The Politicization of the Department of Homeland Security

The American Thinker ^ | April 15, 2009 | Lee Cary

[Scanian]

The recently released Department of Homeland Security assessment of rightwing extremism represents an alarming politicization of that huge federal agency.

The 10-pages document is entitled: "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." Its source is the Extremism and Radicalization Branch of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis Assessment, of the Department of Homeland Security. (Imagine the size of their security badges.) Read it here.

American Thinker Jim Byrd's article entitled "Is Texas A Terror State?" provides a catalogue of transgressions that cumulatively define rightwing extremism. Byrd concludes that, when measured against Governor Rick Perry and Texas, the Lone Star State is solidly in the rightwing extremism column. (Excluding Kinky Friedman, of course.)

American Thinker Lance Fairchok's article entitled "DHS, 'Rightwing Extremism' and Information Warfare" places the DHS document in the context of information warfare.

Next, let's crawl into the weeds of this "amateurish" (Fairchok's accurate assessment) intelligence analysis, and examine its literary style.

First, its language is replete with vague and unsubstantiated hypothetical statements. Here are just seven examples.

1. "may" - "It is unclear if either bill [concerning mandatory firearm registration, and tagging and registration of ammunition] will be passed into law; nonetheless, a correlation may exist between the potential passage of gun control legislation and increased hoarding of ammunition..." (p. 6) (Or, folks are just frightened.)

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“politicization” in 10 weeks?

that’s got to be a record.

[Dallas59]

I wonder when the closing down of Churches begin? That’s where some of these “radicals” meet you know....

[angkor]

This “report” is a hack rewrite of hysterical Southern Poverty Law Center materials, including this specific opening paragraph from a SPLC web page, which was referenced and included in the report without quotations or attributio. IMO that indicates that the hack author was ashamed to reveal the disreputable and even laughable sources for this sham “report”.

From the SPLC Web site:

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/news/item.jsp?site_area=1&aid=197

Under pressure to meet wartime manpower goals, the U.S. military has relaxed standards designed to weed out racist extremists. Large numbers of potentially violent neo-Nazis, skinheads and other white supremacists are now learning the art of warfare in the armed forces.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

So now we’re back to profiling the “angry white guy” same as the Clinton administration did after the OKC bombing. We all saw how well that worked out on 9/11. They’re taking a big mortgage on our future with this way of “thinking.”

[Rome2000]

Large numbers of potentially violent neo-Nazis, skinheads and other white supremacists are now learning the art of warfare in the armed forces.

I guess if it was a bunch of black communists and muslims "learning the art of warfare in the armed forces" instead things would be hunky dory.

[SpaceBar]

If what you say is correct about the report being virtually identical to a Southern Poverty Law Center document, then Michael Savage’s hunch may be correct that the author is one Mark Potok, a leftwing lawyer with that outfit.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Judge Andrew Napolitano believes that this report is just an executive summary of a much larger, still classified report that is even worse.

Six Things You Should Know About the Homeland Security Report on ‘Rightwing Extremism’

[Think free or die]

I haven’t said anything to my sons yet, because they and my husband already think I’m “over the top with this stuff”. I’m concerned that the boys get moving on their Eagle Scout projects and earn their ranks before Bam decides to ban scouting outright or make it so politically isolated that good sheep will be afraid to support it.

[angkor]

I’m saying that the tone is similar to SPLC materials. and that there is at least one demonstrable instance of a paragraph lifted directly from the previously cited web page and being used in the report without attribution or quotation marks.

[Dallas59]

Well....Obuma would consider the Scouts a "right wing para military" outfit.
....and I'm not being sarcastic as usual.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

"skinheads"

do they still exist? I'm sure there are more leftard skinheads than any other brand.

remember this?:



I said at the time I was 100% certain that's a leftist setting up a premise, that the person would NOT receive any prison time.

Anyone know of any follow-up to that story?

[Enterprise]

The DHS “assessment” is intellectual squalor.

[FreedomPoster]

I don’t remember that. What is the outline of that story?

[angkor]

>>> The DHS “assessment” is intellectual squalor. <<<<<<

It is definitely sophomoric crapola.

[Mike Darancette]

“may”, “potential” and “could” make this read like an IPCC report on global warming.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

October surprise. “Nazi skinheads planning to kill Obama” premise in run up to election.

I guarantee that’s a leftist free as a bird right now.

[cubsfanconswoman]

I’m trying to figure out what ist the threats McCain received are. Every presidential candidate has received threats.

McCain’s office in Chicago was vandalized more than once by the Chicago thuggery machine.

[mathluv]

Peter Johnson is now on F&F - he says she should apologize or resign today!

[cubsfanconswoman]

What’s sad is black kids are being lied to about how racist scouting is when scouting could be so great for the young ones especially those without fathers in their lives. My coworker who grew up in the Chicago projects said his life was saved by joining the Scouts and considers his scoutmaster to be his Dad. He was a man in his 30s never married who started the troop where he grew up. My coworkers oldest is named after him and his kids call him Grandpa Pete.