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by ziddoap 460 days ago
"[...] national security is widely understood to include also non-military dimensions, such as the security from terrorism, minimization of crime, economic security, energy security, environmental security, food security, and cyber-security."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security

Large-scale issues that impact the economy are typically under the "national security" umbrella. It's a term that uses the broad definition of "security".

Whether this incident qualifies, I don't know, but "national security" is definitely not just about military stuff. Just like how "food security" isn't about physically protecting food from damage.

2 comments

While I agree with you, this is a huge issue with the term "security" and what it means to "provide security" as a government, because at some point almost everything can be labeled as a "national security threat" if it happens to be against the political desiderata of any one controlling said governments at a certain moment in time.

I feel like this sort of "security reflex" only got worst after 9/11, it was already there before even before that point but starting with Bush jr. it cascading into lots and lots of non-military related areas.

Security, harm, aggression, violence, genocide. Redefine at your pleasure.
I am not sure I am enthusiastic with the slow march toward 'national security issue' being synonymous with 'me personally being spooked by something'.
Or 'my flight was delayed for a few hours'