The Washington Post’s Robert O’Harrow, Jr. reports on “fusion centers”—information-sharing networks run by state government’s in the name of fighting terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security has given a total of $254 million in the last four years to enable these centers to collect a disconcerting amount of personal and financial information. The CIA and Pentagon are also reported to be involved.

Despite the ominous storyline — computer databases aided by Washington’s web of surveillance and contracted out to little-known companies — the normally excellent O’Harrow, Jr. doesn’t really uncover a smoking gun. The piece, though, is valuable in pointing out the various federal govt. lists being handed over. These include the Treasury’s Department’s broad “suspicious activity reports” list — the list that brought down Eliot Spitzer.   Read O’Harrow Jr. here.   MB

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