DHS Right-Wing Extremism Warning

From U.S. News and World Report:

Reports of a warning about "rightwing extremism" issued by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis have been met with denunciations from conservative talk show hosts. Highlighting the reaction of the American Legion, which took issue with suggestions "that some soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could be recruited by right-wing extremists to participate in violent actions," the Washington Times reports David K. Rehbein, the Legion's national commander, said in a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano that he thought it "important for all of us to remember that Americans are not the enemy. The terrorists are." The Times went on to note criticism of the report from Republican Reps. Lamar Smith, Peter T. King, Ron Paul, and Dana Rohrabacher. The AP reports DHS "officials said there was no specific information about an attack in the works by right-wing extremists."

The Politico says DHS "is especially concerned with attempts to "radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat." The warning makes numerous comparisons "to the 1990s, a period when the country was rocked by several acts of domestic terrorism including the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City." A number of cable TV pundits picked up on criticism of the report from Rush Limbaugh, who depicted it as coming directly from Secretary Napolitano, with President Barack Obama's approval. CNN's Lou Dobbs asked, "Why are there not names named and specific targets referenced here if there is a legitimate threat to the interests of the United States?" Fox News' Your World led its broadcast with the DHS warning, stating, "While it takes aim at conservatives, it ignores liberal groups like ACORN breaking into foreclosed homes, housing activists storming Bear Stearns, violent anti-capitalist protests at the G20, and Code Pink."