

    2, Sure, but it will probably another 800 billion.

  4. Byzantine says:

    [b]Global economic crisis poses top threat to US oligarchy, spy chief warns[/b]

    Folks, we hear this every time the government wants to confiscate resources and expand its power.