“Dallas is now officially one of the nation’s top 10 terrorist targets – a designation that sounds alarming but which state and local officials have sought for years, because it means millions in federal funds to beef up security.
The Department of Homeland Security’s precise reasons remain secret, but there were plenty of educated guesses Wednesday about the many factors that justify putting Dallas on a list with New York and Washington. They include population growth, huge sports venues, economic impact, and even the fact that an ex-president calls the city home.
‘We thought they should be a top-tier city last time … considering the number of critical infrastructures, key resources, the population, soft targets, the economic importance,’ said Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety and Gov. Rick Perry’s chief homeland security adviser. ‘We’re glad that the threat-based formula that Homeland Security is using finally recognizes that.'”
