Conservatives outraged at DHS assessment warning of violent 'rightwing extremism'
Stephen C. Webster
Published: Tuesday April 14, 2009
An April 7 report by the Department of Homeland Security is causing waves of indignation among conservatives for labeling "rightwing extremism" the "most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States."
In its key findings, the 10 page document (PDF link) put forward by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis states that there is "no specific information that domestic rightwing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence," but warns law enforcement agencies that the economic recession, coupled with the recent election of the first African-American President of the United States, is driving radical groups' recruitment.
"The DHS under President Bush was apparently more reluctant to make such assessments about the right. According to CQ, a 2005 report outlining terrorist threats 'does not mention anti-government groups, white supremacists and other radical right-wing movements,'" noted Think Progress. "Bush's report did, however, list the threat of left-wing groups such as the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front. And a 2001 report from the Energy Department examined "Left-Wing Extremism: The Current Threat."
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Furthermore, the report points toward ammunition stockpiling and opposition to gun control as hallmarks of rightwing extremism.
"Many rightwing extremist groups perceive recent gun control legislation as a threat to their right to bear arms and in response have increased weapons and ammunition stockpiling, as well as renewed participation in paramilitary training exercises. Such activity, combined with a heightened level of extremist paranoia, has the potential to facilitate criminal activity and violence."
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