U.S. sees economic crisis as top security threat (NIE) - Reuters

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

It's getting pretty rocky around the world.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090212/ts_nm/us_security_usa_economy_4

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The global economic crisis has become the biggest near-term U.S. security concern, causing instability in a quarter of the world's countries and threatening destructive trade wars, U.S. intelligence agencies reported on Thursday.

The director of National Intelligence's annual threat assessment also said al Qaeda's leadership had been weakened over the last year. But security in Afghanistan had deteriorated and Pakistan had to gain control over its border areas before the situation could improve.

"The financial crisis and global recession are likely to produce a wave of economic crises in emerging market nations over the next year," said the report. It said a wave of "destructive protectionism" was possible as countries find they cannot export their way out of the slump.

"Time is our greatest threat. The longer it takes for the recovery to begin, the greater the likelihood of serious damage to U.S. strategic interests," it said.

[notadmblnd]

1. They must be afraid that we're all going to pick up our pitchforks and torches

[Deja Q]

2. On the internet, some people say China is telling its own people to 'buy Chinese'

Another DUer put up an article, dated this year, on Indian companies firing expatriates in favor of "local talent".

When yahoo's article mentioned "protectionism", are they referring to US citizens' fears? Or something more global?