America's malls could be terrorist targets… That's according to the head of U.S. Homeland Security… And this is supposed to be news as we approach 14 years after 9-11? Of course, Secretary Jeh Johnson was trying to make a point to a recalcitrant Congress that his agency needs to be funded to protect the country properly. Throwing a little scare into Americans might get their representatives to act. In particular, the warning signaled--watch out at giant Mall of America. Could that be because Minneapolis is home to a cluster of Somali immigrants? Some young Somalis have been vulnerable to jihadi callings and could be ripe for homegrown mayhem. I am sure the local Somali community is feeling reassured about being used to gin up fear when everyone seems to be getting riled over beheadings half way across the world.

Obviously, malls would be particularly good targets for attacks, but then so would subways, Disneyland (or is that for measles?), the Golden Gate Bridge, and thousands of other places where people congregate, including major office buildings and mixed-use complexes, especially in major urban centers around the country. Well yes, even government buildings too—do we remember Oklahoma City? Now will the threat factor be that much higher at regional shopping centers, because a recent internet video from an overseas terrorist redoubt somewhere in Africa exhorts local jihadi wanabees into action in the U.S., UK and Canada? And how will that impact mall business?

The half-life of these threats is extremely low absent some action. Usually they disappear into the next news cycle of snow storms, celebrity sex changes, and disease outbreaks… Shouldn't we be more concerned about someone down the block with a gun and grudge shooting up a mall rather than a terrorist strike occurring in a food court?

In fact, run-of-the-mill mall shootings unfortunately happen often enough. Weapons are so available in this country, including high-killing capacity automatic rifles, and are used to kill so many people—30,000 annually—that why should we get so exercised about an overseas propaganda screed? Ready access to guns and freedom to use them remains an abiding cause for so many Americans even if it means easy availability to potential terrorists living here or to mental patients, some of whom apparently go to shooting ranges for therapy. An occasional multiplex massacre has not stopped us from seeing movies, and shootings on college campuses or disturbed kids coming into class with guns in their backpacks won't shut down our schools at least once students can be counseled by psychologists and after a round of prayer vigils.

It's almost totally bizarre to think a committed terrorist would need direction from an internet video to think up a target like a mall or Times Square. But can sleeper cells only act if they see something on U-Tube?

The real threat to mall owners isn't terrorists incited through the internet. It's shoppers using the internet instead of going to malls.

Instant Insights /

The Real Threat To Malls

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