HOMELAND SECURITY: “Veterans a Focus of FBI Extremist Probe,” by Cam Simpson and Gary Fields, Wall Street Journal, 17 April 2009; and “The Enemies Within,” by Charles M. Blow, New York Times, 18 April 2009
The Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this year launched a nationwide operation targeting white supremacists and "militia/sovereign-citizen extremist groups," including a focus on veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to memos sent from bureau headquarters to field offices.
Some Republican lawmakers, talk-show hosts and veterans groups complained this week after the internal DHS assessment cited the potential for …extremists groups to target returning combat veterans for recruitment.
Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, said… he was offended that veterans were characterized as potential domestic terrorists.
…“although individuals with military backgrounds constitute a small percentage of white supremacist extremists, they frequently occupy leadership roles.”
I really don’t understand the uproar associated with this issue. The bottom line is that this is an attempt to get out front of a potential problem.
As a U.S. Marine, I welcome this type of policing of the force – as long as the spirit is to identify those trending toward white supremacy/domestic terror groups and not to start a “witch hunt,” which is a very fine line.
Blow sums this issue up nicely, “If they only recruit a few, that is still too many. Terrorists have shown the world time and again that a few well-trained men is all it takes.”
A marginally trained, former member of the military is infinitely more dangerous in one of these organizations than someone without prior military service.
Let’s not forget Timothy McVeigh…
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