Domestic terror: Who's most dangerous? (CNN wants to know)

[me b zola]

~snip~

Rudolph's last bombing, of a family planning clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, was in early 1998. Did it mark the end of the era when America's homegrown threat came primarily from right-wing extremists?

The FBI believes Rudolph and McVeigh are part of the past.

Instead, the agency sees a new threat: "The No. 1 domestic terrorism threat is the eco-terrorism, animal-rights movement," said John Lewis, an FBI deputy assistant director and top official in charge of domestic terrorism.

Not so fast, says a monitor of domestic terrorist groups on both ends of the spectrum.

"It is simply ludicrous to describe animal rights and eco-terrorism as the No. 1 threat," said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center. He believes those following the paths of Rudolph and McVeigh are still a clear and present danger.


~snip~

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/24/schuster.column/index.html


The last sentence of the article asks us who do we think is the greatest threat. E-mail them @

[e-mail].

[Frederik]

1. Pat Robertson.

[liberal N proud]

3. Ditto!

[jsamuel]

6. yep, i also included those at Fox News who agree with the terrorist acts

[flvegan]

2. Ha ha! In your FACE, right wing hatemongers and doctor killers!

I'm an animal rights activist, so I'm number 1! I'm number 1!

Are you all scared of me yet?

Boo!

[whatever4]

4. "he No. 1 domestic terrorism threat is the eco-terrorism, animal-rights mo

Wow, yeah, they're all I worry about, sure

What a friggin, well, you know.

Funny. Right now the greatest threat to us, all totaled, is our own government. As our founding fathers always said it would be.

[noonwitch]

5. Right-wing terrorists will rise again when we have a democratic president

Their guys are in power right now, so they don't have any grievances to spur them on.

I find PETA annoying, but not dangerous. ELF probably belongs somewhere on the list, but as they really aren't killing people, I don't see where they come in so high on the list.

On the other hand, if James Nichols (Terry's insane brother) is still associated with the Michigan Militia, that organization should be on the list.

[meow2u3]

7. The e-mail I sent to CNN

'The clearest and most present danger of domestic terrorism comes not from so-called "eco-terrorism", but from the ever-increasing violent extremism of the religious right, or politicized radical Christianity. From Pat Robertson's edicts calling for assassination of duly elected foreign leaders, to Jerry Falwell and other televangelists worshiping the almighty dollar while their followers starve, to the violent intolerance of some Republican leaders, to the white supremacists who terrorize others simply because they don't share their prejudices, to the "Christian madrassas" teaching their students that compromise is ungodly, these radical Christianists pose a danger not only to their fellow Americans, but to our very democracy itself.

For the government to focus on left-wing "terrorism" while ignoring, condoning, or even silently, or not-so-silently encouraging, right-wing terrorism smacks of politics interfering with the safety and freedom of this nation.'

[electropop]

8. My letter to CNN

First, though I happen to sympathize with left-leaning ideas, I heartily condemn those groups who use evil tactics trying to accomplish good ends. This is no better than rightist terrorists.

Having said that, I am far more afraid of terrorists in the extreme right in this country. They have often murdered in the name of their cause, whereas the leftists seem to prefer property damage. More importantly, the right-wing terrorists draw aid and comfort from the right-wing elite in this country. When George W. Bush sends 120,000 troops to Iraq, and places them in situations where they are torturing and killing thousands of Iraqis, including women and children, he is advocating murder in the name of right-wing values. This inspires people like Eric Rudolph to do the same. Bush is as much a spiritual leader of a religious fundamentalist terrorist movement as Bin Laden is.

Bush is a state sponsor of terrorism.

[understandinglife]

9. W and his fellow war criminal neoconsters, without a doubt.

Peace.

[yellerpup]

10. CNN letter/Who is Most Dangerous?

Home grown self-appointed "patriots" who feel that destroying the Federal Government is the ultimate patriotic duty. Timothy McVeigh was a gun dealer and a methamphetamine user who thought his paramilitary buddies would fall into line and march against the nation after he inspired them by bringing down the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Get real. Animal rights activists haven't killed anyone. Follow the assault weapons and you will find true home grown terrorists.

[ripple]

11. Karl Rove

He deliberately uses tactics aimed at polarizing people in order to further a political agenda. These tactics only serve to spread bigotry, intolerance, and hatred, which have all historically been the launching pad for widespread oppression and violence.

[me b zola]

12. Here's my letter

It is my understanding that the actions of the eco-terrorists and animal rights activist have never directed violence toward any person. This of course does not excuse any criminal behavior, but it does contrast greatly with the violence of the right wing extremists.

Right wing extremists have a long history of committing murder for their causes. There is every reason to believe that they will continue to use violence against people. Very little attention gets paid to the fact that Eric Rudolf targeted women's health clinics, and the gay community. Many of the same people who used a public forum to incite such violence are still involved with right wing politics, one of them was interviewed during the Terri Schiavo debacle. These are the voices claiming moral authority to kill.

Just this past year we have heard examples on the floor of the Senate of right wing politicians calling for violence against Federal Judges. I hear right wing activist claiming the moral authority to kill those who they believe are behaving against their religious beliefs.

It is absurd for the FBI to use more of their resources to focus on people who have never committed violence against a person when there are constant threats of violence, calls to violence, and a long history of murder & violence from the right wing. But that is the rub.

Since the Bush administration has come to power, there has been a lot of purging within federal agencies to "cleanse" themselves from anyone with a differing view point. I do not believe that it is a simple error on the part of the FBI to name left leaning groups as the number one domestic threat. I believe that this is consistent with the Bush administration's attempts to paint Liberals & Democrats as terrorist sympathizers.

Regardless of ones political leanings, we all should be frightened by the amount of violent rhetoric coming from the right wing, the consolidation of power in the executive office, and the way in which the administration wields its power against it's own citizens.



Respectfully,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[me b zola]

13. Come on guys, this is a chance to weigh in

Are ya gonna let the reich wing have the last word?