DHS methodology used in "Rightwing Extremism" memo revealed

The Sebeka/Menahga Review Messenger ^ | August 15, 2009

[2ndDivisionVet]

Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today condemned the methodology used by the Department of Homeland Security in issuing a controversial "right-wing extremism" threat assessment to law enforcement in April as "complete speculation."

"Our worse fears about what went into this memo have been confirmed. The government department that was supposed to be tasked with identifying domestic terrorist threats is apparently using news stories, kooky websites, and conjecture instead of actual hard intelligence reporting and analysis," said Wilson.

"This is a disgrace, and calls into question what it is that the so-called 'Extremism and Radicalizaton Branch of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division' actually does," Wilson added.

Americans for Limited Government filed a Freedom of Information request in April demanding all documents related to the drafting of the controversial "right-wing extremism" memo. It has now received an interim response from the Department related to "All data and all studies, reports, or other documents regarding data created or reviewed by the Department in general to draft the Report… [and] on the specific groups listed in the footnote on page 2 of the Report that were used by the Department."

Those studies and reports included 217 pages, "releasable in their entirety, all of which are publicly available," according to the DHS FOIA response. All of the data used by the Department are available via the Internet. A summary of the web-links is included here.

In a recent edition of the Clews-Todd Report, ALG top researcher Don Todd recently gave his assessment of the memo and DHS' FOIA interim response, "Here you have a bunch of government bureaucrats surfing the web that come up with this crackpot website [http://whatdoesitmean.com], and then they alert all the police agencies in the country to look out for veterans, pro-lifers, and people that believe in states' rights."

FOX News today exclusive reported on DHS' response to ALG's freedom of information request.

"Not a single study or report was from any government source," said Wilson. "And again, there was no evidence of any actual active recruitment of 'disgruntled veterans' by these groups, no evidence showing that folks who purchase guns or oppose gun-control legislation are necessarily dangerous, and no evidence that the economic downturn or the election of Barack Obama that is fueling any actual 'resurgence' of 'extremism.'"

The memo had reported that "rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans".

"We already knew that the memo did not illuminate on any actual planned attacks or any groups known to be planning attacks, or any groups with histories of perpetrating attacks that are currently conducting any types of operational recruitment, meeting, or planning attacks," said Wilson.

"And now we know why," Wilson added, explain, "The background DHS used was not based on credible intelligence sources, reporting, and analysis. Instead, what we found is that the Department was apparently surfing the net to see what news stories happened to turn up to support a pre-determined conclusion," Wilson explained.

In defining "rightwing extremism," the Department of Homeland Security memo targets "groups, movements, and adherents… that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority" and "groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

"We now know for a fact that DHS was monitoring political speech and thought, whether on the Internet or via other forms of communications," said Wilson, pointing to websites included in the DHS FOIA response that tracked gun-control legislation.

The memo had claimed that "Many rightwing extremists 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."

Previously DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said, "We are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not – nor will we ever – monitor ideology or political beliefs."

"DHS' response to our freedom of information request unfortunately confirms in no uncertain terms that their hunt for 'rightwing extremists' was nothing more than a witch hunt," Wilson concluded.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Comments?

[Grunthor]

“Americans for Limited Government”

Obvious terrorists. I am sure if I asked the SPLC they would tell me how racist this group is too. I bet they are sexist and homophobic as well, just ask NOW and PFLAG.

(for the “special” the above is sarcasm)

[Kimberly GG]

“Not a single study or report was from any government source,”

Dollars to donuts the majority of their information came from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[HiTech RedNeck]

They actually got led on by kooky websites.

A scheming smirk comes to my mind. Can we plant more kooky websites to make the Rat gummit look even dumber?

[Kimberly GG]

Also, given that the Patriot Act is still in force, I wonder how much listening in they are doing on suspected “political terrorists”.

[fwdude]

This administration is completely insane - and suicidal. While they’re busy worrying about some “right-wing ideologue’s” free speech, the Islamo-fascists are planning their next attack.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Real stellar research standards they have there. Sounds like the work of a couple of early 20-somethings binging on Red Bull and twinkies as they Googled their way across the internet (corroborating and verifying sources? non-applicable here).

 

 

[USNBandit]

DHS is a huge bureaucracy balanced on top of 7 legacy agencies, plus your friends at TSA. One of those offices is their intelligence group. I am not sure what DHS intel is supposed to accomplish that the FBI intel isn't already tasked with.

Another question that I've never see asked or answered is this. What this intel report produced independently by DHS intel, or were they tasked by somebody to research right wing threats? If it was tasking, then by whom?

[Jacquerie]

If the statist jerks at DHS ever read the Constitution they would put all the signers on the terrorist watch list.

[Marty62]

that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority” and “groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”

EXCUSE ME NAPALITANO REFECTING FEDERAL AUTHORITY IN FAVOR OF STATE OR LOCAL AUTHORITY ........Isn’t that the basis of the CONSTITUTION.
Is the DHS saying that they REJECT the Constitution. I would like an answer to that one.

Since the DHS is monitoring this site.....would you PLEASE respond....Thank You

[SuperLuminal]

"The memo had claimed that "Many rightwing extremists 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." "

I guess it would be stupid to ask for both the source of the study and the study data that support this idiotic statement!

Quite frankly, IMHO, most of the recent "gun control" legislation (enacted or court-determined....not the myriad of proposed stuff) has had the result of slightly (at least temporarily) reducing threats to our unalienable 2nd ammendment rights.

In addition, I have little doubt that "renewed participation" at the target range is, of course, being equated to "paramilitary training exercises".

These DHS/obamabot-marxists-of-whatever-flavor are really paranoid over the fact that the American citizenry serfs out-gun them by orders-of-magnitude!

[Gator113]

The lying cow, Janet Napolitano, should have already been fired over this.

[Marty62]

Another Question for DHS:

WHY ARE YOU MONITORING AMERICANS FREE SPEECH, RATHER THAN MONITORING THE ACTIVITIES OF ALQUAEDA AND HAMAS, AND HEZBOLLAH ETC. ETC.?

Please respond to my question...DHS.

[dr_who]

Exactly! Hey, beats watching the clock and discussing the latest American Idol episode for the 51st time.

[myknowledge]

Al-Qaeda was used as a boogeyman to coerce the American people to give up their rights, but some are not buying it, because they peeled more layers until they reached the core of their agenda.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Explain.

[myknowledge]

Look at the police state being assembled right now.

The airport security is one great example, and hardly a bomb-strapped muzzie gets caught while commuters have to walk through invasive body scanning machines that even reveal their private parts.

The goal is simple:

Giving up liberty for security and getting neither.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the FF, warned about this.

[listenhillary]

What a GREAT government we have! Such shining examples of efficiency and hard work by our public servants! They haven’t put us in gulags! (yet)

[listenhillary]

They will only find the ones that fit their preconceived notions.

[listenhillary]

Have you forgotten?

The volume of terrorist attacks pre 9/11 vs post 9/11 was pretty dramatic. It was all a waste of time and effort you say?

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Evasive. Do you think that AQ did WTC?

[listenhillary]

Obama has responded to queries about this report with this statement.

"This was a very unprofessional report and we regret it's release. We will rectify this by creating a new czar with a new cabinet level department. All reports of this type will now be vetted by the DMSU for accuracy and more esoteric fabricated data."

Mr. President, what does the acronym DMSU stand for?

"Department of Making Sh*t Up."

[sergeantdave]

The writer buried the lead in the last paragraph.

Here’s the correct lead:

The Department of Homeland Security engaged in a witch hunt to demonize conservatives opposed to the president’s health care plan.

“Here you have a bunch of government bureaucrats surfing the web that come up with this crackpot website [http://whatdoesitmean.com], and then they alert all the police agencies in the country to look out for veterans, pro-lifers, and people that believe in states’ rights,” said ALG top researcher Don Todd who gave his assessment of the memo and DHS’ FOIA interim response.

[Condor51]

"Here you have a bunch of government bureaucrats surfing the web that come up with this crackpot website [http://whatdoesitmean.com], and then they alert all the police agencies in the country to look out for veterans, pro-lifers, and people that believe in states' rights."

'Crackpot website? I beg your pardon. What's 'crackpot' about this:

'The TOP SECRET Powder To Improve Gas Mileage...
Everyone Is Talking About!

Or this...

'MegaH: The Most Powerful Antioxidant Known',
'Crystal Energy: Ever taken a shower? Or lived in an old house? Or used an aluminum pot? ... it's dangerous.'
'MegaHydrate: is the key that unlocks the potential of water as the medium for nutrient replenishment and waste removal at the cellular level.'

Seems like the PERFECT place for Janet Nappy's terrorist experts to get their information on 'Extremists'

[SunkenCiv]

Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today condemned the methodology used by the Department of Homeland Security in issuing a controversial "right-wing extremism" threat assessment to law enforcement in April as "complete speculation." "Our worse fears about what went into this memo have been confirmed. The government department that was supposed to be tasked with identifying domestic terrorist threats is apparently using news stories, kooky websites, and conjecture instead of actual hard intelligence reporting and analysis," said Wilson. "This is a disgrace, and calls into question what it is that the so-called 'Extremism and Radicalizaton Branch of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division' actually does," Wilson added.

[justiceseeker93]

About the only surprise here is that DHS revealed its dirty laundry for Americans For Limited Government to see. One wouldn't normally expect them to be so accommodating to a Freedom of Information Act request.

[Atom Smasher]

This is getting more sickening by the day...

[machogirl]

my former gov slipped up ;)

[Liz]

Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson: "We now know for a fact that DHS was monitoring political speech and thought------and groups and individuals who oppose abortion, immigration, gun-control." Wilson concluded: "DHS' response to our FOIA request unfortunately confirms in no uncertain terms that their hunt for 'rightwing extremists' was nothing more than a witch hunt."

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano falsely maintained that they were on the lookout for "criminal and terrorist activity" but did not monitor ideology or political beliefs."

"Monitoring," my Aunt Tilly--- the government was conducting surveillance on Americans and intended to use the power of gov't to restrict Americans' Constitional freedoms.....and Obama okayed this atrocity against Americans.

[GOPJ]

This was Freeper M1Tanker’s last post. He committed suicide:

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 7:31:23 AM · 11 of 16
M1Tanker to 2ndDivisionVet

I have just returned from a tour in Afghanistan only to find that I am now considered a potential ‘terrorist’ by the DHS...

Meanwhile REAL terrorists from the left wing (ELF/ALF/PETA/ANSWER/ACT/ACORN/WWP/Code Pink/et al) and Islam (Jamal al Faqua, AQ, HAMAS, Hezbollah, Muslim Brotherhood, etc) are either causing real damage or planning major attacks and they are pointedly IGNORED. Some now receive government funding.

Un-freaking believable... Wait, considering the treason and collusion of the left in the past 8 years, very freaking believable, but still disgusting.

---

FReeper M1Tanker

Major Christopher Galloway Died at FReeper M1Tanker
Sunday, August 16, 2009

[bamahead]

"Not a single study or report was from any government source...there was no evidence of any actual active recruitment of 'disgruntled veterans'...no evidence showing that folks who purchase guns or oppose gun-control legislation are necessarily dangerous..."



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!
(View past Libertarian pings here)

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

LoLOnly if you put a disclaimer, something like “satire” in very tiny print somewhere!

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

Which presidential candidate said the constitution was outdated, do you remember? I think it was clinton or gore.

[djsherin]

I’m not sure who has explicitly stated it, but most of them have acted as if the Constitution is outdated.

[Just mythoughts]

"Monitoring," my Aunt Tilly--- the government was conducting surveillance on Americans and intended to use the power of gov't to restrict Americans' Constitional freedoms.....and Obama okayed this atrocity against Americans.

So there were intended consequences of raising that big TARP, nationalizing banks and auto industries and passing themselves that stimuli campaign slush fund? And they call US Nazis and racists. With all they have already accomplished no wonder BamaCare cure for US was mass production of that magic end of life 'pill'.

[mysterio]

A lot of us were against the creation of DHS. Now I suppose you see why. For fun, go back and look at the threads here from around the creation of the “patriot” act and DHS.

[FreedomPoster]

So basically, they took the rantings of the Kos/DU kids and made an official gov’t report out of them that slammed veterans, gun owners, et al as potential terrorists. Did I get that right?

Just damn.

[Jacquerie]

No, but I would sure like to have the quote, place and date.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping; post.

WOW

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

Yesterday I googled it... I just knew I read it somewhere a long time ago, but can’t find it yet. I’ll keep looking to prove myself right or wrong.

The search resuts are not going back as far as I want them too. They are more recent references to “outdated constitution”, made on blogs.

[Munz]

Yeah here’s a comment.

These SOB in power now have a plan. It is to ram socialism down our throats at any cost. The DHS memo set us all up as potential domestic terrorists so that they can declare martial law when it turns to crap on them which they knew it would.

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

I was so WRONG, it was obama, but he said the constitution is flawed, insinuating outdated. I guess I was close...still nags me though.

newsmax
"...Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama described the U.S. Constitution as having “deep flaws” during a September 2001 Chicago public radio program, adding that the country’s Founding Fathers had “an enormous blind spot” when they wrote it. ..

“And in that sense,” Obama continued, “I think we can say that the Constitution reflected an enormous blind spot in this culture that carries on until this day, and that the Framers had that same blind spot. I don’t think the two views are contradictory, to say that it was a remarkable political document that paved the way for where we are now, and to say that it also reflected the fundamental flaw of this country that continues to this day.” Obama did not elaborate on the “fundamental flaw” that persists. Conservative talk host Rush Limbaugh pounced on Obama’s remarks during his Monday radio program. “Good Lord, ladies and gentlemen! I don’t see how he can take the oath of office, which is this: ‘I do solemly swear, or affirm, that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and I will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Said Limbaugh, “He has rejected the Constitution.”

---

worldnet daily
"The Warren court, he said, failed to "break free from the essential constraints" in the U.S. Constitution and launch a major redistribution of wealth."

"...To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn't that radical. It didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as it's been interpreted, and the Warren Court interpreted in the same way, that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can't do to you. Says what the federal government can't do to you, but doesn't say what the federal government or state government must do on your behalf. ...

You tube, radio interview from 2001

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

Googled obama constitution flawed

googled: Obama constitution fundamentally flawed

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

last one, unless I find a reference that confirms the nagging outdated constitution comment...

Michelle Malkin
By Michelle Malkin • October 26, 2008 11:44 PM

The blogosphere is buzzing about this video posted on YouTube Sunday night. It’s Barack Obama musing about how best to redistribute wealth in America in a Chicago Public Radio interview in 2001. Not whether, but how: Through the courts or through legislation? A caller asks The One to explain how he would do “reparative economic work.” Obama gives the legislative route two thumbs up as his preferred method of “breaking free of the constraints” placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution and then burbles about cobbling together the “actual coalition of powers through which you bring about redistributive change.”

Nachum, didn't know if you had this info on your webpage. Maybe it could be used as the leading header on ALL of your pages.

[Still Thinking]

WHY ARE YOU MONITORING AMERICANS FREE SPEECH, RATHER THAN MONITORING THE ACTIVITIES OF ALQUAEDA AND HAMAS, AND HEZBOLLAH ETC. ETC.?

Those guys are on their side, why the heck would they monitor them?

[Jacquerie]

Good going!

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

Ha! Love your new tagline ;)

I guess his ‘01 speech is something we must never forget.

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

See #42, #43 and #44

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

Marked for research