The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

Preach it brother. I don’t know if I should be amused, disgusted, derisive, or some combination thereof. I’m certainly not surprised. I’m not about to be intimidated by this foolishness either.

Duane, Sam:

Left Wing Extremists Report

(U//FOUO) This product is one of a series of intelligence assessments published by the DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Strategic Analysis Group to facilitate a greater understanding of the emerging threats to the United States. The information is provided to federal, state, and local counterterrorism and law enforcement officials so they may effectively deter, prevent, preempt, or respond to terrorist attacks against the United States.

(U//FOUO) This assessment examines the potential threat to homeland security from cyber attacks conducted by leftwing extremists, a threat that DHS/I&A believes likely will grow over the next decade. It focuses on the more prominent leftwing groups within the animal rights, environmental, and anarchist extremist movements that promote or have conducted criminal or terrorist activities (see Appendix). This assessment is intended to alert DHS policymakers, state and local officials, and intelligence analysts monitoring the subject so they can better focus their collection requirements and analysis.

More at the link.

ONE MORE TIME, ED.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT?

I already knew of this left wing report for a while now. Everything I said in the post had to do with the right wing report and its overreaching conclusions. Nothing about how this scrutiny is only exclusive to the right wing coming from me. Yet for the second time you are hell bent as a “moderate”/Republican to draw those conclusions here.

Are your beliefs loosely described in the left wing report? How about the right wing report?

Again, make your point.

This report is being used and abused by left-wing liberals to harass and attempt to intimidate anyone who doesn’t agree with them. A personal friend of mine has already been threatened to be reported to the govt as a terrorist for doing nothing than stating his MODERATE opinion, which is considered by a group of ultra liberals as being extreme right-wing thinking.

My point is people on “The Right” are having a fit over the report, as they rightly should be having a fit, but they get damned quiet when the target is those they don’t particularly like.

After 9-11, there were those on the right who put the Nation of Islam and the United Nation of Islam in the same category as the Islamofacists.

Jeremiah Wright spews crap and all of a sudden, many on “The Right” are saying he represents most, if not all, of Black preachers.

See my point?

The report on the left wing extremists actually names the left wing extremist groups that have actually been engaged in domestic terrorism over the years. It doesn’t make the sweeping generalisations about a significant portion of the nation’s citizens the way this report on so called right wing extremism does. That fairly obvious point has been made many times in many places (see below).

Napolitano Apologizes for Offending Veterans After DHS Eyes Them for ‘Rightwing Extremism’
The report follows a similar DHS assessment released in January that detailed left-wing threats, focusing on cyberattacks and radical “eco-terrorist” groups like Earth Liberation Front, accused of firebombing construction sites, logging companies, car dealerships and food science labs. The report noted that left-wing extremists prefer economic damage to get their message across.

“Their leftwing assessment identifies actual terrorist organizations, like the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front,” House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said in a statement issued Wednesday. “The rightwing report uses broad generalizations about veterans, pro-life groups, federalists and supporters of gun rights. That’s like saying if you love puppies, you might be susceptible to recruitment by the Animal Liberation Front. It is ridiculous and deeply offensive to millions of Americans.”

DHS issued report on extremism despite concerns
Civil liberties officials at the Homeland Security Department flagged language in a controversial report on right-wing extremists, but the agency issued the report anyway.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the report was issued before officials resolved problems raised by the agency’s civil rights division about analysts’ definition of right-wing extremism.

After 9-11, there were those on the right who put the Nation of Islam and the United Nation of Islam in the same category as the Islamofacists.

Jeremiah Wright spews crap and all of a sudden, many on “The Right” are saying he represents most, if not all, of Black preachers.

Perhaps you could go find the people who actually say this stuff and argue with them about it?

but they get damned quiet when the target is those they don’t particularly like.

That’s called “politics“. The two sides are always going to consumed with their own self-interests. This is where moderates self deceive themselves by thinking that there can be a third team on the football field.

I have absolutely no problem in acknowledging the fact that I care nothing of the interests of the left. From the time the left extremist report was released to today, the left has made greater gains in DC and in the media. I share no common ground with groups like the NOI, so again, I lose no sleep over them. Likewise, they lose no sleep over my views. NOW, when our government oversteps the law and begins to violate their basic rights as Americans, I have a problem with that. Tapping the phones of MLK and Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders in the past was just plain wrong.

Jeremiah Wright spews crap and all of a sudden, many on “The Right” are saying he represents most, if not all, of Black preachers.

And lets not forget that there were many on “the left” who were saying the same thing as well. There were plenty of articles online and commentary on the radio from the Black left who said that what Wright said wasn’t any different from what is said in other Black churches.

Does Jeremiah Wright Speak for All Black Churches? (NPR)
Other Black preachers came to his defense

See my point?

No, I do not. This post was how this report pertained to my personal views on this latest DHS report. Anybody who follows the news as closely as I and many of the people who come to this site know full well that leftest organizations like environmental groups, home grown commie orgs, etc. all have been scrutinized by our government for a very long time. So again, why feel the need to remind people on this site of that fact? For a person who claims that he will never defend the Republican party, you sure do a good job making arguments for the left on Black conservative sites.

Ultimately, this is going to end up with two sides: Pro-government vs. anti-government. The “anti-government” side will be made up of folks on the right and left. They will be the ones branded as “racists” for not supporting more social programs, “xenophobes” for being against ILLEGAL immigration and “radical Christians” for not supporting gay marriage and endless HIV/AIDS educational programs that are not working. And if McCain won, I would be saying the same exact thing. He, too had no backbone and wanted to be loved by everybody too much.

Just a side note, registered Republicans here in CA gathered for a huge protest at the CA GOP HQ to protest the direction of the party. Listening to them on the radio, these folks were H-O-T. Also, Republicans out here are also putting together a recall effort to oust a local assemblyman for his vote to increase the state sales tax. So these tea parties were targeting everybody whose only interest is to grow government.

Samantha,

Rep, Thompson also makes your point.

Top Dem ‘dumbfounded’ by ‘extremism’ report

Like I said, “pro-government vs. anti-government”.

That’s called “politics“. The two sides are always going to consumed with their own self-interests. This is where moderates self deceive themselves by thinking that there can be a third team on the football field.

Right is right, wrong is wrong, defending “your side” when they are wrong is wrong, period.

I have absolutely no problem in acknowledging the fact that I care nothing of the interests of the left. From the time the left extremist report was released to today, the left has made greater gains in DC and in the media. I share no common ground with groups like the NOI, so again, I lose no sleep over them.

I have no common ground with the NOI either, but CoIntelPro has showed me that the saying “first they came for someone else” holds true in the U.S. I have family who did low level Civil Rights work during the era who had government files on them because they wanted basic American rights. I’ve witnessed, first hand, abuse of innocent Black citizens by the police only to have the outcry about the abuse fall on deaf ears, UNTIL the same started happening to innocent white people.

I don’t like being pro-life and tied to abortion provider bombers. I don’t like being “pro-Black” and being tied to “Black nationalist” kooks. I don’t like facing scrutiny because my wife is relatives of a few NOI members and I’ve been in their homes or they have been in my in-law’s homes.

Anybody who follows the news as closely as I and many of the people who come to this site know full well that leftest organizations like environmental groups, home grown commie orgs, etc. all have been scrutinized by our government for a very long time. So again, why feel the need to remind people on this site of that fact?

Why get so upset just because “you” are targeted if you know wacked out left groups are under scrutiny? I recall a mini-dust up by some on “the right” over the chances of Black and Latino gang members joining the military and then coming home to be able to teach military tactics. I don’t recall such a dust up by those same people on “the right” over white supremacists in the military.

Ultimately, this is going to end up with two sides: Pro-government vs. anti-government. The “anti-government” side will be made up of folks on the right and left. They will be the ones branded as “racists” for not supporting more social programs, “xenophobes” for being against ILLEGAL immigration and “radical Christians” for not supporting gay marriage and endless HIV/AIDS educational programs that are not working. And if McCain won, I would be saying the same exact thing. He, too had no backbone and wanted to be loved by everybody too much.

You do realize I agree with this comment, right?

Look, rational thinking goes out of the door when people get into the “right / left” binary model. Otherwise, “the right” would have gone after Bush more strongly before the 6 year mark.

Perhaps you could go find the people who actually say this stuff and argue with them about it?

Why no defense of the target when it was said?

The government potentially targeting innocent people, even if you disagree with them, is a problem, right?

Right is right, wrong is wrong, defending “your side” when they are wrong is wrong, period.

How is “my side” wrong on this issue?

I’ve witnessed, first hand, abuse of innocent Black citizens by the police only to have the outcry about the abuse fall on deaf ears, UNTIL the same started happening to innocent white people.

Not just Black folks, homey.

I got a friend of mine (White) who just got out of prison. His legal representation dropped the ball on his case and he had to serve time for an alleged crime he committed. According to him, LAPD lied about him on their police report claiming he was threatening them. He was beat up several times by fellow inmates. Each time prison guards knew what was going on, yet they turned their heads. His face was fractured and he almost lost an eye. The one time he did retaliate, he got more time slapped on his sentence. What should have been a light sentence for such a minor offense turned into almost 2 years away from his family. His daughter doesn’t want to be near him because she does not know what to believe. Where was the “outcry” for him? So back to your point: “Right is right, wrong is wrong, defending “your side” when they are wrong is wrong, period.” Injustice knows no color, yet there are folks out there that want to make it synonyms with “Black”. Get out of coloredtown and you will see that the criminal justice system is just as corrupt no matter where you go.

I don’t like being “pro-Black” and being tied to “Black nationalist” kooks.

If you are referring to the family members you mentioned, that’s one thing. But how are YOU being tied to “Black nationalist kooks” for being “pro-black”?

Why get so upset just because “you” are targeted if you know wacked out left groups are under scrutiny?

Because as Samantha mentioned earlier, the leftest groups that were mentioned in the report you provided are SPECIFIC groups with SPECIFIC threats (cyber attacks) that have a history of committing criminal acts to make their point. How your views can somehow be associated with Crimethinc, the Ruckus Society, and Recreate 68, I don’t know (that would be a huuuuuuge stretch, IMO). Hold the two reports together and you will find that the leftest extremist report was very specific while the right wing report was very broad and general. Apples and oranges. When the civil liberties of organizations on the left (NAACP, SCLC, and other Black political orgs, for example) are violated, then we have a real problem. So far, the only violations to their rights they have been able to point to took place during the civil rights era. Almost 50 years ago.

Look, rational thinking goes out of the door when people get into the “right / left” binary model.

So did you start the process by injecting the left’s perspective here? Even when it had absolutely nothing to do with the post and nothing to do with how this report broad brushed an entire political ideology.

Perhaps you could go find the people who actually say this stuff and argue with them about it?

Why no defense of the target when it was said?

The government potentially targeting innocent people, even if you disagree with them, is a problem, right?

DS you are working with a set of assumptions that was established long ago that I (and probably Duane but he can address that for himself) do not accept. Having said that there’s not much else to say but what I’ve already said. Aside from a bit of curiosity about who exactly you are claiming said the things you claim they said. And to note your failure to address the significant differences between the nature of the two reports under discussion. Namely the specificity of the one and the board, and inaccurate, generalizations of the other.

Not just Black folks, homey.

My point was that it was NOT just Black folks but the attention got focused when it happened to non-Black.The big case in point is the Duke “rape case” and prosecturial misconduct. It happens all of the time but THAT situation cased media conservatives to focus on it. And those same people STILL overlook the NYPD “broken windows” “crime prevention” methods had 55% of cases thrown out of court.

But how are YOU being tied to “Black nationalist kooks” for being “pro-black”?

How do I know I’m NOT? And, if there were no assumptions made about what I’m writing, maybe you’d realize that what I wrote about is the flip side of people who complain about anti-abortionists being targeted. Just because a few past nuts went overboard, the entire movement is being slammed as extreme.

pples and oranges. When the civil liberties of organizations on the left (NAACP, SCLC, and other Black political orgs, for example) are violated, then we have a real problem.

You mean like in Maryland? Last year a report came out that showed the Maryland state police and local police were “monitoring” the ACLU, NAACP, and other groups involved in protest marches. I have a family dinner to go to, I’ll provide the link later.

…but the attention got focused when it happened to non-Black.

The attention of whom? Mainstream media and its commentators by default are going to cherry pick stories that it thinks is going to grab the most eyeballs. I’ll even point to the organization you mention quite often on stuff like this: The Innocence Project. So to use mainstream media (Fox, CNN, syndicated columnists) as a barometer for what people really care about is a bad idea. I prefer to point to bloggers, newspapers we as Blacks produce, friends, neighbors and family members. Michelle Malkin covered the Chauncey Bailey story and provided a link to the memorial fund. When Jamiel Shaw II was shot and killed by an illegal alien, his parents appeared on right leaning talk shows in LA and got the support of many folks on the right throughout the city. These right-leaning shows also held local politicians’ feet to the fire for dragging their feet on the case. I could name more situations like this, but why bother? The goal posts and will be moved once again.

How do I know I’m NOT?

I believe I responded to this earlier by asking you a QUESTION: “But how are YOU being tied to “Black nationalist kooks” for being “pro-black”? Second, why be so defensive on an assumption that was never made?

maybe you’d realize that what I wrote about is the flip side of people who complain about anti-abortionists being targeted.

Again, you were comparing apples to oranges here to make a point for the left. Samantha asked you twice to address the blaring differences between the two reports and you have not. One report was very specific and named specific groups. The other was very broad and general. Yet this whole time you have been trying to lump groups like the NOI and pro-Black folks up in there. So again, why mention the Left Extremist report when it clearly had nothing to do with you or your interests? Do you feel that the groups that are mentioned are having their rights violated?

You mean like in Maryland? Last year a report came out that showed the Maryland state police and local police were “monitoring” the ACLU, NAACP, and other groups involved in protest marches.

And did the public call them out on it and was there an investigation? Yes.

Not much time at all as I need to get the house packed and cleaned, but this is the link I said I would provide. You state there was public outcry, and there was some, but not much from “The Right” and definitely not to the same degree they are complaining about the “right wing extremists” memo.

The “differences” I thought I addressed above, so I’ll put it another way.

I don’t care if the groups targeted have nothing to do with me. I care about the abuse because it may not be me, now, but it will be me later. Specific vs. general is always an interesting issue in something like this because just because a person is affiliated with an organization and does something criminal, it doesn’t mean the organization endorses the tactics.

And as I wrote before, “The Right” is correct in being upset about it. Are their rights being violated?

If the government is just writing about it? No. If the government is acting on it? Then yes.

You state there was public outcry, and there was some, but not much from “The Right”…

Was there a public outcry from “the left” when a few years ago a Black man in New York was sent to jail for shooting an intruder in his home? He was defending both his girlfriend and their baby. We can go on and on with these examples. But I have serious doubts you are raising these same kind of issues on left-leaning websites–especially when you declared that you would never defend your party: the Republican party. That alone speaks volumes.

As I told you before, both sides have ultimately have their own interests. Both sides will only launch themselves in cases that further their own interests. This is especially true between Republicans and Democrats. Yet despite all of that, the impression you put out there is that the political world is guided by “Right” vs. “Wrong”. In the political world, the world is gray. Votes are what matters. This is why the opinions of independents who are guided by absolutes have very little currency in politics.

When I wrote this post, I wrote it with my own concerns in mind. Not Republicans, not conservatives, not “the right”. Yet your only response was to basically point to the fact that I should also be concerned with the rights of left extremist groups who have a history of committing violent acts–all while you distance yourself from the same groups.

Was “the left” up in arms over the murder of Jamiel Shaw II? Nope. Why? Because it was an issue that struck right at the center of the illegal immigration issue and Dems wanted the Hispanic vote. Now, did “the right” come out in full force on this issue regarding the Maryland State Police? From what I can tell, “no”. Is it hypocrisy? Sure it is. But then I have to add this as well: How often has the ACLU or the NAACP gotten behind issues like gun rights cases, school choice , etc? Likewise, how often have conservatives overstated negative data on Black folks? Black moderates will ALWAYS remind folks of the latter, but never the former.

You are using two rulers here. One for “the left” and one for “the right”. To think that political groups who have two opposing views are going to put down their weapons and join in the circle of absolute morality is naive on your part. Beyond politics however, it happens all the time. 9/11 is a good example.

I don’t care if the groups targeted have nothing to do with me. I care about the abuse because it may not be me, now, but it will be me later.

You know good and well that the Leftest report targeted specific organizations that have a history of committing criminal acts. And you brought it up only because you are concerned about their rights? Yeah, right.

That is why you making the comparison with groups like Recreate68 and people who simply believe in certain Biblical teachings is not even a stretch. It’s weak. That is why AGAIN–for the third time, I want you to point out to me where sweeping generalizations about “the left” was made in the report you posted. Not stories you know or heard about–the report you brought up, specifically.

Specific vs. general is always an interesting issue in something like this because just because a person is affiliated with an organization and does something criminal, it doesn’t mean the organization endorses the tactics.

Crimethinc, the Ruckus Society, and Recreate 68 sole purpose is to create havoc in the public square to make their point. On the flip, those who believe in a legal immigration process have no unifying cause to use violence. That is why I still question your real motive behind bringing up the other report.

I trust you are bringing up the “right-wing” report on liberal blogs as well, right?

Congrats on the house, btw.