Homeland Insecurity?

I am still trying to figure out the whole Homeland Security system. I have read numerous times about small towns that would likely never be any kind of terrorist target (because they have small populations and nothing really vital there) get big grants from the government, allegedly in the name of homeland security. Then you read an article like the one from MSNBC that I have linked below, concerning the number of chemical plants in the United States near or in major cities. As someone who grew up with a moderately sized chemical plant about 8 miles away, I wonder why we waste homeland security money where it is not needed instead of spending it on safeguarding vital areas (or dangerous potential targets) such as ports, chemical plants, nuke plants oil refineries, etc.

One scenario listed in the article describes a possible attack with up to a million casualties. You would think that would move these chemical plants up the list quite a ways. Apparently there are over 10000 chemical plants of varying sizes in the US, and no we may not be able to protect all of them. But one would think the government would make a real effort to at least protect the ones that are the most potentially dangerous and/or in large population centers.

I am glad we are spending money on homeland security, but I think we need to spend a little less money and effort trying to prevent what has already happened and spend more trying to think creatively about how the next attack might come.

Here is the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8477697/