Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Rightwing Uhohs

Guardian:

The Obama administration has issued a chilling warning to US police forces of the threat of a rise in violent right-wing extremist groups fuelled by economic recession, the return of disgruntled army veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and hostility towards election of the first black president.

[actually, it wasn't Obama admin per se, but the DHS that authored the report. But that won't stop the crazy people from pinning this on the POTUS.]

The internal report, which was not meant for publication, was drawn up by the Department of Homeland Security, set up after the 9/11 attacks to co-ordinate internal security. A leaked copy said: "The economic downturn and the election of the first African-American president present unique drivers for right-wing radicalisation and recruitment." It added that the threat posed by lone wolves and small terrorist cells is more pronounced than in past years.

...

It added: "Right-wing extremists have capitalised on the election of the first African-American president, and are focusing their efforts to recruit new members, mobilise existing supporters, and broaden their scope and appeal through propaganda, but they have not yet turned to attack planning." In particular it highlighted antagonism at Obama's perceived stance on issues ranging from immigration to social programmes for minorities and proposed restrictions on firearms. Since the November election, rightwing extremists have been using propaganda to reach out to a wider audience of potential recruits. It cited as an example of potential violence that may have been related to right-wing extremism the shooting of three police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earlier this month. The alleged gunman was reportedly influence by racist ideolology and anti-government and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. The nine-page report, marked For Official Use Only, was drawn up by the department of homeland security's extremism and radicalisation branch...The assessment contends that "right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalise 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".

It added: "The willingness of a small percentage of military personnel to join extremist groups during the 1990s because they were disgruntled, disillusioned, or suffering from the psychological effects of war is being replicated today."

...

Geez, a decade or two of hyperpartisan nationalist rhetoric and Republican hobby wars turns into a domestic terror problem for the US? Whoddathunk it? Of course, this will only confirm the suspicions holy canon of the American wingnuttery that the Obama administration is going to put them all in FEMA camps or something. All those PATRIOTotic anti-terror laws they cheered so endlessly, well, they aren't just for swarthy people, but I'm sure this point will be lost on them. Actual report available here.

Update: Mattt has more and better (be sure the click on the machine gun shoot). It could get crazy weird down there over the next few years.


(h/t Chet)

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