Homeland Security Report equates 'abortion opponents' with white supremacists

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Washington D.C., Apr 14, 2009 / 02:28 pm (CNA).- According to a Homeland Security Report distributed to law enforcement organizations, abortion opponents are as great a threat to national security in the immediate future as white supremacists.

The nine-page document was sent to police and sheriff's departments across the country on April 7 under the headline, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." The report is unclassified, but is accompanied by a warning that says it “contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act.”

The report was prepared by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch of the Department of Homeland Security and claims it was “coordinated with the FBI.”

“Rightwing extremists,” the document says, “have capitalized on the election of the first African American president, and are focusing their efforts to recruit new members, mobilize existing supporters, and broaden their scope and appeal through propaganda, but they have not yet turned to attack planning.”

Nevertheless, according to the report, the combination of a prolonged economic downturn, the election of the first African American President and the return of many veterans with "combat skills" could create an environment similar to the early 90's, which lead to the Oklahoma City bombing.

The report describes "Rightwing extremism" broadly as “those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”

Under the title “Revisiting the 1990s,” the report claims that “paralleling the current national climate, rightwing extremists during the 1990s exploited a variety of social issues and political themes to increase group visibility and recruit new members.”

“Prominent among these themes were the militia movement’s opposition to gun control efforts, criticism of free trade agreements (particularly those with Mexico), and highlighting perceived government infringement on civil liberties as well as white supremacists’ longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage.”

The report “is provided to federal, state, local, and tribal counterterrorism and law enforcement officials so they may effectively deter, prevent, preempt, or respond to terrorist attacks against the United States.”

Comments: 28

Subscriber comments:

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass. USA 04/29/2009 12:13 PM EST

I am confused!!?? White supremacists wanted to do away with the lives of Jewish and black people and the like because they were considered inferior races. Only one race of individuals were considered worthy to live. White supremacists wanted to eliminate homosexuals and people with birth defects.
How is a PRO_LIFE PERSON A WHITE SUPREMACIST? God THE CREATOR OF ALL LIFE MUST ALSO BE A WHITE SUPREMACIST? So all aborted babies were aborted because they were white supremacists? REALLY?????How BRIGHT is that line of reasoning!

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 04/22/2009 08:42 AM EST

By the way, should we really be proud to be mistaken for Neo-Nazis and other extremists?

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 04/22/2009 08:38 AM EST

Please read the comments again. They don't say "abortion is a blessing". They point out that people have bombed clinics, shot abortionists, and mailed anthrax in the name of saving unborn children. They point out that white supremacists hijack the causes of life and family.

Published by: Michele
Jackson,CA,USA 04/20/2009 11:19 AM EST

When are we as great Conservative Americans going to rise up and finally say NO to all this crap that is happening in this country. We stand by and watch Gay Rights Parades and stand by and watch while our country is putting Gay sexual discussions in our childrens classrooms, watch while illegal immigration is sucking our country dry as drugs and violence continues to flow over the country's line, also watch our govt. continue to tax us to death where we don't even know how to pay off this incredible debt. Why is it ok for all that but if we stood together and had a hederosexual parade we would be cast out or a white parade we would be cast out as racists the reality is we wouldn't it's not necessary to have a freakin parade. However, we do need to stand up because if not the liberal govt, and the liberal ideals are going to be forced down our throat whether we like it or not or fight the threat of arrest. When is the change going to happen. Let's remember this country was founded on God and freedom the same things that are being taken away.

Published by: Jim
Eureka/MO/USA 04/18/2009 11:51 AM EST

The logic that supports this report must be that abortion is a civil rights issue. Women have a civil right to abortion. Anyone who opposes these civil rights could be prosecuted. Religious organizations that oppose these new civil rights will be legally forced to recognize them. Same sex marriage is also being promoted as a civil right.

Published by: Stephany Wiley
Weslaco, TX USA 04/16/2009 09:29 PM EST

Look at the evidence, folks. Read the posts here and notice a group together that are critical of the people of life, characterizing them as abortion clinic bombers. I have to laugh because they are doing the same thing now that was done a few years back when they "the left" outed themselves as enemies of the pro life movement. Problem was, the pro life folks where gaining strength and joining forces. According to the Alinsky playbook, that makes them enemies and the mode of operation is to attack, mischaracterize, and slander. The same tactics were used on Pres Bush, and now on the good Bishops, faithful Catholics, and anyone who doesn't fall lockstep behind their leftist agenda.

For pro lifers to be targeted by a govt agency as potential terrorists shows the dangerous direction this country is headed in.
Odd, isn't it, that Obama has totally disdained the Churches teaching, is willing to talk to those who would kill Americans, but has made absolutely no effort to have an open discussion with the pro life people. (Kind of like Fr. Jenkins at ND.)
Don't kid yourself, they know full well what they're doing. They're so deeply ingrained in Alinsky tactics and goals that everyone who isn't in lock step is considered an "enemy" and must be eliminated whatever it takes.

Our Blessed Mother has been warning and preparing us. We need to remain faithful, in prayer, and trusting in Him alone. In the end, as Fr. Corapi says "We win!!"

Published by: r
FreeUSA 04/16/2009 07:11 AM EST

Homeland security is nothing but Hitler's dream coming back to haunt freedom loving Americans. The US constitution means nothing to Obama and his radical/socialist cohorts and their commi/socialist movement in early 21st century.

Published by: Sue
Topeka KS USA 04/16/2009 06:25 AM EST

My husband and I think abortion is murder--reason #1 to call us terrorists.
He is a Purple Heart veteran, obviously with military training--guess that is reason #2.
We think that same-sex marriage should remain illegal, and that is how we vote--so I guess that's #3.
My guess is that this is a prelude to restricting the right to own guns, the right to free-speech, and an attempt to make political incorrectness illegal!

Published by: D.Smith
Fiddletown, Calif. 04/15/2009 07:48 PM EST

I've got my sign in my back truck window:

I AM PRO-LIFE
therefore
I AM ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY 'WATCHLIST'
April, 2009

Published by: Kathy
Chicago 04/15/2009 02:08 PM EST

I came up with an idea for a new bumper sticker: I AM PRO-LIFE AND PROUD TO BE ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY WATCHLIST!

Published by: Ed
Woodbridge, VA 04/15/2009 12:14 PM EST

This is the first step in silencing the pro-life movement. It sounds similar to failed attempts to prosecute (and persecute) pro-life protesters under the RICO statutes. What comes next?

Published by: Dutch
Grand Rapids, MI 04/15/2009 11:13 AM EST

Read it again.

The document defines extremist groups, then says such groups "...MAY include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration" (emphasis mine). This refers to the radical groups that kill abortion providers, not Right to Life or Catholic Family Services. The later quote merely refers to "white supremacists’ longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage”--the way radical groups piggy-back their agenda onto legitmate conservative issues. The title and tone of this article are misleading; they don't represent what the report actually says. In fact, the article pretty much refutes the title.

Published by: KJJ
Denver, CO USA 04/15/2009 10:25 AM EST

Was same-sex "marriage" even an issue in the 1990s? It was so off the wall that few people took it seriously.

See Phillip Jenkins' essay "Terror comes home":

Based on the record of past Democratic administrations, in the near future terrorism will almost certainly be coming home. This does not necessarily mean more attacks on American soil. Rather, public perceptions of terrorism will shift away from external enemies like al-Qaeda and Hezbollah and focus on domestic movements on the Right. We will hear a great deal about threats from racist groups and right-wing paramilitaries, and such a perceived wave of terrorism will have real and pernicious effects on mainstream politics. If history is any guide, the more loudly an administration denounces enemies on the far Right, the easier it is to stigmatize its respectable and nonviolent critics.

Published by: Cheryl Sailor
Homewood/IL/USA 04/15/2009 10:22 AM EST

Rate: Regular

How happy am I that the evils of the Religious Reich are finally being recognized as dangerous. If these groups had their way, women would be without reproductive choices, once again confined to a 2nd class citizenship defined be the Old Testament. These Dominionists and others of their ilk would like to replace our democracy with a white male run theocracy. They are the American Taliban, and it is high time that they are publicly recognized as what they are, dangerous.

Published by: Paul
Australia 04/15/2009 06:19 AM EST

I live in Australia where almost all are ecosystems are failing. Every year shows a decline in available water, fish stocks and ariable land. The world has at least twice as many people than it can support. Please suggest anyway that will stop over population. To me all cards have got to be on the table.

Published by: Russ Driggers
Mackenbach, Germany 04/15/2009 02:55 AM EST

We must be careful not to misread documents such as these. Unless there are other statements in the document that explicitly equate abortion opponents with white supremacists, then the text in this article does not support the claim. The text simply states, truthfully, that some white supremacists exploit social issues such as abortion. Furthermore, the document references primarily "hate-based organizations" and those focused on a single-issue. To my knowledge, those in the Catholic Church who are actively involved in pro-life events fit it neither category. To be sure, however, we must be concerned with reports like this that may cause rightful, peaceful, and focused pro-life events to be mis-categorized and subject to further misunderstanding.

Published by: NotAnObot
Dallas, Republic of Texas 04/14/2009 11:52 PM EST

What do American citizens expect from former DHS head, Michael Chertoff, who hired communist ex-East German Stasi head, Markus Wolf; and communist ex-Soviet KGB head, Gen. Y. Primikov to set up our newfangled police state. Remember Mr. Chertoff, the very one who got the "Dancing Israelis" (who were arrested while celebrating, dancing, high-fiving and filming the burning towers and the mass murder on 9/11 AS IT OCCURRED, which indicates foreknowledge) RELEASED from custody and sent back to their mommies in Israel. The naughty boys.

Published by: Steven
Fargo 04/14/2009 08:10 PM EST

The ADL and SPLC are behind this report. The reason pro-life activists are included with "white supremacists" is because they are both considered "enemies of the Jews".

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 04/14/2009 08:05 PM EST

Undoubtedly the report is referring to people who bomb abortuaries and mail anthrax.

Published by: Rusty
Tx 04/14/2009 06:38 PM EST

Blowing up abortion clinics and shooting doctors makes them no better than other terrorists.

Published by: Pam Forrester
Fallbrook, CA, USA 04/14/2009 06:22 PM EST

We are being marginalized exactly like the Jews in Nazi Germany. What do we do?
...leave our homes and our country and friends and families? No wonder the Jews stayed...sigh. St. Michael, defend us...

Published by: joe smo
boston, ma 04/14/2009 04:49 PM EST

I guess that means every catholic is a terrorist?

Scare tactics? Political correctness gone amuck?

Published by: Rhi Bran
Phoenix Arizona USA 04/14/2009 04:31 PM EST

A retired teacher from San Marcos, Texas were I lived, was murdered while escorting a doctor (who was also murdered) at a Florida abortion clinic. That portion of the movement who use bombs, threats, and guns to impose their religious beliefs are terrorists. Many right wing extremists share they anti-abortions cause. Actually, many countries that promote Muslim fundamentalsim are also anti-abortion and anti-birth control.

Published by: CW
Wichita, KS 04/14/2009 03:52 PM EST

I thinking i heard that the KKK and Margrate Sanger where inchoots and killing black babies, not the prolifers.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe/NM/US 04/14/2009 03:51 PM EST

Jack Bauer heard talking on his cell "yeah Bill we found the location of the safe house but there's a family of seven living here, there's no machine guns, bomb making material, or weapons of any kind. The sharpest knife in the house could barely cut butter. Whats that, well yeah we did find several Bible's and they do look like they've been read in the last year, there's crosses on the wall, and a kneeler in their 'prayer room'. Yeah Bill, I realize under Executive Order 114324666 Catholicism was banned and we are to bring all suspected religious terrorist in for 'questioning'. I'll be there in 30 minutes, they've asked us all to join them for dinner and would not take no for an answer.

Published by: Lynn
Carbondale, IL 04/14/2009 03:46 PM EST

So now it begins: the Obama Totalitarian Regime reveals it's wicked heart...pro-lifers are deemed as a "terrorist threat to National Security" & will be prosecuted by a culture of death Administration for defense against government sanctioned infanticide.

Published by: Jim
Mission Viejo/CA/USA 04/14/2009 03:45 PM EST

Can you imagine how much money they spent on this BS? I also like the part that say you are extreme if you favor state or local control rather than federal control. I knew that Constitution was a right wing radical idea!

Published by: Joe Bayer
Ohio 04/14/2009 03:23 PM EST

Well, its official, I am an enemy of the state. I believe that the federal government has grossly overstepped the powers given to it by the U.S. Constitution, powers that were reserved for the states. That belief now has me grouped with violent nut jobs according to homeland security.

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