Actually, the world does revolve around NYC and the entire NYC Metro area. Despite the high taxes and the high cost of living, the NYC metro area remains the financial capital of the world, the corporate capital of the world, the cultural capital of the United States, the sporting capital of the United States, the media capital of the United States, one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and for better or for worse, the diplomatic capital of the world. I recall reading recently that the goods and services produced by NYC itself exceed the GNP of all but a handful of countries and all states except for California and New York (if NYC is included), and perhaps Texas. The New York City Mass Transit system moves something like 3,000,000 people a day, and the equivilent of the entire City of Atlanta walks through Grand Central Station alone on a daily basis. Within a 20 mile radius we have two pro basketball teams, three pro hockey teams, two pro baseball teams, and two pro football teams.
My point is that while every city in the country is a potential terror target, NYC remains the place where every terrorist wants to strike.
Well then, maybe a policy decentralizing these "capital" activities in the New York area is a good idea. Then it wouldn't be such an attractive target, as you say.
Actually, I suspect that most of those activities would carry on elsewhere if New York were leveled by terrorists, tsunami, earthquake, whatever, and no one would miss Manhattan. The world is changing and geographic location is no longer critical to "capital" activities. Viva la Internet!
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1842200&C=america
DHS Chief Justifies Funding Cuts To NYC, Washington
By WILLIAM MATTHEWS