The US Homeland Security Department, under fire for saying US forces returning from the Iraq and Afghan wars were potential right-wing extremist recruits, said Wednesday it honors US veterans.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano sought to douse anger among conservatives and veterans groups like the American Legion over a report from her department warning of a rising threat of right-wing extremism. “We are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not — nor will we ever — monitor ideology or political beliefs,” Napolitano said in a statement amid charges that the department had done just that.
American Legion chief David Rehbein on Tuesday blasted the report as “incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased” and took special aim at its warning that returning veterans having difficulties reintegrating society could be recruited by right-wing groups for possible terrorist attacks. In a letter to Napolitano, Rehbein underlined the document’s mention of Oklahoma City bombing author Timothy McVeigh’s US Army background and called it “as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole example of Islam.”
The report said that fears of possible new restrictions on firearms, as well as troubled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, “could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.” Rehbein said the accusation, leveled in an April 7 document designed for local law enforcement officials, was “without any statistical evidence.”
It’s humorous when a government is afraid of the same people they train to kill. Who was it that said people shouldn’t fear their government, but the government should fear the people?
Looks like Napolitano is going to fit right into the Obama administration’s very nicely.
She is starting to share in his view of small-town bitter Americans xenophobe hicks who cling to their bibles and their guns.
Nappie was a screw up as governor of AZ.
I predicted she would screw up in HS.
She fits in with the administration,though!
Truth, I fear people like her much more than some ultra right wing Rambo.
They’re behind the times on this. The vets returning from Iraq know they were f*cked over by Bush and his bogus wars. I doubt very much that they’ll become right-wing radicals. As I recall, Obama even got a higher percentage of the military vote than previous Democrats. And he got a hero’s welcome during his surprise visit to Iraq recently. The soldiers know who got their back, and it isn’t the Republicans.
The old cliché of the Republicans supporting the military died on the streets of Iraq… it was an IED that destroyed it.
#22 Truth, I fear people like her much more than some ultra right wing Rambo.
Your fear is misplaced. The only other act of terrorism in the US in recent history before 9/11 was an ultra right wing Rambo, Timothy McVeigh.
With Rush and Glen Beck stirring the flames of hatred, openly calling for our president to fail, and all the other traitorous sh*t they spew, it’s reasonable to worry that some 21st century Timothy McVeigh might get inspired and try to take out another federal office building.
Why do you wingnuts hate America so much?
#24 Sure the attack of the Murrah building in 1995 was one. And then there was the 1993 attack of the World Trade Center. I don’t think their inspiration was Rush but a much older one. And can you say that Rush was an inspiration for McVeigh’s murder? Please explain because I don’t see it. They may be full of bull and complete blowhards but I don’t think talk radio inspires terror.
Anyway, I think it’s healthy to be skeptical of one’s government and to question it at every turn. Eternal vigilance is a virtue, isn’t it?
I think the people running this government are anti military to the point they don’t even like the people in the military.
Their problem is they need the military about as much as they need blood in their own bodies.
To many people don’t like us or would be happy to take what we have.
A country that can’t take care of itself is in deep dark trouble when problems show up.
#23 and 24 Phydeau -
I read your posts and wonder how you can possibly make the leap that talk show hosts are inciting right wing extremists to commit acts of violence. It isn’t happening. I have listened to Rush off and on for years and realize that he is an entertainer. He does what he does for ratings and to make money, nothing more. I like some of his ideas but I rarely support everything he espouses.
I guess I am now labeled a right wing extremist. Former military, believe in the tenth amendment, support Texas’ right to leave the union, want lower taxes and believe in a right to life platform that supports abortion up to the second trimester (not third or late term and sure as hell not Obomba’s let the child die in a closet position).
I attended a Tea Party last night and notice all the Tea Parties weren’t covered in the so called main stream media. Hmm, wonder why? It must be because they have their noses shoved so far up Obomba’s ass they no longer have a grasp of reality and the reality is that people are pissed with ALL politicians, not just the current administration or Congress.
A change we can believe in is coming and I hope I live long enough to see it happen.
I hope it isn’t right after Nappy burns down a religious compound somewhere killing everyone.
#25 I didn’t say Rush was a direct inspiration for Timothy McVeigh — you never know that unless the guy writes it down. I’m saying that he’s spewed out hatred for a couple decades and while it’s hard to quantify, I do believe that he has made the U.S. more polarized.
(But the end is in sight for him. Outside of his base of dittoheads, he’s about as popular as syphilis. And from what I’ve read, the average dittohead is in his 60s, so eventually Rush’s audience will die off.)
#27 Regarding the tea parties… bad news for you.
http://washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_04/017736.php
THEY’RE GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE TEA BAGS…. As April 15 approaches, this is generally the time most Americans are inclined to complain about paying Uncle Sam. It’s supposed to be as American as apple pie — we all think we’re paying too much in taxes.
At least, that’s what we’ve been led to believe. The latest survey from Gallup shows these assumptions don’t seem to apply right now: “A new Gallup Poll finds 48% of Americans saying the amount of federal income taxes they pay is ‘about right,’ with 46% saying ‘too high’ — one of the most positive assessments Gallup has measured since 1956. Typically, a majority of Americans say their taxes are too high, and relatively few say their taxes are too low.”
The same poll found that 61% of Americans believe the income taxes they paid this year are “fair.”
#29, since an estimated 43% aren’t paying any income tax, I would say your opinion poll isn’t telling us anything we shouldn’t already expect.
http://tinyurl.com/ddvhvc
#30 ROFL! You mean people who don’t pay taxes think the system is fair? What a shocker!
#30 ince an estimated 43% aren’t paying any income tax, I would say your opinion poll isn’t telling us anything we shouldn’t already expect.
Do you have a point to make? Yes, we have a progressive tax system. Those who make more money pay a higher tax rate. And there will always be some cheap people who would love to get what the Federal Govt gives them for free.
So yes, nothing new here. Most people are happy with our tax system. Which puts the teabaggers (can’t write that without snickering) out of the mainstream. Which is where the whole Republican party is nowadays.
Yes, we have a progressive tax system and the point was that if 43% aren’t paying any taxes at all what the hell would you expect them to say on the pole.
Why no sir, I don’t pay anything at all and I think that isn’t right.
Sure, some people will take something for free and run with it but 43%???? Give me a break, tax break that is.
#30, ha ha, that is very good point. In fact I am surprised that 43% don’t still think the income tax is too high.
I love ideological wars… it is all so simulating.
#30 From your article, Sea Lawyer…
The Tax Policy Center estimates that for 2009, 43% of tax units (most of which are lower income households that may or may not file a return) will have no income tax liability or will have a negative income tax liability, meaning the government will actually pay them.
When measuring the tax burdens from income tax and payroll tax combined, the Tax Policy Center estimates nearly 12% of tax units will have zero or negative liability.
12% pay no taxes, not 43%.
But anyway, this thread is supposed to be about DHS and vets… you want to talk taxes, I’ll do it, but probably should be on another thread.
# 36 Phydeau said
When measuring the tax burdens from income tax and payroll tax combined, the Tax Policy Center estimates nearly 12% of tax units will have zero or negative liability.
12% pay no taxes, not 43%.
###
I read that as well but I figured saying they had a negative tax rate was just too unbelievable to post.
#36, Since the poll link you posted is specifically referring to people’s perceived fairness of the income tax, you know, that think we send Form 1040s off to the federal government for, and not the taxes collected through the sale of goods, or those collected to fund the SSI and Medicare programs, it’s only proper to list statistics about who is paying the income tax, and 43% aren’t as reported in that CNN piece. I’m sorry if small details like that are too hard for you.
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were both veterans.