FBI Has Been Tracking "Lone Wolf" Extremists Since Late Last Year

Wall Street Journal:

The recent killings of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum guard and a Kansas abortion doctor came a few months after the Federal Bureau of Investigation stepped up efforts to pre-empt violence committed by just such political extremists working alone.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[AKaurora]

I'm afraid that I fail to understand how important "FBI tracking lone wolves" is. It only gives them 20/20 hindsight. We hardly have the manpower to put a contingent of around-the-clock on all potential lone wolves or even members of various extremist groups--nor would we want to. Remember the 60s and 70s where JEH infiltrated all "suspect" organizations, kept dossiers on thousands of people, including MLK? The left was the target then. I'm unwilling to grant the government via HLS or the FBI the power to behave in a similar manner now . . .nor to just lock people up who "might" be inclined to do more than shoot their mouths off. We're already dealing with a bunch of Gitmo detainees who were just picked up without proof and held for years. Be very careful about what you wish for and how much you really want perfect safety in turbulent times. Giving over your rights for security is the basis for the rise of a fascist dictatorship--we already succumbed to that during the Bush era.

[jsgaetano]

The point is they've been tracking a few people... but it's impossible to watch every conservative in America. All of them are potential terrorists.

[JulieSA]

You're an extremist hatemonger, telling lies about a group to gin up fear about them.

[plaidsportcoat]

Let me translate: Let innocent children and adults get killed so you can say whatever you want - even when you really mean it.

[plaidsportcoat]

Let me translate: Let innocent children and adults get mor dered viciously JUST so I can say whatever I want whenever I want, even if I really mean it.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

I would recommend we stop calling them a "lone wolf" because it sounds way too cool, like a badge of honour.

I suggest "single homocidal perpatrator" instead.

[Patricia84]

I agree. Just like people should stop calling frauds like Madoff, the greatest.

[rich misty]

You can contract that to simply "Republican"

[rumblingspire]

i'm glad you said something. such hero icons as Shane are lone wolfs.

[Patricia84]

They have an interesting take on this over at Mother Jones: http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/06/one-kind-terrorist-more-dangerous-another.

[gascelebrations]

Guess no one will be whining about civil libs now - they'll just bash the FBI for not doing enough.

[plaidsportcoat]

Let me translate: I want to be able to say anything I want that is as vi. ole nt as possible, whether or not that means you MIGHT have a chance to save some innocent people's lives --and even if I really mean it - because I'm so worth it and they are so not worth it.

[Budokan]

Good job of keeping up with him, FBI.

[discourse jockey]

In their defense, they were probably distracted by watching too much Fox.

[jsgaetano]

Well you have to admit, it is related to anti-terrorism efforts.

[plaidsportcoat]

lol!!!

[Bude]

Lot of good that did.

[macbabe]

there's a lot more out there just like him but no one can do anything until they have done something serious... its how it works, sad but true... innocent until a physical act of violence has happened, ...too many nut jobs talk for attention, how do you separate that and make a law, you can't.

[Patricia84]

Look up Syed Haris Ahmed.

[plaidsportcoat]

Let me translate: It's just too bad if some innocent children or women and men get Vi. Ciousl y mor dered because ME ME ME - I want my freedom to say any Vi. ole nt thing I can possibly think of in public, even if I really mean it and intend to do it - and you can't do anything about it, nyah, nyah, nyah

[Cycadeoidea]

Lone wolf is too kind a term. Sociopathetic weasel is more apt.

[Hollywooddeed]

What would the FBI say to Dr. Tiller and Mr. Johns? Oops?

[JulieSA]

And Private Bill Long. They weren't tailing Muhammad, even though they knew about him.

[Lyr]

They always forget about warped little muhammed don't they? Oh that's right he didn't target a politically protected group. Terrorism, is about politics first.

[kellygrrrl]

"Lone Wolf" my A S S

[rabiddog6708]

Insulting to wolves everywhere.

[plaidsportcoat]

troo dat!

[kellygrrrl]

a violent ExCon who made no secret of his positions and plans was armed -- I'd say the F B I might want to step it up a bit

[tomasedison]

In Europe they go to prison for preaching hate.

[engineerndng]

unless they are musslimm hate-speakers, they get a free pass for some reason.

[jsgaetano]

Sounds like conservatives better not travel to Europe.

[icechaos]

Maybe the FBI should look into your life.

[plaidsportcoat]

we know how to hide things better

[landoffools]

Your "tracking them " ?

WTF !

Once again, do we need to send in the real men and women to clean up your (FUBAR's) mess ?

[Janet Barnes]

Fifty thousand deaths by car accidents every year and a few deaths by homicidal maniacs gets our panties in a bunch?

Why? Because the U.S. has so devolved into infantile political discourse, that members of both parties just want to point the finger at the other party.

Pathetic.

The two party system is a false paradigm used to divide and conquer. Oldest political game in the book. And those who play it deserve its consequences.

[mabinog]

just so dude, lets ban cars and ignore the extremists, left or right.

[Janet Barnes]

You cannot pre-empt the violence of whackos.

What, do you want the Department of Pre-Crime to be established?

You can't get rid of hate with laws.

[ModerateMouse]

The tension created by a left/right paradigm creates stability. I am fairly sure Jefferson and Adams and Franklin were not metaphysical dualists, yet it has practical political purpose. In fact most thinking people are not dualists. That is why we also have 3 branches of government and a balance of powers. Unfortunately, one party goes overboard and a corrective action in the other direction occurs.

That said, these two recent crimes cannot be dismissed with statistical sophistry. They resonate with a large portion of the population that was disturbed by McCain's campaign and the current direction of the GOP and people like Limbaugh, O'Reilly. At some point the far repub right is going to have to take stock and realize they have gone down a dark path.

[Janet Barnes]

Spoken like a true lemming.

[jsgaetano]

A two-party system isn't stable when one party refuses to compromise, and will hold the country hostage unless they get their way.

That's what Republicans are doing- look at New York and California.

[jan4insight]

You have about as much compassion as one of those l o n e wol fers. You woudn't be contemplating joining their ranks, now, would you?

[jsgaetano]

Considering only 20% (and falling) identify themselves as Republicans anymore, the solution to your "two party system" problem may be solving itself.

Conservatives wanted a permanent, one-party majority, and now they are getting it.

[akira]

Wow, 20%? really? Sooooo from 46% of the popular vote, or 59,5 Million voters we went to 20% in less than a year? Hmmmm, .you numbers are cooked, Keith Olby

[plaidsportcoat]

Free Diagnosis: Narcissistic peronality complex including superiority complex and borderline behavioral characteristics.

[lovethesinner]

The website to donate to Steven Tyrone Johns is open.

https://www.kintera.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.5247661/k.4045/Stephen_T_Johns_Memorial_Fund/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=5247661&en=isJLIVPDJeIMLUNHJjJMLVNMKsJWJ4MJIhLRLZNJKhIRLbMYG

I'm worried that with all the news about the Iranian election fraud, and the various entertainment of the main stream media... we will forget to honor Steven's courageous life. His wife and young son are without a father.

It is beyond ironic that Steven's last act in his heroic life was one of implicit forgiveness. His killer was wearing a baseball cap with a CONFEDERATE FLAG on it. Yet Steven politely opened the door for him.

With my donation, I felt like I was choosing to re-balance the universe. To choose my path, and to light that path. It was something I could do.

[gascelebrations]

Great post - I feel the same

[akira]

"His killer was wearing a baseball cap with a CONFEDERATE FLAG on it"

Would it had made you feel better if the killer had been wearing the Mexican Flag or the Crescent Moon?

[chitown8]

I hope the FBI steps up their efforts on this.

[jukesgrrl]

Well, just don't issue any reports about their activities, or Republicans will make you apologize.