Osama bin Laden and his henchmen had hoped their attacks would cripple the U.S. economy. But while Sept. 11 helped deepen the nation’s recession, Al Qaeda terrorists also unwittingly spurred a new and fast-growing industry dedicated to homeland security. This industry built around the Homeland Security Department and the focus on terrorism in the U.S. has attracted old-line defense contractors, small businesses, universities, investment bankers, consultants and newsletter publishers. At a time when the country is on “orange alert,” it is common for business people to network at homeland security conferences in hopes of landing a government contract. Also becoming commonplace are trade shows featuring displays of such products as bomb-resistant glass for offices and imaging machines to reveal the innards of trucks and cargo containers. With overall homeland security spending estimated by analysts at about $55 billion this year, some observers believe that a homeland security-industrial complex is emerging, much as the military-industrial complex became a huge presence in American life during the Cold War. Full Story