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.

Story continues below

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

[MRb1000]

I live next to a military Army base and violence is up! There have been many homicides by America's best, but not all are bad. We must take a good look at what she is saying. These guy and gals are coming back with PTSD serous mental problems can be acerbated by media like talk show radio and Fox new network. These crazy news organization do not care what they say on the air! All they are looking for are ratings. They do not care if people get hurt. This is nothing new. We are here about this in the new today.

[DontJustFollow]

crime is up around your base? please share what base that is and give us some proof.

when you say things without basing them in facts, you are no different than the people you claim to be outraged by.

show us something to back up your charges otherwise admit you are just making it up. "Many homicidesby America's best" - since you are so quick to generalize, lets compare homicide rates by "America's best" and by people of color. Using your "logic" I guess we should take a hard look at another "group". ever listen to the lyrics of a rap song? where do you feel most safe, by your base or in the inner city?

Wonder why democrats ALLWAYS use race to get their base fired up? Maybe they and people like you are just making things up looking for a certain segment of society to exploit? Who are you afraid of now? google murder rates by race and then contrast it with your report on homicides by returning military personel - am I a r@ci st now? Does looking up statistics make you a r@ci st?
Should you be afraid of people of color? don't be an id iot. Of course not - study and read and investigate. Then get as upset at those at the rally that are tired of people that just follow. Get upset at people that just blab with no information or reason.

ignorant people are the problem not the solution.

[steamboat]

I live in the city (Chicago) and not near the military and violence is way up........so whats your point?

[GonzoFactor]

More taking things out of context, more FoxProp distortion, more Bohnerisms and Republican pandering to the loonies. Another day in the USA.

[toypiano]

She doesn't have to defend the report at all. You don't need a report to know it's true -- just look around and see who is committing violent incidents, usually involving guns. And look at who is proud of their racism. And who spews hateful invective against immigrants. Who wants to ban books, who doesn't want to pay their fair share to support national or local infrastructure, who won't let their kids go to school and instead insist on learnin' them at home if at all, who sports the angry bumper-sticker calls to violent action, etc. etc.

Out of thousands of teabaggers at our state capitol yesterday, there wasn't one face of color. It was overwhelmingly older white men, a lot of veterans and high school dropouts, apparently. The signs were not very literate and many of them were uninformed and simplistic. There was no attempt to differentiate between bank bailouts, school funding, labor unions, national stimulus, state budget line items, Nazis, ignorance of American history, immigration, economic theories, corporate CEO salaries, the military, sales tax, federal taxes, gun "rights," pirates, inaccuracies about the U.S. Constitution, the uppity-ness of a certain undeserving leader who didn't really get the most votes in the last presidential election but was somehow "installed" by a shadowy organization, the evils of "women's libbers" (what decade are these people living in?!), conspiracy theories for every occasion, etc.

[FlamingLibrul]

Um, there were hundreds of teabaggers in DC yesterday- not thousands.

[twistedknickers]

Some "movement"! LMAO
I've seen twice that many people milling around outside a GratefulDead concert trying to find tickets.

[toypiano]

I don't live in D.C. We had literally thousands at our state capitol.

[solopico]

"look at who is proud of their racism"

I would like to remind you of the fact that it was our current president who consistently brought race to the forefront of the campaign, making such statements as "they're going to tell you I'm different, I don't look like the others on the dollar bills..."

You're spitting into the wind.

[FlamingLibrul]

Wow, President Obama acknowleges his African-Americanness- and wingnutters say he uses the race card. Gawd you people are scary!!!

[k6007]

What's wrong, did he flip your hold card? The man IS brilliant.

[toypiano]

Acknowledging the racism that was being directed at him by the McPalin campaign is not to be confused with the racism itself. Surely you can tell the difference. Although, maybe not.

[DontJustFollow]

I think the whole race card issue is much more evident in the democratic party. When a white person is a democrat it is all good - right?

What happens when a person of color joins the republican party? Uncle Tom? House Boy?
All the party leaders line up to denounce such a thing.

Really though, what has the democratic party done for people of color? How are the schools, public housing, public assistance, etc. working in the large democratically controlled big cities?

Look what the democrats just did to the very successful and well supported school voucher program in Washington DC - - - Makes you wonder who is more important to the democrats, under privileged minority students or rich powerful union bosses ????

now which party do you think uses race as a wedge issue? remember who brought it up first in the last cycle ?

[Ionakr]

It is a shame that a "person of color" could even think that the Dems have done nothing for us. Please tell me what have the Repubs done for us? They have raised your taxes, want to cut Social Security, Medicare, could care less about hospital costs and if they had their way, we "persons of color" would be back in either Africa, or on the plantations picking cotton. There is nothing wrong with a African/American being a Republican. Look at Mr. Powell. But now also look at what happened to him. He has been shunned by the Repubs. Ms. Rice was considered a joke by Repubs. Michael Steele on the other hand is an "Uncle Tom or House Boy." He only speaks what they want him to. He blasted Rush and believe you me, the Repubs told him to apologize immediately. He has no control over the RNC. He is a puppet on a string. When he does speak, they want him to shut up.

Maybe at some of the rallies yesterday there were people of color, but at the major ones in the major cities where Fox News was, you could not find any. And those that were in Orlando, were going to Disneyworld and in California (which is where I am), they were those that we call "wantta be's".

[Avanti2]

...... there wasn't one face of color...... Boy that was not true in Orlando, FL. A large mixture of whites, blacks, browns, oriental (Vietnamese and Chinese) and particularly folks of Spanish background. It was a very peaceful and upbeat gathering. And when it was all over, No Trash on the Park's Grass! It was the most respectful large group of the downtown Orlando Lake Eola Public Park Facility I have ever seen

[DontJustFollow]

same in Santa Monica and Glendale, CA -

I don't think democrats consider it a successful rally unless police cars are burned and shop windows are smashed.

did anyone see the photos of the Mall after the inauguration?

[AngryOhioan]

"It was overwhelmingly older white men"
"just look around and see who is committing violent incidents"

Could you please provide some statistics that show that older white men are committing a disproportionate share of violent acts?

[destruct1]

She had to defend it...and vigorously. It's so disturbing that it demands clear explanation, which still has not been given. I'm sure the apologies will continue.

[FlamingLibrul]

The only thing that will continue is the repeated talking points prop@ganda of the wingnut brigade. At least you folks are finally admitting that the the Republican Rightwing really is aligned with ra ci st ha te groups. The rest of us knew this already.

[solopico]

That's a disgusting twist on reality.

What's really happening is the Obama administration is trying to portray well-meaning, average moderate conservatives as a fringe element of society.

To say that people who have concerns about border security, illegal immigration, ab0rti0n, and other socially and politically relevant topics are "radical" or "extremist" is just disrespectful to a very large segment of our population.

[k6007]

What would you wingers do without your fear, and h.ate? Poof!

[DontJustFollow]

I don't understand - it was your democrat Napolitano that sounded the warning to be afraid of the right wingers and returning soldiers.

I don't know ANY republicans that are afraid of our returning military -

[ThomasMc]

The Right Wing in this country still thinks Timothy McVeigh was their kind of guy. I'm glad as hell that DHS is keeping an eye on these wackos, including Texas Gov. Perry, who yesterday threatened to secede form the Union and start a second Civil War!

[Gumby123]

Please provide proof that the Right Wing thinks McVeigh is their guy. Make sure it's mainstream and not some fringe lunatic group.

[qdog112]

What do you think of his views. Here's your chance to repudiate him and his kind.

I dare you. Prove he's not your kind of guy.

[toypiano]

What's the difference? The mainstream right wing is now the lunatic fringe. Look at Boehner, for instance, or his leader Rush.

[k6007]

H.ate. Fear. W.ar. H.ate. Fear. W.ar. Rinse and repeat.

[DontJustFollow]

TM - Williams Ayers was and still is a democrat. He was no different than McVeigh - the only difference now is that democrats and the government send him donations and grants and McVeigh has been punished and is no more.

Where is the liberal outrage that a man that planted b0mbs and advocated the viiolent overthow of the US government is now involved in the Chicago Public School system. What would you think if McVeigh was doing the same ?

[FlamingLibrul]

William Ayers was acquitted of all charges and became a productive member of society. Tim McVeigh was tried and executed. Bzzzzt try again.

[tiotom77]

Timothy McVie to the Military is like Osama Bin Laden to Muslims. Let's be fair

[Bobzmcishl]

Judging from what I saw yesterday from political leaders like Rick Perry of Texas, I felt like it was 1963 all over again, with right wing extremists ranting about Kennedy. I would feel extremely nervous about Barack Obama visiting Dallas anytime soon and i am serious.

[k6007]

Or any other city in the ConfederateStates of America..

[Avanti2]

Let me tell you that Florida is a much more balanced center right state than Minnesota which is moving back to the left wing bent of years past. (Last 24 years in FL and prior, 16 years in Minnesota)

[gotborked]

You're silly, and you illustrate why this politcally motivated "report" was irresponsible--it feeds your fears with generalizations about the kind of people who hold conservative viewpoints.

[GonzoFactor]

Unfortunately, those "generalizations" are being fed by the behavior of too many right-wingers. Some is spin and publicity, and some of it is actually out there and is terrifying.

[PallinAround]

Agree. And that should be enough to make ANY American -- regardless of political ideology -- alarmed at what has become of our national discourse.

[john-wayne99]

the left wing wackos need to go live in cuba, russia or china for a couple of years.
if you like, stay.
if you dont, too bad

[k6007]

Whaaa, whaaaa..

[VPN]

Poor baby, upset that your party LOST, and the DEMOCRATIC Party is running the show, too bad, DEAL WITH IT.

[destruct1]

interesting you did not defend anything that was stated, only assumed they are/were upset. don't get too used to that "Deal with it" mantra...it will be you folks who will have to "deal with it" again in 3.5 short years (1.5 for congres) when your boy is booted out due to the road he and his colleagues have chosen to go down. Sorry....but you can bank on that.

[Hillrick]

Hunh. You draw a hard line for people who lawfully fight for our constitutional guarantees but are lenient on people who commit or incite or plan violent acts. Which we have laws against. If you don't like the laws of our country and do not want to lawfully try to change them, perhaps you should take up residence in a police state.

[cyclobenzaprine9]

the right wing wackos need to go live on Mars, Jupiter, or better yet, Pluto for a couple of years.
if you like, stay
if you don't, too bad

[qdog112]

What's the big deal Mr. John Wayne Gacy? Many recent reports show that not only are veterans a target for extremists recruitment, but that, many active duty troops are members of those groups.

That, friend in indisputable. Exposure of those facts is the job of DHS and the other agencies that heretofore, have been purposefully derelict in their sworn duties.

BTW, I ain't going nowhere. THIS IS MY COUNTRY, even though I'm not a wacko, I have the feeling you are talking to us all.

[Snuffleupagus]

The Washington two step.

1 When fascist Republicans are in power, the anti-war groups, peace groups and 'leftist' organizations are demonized and threatened and sometimes arrested. They are spied on and slandered in the press.

2 When fascist Democrats are in power, the right wing fringe groups, survivalists and the like are demonized and threatened and sometimes arrested. They are spied on and slandered in the press.

The commonality is that in both cases the American people see their rights taken away, we see government get stronger and more intrusive. We also see the divide between so called left and right increase as fear mongering is part of this dance of deceit.

I am quick to sympathize with the leftist groups (being a member of two that were infiltrated by Bush thugs a few years ago) and had been quick to condemn all the right wing gun nut groups.
Lately I have taken a more objective view. The whole Waco mess is a lot more complicated than most of us realize. Google that topic and see for yourself.

In any case, when it comes to assaulting the rights and freedoms of the American people, both parties can dance. They change the music every now and then from D to R, but the dance remains the same.

[Bompa]

Do you have the foggest idea what the definition of fascist is????

The term for sure fits the "new Repugnican " party and its dear leader Lumpbaugh...
Not so much with Democrates.

[AnnHiro]

There are many soldiers coming home. I hope the government will watch them carefully.

[Avanti2]

Should they also watch you?

[zapper501]

wtf

[Lemeritus]

There are many soldiers coming home.

I hope the government gives them the care they deserve, that the country gives them the respect they've earned, and that the economy recovers enough to give them the jobs they will need.

[TheWanderer]

Two words: Timothy McVeigh

[noleftturns]

no, no it's spelled: ted kosinski

[mtdem4ever]

Done know where he would fall and I do wish you'd at least spell his name correctly.

He was very opposed to the government, so I don't think that qualifies him as a lefty.

[Bitsko]

Not a lefty. He was a nihilist.

[Hillrick]

Orcinus, a blog, has done a good job of keeping track of the acts of violence committed by extremists. Mostly these acts are under reported or no "ha' is made of the fact that they are right wingers.

[Lemeritus]

I've been following Orcinus for a long time. Good blog, that.

[2warvet]

Of the Thousands and Thousands of vets that have come home from war or even served in the military and the best you can do is that @$$ clown? Nice try, but he is not represenative of those of use in the military.

[qdog112]

Just got to SPLC.org. They keep track of all your groups.

[k6007]

Good point. Only, THIS REPORT ISN'T ABOUT VETERANS!

[Mygirl]

I think this report was needed. I read blogs written by these nuts every day. Great job Homeland Security.

[k6007]

Hear, hear!

[zapper501]

there is just as much hate on here as any right wing site i have read

[qdog112]

co-sign.

[wordvarc]

Right wing wackos are more dangerous to the US than overseas te.rro.or.ists

[gotborked]

Oh lord. All this unsubstantiated, politically-driven report is good for is throwing gas on the fire of left-wing nuttery. It comes off as a [not-so] subtle attempt at oppressing speech based on viewpoint. This hack "report" should be stricken.

[Gumby123]

Agreed. Good post.

[amdezurik]

then one has to wonder why a riech-wing whack-job like your former dear leader asked for the report?

[Hallucinocynic]

Stricken from what? This was an internal report ostensibly NOT for public consumption. Unsubstantiated? In what way? There were legs on the ground and information was derived through observation, during the BUSH ADMINISTRATION; conclusions were made with the intent to keep law enforcement agencies informed.

What about that don't you understand?

Lefty extremists are dangerous. Rightie extremists are dangerous. Currently, the rightie extremists present a greater threat. Can you NAME a lefty extremist organization? How about the Aryan Brotherhood? The Ku Klux Klan? The American Nazi Party? Texas Secessionists? Alaskan Secessionists? All of these have publicly intimated that they wish to overthrow the government and rid the population of anyone who is not white, protestant or Republican. Now you have a Republican governor hinting at secession and an Alaskan governor whose husband has been, and may still be, a member of a secessionist cult.

Why should we trust any of you?

[FlamingLibrul]

The only unsubstantiated element here, is rightwingnutbags flinging accusations of conspiracy, where there are none. You're eagerly associating Republicans and Conservatives with white s up remac ist ha te groups, and you don't even understand the irony. Keep up the good work. By the time the dust settles, all rational Americans will be so horrified by the ins anity of the GOP, the Dems will be sitting pretty for years to come.

[qubit]

NEWS FLASH: neither the republican party, fox news or corporate lobbyists have anything to do with the tea parties. there are democrats, republicans, libertarians and other patriots comprising these tea parties that oppose big government, taxes and collectivism by this administration and the administrations that preceded it. just because the state controlled news you watch (cnn, cnbc, nbc, cbs, abc, public radio!, msnbc) dosent cover the tea parties dosent negate thier potential power and relevence, and no amount of your poking fun at them will either. wake up obama drones, be americans, not zombies!

[k6007]

Yeah. Riiight.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

You undermine your claim that the teabagger parties weren't a republican op when you call people "obama drones" and accuse every news source except Fox of being "state controlled news".

Oh, and four separate private corporations, are all "state controlled media"? Including one owned by one of the largest defense contractors (GE) in the world? Is that really what you expect people to believe?

[FlamingLibrul]

NEWSFLASH: Wishful thinking and outright lieing doesn't change facts:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/a-teabagger-timeline-koch_b_187312.html

Here's another reality bites moment for you: Dick Armey, who organized the bulk of these Astro-turf protests, LOBBIED FOR SEVERAL COMPANIES WHO RECEIVED BAILOUT FUNDS. Do you understand what this means? The wingnut ideologue who helped secure bailout money for banks, convinced rethug village idiots to protest. the. bank. bailouts.

You can't make this kind of stupid up. You can however, keep running with stupid, until you can't tell reality from fiction any longer. If you people weren't so dangerous to our Democracy, I'd pity you.

[mtdem4ever]

All radio is public dimwit, even your Limbaugh stations.

[VPN]

Stop getting your NOOZ from FAUX and Rush, its corrupting your thought process, FAUX HAS been promoting these Teabagger parties.

[john-wayne99]

right wing wackos had nothing to do with 9-1-1

overseas te.rro.or.ists support left wing wackos

[k6007]

Li@r. They are RIGHTWING conservatives. They s.troke on the koran JUST like you w.ackj.obs b.eat your bibles.

[uslib]

How do you figure that?
Oversees terrorists are militantly religious. That doesn't fit at all.

[cyclobenzaprine9]

But the Bushes and the Bin Ladens go way back! So, the right wing wackos had everything to do with 9/11.

[qdog112]

They are responsible for the murders of innocent women and children right here in the US for 2 centuries.

One of the worst was the bombing a church in Birmingham and thousands of lynchings and property theft. Ever heard of "Black Wall Street?

[Unshriven]

The encouraging thing here is that the Administration is taking all potential threats to the American public seriously. The disgruntled veteran scenario has been cherry picked by those wishing to score political points. I am certain they are also keeping a close eye on right-wing blowhards with a penchant for assault weapons.

[AnnHiro]

It is time for arrests. After the crime it is too late to do anything.

[Avanti2]

So you approve of warrant less wiretaps, profiling and limiting personal privacy among other things? I hope not.

[claudiam]

Janet is not an ideologue and is fair. If anyone questions the right-wing extremists just look at the news footage of Tea Bag protests. There is hate mongering and a Nazi white supremacists group acting like their Hitler idol! This report proves something that I have been talking about for the last year and half during the presidential campaign. And I believe that the far right has been stoking the hateful potential for violence. Just listen to Beck, Rush and Fox noise! claudiatucsonaz

[gino618]

What - no mention of the guerrilla 'wannabes' at left-wing protests in full camo-gear and with their faces covered?

No mention of the hate-talk at some liberal protests? The burning of effigies of the President or even US Soldiers? What about the burning of the US Flag?

Yet you here choose to call conservatives 'Haters', and the ones who want to destroy the government?

And finally - Janet is not an ideologue? LOL Puuuuhlleeezze! This woman's department puts out a report based in part on information from a lefty organization who calls the American Legion a 'Hate Group' because they oppose illegal immigration, and in the same breath cancels immigration enforcement of our laws and grants the illegals caught in a raid working papers.

That's not ideology at work? You are demented.

[PallinAround]

Huh? Do we live in the same country? Everything you described is accurate in my experience, just that it is all the right-wingers doing it. Left-wing has it's wackos, but they are not the ones in camo gear with assault rifles. That's not the left-wing way. You obviously need to get your information from more objective sources than Faux News.

[FlamingLibrul]

Wow, talk about demented: "...report based in part on information from a lefty organization who calls the American Legion a 'Hate Group' because they oppose illegal immigration, and in the same breath cancels immigration enforcement of our laws and grants the illegals caught in a raid working papers."

Proof please- links also, to back up your looney-toon assertions. You just copied and pasted directly from Worldnut Daily didn't you? I am convinced more than ever, that no die-hard "Conservative" is capable of independent thought.

[HNWBanker]

Gino, spot on! Well said. I just think too many of the ppl posting here are brainwashed and will never see it for what it is.