E-nough!: NYC Letter: Extremists!

May 06, 2009

NYC Letter: Extremists!

Day 106 of CHOPE

The Department of Homeland Security recently released -- then quickly recalled -- the Domestic Extremism Lexicon, a "Reference Aid" to help identify all those pesky domestic terrorists in our midst. For some even closer than the midst. According to the lexicon the person beside you is probably an extremist. [Surprised hiccup.] As most probably are you.

DOMESTIC EXTREMISTS!
Nothing But Trouble, Possibly (L to R)

Amy Kudwa, Homeland Security spokeswoman:

The lexicon was not an authorized I&A [scil., Intelligence and Analysis] product, and it was recalled as soon as management discovered it had been released without authorization.

The document carries the DHS seal and "//FOUO" [scil., For Official Use Only] is marked severally throughout. Here is what the lexicon -- distributed by the DHS through agency channels -- itself says (p.2):

Homeland Security Reference Aids—prepared by the DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A)—provide baseline information on a variety of homeland security issues. This product is one in a series of reference aids designed to provide operational and intelligence advice and assistance to other elements of DHS, as well as state, local, and regional fusions centers.

Ms. Kudwa:

This product is not, nor was it ever, in operational use.

Man up, Ms. Kudwa. The distribution was the first operational step of official use and carries with it an inherent and clear expectation of use. If it were not in operational use, it would not need to be recalled. The lexicon was recalled to end its use.

Why can't DHS just admit to a colossal botch?

Last month DHS issued a report naming returning war veterans as prime emergent terrorist candidates (p.2), invoking boogeyman Timothy McVeigh (p.7). Ms. Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, after a bumbling defense of the report, finally apologized to the American Legion.

The Domestic Extremism Lexicon identifies Jews (of course, the Jooos!), Christians (2 entries), pro-lifers (i.e., antiabortion extremism), immigration enforcement proponents (anti-immigration extremism), blacks (four entries), whites (10 entries not counting Neo-Nazi), greens (2 entries), second amendment advocates (i.e., militia movement), patriots (i.e., patriot movement), tea bag parties (i.e., tax resistance movement), and anti-Federalists (i.e., sovereign citizen movement), et al. [Pause.] It's hard not to fall into one or more of the broad useless definitions given.

The only extremist group in the whole lexicon that is named by name is the Phineas Priesthood. Why is that? Well, because broad useless definitions can be casually applied or understood to apply to non-extremist groups with similar projects. For example, a Baptist who believes abortion is a moral evil but is content to pray that God's terrible justice befall the abortionist is within the compass of the lexicon's definition of antiabortion extremism (p.3).

Unless you agree with everything Mr. Obama is doing, it's a good bet you are somewhere in the lexicon.

Guess who're not an extremist? [Aching curiosity.]

Islamofascists! No Islamite Identity Movements mentioned, no Violent Jihadists, no Islamic Anti-semites. Nobody from Al Qaeda. Nobody from the great big vicious hate-choked caliphate-whining head-chopping Islamite terrorist community. Nobody. [Hard pause.] We would wager all the violent acts of all the obliquely referenced groups in the lexicon put together wouldn't amount to the teensiest fraction of the violence perpetrated by Islamites against American citizens.

THIS GUY'S OK
Move Along. Let The Man Worship In Peace.