Congress To Hold Hearings On Muslim Threat

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says affiliates of al-Qaida are radicalizing some American Muslims and that he plans to hold hearings on the threat they pose to the U.S.

Republican congressman Peter King of New York tells CNN's "State of the Union" that he sees an international movement with elements in the United States of Muslims becoming more radical and identifying with terrorists. When asked what within the Muslim community poses a threat by host Candy Crowley, here's what he had to say:

Well, something from within. And I've said time and time again, the overwhelming majority of Muslims are outstanding Americans, but at this stage in our history there's an effort to radicalizate -- to radicalize elements within the Muslim community.

And I've said, when we were going after the Mafia, we looked at the Italian community; the Westies, the Irish community. In New York, they go after the Russian mob, they go into the Russian community in Brighton Beach and Coney Island.

And right now, there is an effort -- and this isn't just me saying this, Eric Holder's said he stays awake at night worrying about the numbers of young Muslim men who are being radicalized.

A Minnesota Democrat, congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the House, says that while it's proper to investigate radicalization, he thinks it is wrong to single out a religious minority.

"I worry about it," he said on the program. "Everybody I talk to worries about it, and we're concerned about the breadth of this."

He added, "It's absolutely the right thing to do for the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee to investigate radicalization, but to say we're going to investigate a religious minority, and a particular one, I think is the wrong course of action to take."

On Sunday, groups opposed to King's hearings plan to rally in New York. President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser will speak on the administration's approach to countering domestic radicalization.

Comments

[Kaveh Adel Cartoonist]

02:39 PM on 03/12/2011

The next hearing would be on the "Extent of radicalization in Apples!" I may be more of an effective communicator via art: http://kavehadel.com/blog/2011/03/political-cartoon-the-extent-of-radicalization-in-apples/

[Brant Kelsey]

02:23 PM on 03/10/2011

A responsible MEDIA wouldn't spend one minute covering the Hearing of these corrupted Hypocrites; A Responsible MEDIA would be discussing THE RADICALIZATION OF AMERICA. A responsible Media would be intently focused on what is happening today in Wisconsin; Where if what has transpired there is allowed to stand, promises to be so much more destructive. For what is in the balance THERE is RELEVANT to the sustaining of the basic precepts that have been died for: The basic DNA of freedom for liberty and for a Democracy are in the Streets of Wisconsin..............These hearings, in a vacuum, might be entertaining, might be edifying, or even relevant...........but today..they carry zero weight...it's like whining mumbling on deaf ears: Today recognized for what they are, as simply a diversion, lip service to some spastic self serving Agenda. KeeP your Hearts, your eyes, to Wisconsin...The very democracy that is our birthright is in the balance there...........support it, send Love into the Universe in the form of prayers, go there if you can: They are WE and WE are THEY. It is the most important story in our La

[Brant Kelsey]

02:47 AM on 03/09/2011

Oh we'll have a hearing and drum up another distraction: It's not a hearing, it's another Herring. Amazing isn't it: The government of our country now asking "What can we do to minimize the increasing militancy of some Muslims?" It's like me asking, "why do those little brats on the school yard don't like me, all I did was take their pocket money, smash their toys, spit at them, kick sand in their face, bully and burn down their homes." why do they view me so bitterly?", Why is it that I feel that when they are Grown they may want to destroy me and all that I value? Wow I can't figure it out.
It is so patently absurd. Let's try an overview of what the government­, we as a country have done on their soil over the last 10 years. that would be a good step at coming to some understand­ing of what, if anything we can do. Probably not much. So this quandary will likely lead to more draconian legislatio­n, allowing the government to find more ways to curtail all Americans privacy and Personal Liberties. Maybe even Martial Law. The sins of the Father are visited upon their Sons. Cuts both ways. Explains the Acrimony that pervades the Middle East unrelentin­g perpetual retributio­n.....Well Good luck. We the People best rely on our own instincts in this one, what's done is done, best the government just keep a low profile.

[notwaff]

09:26 AM on 03/10/2011

It's encouraging to see that Americans being killed at an army base, a bomb being placed in Time Square NYC and other acts of domestic terrorism is "little brats on the school yard"

yep, we'll put stop to terrorism by taking it as seriously as childs play - NOT.

[Brant Kelsey]

01:39 PM on 03/10/2011

Well put a stop to terrorism by ceasing our jaded colonialism, killing innocents in Iraq and Afghanistan...........destroying lives all in the sinister Corporate greed for resources. The school yard is simply a metaphor...........You bring a foreign army onto my soil, destroy my home and kill my Family and I'm coming for you. In the absence of anything to cherish, I'm coming for you. And anyone who will co-opt my body or facilitate my Aim will be my Friend. Any entity that will train me, and provide me with the insight, intelligence, and support, will be my ally and my allegiance to them will be the fire that burns within me until you are vanquished...........Wake Up..
We, and the "unseen" that constitute our pretend democracy have brought this plague on our house.. And all the Hearings in the world will not alter that reality: Where are the Hearings to address our most vulnerable border to the South? Does a terrorist have to come in from Mexico and detonate a suitcase Nuclear device in Houston, or in San Diego, before we become proactive protecting this most vulnerable Border?

[Brant Kelsey]

04:26 PM on 03/11/2011

You will find that the real terrorism, to date is 911, you will find that since that date, there has been many "thwarted" attempts. You will find that at the moment, in real time, the real terrorist our the compromised individuals, who purport to represent OUR interest by are owned, and beholding to those who are IN FACT contrary to our interests: I can cite chapter and verse, numbers until I'm blue in the face: That still will not allow me to explain the Sun to one who has never seen it, nor explain light to one who has perennially been a cave dweller..........Wall Street, Federal Reserve, and Oligarchs, and the State and Federal Houses, populated by their puppets are without question the direct and effective form of terrorism that we face at this historical moment............the battle may have been won, at the time of this writing, the War however, and what result is very much in question.

[Hillbilly49]

11:25 AM on 03/08/2011

Peter King is determined to show Americans that McCarthyism is alive and well in America.

This morning, I heard King making numerous unsubstantiated assertions about Muslim; while trying to foment fear and hate of Muslims.   Faux Nooze has been stirring up the, unwashed, right wing base so King is sure to get his face on Faux Nooze; pretending to be doing something important.

[Ronju01]

11:07 AM on 03/08/2011

Where is GOP Job Bill???

[MIKEinNYC]

07:18 AM on 03/08/2011

This is worth looking into.

From today's Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/us/08gabriel.html?_r=1&hp

If the movement in question was communism we'd be taking a look at it. Why not this? Same objective - trashing our form of government and replacing it with something else.

[UncleJimbo]

06:40 AM on 03/08/2011

In America there are more Radical Republicans than Radical Muslims!......And they are more Dangerous,by Far!......

[Brant Kelsey]

03:16 AM on 03/09/2011

The McCarthy Hearings were the template: The First RED Herring: Now we have another edition on the Horizon: Another cynical platform to drum up bigotry, fuel suspicion, and create widespread dissonance: Smoke and Mirrors. Shots from the school book depository, allowing opportunity for those in the Kill Zone. "Those shots came from the window". More Fodder for Fox. More Paranoia. What is Paranoia? Simply an unfounded Fear.
Meanwhile, exposed, unprotected, our Border to the South. What is Mexico? A corrupted oligarchical anarchy. Zero Middle Class. "Our Government" estimates suggest there are 12 million Refugees of Mexico in our Country. What better point of entry for anyone from anywhere intent on destruction? Recent "discoveries" give a whole different meaning to underground railroad: Literally, Warehouses in Mexico with a paved, lit, freeway: Where Semi-trucks off load contraband and human Cargo to a Warehouse on he US side. No entity, no rogue state of the middle east, or Africa presents the clear and Present danger as our Southern Border. Yet where is the clamor? National Security, has us stripping down, has us being patted down and Scanned: In typical fashion this circumstance Will result, it's a matter of time, with murder or worse.
The Hearings to define the mindset of Radicalized Muslims, home grown variety, will likely in and of themselves be cited as institutionalizing Radicalism. I'm not Muslim and I'm incensed by it: They might as well combine the Hearing and ask why so Many Americans are considering Radical intervention

[rudyinbama]

03:23 AM on 03/08/2011

Pete King has a long history as an anti-gay bigot.
Why is anyone surprised he'd treat a religious group the same way?

[SequimBob2]

01:25 AM on 03/08/2011

Peter King thinks it critical to hold hearings on Muslim radicalization. This is so rich.

The far right has been promoting the radicalization of Americans for years. We now have dozens of armed militias preparing for conflict with the US Governemnt and Mr. King hasn't felt a need to investigate the radicalization effects caused by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

Typical.

[Nancy Lynne Kriescher]

09:32 PM on 03/08/2011

My thoughts also.. more 'scare tactics too. They aren't trustworthy on every critical issue for middle class Americans.. so let's bring up the muslim thing again, People Know this.. We don't need him to tell us.. We have terrorists in every place in society.. murderers, child predators, murderers, of babies, kids.. >>> Women beaters, and the gun toting crazys at tea party rallys.

[MIKEinNYC]

11:07 PM on 03/07/2011

You know that there are people in our country who would like to see our laws and Constitution supplanted by sharia law. They say the god's law is more worthy than man-made law.

As such, in a way, as a philosophy that most would reject, it is the communism of our day.

[UncleJimbo]

06:42 AM on 03/08/2011

.....And Many,Many More who would use the Christian Bible to take away our Rights and Freedoms.....And they are doing a Good Job at it.....as we speak!.....

[Ronju01]

11:04 AM on 03/08/2011

Go somewhere else to preach your BS.

[MIKEinNYC]

12:45 AM on 03/10/2011

I prefer to preach my bs here. Don't like it? Don't worry,, in this country under our Constitutional law and protections, you're free to disagree. Breathe the Freedom my friend.

[Peter Combs]

10:35 PM on 03/07/2011

to be fair let the hearing examine all the radicalized religeus groups..line them up and see how they might be linked!.

Budhists, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindu, Muslim etc..

look at ALL of the killings, bombings, massacres, executions world wide and see if a link or common denominator appears...see if a thread runs through connecting these groups...

[notwaff]

09:34 AM on 03/10/2011

yes, start with all those acts of violence, where the perpetrator is shouting "Buddha Akbar"

[Nicholas Rowley]

10:12 PM on 03/07/2011

I swear every member of congress (especially those with an R after there name based on precedent) should take the few minutes needed to read this:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18911_5-ridiculous-things-you-probably-believe-about-islam.html

It might help them calm down a little. Though of course that presumes they can actually work a computer, or read.

[Peter Combs]

10:29 PM on 03/07/2011

pretty lame article....

[Nicholas Rowley]

10:48 PM on 03/07/2011

That is quite the devastating retort there twinkle. Great Job! You shall have a pizza party.

[Ya Ya Godot]

09:48 PM on 03/07/2011

Had these hearings been held after the first Trade Center bombing (93) we might have avoided much pain later.

[999999]

09:33 PM on 03/07/2011

maybe hearings will be a good way to get the Public to hear all the facts..

[Charlie Seivard]

08:49 PM on 03/07/2011

Some one should hearings on why we get such idiots to be members of congress

[OmarSpence]

07:16 PM on 03/09/2011

True