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Oliver North
Oliver North
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I Am an Extremist

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WASHINGTON — According to the U.S. government, I am an extremist. I am a Christian and meet regularly with other Christians to study God's word. My faith convinces me the prophecies in the Holy Bible are true. I believe in the sanctity of human life, oppose abortion, and want to preserve marriage as the union of a man and a woman. I am a veteran with skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. I own several firearms, and I frequently shoot them, buy ammunition, and consider efforts to infringe on my Second Amendment rights to be wrong and unconstitutional. I fervently support the sovereignty of the United States, and I am deeply concerned about our economy, increasingly higher taxes, illegal immigration, soaring unemployment, and actions by our government that will bury my children beneath a mountain of debt.

Apparently, all this makes me a "rightwing extremist." At least, that's what it says in the April 7 "Assessment" issued by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security. The nine-page report, titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," is full of warnings about American citizens who share any part of my background or subscribe to the beliefs above. It is one of the most alarming documents produced by our government that I ever have read.

Evidently, neither you nor I ever was supposed to read this "Assessment." At the bottom of the cover page is a warning that it is "not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know." We're Americans. We have a need to know what's going on in our government, especially in an administration that promised to be "transparent." A full copy of the report is posted at http://www.FreedomAlliance.org.

The "Assessment" purports to alert law enforcement officials that "rightwing extremists" — the term is used more than 35 times — are intent on exploiting Americans who have strongly held beliefs on everything from Christian faith to rising unemployment, U.S. sovereignty and the Second Amendment. It vilifies those of us in these categories by references to neo-Nazis, racists, militias, white supremacists and other "hate groups." Notably, the report includes a warning that right-wing extremism "may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

Though the report proffers a passing reference to the First Amendment, it is replete with bias against conservative thought, writing and communications.

On Page 3, law enforcement authorities are warned, "Rightwing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the economy, the perceived (emphasis added) loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures."

That is a frightening acknowledgment that political speech is being monitored in America. It is also wrong. It's not "perception." It is fact. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the manufacturing and construction sectors have lost 161,000 jobs and 126,000 jobs, respectively, last month alone.

In its "Key Findings," the DHS manuscript boldly charges that "rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues" and offers this warning: "The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks."

Under the heading "Disgruntled Military Veterans," the report alleges: "Rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. These skills and knowledge have the potential to boost the capabilities of extremists — including lone wolves or small terrorist cells — to carry out violence." These unsubstantiated claims are followed by reminders that Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, was a military veteran. Omitted is any reference to the fact that McVeigh was simply one of more than 40 million veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Thirteen lines after this egregious, unconscionable slander against those of us who are military combat veterans, DHS makes the stunning charge that "lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent rightwing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States."

According to this DHS "Assessment," the most dangerous threat we face here at home isn't from radical imams preaching violence in U.S. mosques and madrassas, Islamists recruiting in our prisons, Somali terrorists enticing young immigrants to become suicide bombers, or Hamas, Hezbollah or al-Qaida operatives plotting mass murder. No, according to DHS, the real threat comes from what our government labels "rightwing extremist ideology."

Mr. Obama should disavow this report publicly and fire the officials responsible for issuing it. Those who prepare his remarks for the occasion should insert in the teleprompter former Sen. Barry Goldwater's words on the subject: "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."

Oliver North is the host of "War Stories" on Fox News Channel, the founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance, and the author of "American Heroes." To find out more about Oliver North and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.


Comments

4 Comments | Post Comment
As many vets are, I am not just insulted by our Director of DHS, but convinced that she is truly in fear of our abilities and commitment to the defense of the Constitution. She, and other politicians in government service, took the same oath we veterans and active service personnel took. We all swore to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic". The rub is that the Washington "fat cats" repeated the oath as a means to an end; a high paying position of power. We took it knowing that, for low pay, we were going to put our lives on the line to preserve and protect the nation we love. We took that oath with a determination and purpose of heart to defend our constitution even at the risk of our lives! Their greatest risk is beltway traffic.
What truly separates us veterans from the politicos is that our oath didn't expire with end of our tour of duty. THIS is why, in their eyes, we are such a threat to their security. We will protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign AND domestic. We will never break faith with the People of The United States. The fact is, that a time could come, or may already be here, that a member, or members, of the Executive, Judicial or Legislative branch of government, by their own actions, could place themselves in the position of being a "domestic enemy" of the Constitution.
Veterans are not terrorists. We love our country and have already sacrificed much in her defense. However we are very familiar with what "defense" means and are painfully aware of what constitutes an "enemy". I believe that Napolitano and her chums have come to the same realization. This is why they fear us! "We The People" are watching. We are praying for our President and for our elected representatives. We pray that we will never again have to utilize the unique skills our country gave us in the military, but are also resolved to "bear true faith and allegiance" to the Constitution.
Isn't it ironic that the original authors of that oath used the verbiage, "...bear true faith and allegiance..." to the Constitution of The United States and didn't say "to the President of the United States", or "to the Congress of the United States"? That beautiful document gives the power to us, the People of the United States. These folks in Washington are "temps". They are there to serve our best interests. Bowing to kings, fraternizing with, and giving aid and comfort to, our enemies and placing our children's children in such debt is an abuse of our trust.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if our elected officials embraced the oaths they took, "so help me God". Oh yea, God isn't welcome there!
Semper Fi,
Ed McBride
Rio Rancho, NM
Comment: #1
Posted by: Ed McBride
Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:13 AM
If Oliver North as a Christian is being labelled as such, well count me in that number too because i'd rather be on the side of the Lord than on the world's or the devil's side...hence forth I'll gladly be numbered like i was in a previous life-time with those on His side....it seems like Armageddon isn't very far-off now...Maranatha..Lord Come!!!
Comment: #2
Posted by: Brian Pinto
Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:51 PM
From the article: "According to the U.S. government, I am an extremist."

That's not true. DHS didn't say that. Oliver North is, literaly, famous for lying a lot.

North's tendency to go for self-rightous Bible thumping while lying does him no credit.
Comment: #3
Posted by: Pericles
Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:26 PM
Col. North,

I have been trying to get this letter to the proper personnel but as yet have not seen any results. This is a reminder to our Commanding Officers about the Oath we all took when we joined the Military. If you believe it has merit perhaps you Sir could see that the right people receive it.

Thank You,

John R. Turner

An open letter to the Commanding Generals and Admirals of the Armed Forces of the United States of America;

George Washington, the “Father” of this Great Country was also the United States Military's first Commander in Chief. Washington and his fellow Patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes to secure their Freedom from the tyranny that was Great Britain and the whims of a far off king.
I wonder what Our Great Nations first President and Commander in Chief would think of what has been done to His Country today?

What do you suppose he would say to his Military Commanders? Do you think he would be tolerant of the current president? Or, do you think that he would call upon his Fellow Patriots to put a stop to the socialization of America?

Personally, I believe that he would call on his Military Commanders to declare war on socialism. I also believe that if it were in his power to do so he would raise from the grave his Fellow Patriots, the Patriots that helped to win Our Freedom from tyranny. The Patriots who helped in drafting the Declaration of Independence. You do remember the Declaration of Independence, don't you? You know that wonderful piece of parchment that declared that, “We the People” are not going to take it any more and are now serving notice of eviction to Great Britain.

I also believe that these were the same Patriots that, after much personal sacrifice, loss and deprivation went out and accomplished the daunting task of evicting the greatest, at that time, nation on earth. By accomplishing this extraordinary feat they set about creating the replacement, The United States of America.

How did they accomplish this monumental feat?

They created a document like no other document. A document that begins;

“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

This document should be ingrained in the mind of every American Citizen, it is called;

“The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America”

Of course the Thirteen are now Fifty. It also goes on to state that;

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

To me this means; that God gave us the Freedom to live our lives without an oppressive government telling us how to live our lives and to seek happiness. What it doesn't do is say that happiness is a right. Only the pursuit of it.

“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”.

What this is saying is that; the government is not to be in total control of our lives, just the opposite. It is the People who are in charge, the People are the ones to tell the government what to do.

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness”.

This tells me that “We the People” of the United States of America have the right and obligation to stop tyranny in its tracks.

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes”;

Their must be just cause for Rebellion.

Is the selling of America a just cause?

Is the kowtowing and bowing of our current commander in chief a just cause?

Is the calling of our brave men and women, who have sacrificed there lives and health for Their Country, terrorists a just cause?

Is the declaration that any American who believes in the Constitution of the United States of America a subversive a just cause?

Is the belief by too many of our so-called representatives that America is wrong a just cause?

“and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security”. --

There is a point in our lives when we Patriots must postpone our pursuit of happiness, when we must put aside our own safety and security to obtain these Rights for our future generations just as our Forefathers did for us.

“Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government”.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these 50 States; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world”.

The history of our present commander in chief is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny of the Citizens of the United States of America.

The majority of our elected representatives have been actively involved in the dissolution of the United States of America.

How? By the following few actions but by no means all.

1) By not securing our borders from illegal aliens. These criminals, if the democrats and the current commander in chief have their way, will soon have more rights than American Citizens.

2) By the commander in chief traveling around the world apologizing for being the most powerful nation in the world.

3) By the commander in chief bowing to a so-called king, in so doing conferring more power on this dictator than he deserves.

4) By allowing Janet Napolitano, the former Governor of Arizona, now the secretary of Homeland Security, to destroy America, by calling Patriots traitors and terrorists.

5) By bailing out banks, people and companies that should be allowed to file bankruptcy.

6) By spending Our great grandchildren's future and running the United States economy into the ground.

7) By the commander in chief swearing to uphold the Constitution of the United States when his real intention is to abolish it.

The fact is all Generals, Admirals and any member of the military and congress also take that solemn oath. The oath to defend the Constitution and the Citizens of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic.

There are many more reasons to throw off this oppressive government that I either haven't heard of or have not the space to enumerate.

Well, Sirs, our enemies are among us.

John R. Turner

Chino Valley, AZ 86323
Comment: #4
Posted by: John R. Turner
Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:20 AM
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