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Legion to DHS: Americans are not the enemy!
The American Legion ^

Posted on 04/14/2009 12:02:39 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

Legion to DHS: Americans are not the enemy! By Marine64 Created Apr 14 2009 - 1:05pm

American Legion National Commander David K. Rehbein sent Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano a letter of protest concerning a recent report by the Department of Homeland Security which suggested veterans were more likely to commit terrorist acts than nonveterans. The letter is below.

Secretary Janet Napolitano Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528

April 13, 2009

Dear Secretary Napolitano,

On behalf of the 2.6 million-member American Legion, I am stating my concern about your April 7 report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence and Recruitment."

First, I want to assure you that The American Legion has long shared your concern about white supremacist and anti-government groups. In 1923, when the Ku Klux Klan still yielded unspeakable influence in this country, The American Legion passed Resolution 407. It resolved, in part, "...we consider any individual, group of individuals or organizations, which creates, or fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law..."

The best that I can say about your recent report is that it is incomplete. The report states, without any statistical evidence, "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."

The American Legion is well aware and horrified at the pain inflicted during the Oklahoma City bombing, but Timothy McVeigh was only one of more than 42 million veterans who have worn this nation's uniform during wartime. To continue to use McVeigh as an example of the stereotypical "disgruntled military veteran" is as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole example of Islam.

Your report states that "Rightwing extremists were concerned during the 1990s with the perception that illegal immigrants were taking away American jobs through their willingness to work at significantly lower wages." Secretary Napolitano, this is more than a perception to those who have lost their job. Would you categorize union members as "Right Wing extremists"?

In spite of this incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased report, The American Legion and the Department of Homeland Security share many common and crucial interests, such as the Citizen Corps and disaster preparedness. Since you are a graduate of New Mexico Girls State, I trust that you are very familiar with The American Legion. I would be happy to meet with you at a time of mutual convenience to discuss issues such as border security and the war on terrorism. I think it is important for all of us to remember that Americans are not the enemy. The terrorists are.

Sincerely,

David K. Rehbein National Commander The American Legion


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americanlegion; bho44; cwii; democratcongress; democrats; dhsbrownshirts; dhsgestappo; donttreadonme; fascism; homelandsecurity; military; napolitano; neomarxism; obama; rapeofliberty; rightwingextremists; socialism; veterans
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To: Sub-Driver

Slogan for anybody attending any of the Tea Parties:

“Government - Our servant NOT our master!”

Hope to see some of you in Chicago.


21 posted on 04/14/2009 12:38:58 PM PDT by 12Gauge687 (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)
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To: HollyB

I think the administration would enjoy it if violence occurred. It would give them the excuse to use the power of the white house to attack their enemies phycally. The left in Israel has employed these tactics for years.


22 posted on 04/14/2009 12:41:45 PM PDT by Nachum (the complete list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Sub-Driver

Somebody need to tell DHS that you don’t have to be smart or have special training to be a terrorist, only be willing.


23 posted on 04/14/2009 12:42:22 PM PDT by wolfcreek ("unnamed "right-wing extremist")
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To: TheThinker

yep


24 posted on 04/14/2009 12:44:30 PM PDT by gibsosa
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To: Sub-Driver
According to the DHS, anyone that disagrees with BHO’s socialistic agenda is a terrorist. I'm proud to say that in that case I'm a terrorist. Actually, I'm a secessionist, for I have lost all hope in the federal government to control itself. More and more power is being invested in fewer and fewer people. The government no longer reflects or represents my values, such as personal freedom and the rule of law. The ideal was for legislative and executive power to be located in the states, not a monstrous federal government. Things have gone terribly wrong.
25 posted on 04/14/2009 12:44:44 PM PDT by Nosterrex
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To: MrB
“As Rush said - Napolitano didn't come up with this in a vacuum, and 0bama doesn't disapprove of what's in the document.”

Napolitano is a useful idiot. It is why she was handpicked to head DHS. Anyone standing up to her would get the liberal “You're a sexist!” for criticizing her, after all she's a woman.

Napolitano’s incompetence can be witnessed by what was going on in Arizona during her administration and the “fruits” that have followed it with the illegals and Mexican drug cartel activity and escalations. She was worthless in fighting the bad guys in her own state and now she has the national post to protect our security. She is a female face for an organization being run by freedom hating Obamabots.

26 posted on 04/14/2009 12:53:14 PM PDT by 444Flyer (Don't beLIEve Obama...........every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. 2 Thess 2:10)
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To: Sub-Driver
I saw this today. I blocked out the name, address and phone number. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to post that on here.

XXXXXXXXX
Weatherford, TX XXXX

(817) XXXXXXXXXX

April 14, 2009

The President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I am appalled that you bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia! We are a sovereign nation and bow to no one! The following letter, which I received as an email, expresses my sentiments a lot better than I could. I don’t know who actually wrote it, but he ought to be given an award. You have NO idea what being an American is. You are tearing my country apart.

Dear Mr. President,

You don't speak for me.

When you go to Europe and say that Americans are “arrogant, dismissive and derisive” of our allies, you don't speak for me. When you pander to foreign leaders, presuming to speak on behalf of all Americans, apologizing for the actions of President Bush, you don't speak for me. When you desperately try to surrender to the French and the Germans, the Russians and the Saudis, and even our great friends in the U.K., just for the sake of maintaining your “Messiah” image, you don't speak for me.

You and your wife may not be proud of America, but I am, sir.

The Europeans seem to have forgotten who saved their collective asses in World War II, but I haven't. I haven't forgotten the tens of thousands of American fighting men who spilled their blood all across Europe to stop a murderous psychopath and his rampaging army. And I haven't forgotten the tens of thousands more who served in theater after that war, when the threat of Soviet advance through the Fulda Gap was ever present. I haven't forgotten, because I was there, for a time, anyway. I saw the obscenity of the Berlin Wall. I saw what happened to people who tried to escape communist Germany by climbing it, or trying to navigate the surrounding mine fields. I occasionally patrolled that border, mirroring Soviet or Czech patrols. And I remember watching on TV, crying as the wall was finally torn down.

I love Germany and England (France, not so much) and was ready to put my life on the line to defend them. So were the men I served with. Many Americans continue to serve across Europe in the military uniform of the United States, more willing, apparently, than many Europeans themselves, to preserve the freedom there that we have already paid for with our blood. I spent my money all over Europe, helping those economies flourish and grow, as did many other American servicemen and women who lived and served there. My only thanks was a very small paycheck, some wonderful memories and the knowledge that I was doing something worthwhile that I could be proud of for the rest of my life. I was, until today.

And then some pandering politician comes along and apologizes for all of that. You never served your country in military uniform, sir, so you wouldn't know how positively insulting that is. In fact, you've never done anything for this country but run for office. You won the election and still you're running a campaign instead of acting like the leader of our great nation. And I don't like it one bit.
I want peace. I want it for my family, for my friends and for my country. I've earned it and will continue to do so until the day I die. I want peace with Russia and China, even Iran and North Korea, if it were somehow possible. I want there to be a free exchange of ideas and trade goods and tourism between all of our nations.

But the difference between you and I, sir, is that I would never sell out my country to gain their applause. Maybe you think you're earning their respect and admiration by being weak and apologetic, but I know better. The only thing you did was weaken my country. And I won't forget it.

I am proud of my country and not even the President of the United States can take that away from me.

Sir, you must stop bankrupting my country and taking it down a road to Socialism. You and the Democrats are tearing this country apart.

Regards,

XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Copy: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Senator John Cornyn
Senator Harry Reed
Representative Kay Granger
Representative John Boehner

27 posted on 04/14/2009 12:53:18 PM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: ChinaThreat

HAS ANYONE HEARD ANY MENTION OF THIS ON ANY MAJOR NEWS OUTLET?
_______________
NO and it’s nothing short of criminal that they haven’t mentioned it. Do we know if Hannity, Beck, Rush and all of the other media outlets have received it? We can’t gripe unless we know it was sent to them and they refused to cover it.


28 posted on 04/14/2009 12:55:59 PM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: Sub-Driver
In 1923, when the Ku Klux Klan still yielded unspeakable influence in this country, The American Legion passed Resolution 407. It resolved, in part, "...we consider any individual, group of individuals or organizations, which creates, or fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law..."

The Klan in 1923.......that would have been the Democratic Party.

29 posted on 04/14/2009 12:56:02 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: HollyB
Let's draft Sheriff Joe for head of DHS. That would work. His tolerance for this kind of crap is very low.
30 posted on 04/14/2009 12:57:59 PM PDT by 444Flyer (Don't beLIEve Obama...........every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. 2 Thess 2:10)
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To: mojitojoe

Fox has this on its crawler. On Fox, the real news is on the crawler.


31 posted on 04/14/2009 12:58:28 PM PDT by dforest
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To: GreyFriar; zot
Americans are not the enemy!

Wanna bet?

32 posted on 04/14/2009 1:05:55 PM PDT by Interesting Times (For the truth about "swift boating" see ToSetTheRecordStraight.com)
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To: pgkdan
and FEMA is building camps across the Southland

yeah, and the fences along the border are to keep us in not them out, right?

33 posted on 04/14/2009 1:08:03 PM PDT by Eagle Eye (Defending RINOs is the same as defending Liberals.)
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To: Sub-Driver
BTTT

Additional info posted here: Obama Administration Says Americans Should Fear Their Combat Veterans

and here: Confirmed: The Obama DHS hit job on conservatives is real

34 posted on 04/14/2009 1:22:44 PM PDT by EdReform (The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed *NRA*JPFO*SAF*GOA*SAS*CCRKBA)
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To: Sub-Driver

I think Napolitano screwed up. There was supposed to be a full bore propaganda campaign, coming from all the news media at once, the way they used to do it in the clinton years. The talking points get faxed out, the big muckamucks meet and discuss it, and then, BLAM!!, it all comes out at once. RIGHTWING RACIST SEXIST TERRORIST THREAT!

But Janet put it up on the DHS website before they were quite ready to go, and a few smart conservative bloggers spotted it and reported on it. So instead of a concerted propaganda campaign, with the right forced onto the defensive from the get-go, we got this. And now the MSM is on the defensive instead.

Well, we’ll see. They can still yell a lot louder than we can, and reach a lot more people, so it may happen yet.


35 posted on 04/14/2009 1:29:47 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: ChinaThreat
Micahel Medved covered this on the first hour of his radio show.

It is being covered on Neil Cavuto on Fox News right now.

36 posted on 04/14/2009 1:36:03 PM PDT by happygrl (It's time to Party like it's 1773.)
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To: mojitojoe

Fox is covering this on Neil Cavuto right now.


37 posted on 04/14/2009 1:38:04 PM PDT by happygrl (It's time to Party like it's 1773.)
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To: Sub-Driver

To: David K. Rehbein National Commander The American Legion

You and any other citizens of the US who are even vaguely patriotic and harbor an image of a God-fearing, Bible centered, Constitutional Republic founded on Judeo-Christian values are the enemies of The State.

You (we) are outlaws.

Get used to it.


38 posted on 04/14/2009 1:38:33 PM PDT by shibumi (" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
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To: OneWingedShark
Uh-oh... there's no clause excluding Congress. You must be a terrorist too!

Wow. That is a really good point. Congress, under Reid and Peluosi have been operating much like the Klan.

39 posted on 04/14/2009 1:41:09 PM PDT by Ditto
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To: Cicero
Fox just interviewed a lil 'ol Southern Lady from Monroe, LA who is throwing her own Tea Party.

She's a Democrat and stated that if there isn't change, she'll look for a Third party, and that there could be Revolution coming out of this.

She sounded sweet, but determined.

40 posted on 04/14/2009 1:41:14 PM PDT by happygrl (It's time to Party like it's 1773.)
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