Katy-area Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Austin) has signed on as an original sponsor of House Resolution 404 giving Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano 14 days to provide copies of documents related to the DHS Intelligence Assessment, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.”
The report, which was first released to local law enforcement agencies April 7, has been widely criticized by conservatives and veterans’ groups for warning that veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan were susceptible to recruitment by right wind extremist groups and may present a threat to national security.
McCaul, the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee, said the claims in the report were “absurd.”
McCAUL
“This report politicizes one of our most important national security tools,” McCaul said “The assessment that returning veterans who are risking their lives fighting terrorists would somehow be recruited as terrorists is absurd.”
The resolution seeks to find out what information was considered in producing the report and what approval process it was subjected to before it was sent to local law enforcement across the country. It was introduced by Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, after repeated requests for oversight hearings were ignored.
Following the public outcry over the report, Napolitano issued several public apologies. A number of Katy-area veterans interviewed in the wake of the controversy said they were neither willing to forgive or forget.
The assessment said “right wing extremists” could present a terror threat because of the nation’s current weak economy, the election of an African-American president, rumors of greater restrictions on gun ownership and the inability of returning veterans to reintegrate into society.
Although Napolitano apologized for the report on three separate occasions, including once to the National Commander of the American Legion, a number of local veterans said the Homeland Security Secretary needed to step down.
Enrique Silva served with the U.S. Army in Operation Desert Storm during 1990 and 1991. He said he believes the report mirrors the mindset of the Obama administration and he faults Napolitano for allowing the threat assessment process to become politicized.
“Isn’t it just amazing how quick the terror threat changed from Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda now that Obama wants to suck up to the Muslims? Now they want to paint our own veterans, people who sacrificed for their country, as more of a threat than al-Qaeda; that’s ridiculous,” Silva said.
Warren Robinson served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam. He said he was not surprised to see a government report “targeting conservative Americans.”
“Obama and the liberals hate the military; that’s no secret. Now they’re trying to plant the seeds of doubt with the rest of the nation,” Robinson said.
He also pointed out the same report painted gun control opponents, tax reformers, anti-abortionists and others holding conservative viewpoints as “right-wing extremists” and possible threats.
“What’s the common thread? Those are all conservative values and Obama is an ultra-liberal,” Robinson said. “(Napolitano) is nothing more than a career politician who’ll say or do anything she thinks will keep her on the national stage.”
In a statement issued following Napolitano’s apology, American Legion National Commander David K. Rehbein struck a conciliatory tone.
“I am glad that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has apologized for the language used in the report about ‘Rightwing Extremism,’ Rehbein said.
Waller County resident Eric Schulz, a Legion member, called Rehbein’s acceptance of the apology a “sell-out of the membership.”
“(Napolitano) apologized because of the heat she was taking in the media, not because she was genuinely sorry. She simply got caught,” Schultz said. “I’m seriously considering dropping my Legion membership. Clearly the national officers are more interested in kissing ass than backing their fellow veterans.”
