Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Outlaw America


"We are all outlaws in the eyes of America..."
We Can Be Together
Jefferson Starship, circa 1968

UPDATE: From the PowerLine Blog
The Homeland Security report lists the possibility of restrictions on firearms as a driving force behind extremist recruitment:

Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of rightwing extremist groups, as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government.

On its face, this is pure speculation. It's true that firearms sales have increased, but what evidence is there that those buying guns are "planning and training for violence against the government"? None that the report discloses.
[...]
Whoever wrote the report seems deeply hostile to conservatives' opposition to the agenda of the Obama administration. For example:

Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. Rightwing extremists are increasingly galvanized by these concerns and leverage them as drivers for recruitment.

Millions of Americans--not just "rightwing extremists"--are concerned about the administration's positions on immigration and many other issues. Note that wherever possible, the authors slip race into the discussion, as with the reference to "expansion of social programs to minorities." I'm not aware of a single social program that the Obama administration has proposed to "expand to minorities." But the authors' assumption is, apparently, that anyone who opposes the expansion of social programs must be a racist. Once again we see the assertion that right wing extremists are "galvanized" and are "leveraging" these issues as "drivers for recruitment." But is recruitment up, down, or stable? The report doesn't say, and its authors evidently don't know.

UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has DHS confirmation of the document and her analysis of same, plus comprehensive links to other websites covering the "Rightwing Extremism" Assessment. Click here.
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Since NEWSWEEK crowed "We're All Socialists Now" on its cover a few weeks ago, maybe it's time for, say, THE WEEKLY STANDARD, to run a cover that announces, "
We Are All Outlaws Now." This from our friends at Homeland Security, via Sean Hannity:
The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement officials about a rise in "rightwing extremist activity," saying the economic recession, the election of America's first black president and the return of a few disgruntled war veterans could swell the ranks of white-power militias.

A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines "rightwing extremism in the United States" as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the warning says.

The White House has distanced itself from the analysis. When asked for comment on its contents, White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said, "The President is focused not on politics but rather taking the steps necessary to protect all Americans from the threat of violence and terrorism regardless of its origins. He also believes those who serve represent the best of this country, and he will continue to ensure that our veterans receive the respect and benefits they have earned."

The nine-page document was sent to police and sheriff's departments across the United States on April 7 under the headline, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment."

It says the federal government "will be working with its state and local partners over the next several months" to gather information on "rightwing extremist activity in the United States."
"Reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority"??? Maybe Homeland should consider reading the Constitution at least once before shredding it. It gets worse. According to the PrisonPlanet blog, which has complete copies of the DHS paper — “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” reports that: 
In “Key Findings,” the DHS document states that the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has no “no specific information that domestic rightwing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues [specifically gun control]. The economic downturn and the election of the first African American president present unique drivers for rightwing radicalization and recruitment.”

The authors of the document drag out all of the old “rightwing” bugaboos, most notably the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. In addition, they mention the “[p]roposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans” resulting in recruiting new members and culminating in the “planning and training for violence against the government.”
[...]
In order to underscore this assertion, the authors note the “high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement.” In fact, as noted above, the “high volume of purchases,” as the media has reported, is a reaction on the part of Americans in general regardless of ideological persuasion. It is a common sense reaction to the documented fact president Obama is opposed to firearms ownership, even though he claims to support the Second Amendment.

The DHS I&A attributes the purported “resurgence in rightwing extremist recruitment and radicalization activity” to economic factors and the election of Barack Obama. “Despite similarities to the climate of the 1990s [a reference to the militia movement exaggerated by government and corporate media], the threat posed by lone wolves and small terrorist cells is more pronounced than in past years. In addition, the historical election of an African American president and the prospect of policy changes [i.e., gun registration leading to eventual confiscation] are proving to be a driving force for rightwing extremist recruitment and radicalization.”

The tone of the document indicates that the government plans to impose restrictions on the ownership of firearms. [PrisonPlanet analysis] In addition, the document warns local law enforcement that “rightwing terrorists” will violently resist any attempt to register or confiscate guns.
So there you are...you read it and you decide what it means. I think it means exactly what it says, that a section of the government of my country considers me a terrorist for exercising my Constitutional rights. BTW, the DHS paper carries the following disclaimer:
LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION NOTICE: This product contains Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) information. No portion of the LES information should be released to the media, the general public, or over non-secure Internet servers. Release of this information could adversely affect or jeopardize investigative activities.

Warning: This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U//FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled, stored, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know without prior approval of an authorized DHS official. State and local homeland security officials may share this document with authorized security personnel without further approval from DHS.
Whoops...maybe there are more Oath-Keepers out there than DHS imagines...

20 comments:

Dave S. said...

Thank you, DHS. Limbaugh, who now has more listeners than ever, will run with this. You've just declared almost half the country, who pride themselves on their patriotism, to be enemies of the state. An actual, honest-to-goodness, McVeigh-level extremist nutjob could not have done a better job of discrediting the Feds if he'd written something like this himself as a hoax. Bravo.

cm smith said...

The events of the '90s, 9/11 and onward have not deterred some from losing sight of the real enemy -- Republicans.

Anonymous said...

From the Tactical Wire

NICS Does 100 Million Instant Checks over 10 Years
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency responsible for running the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), has announced the completion of the 100 millionth instant background check since the inception of NICS 10 years ago. The announcement drew praise from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) -- the trade association for the firearms industry -- and follows the continued surge of firearm sales across the country for the fifth straight month, extending a trend that began after the November elections.

That's a LOT of "extremists".
Things like this are why so many American distrust cops.
Tom Bogan

Middle Man said...

Patrick Henry once again leaps to mind..."I smelt a rat..." or "If this be treason..."

Anonymous said...

Clearly a disturbing document, and it is a good thing some patriot leaked it.

That said, it makes me uncomfortable to see MB linking a blog by Alex Jones. Not cause he's too "radical," but because the dude is sloppy with facts. About 30% real material for concern, with a lot of the rest being BS, speculation, and innuendo. Jones's summary of the DHS memo follows that line, as you'll see when you read the full memo for yourself (which MB rightly urges us to do).

There is enough bad stuff in the memo without Jonesifying it.

The more "radical" one is, the more one needs to be scrupulous about not shading or overstating what sources say. Dissidents with integrity are harder to marginalize.

Anonymous said...

They even have the gall to call NAZI type organizations(NAZI simple translation is National Socialist Party which is Fascist/socialst)right wing extremist when in fact(polisci 101)any nazi type is by definition a left wing extremist group."We the People" are now paying the operational cost of a politically focused propaganda group instead of a security focused group.

HTownTejas said...

Where do I get my "Rightwing Extremist" bumper sticker? Will have to make room next to my "Enemy Combatant" and "Homegrown Terrorist" stickers. Why are they making so many scary labels for us patriots? It's like their prepping the propaganda before an attack.

Anonymous said...

Reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority. Does that mean that Homeland Security considers the DC Mayor, City Council, City Attorney, and Police Chief outlaws for their total lack of respect for the Supreme Courts Heller decision?

Anonymous said...

I think they are manufacturing a crisis so they can enact there solution. They ball so seem to be floating a lot of trial baloons on gun contol reasons - help Mexico, Right wing extrmeists. I thought extremists was one of Janet Napolitanos dirty wors? Guess if there not citizens Homeland Security has to talk nicer.

Middle Man said...

To pick out a few points towards the end of the report, the DHS Assessment is apparently concerned about not only the increase in firearms sales but also the associated rise in firearm owners pursuing information regarding "weapons training and tactics"...so even a citizen attempting to learn basic gun handling skills is a dangerous activity in the authors eyes?

Anonymous said...

Are they questioning our patriotism? Didn't we have 8 years of people saying that was wrong?

Anonymous said...

Consider me your enemy and I will act like one.

Anonymous said...

We're all terrorists now.

Another click of the heater dial heating the frog's water. Maybe 2 or 3 actually . . .

George said...

Michael,
Since the government has deemed you scofflaw, are you going to coerce us into joining your religious cult, give you money and have sex with you in order for us achieve perfect oneness?

If that's so you can forget me joining your cult or giving you any money......

gullyborg said...

I would like to remind all those who stayed home, voted third party, or otherwise failed to support the Republican Party in 2008, that this is EXACTLY what I warned you was coming if we let Obama win.

Let's not make the same mistakes in 2010 and 2012. We need to united AGAINST THE LEFT.

Get involved in your local GOP. Help recruit and support good local candidates. Build grassroots support for good conservative national candidates. Fight hard for the "right" candidates in the primaries and cauci. But once the nominees are chosen, if "your" candidates don't win, UNITE AROUND THE NOMINEES and FIGHT AGAINST THE LEFT.

George said...

Gullyborg,
After what I saw my part do to Sarah Palin, I knew we didn't deserve to win the election.

I'm voting for who I think is the best candidate next time. The GOP left the conservatives and decided they would rather be Democrat-lite.

So don't give me your solidarity bullshit, because that's just what it is.

Eric said...

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

-- John Quincy Adams

nj_larry said...

In the military it's called "recon by fire". Ya go out and and shootup the countryside hoping that the silly rabbits will stick their heads up and maybe take a pot shot at ya. You get to gauge strength.

I suspect that this is what the report is all about. Getting us to show ourselves so they can come back with targeted attacks on us. We don't have enough lawyers or money to beat back the next assault.

Dave S. said...

"Democracy" is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

"Conservativism" is two wolves and two sheep voting on what to have for dinner, and one sheep votes "Anything but sheep", and the other sheep votes, "F*** that, I want Quiche Lorraine."

Anonymous said...

DHS next step already written.
http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/procreb.html