Republicans criticize report on right-wing groups

[festus]

Republicans on Wednesday said a Homeland Security Department intelligence assessment unfairly characterizes military veterans as right-wing extremists.

House Republican leader John Boehner described the report as offensive and called on the agency to apologize to veterans.

The agency's intelligence assessment, sent to law enforcement officials last week, warns that right-wing extremists could use the bad state of the U.S. economy and the election of the country's first black president to recruit members.

The assessment also said that returning military veterans who have difficulties assimilating back into their home communities could be susceptible to extremist recruiters or might engage in lone acts of violence.

"To characterize men and women returning home after defending our country as potential terrorists is offensive and unacceptable," said Boehner, R-Ohio.

The commander of the veterans group the American Legion, David Rehbein, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano expressing concern with the assessment, which made its way into the mainstream press after conservative bloggers got wind of the analysis.

Rehbein called the assessment incomplete and said it lacked statistical evidence. He said the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by military veteran Timothy McVeigh, cited in the report, was one instance of a veteran becoming a domestic terrorist.

"To continue to use McVeigh as an example of the stereotypical 'disgruntled military veteran' is as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole example of Islam," Rehbein said in the April 13 letter.

Napolitano defended the assessment and others issued by the agency.

"Let me be very clear — we monitor the risks of violent extremism taking root here in the United States," Napolitano said in a statement. "We don't have the luxury of focusing our efforts on one group; we must protect the country from terrorism whether foreign or homegrown, and regardless of the ideology that motivates its violence."

Napolitano said the department respects and honors veterans and that she intends to meet with Rehbein next week after she returns from a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border and meetings in Mexico City.

Glen M. Gardner Jr., national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, disputed claims that Homeland Security analysts were describing veterans as terror threats.

"The report should have been worded differently, but it made no blanket accusation that every soldier was capable of being a traitor like Benedict Arnold, or every veteran could be a lone wolf, homegrown terrorist like Timothy McVeigh," said Gardner, a Marine veteran from Round Rock, Texas. " It was just an assessment about possibilities that could take place."

Homeland Security says the assessments are part of a series published "to facilitate a greater understanding of the phenomenon of violent radicalization in the United States."

In February, the department issued a report to law enforcement that said left-wing extremist groups were likely to use cyber attacks more often in the next 10 years to further their cause.

In September, the agency highlighted how right-wing extremists over the past five years have used the immigration debate as a recruiting tool.

Between September 2008 and Feb. 5, the agency issued at least four reports, obtained by The Associated Press, on individual extremist groups such as the Moors, Vinlanders Social Club, Volksfront and Hammerskin Nation.

But the references to military veterans in the recent report angered conservatives.

"The department is engaging in political and ideological profiling of people who fought to keep our country safe from terrorism, uphold our nation's immigration laws, and protect our constitutional right to keep and bear arms," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla.,

Texas Rep. Lamar Smith accused the department of painting "law-abiding Americans, including war veterans, as 'extremists.'"

Indiana Rep. Steve Buyer, the ranking Republican on the House Veterans' Affairs committee, said it was "inconceivable" that the administration would consider military veterans a potential terrorist threat.

On the Net:
Homeland Security Department: Department of Homeland Security | Preserving our Freedoms, Protecting America

Source: The Associated Press: Republicans criticize report on right-wing groups

[fibertech]

they have come out as of lately and broaden their view of " extremist" If you like guns, if you are anti abortion,if you are for the constitution, if you are against big government, and now if you have served in the military...well I guess that makes me an extremist.the way I see it I am in good company. Our founding fathers were looked at as extremist as well. count me in!

[51percent]

Napolitano needs to resign, now, for her comments against vets.

Michael Savage sues Napolitano.
Savage sues Napolitano for targeting vets

Not making this stuff up, cut-n-paste.

According to the federal government, members of the suspect group of people include those who:

Oppose restrictions on firearms
Oppose lax immigration
Oppose the policies of President Obama regarding immigration, citizenship and the expansion of social programs
Oppose continuation of free trade agreements
Oppose same-sex marriage
Have paranoia of foreign regimes
Fear Communist regimes
Oppose one world government
Bemoan the decline of U.S. stature in the world
Are upset with the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to China and India

[2nd_AMENDMENT_KNIGHT]

If your not Right , then you are a communist. I wish Americans would stop supporting individuals and groups that want to destroy this country. Obama and his leftist organization are out for two thing; the end of the U.S. dollar and the merger of Canada, U.S., and Mexico. Fight for this great country and they will not succeed.

[HK4U]

Back when Janet Reno was the Attorney General we were cultists. Now we are terrorists. I guess next we will be hostel aliens from outer space.