Are a weakened economy, the election of a black president, and illegal immigration factors in an increase of right-wing extremism in the U.S.? The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) thinks so in a confidential report leaked this week:
As the above video showed, rightist commentators are peeved at the report. One of them has even called for the resignation of DHS chief Janet Napolitano. Also upset are some veterans groups like the American Legion whose president called the study "incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased".
Napolitano released a statement emphasizing that “we are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not -- nor will we ever -- monitor ideology or political beliefs.” In addition, the Obama administration issued a warning months ago about some far leftist groups and the previous Bush administration issued published several reports on “left-wing extremism”.
There are terrorists abroad who target the U.S. and foolishly wish for the country’s destruction. Yet there are also domestic fringe groups on both sides of the ideological spectrum who for different reasons have the same objective: to spread fear, violence, and anarchy. Monitoring all of them should not be an easy excuse for the country to become an overbearing surveillance state yet we must be alert against the danger these groups pose.
Online Sources- CNN, AFP, UPI, BBC News, Guardian UK, Think Progress
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