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I Am An Extremist (Oliver North)
Townhall.com ^ | April 17, 2009 | Oliver North

Posted on 04/16/2009 9:04:59 PM PDT by jazusamo

WASHINGTON -- According to the U.S. government, I am an extremist. I am a Christian and meet regularly with other Christians to study God's word. My faith convinces me the prophecies in the Holy Bible are true. I believe in the sanctity of human life, oppose abortion, and want to preserve marriage as the union of a man and a woman. I am a veteran with skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. I own several firearms, and I frequently shoot them, buy ammunition, and consider efforts to infringe on my Second Amendment rights to be wrong and unconstitutional. I fervently support the sovereignty of the United States, and I am deeply concerned about our economy, increasingly higher taxes, illegal immigration, soaring unemployment, and actions by our government that will bury my children beneath a mountain of debt.

Apparently, all this makes me a "rightwing extremist." At least, that's what it says in the April 7 "Assessment" issued by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security. The nine-page report, titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," is full of warnings about American citizens who share any part of my background or subscribe to the beliefs above. It is one of the most alarming documents produced by our government that I ever have read.

Evidently, neither you nor I ever was supposed to read this "Assessment." At the bottom of the cover page is a warning that it is "not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know." We're Americans. We have a need to know what's going on in our government, especially in an administration that promised to be "transparent." A full copy of the report is posted at http://www.FreedomAlliance.org.

The "Assessment" purports to alert law enforcement officials that "rightwing extremists" -- the term is used more than 35 times -- are intent on exploiting Americans who have strongly held beliefs on everything from Christian faith to rising unemployment, U.S. sovereignty and the Second Amendment. It vilifies those of us in these categories by references to neo-Nazis, racists, militias, white supremacists and other "hate groups." Notably, the report includes a warning that right-wing extremism "may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

Though the report proffers a passing reference to the First Amendment, it is replete with bias against conservative thought, writing and communications. On Page 3, law enforcement authorities are warned, "Rightwing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the economy, the perceived (emphasis added) loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures."

That is a frightening acknowledgment that political speech is being monitored in America. It is also wrong. It's not "perception." It is fact. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the manufacturing and construction sectors have lost 161,000 jobs and 126,000 jobs, respectively, last month alone.

In its "Key Findings," the DHS manuscript boldly charges that "rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues" and offers this warning: "The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks."

Under the heading "Disgruntled Military Veterans," the report alleges: "Rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. These skills and knowledge have the potential to boost the capabilities of extremists -- including lone wolves or small terrorist cells -- to carry out violence." These unsubstantiated claims are followed by reminders that Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, was a military veteran. Omitted is any reference to the fact that McVeigh was simply one of more than 40 million veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Thirteen lines after this egregious, unconscionable slander against those of us who are military combat veterans, DHS makes the stunning charge that "lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent rightwing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States."

According to this DHS "Assessment," the most dangerous threat we face here at home isn't from radical imams preaching violence in U.S. mosques and madrassas, Islamists recruiting in our prisons, Somali terrorists enticing young immigrants to become suicide bombers, or Hamas, Hezbollah or al-Qaida operatives plotting mass murder. No, according to DHS, the real threat comes from what our government labels "rightwing extremist ideology."

Mr. Obama should disavow this report publicly and fire the officials responsible for issuing it. Those who prepare his remarks for the occasion should insert in the teleprompter former Sen. Barry Goldwater's words on the subject: "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhodhs; dhs; napolitano; olivernorth
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To: jazusamo

This is a classic bit of manipulation in which the Obamsky administration is working to outlaw any political opposition. In essence, if you disagree with Obamsky, you are an extremist, a “threat,” etc. Disagreeing with Obamsky is a criminal act, as was disagreeing with Stalin or Castro or Ceaucescu, etc.

And like Ollie says not even facts really matter. You’re a dangerous radical if you acknowledge that people have lost jobs in certain sections of the economy. Just a simple statistic for which you have no responsibility makes you an extremist.

DHS bases it all on one man in 40 million, Timothy McVeigh. How many bombs were set off by the Weather Underground in the 1970s? One of those bombers, and his wife, is a prominent professor who is making public speaking appearances all over the country—he also happens to be one of Obamsky’s close friends and the ghost author of his books. McVeigh is dead, Billy Ayers is alive, but McVeigh is the threat.

How many bombings and other violent attacks were carried out by the Black Panthers in the 1960s and 1970s? Yet, again, no reference to any of that in the DHS memo.

Who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11/2001? If you believe the DHS memo, you’d think it was Christians or military vets, not Islamist maniacs.

Surely we all see what DHS is going to become under Obamsky, don’t we. Forget “DHS.” Call it what it is: “KGB.”


21 posted on 04/16/2009 9:33:05 PM PDT by PaleoBob
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To: jazusamo

“the perceived (emphasis added) loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors”

Funny how when it undermines the left’s position, suddenly perception is NOT reality...


22 posted on 04/16/2009 9:34:04 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.)
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To: jazusamo
.....he’d make one fine President!

Been saying that for years. I have no doubts what so ever that the man is what he is, can't say that about too many people now days.

23 posted on 04/16/2009 9:34:54 PM PDT by The Cajun (Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
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To: Ben Hecks
Napolitano needs to go!

Amen to that, like now!

24 posted on 04/16/2009 9:34:58 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: OneWingedShark

When you face an implacable enemy there really is no gray. Gray is just what weak-willed people employ as an excuse to avoid making a judgment. It’s much easier to say “the world isn’t black and white” and then avoid the issue altogether than it is to analyze, judge, and live with the implications of your judgment.


25 posted on 04/16/2009 9:35:35 PM PDT by Trod Upon (Obama: Making the Carter malaise look good. Misery Index in 3...2...1)
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To: jazusamo

Count me in, Card carrying member of the VAST right wing conspiracy AND a Right Wing Extremist.

WOO HOO! I feel so.... LIBERATED!

ROFL


26 posted on 04/16/2009 9:36:54 PM PDT by Danae (Amerikan Unity My Ass)
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To: jazusamo

If military veterans are extremists based on the profile of Timothy McVeigh then all Muslims are terrorists based on the profile of Osama Bin Laden.


27 posted on 04/16/2009 9:37:23 PM PDT by Wil H (The most destructive act of Muslim terrorism against the US was paying for 0bama's Harvard education)
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To: bray
"Guess who’ll get blamed for the next Al Queda attack???

I swear I was thinking the exact same thing. It would be so much more politically expedient if they had someone else to blame when Al Queada attacks again.

Very much like when Spain tried to blame the train bombings on Basque separatists.

28 posted on 04/16/2009 9:37:56 PM PDT by Big_Monkey
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To: Billthedrill

That’s because it’s straight out of Alinsky’s book, and they lock step follow that piece of trash everywhere. Its easier than thinking for themselves.


29 posted on 04/16/2009 9:38:28 PM PDT by Danae (Amerikan Unity My Ass)
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To: DB

One thing Janet and her henchmen might be forgetting is that a lot of those law enforcement officials to whom they sent this report are going to fit the profile of ‘right wing extremists’ perfectly.


30 posted on 04/16/2009 9:40:06 PM PDT by JustaCowgirl (I can support a person I don't always agree with. What I can never support is a person I don't trust)
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To: Travis McGee
Ain't that the truth.

Funny, though, this report might turn out to have a great impact on "radicalizing" (or at least alienating) our troops, much more so than us "extremists".

It would be funny if it weren't so downright scary, disturbing and outragous.

31 posted on 04/16/2009 9:41:02 PM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: jazusamo

Thanks for the ping jaz.

One sure way to know the opposition fears you is when they put out crap such as this alleged “Assessment”. Too bad the Republican Party isn’t as feared as we Conservatives are.

You see what I am speaking of when you simply read the daily sludge directed against Sarah Palin. The Left fears Sarah, and that’s why they constantly attack her any way they can.


32 posted on 04/16/2009 9:41:47 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: jazusamo

“lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent rightwing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States.”

Now if the assessment had read...

“Islamic lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent religious extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States.”

...that I could believe in, but no, our government is so
afraid of Islamic backlash that we are no longer allowed
to name those who have declared themselves our enemies, and instead must create strawmen to justify organs of internal security. This in an attempt to oppress the political opposition which seeks to keep a check on the balance of “our” government

Well done, Col. North.
Tet.


33 posted on 04/16/2009 9:42:26 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: xuberalles

I need a tee shirt with that on it.


34 posted on 04/16/2009 9:43:13 PM PDT by DB
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Comment #35 Removed by Moderator

To: Danae

Since they are lock-step following this particular playbook...how is its absurdity countered preemptively?

I believe this is the question that must be answered...


36 posted on 04/16/2009 9:51:35 PM PDT by stefanbatory (Do you want a President or a King?)
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To: jazusamo
Snapped at the Atlanta Tea Party:

Photobucket
37 posted on 04/16/2009 9:52:01 PM PDT by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: bamahead

PS: The text just below ‘Disgruntled Military Veteran’ reads: ‘and over taxed family man’.


38 posted on 04/16/2009 9:53:17 PM PDT by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: bamahead

That’s a great sign, thanks for posting.

God Bless that Veteran.


39 posted on 04/16/2009 9:54:50 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: Travis McGee

Proud of it, too, coming from this bunch...


40 posted on 04/16/2009 9:57:09 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma ( PRAY! Pray for the U.S. Pray for Israel.)
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