Napolitano Defends Report On Right Wing Extremism Risk

WASHINGTON — Civil liberties officials at the Homeland Security Department did not agree with some of the language in a controversial report on right-wing extremists, but the agency issued the report anyway.

The intelligence assessment issued to law enforcement last week said some military veterans could be susceptible to extremist recruiters or commit lone acts of violence. That prompted angry reactions from some lawmakers and veterans' groups.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the report was issued before officials resolved problems raised by the agency's civil rights division. Kudwa would not specify what language raised the concerns.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the report Thursday, but she said the definition of right-wing extremism that was included in a footnote should be changed.

In the report, right-wing extremism was defined as hate-motivated groups and movements, such as hatred of certain religions, racial or ethnic groups. "It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the report said.

"If there's one part of that report I would rewrite, in the word-smithing, Washington-ese that goes on after the fact, it would be that footnote," Napolitano said Thursday on Fox News.

The same definition was included in the agency's March 26 report on domestic extremism. Both reports were marked "For Official Use Only."

The report on right-wing extremists cites the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by military veteran Timothy McVeigh as one instance of a veteran becoming a domestic terrorist.

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Several lawmakers, the American Legion and Vets for Freedom took offense to the intelligence review. The Veterans of Foreign Wars defended it as an assessment, not an accusation.

Napolitano said, "We do not mean to suggest that veterans as a whole are at risk of becoming violent extremists."

She also said: "I apologize for that offense. It was certainly not intended."

The top Republican on the House intelligence committee, Michigan's Pete Hoekstra, has asked the director of national intelligence's ombudsman to investigate the Homeland Security report for "unsubstantiated conclusions and political bias."

The senior Democrat of the House committee with oversight of the department said the report raises privacy and civil liberty issues. "This report appears to have blurred the line between violent belief, which is constitutionally protected, and violent action, which is not," Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., wrote in a letter to Napolitano.

The department's definition of left-wing extremism in the March 26 report includes a reference to violence, stating these groups that embrace anticapitalist, communist or socialist beliefs seek "to bring about change through violent revolution rather than through established political processes."

These reports are part of the department's routine analysis of intelligence information to give to law enforcement agencies guidance on possible security threats.

In February, the department issued a similar warning about possible cyber attacks from left wing extremists. In September, the agency reported that right-wing extremists over the past five years had used the immigration debate as a recruiting tool.

Since September, the agency issued several reports on individual foreign and domestic extremist groups such as al-Qaida and Hammerskin Nation, a skinhead organization. The Hammerskin assessment said many of the group's members received military training and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The latest report has turned into a "political football," said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif. Harman, who chairs a House subcommittee on intelligence and information sharing, said the report could have been written more artfully, but added that "it was a well-intended effort to describe to law enforcement what things to look for."

"If the result is to dumb down intelligence products that could prevent the next attack to the homeland, we will all lose," she said.

(This version CORRECTS to show that DHS would not specify which language raised concerns.)

Comments

[apduncan1]

Before we forget similar right wing extremism and a President that was assasinated:

http://www.prosebeforehos.com/image-of-the-day/10/20/the-price-of-encouraging-political-violence/

We are hearing an echo nowadays. The same chant and call to arms.

[Libertyfan]

You need to read Case Closed or Reclaiming History. Oswald was lefty.

[David McCracken]

be aware that there are roughly 56 million right wing extremeist in the go old USA, a government should fear its citizens

[AndThenOneDay]

Drink less, type better. Please.

[research]

What a twisted interpretation of that saying.

The right wing GOP conservatives want fascism and plutocracy.

It is precisely these fascist type of governments that should fear it's citizens,

not the populist governmnet Obama is building.

[BigAl72]

56 million seems a bit high. I would say around maybe 5.6 million that really hate this country when they are not in power. Decent caring citizens who follow the law way outnumber right wing extremism about 50 to 1.

[verdadero]

As a veteran of the Vietnam War I can assure you that Ms. Napolitano is absolutley correct in her assessment of the dangers inherent in a person who has been indoctrinated for many years against democratic ideals being recruited by radical right wingnut extremists. Many military veterans have been indoctrinated to distrust anyone who teaches the rule of law. Their mostly radical right wing officers have worked very hard to teach them that anyone who wants to do things like tax the wealthy are a threat to them. Add that indoctrination to the fact that many of them are unemployable because there is not much demand for people whose only skill is as a sniper and you have the makings of a recruit for radical right wingnut terrorist causes. I have no doubt that the recent spate of Mad Hatter Tea Parties were a step towards building a paramilitary terrorist group. Look at who is sponsoring these Mad Hatter Tea Parties and you will see the real enemies of democracy in America.

[noaxe397]

Sir, as a member of my generation, I thank you for your service and agree completely with your interesting comments. It was Gingrich and Armey who, in 1994, began calling government the enemy. Republicans in Congress gave aggrieved victim status to cop killers and child molestors and put the police on trial and tried to disarm them. And who features prominently in this tea bag BS? The same two guys.

Right wingers on this site object to comparisons between right wing extremists and the GOP. I believe the GOP is the American Taliban, and they secretly would love to see America hit again so they can say "I told you so."
I lived in NYC in the 1970s, when the Vietnam demobilization was in full swing. The NYC police dept. thought veterans would make good police officers because they were familiar with uniformed service and trained in weapons and tactics. The rates of civilian complaints against the police skyrocketed as newly hired veterans had difficulty adjusting to civilian life.
I heard on a news show that today there is white supremacist and aryan nation grafitti scrawled on building in Iraq.
And this is a war we "won."
Do you think we need to bring back the draft so the military is more representative of the whole nation?

[Rebecca Aultman]

There are true right wing extremist just as there are left wing extremist , however we must not label people extremist just because they do not believe as we do. The Tea Parties were not made up of extremists, but of people wishing to let their voices be heard. The thousands and thousands of people that attended these events are only a small portion of the actual number that believe as they do. Thank God for FOX News which reports both sides of the story without the hate.

[FairTalk]

Oh, great! Left wing nuts pointing fingers at right wing nuts. United we stand, divided we....

[samthewill]

it is not only veterans... i have several very wealthy friends at www.affluence.org who would probably fall under the title 'extremist' and a 'threat'. these are people who have worked hard in this country their whole life and dont want to see it go to garbage ... absolutely insane

[research]

HS: keep a close watch on ALL extremists.
Sounds like you already are. Good.

[Amunaka]

It's amazing and troubeling that the right holds up soldiers as human shieds to deflect attention from one administration ...just to turn it around and hold them up again to dengrade another administration.....way to go.....

[elbzee]

You said it Amunaka! Hypocrisy at its finest!

[FairTalk]

Is this the Change We Can Believe In? NO, it is NOT. It is the same fear mongering we went thru during the Bush years. Any time he was questioned, he would get on TV and scare people to death. This is the same tactic, only from the left wing nuts. See, the band wagon gas wing nuts on both the left and the right side.

As for returning vets being dangerous, the last time I heard that vets returning from war wee a danger to government policies was back in the 1960s and '70s. This is just another weird twist like swiftboating.

Enough with the divisive rhetoric, on with American values.

[BlackWidowPilot]

I doubt very much that Alan Berg or the victims of Timothey McVeigh would agree with you, citizen.

Extremists are extremists, whatever their ideology.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[jowilli]

Some of you "conservanuts" seem to protest too much.

The report talks about "right-wing extremist", not conservatives or republicans but EXTREMIST. It shouldn't bother you unless you ARE are rabid right-wing EXTREMIST! And the report was comissioned by Bush not Obama.

I see no need for DHC to offer any apology or explaination and I seriously doubt that the people making the stink about this would do so if Obama was not in the White House. This report is simple stating what most people, particularly in the military, has know for years.

The military is full of gangbangers and reich hounds looking to hone their destructive skills.

Ignoring it or whining about it will neither make it go away or resolve the problem.

And Ms. Napolitano, stop apologizing! None is needed.

[tenzenz]

With the recent comments coming from the radicals in the right wing, I hope that she is taking precautions to protect the US from terrorist attacks from within. If they have reason to believe that someone or some group is planning an attack on US Soil similar to Oklahoma City, then where is the problem? these same people that are griping about this "awareness" were not speaking out nearly as loudly when the Bush Administration expanded the wiretapping program that was definitely spying on American Citizens and actually violating our right to privacy. This "Awareness" action does not seem to rise to that level, unless they gather evidence or observe questionable activity that would lead to violent attacks on US Soil against US property or persons

[peter777]

When will Ohio relieve us of having to hear Rep. John Boehner politicizing every issue and and offering dumb solutions to America's problems?

[greendream]

I don't understand how the idea that vets might be approached by extremists groups translates into 'Vets are terrorists?"

Most veterans have enough common sense to know right from wrong. Its the fringe elements (and every group has them) that has to be monitored. Why not acknowledge the fact?

[horsey]

the report didn't say "vets are terrorists" that's how the right wing extremists described it....use your head man.

[kozy]

The report did not imply veterans were going to become far right violent nutcases. It simply wanted to make law enforcement aware that a tiny percentage of veterans turn out to be Tmothy McVays. Vets have seen lots of violence in war and know it can get results. But, the vast majority adjust to civilian life after a period of time and don't want to think about war.

[hoobit]

Above statment is absolutely true. As far as it goes . . .

Just because someone is a veteran, does NOT mean that they *cannot *(or will not) become a right-wing extremist, any more than just because someone is a 'pastor' or 'religious person,' they *cannot* (or will not) promote and/or cause and/or carry out extreme acts of unmitigated (national) disruption and/or unimaginable violence.

Since the vast, vast, *vast* majority of veterans and pastors/religious people ARE men and women of honor, good-will, and steadiness, we (all of us) tend to dismiss the very idea that SOME of them might be out-and-out whack-jobs. Just because MOST are completely 'normal' and rational, we should NOT assume that ALL are - or will continue to be, though.

I think we all have a tendency to assume that a person's excellent prior service to our nation and/or community, makes them immune from ever 'going around the bend.' That is not the case - they, too, can go just as whack-o as anyone else.

In giving them a blanket 'pass' *because* of their prior service and/or religious affiliation, there is grave danger that glaring warning signs of radical, violence-promoting, extremism growing within them (and shared by them with others) are overlooked/dismissed *until* they've been acted out/upon. NOT a very wise way to operate; no, not wise, proactive, or intelligent at all.

[Hood]

I marched in Oceanside Ca. with those alleged extremists. There were 5,000 of us last night. There were no problems, no litter and as far as extremists are concerned I did not see one, just fed up American Citizens. By the way I am a Democrat. Why would I march with those 5,000 people? It is because I would defend their free speech rights to the death. I always thought Obama’s Administration would defend Free Speech and the Constitution. Perhaps I was wrong. Spinning this into republican notions appear to be a little snarky. The deliberate theft of your grandchildren’s money for Wall street and Global bankers (by Bush/Obama) was the issue here. And, Republicans were not invited to the Tea Parties. Local fees, State and Federal taxes are going up. Hold on to your seats.

P.S.
As far as DHS and it’s comment about Obama being the “First African American President”. That’s just another example of agencies (DHS) racism???

[k6007]

Well, since the president is doing EXACTLY what he promised while campaigning, I guess you're a democrat that voted for mcpalin..

[dezzertguy]

Except for earmarks.

[Hood]

Oh my Gawd. Every time Palin spoke, I sent money to Obama. LOL

[horsey]

what part of free speech did Obama not defend as you say?

you can thank one guy for the mess we are in boy and that's Bush.

[Hood]

Horsy, I said “Obama’s Administration” . That was the operative phrase. It was Bush’s DHS. And, now we are stuck with that. The last thing America needs is a Right/Left push. The point is that our agencies should pick their words very carefully.

And, I am not your boy.

[dezzertguy]

There were over 5,000 in Phoenix and 8 cops. I guess the police did not get the memo. Or, maybe they saw the author and just threw it away.

[Jerry Pennington]

The fact that the report neded to be explained any further than what it had already stated is a shame, it shows how stupid we are as a country when we follow radio personalities and Fox news opinion based shows to get our information. The report never accused veterans of anything, it said they would be high on the list of targets for recruitment, it never said they would be joining. People this report never accused republicans of anything although they (republicans) have surely picked this ball up off the ground and tried to run with it. This report was about the Timothy McVeigh type people that are still out there, even if a republican senator is so sure their aren't anymore people like that I still have my doubts

I am really getting so sick and tired of how stupid this country has become listenting to slime like Limbaugh and Hannity who are merely trying to upset you so you continue to listen to them and then they get a nice big pay check for their big ratings. Don't let entertainers do your thinking for you people, you need to use that brain that you think god gave you and think for yourselves instead of being mindless sheep. If you come to these conclusions on your own then I feel sorry for you but at least you used your own will and not just followed these "shepherds" who are only going to lead your flock over a cliff.

[unprofor]

Mr. Pennington while I agree with your comments about Limbaugh and Hannity, I don't think you went far enough. I would add Olbermann and his ilk to this list. Anyone who gets their news and talking points from commentators is lacking in the ability to think on their own. Commentators on both far ends of the spectrum are patronizing to the uninformed on both sides. What we as consumers of the news should be doing is demanding from our news organizations to provide us with the facts and allow us as consumers to analyze those facts to make an opinion. Too often in this day and age, we want everything given to us to include our opinions. Wasting time talking about what Limbaugh or Olbermann said is polarizing. Let's not forget ignorant commentators come from both sides.

[Lemeritus]

Well said, both Jerry Pennington and unprofor.

How about going to the source? I've read the assessment and there's nothing in it that anyone with a lick of common sense would disagree with -- these are the facts on the ground and this is how we can expect SOME people to react to them. Why? Because that's the way they've reacted to the same realities in the past; if A, then B. Kind of like those "Slippery When Wet" signs -- if it's raining, how do you imagine the road will be?

[johnthesavage]

The left just can't stand a little criticism. They just can't abide a little dissent, without resorting to vile name calling and absurd stereotypes.