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I'm sorry, we didn't intend to tell you what we really think about the military.

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano met with the American Legion on Friday to apologize for a right-wing extremism report written by her agency, and the veterans group walked away from the meeting mollified.

Napolitano blamed one of her agency's analysts for prematurely sending out the intelligence assessment to law enforcement, according to Craig Roberts, an American Legion member who attended the meeting. The report says veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan could be susceptible to right-wing recruiters or commit lone acts of violence.

"She essentially admitted fault within her office," Roberts said.

Legion National Commander David Rehbein said, "I think the session in Secretary Napolitano's office will go a long way to help our returning veterans in the future."

After the meeting, Napolitano issued a statement saying the department "has fixed the internal process that allowed this document to be released before it was ready.
The report, one of Homeland Security's periodic assessments, warned that right-wing extremists could use the bad state of the U.S. economy and the election of the country's first black president to recruit members. The analysis said veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars could be targeted by the groups.

It drew angry reactions from Rehbein, conservative bloggers and Republican members of Congress who took to the House floor this week to criticize Napolitano, confirmed to her Cabinet position less than 100 days ago.

"Has this Homeland Security secretary gone absolutely stark raving mad?" Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn, said Wednesday.

"I think the appropriate thing for her to do would be to step down," Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, told Fox News on Thursday.

"Janet Napolitano should resign or be fired," Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, said on Wednesday.
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She apologized, but how true was her statement? Just from reading the posts of some of our desperately unhappy local residents (and ex-pats), gives one pause. Some sound quite hysterical and angry. Add a bit of paranoia and some anti-government sentiment and you have the recipe for home grown terrorism, or interest in violence. Losing control can cause weak people, who perceive themselves to be strong, to do incredibly insane things in the name of "godly" liberty. I see no problem with truth telling, and fair warning about the potential threats we may be exposed to. There are many threats to America and not all of them are foreign born.
quote:
Originally posted by meanasasnake:
She apologized, but how true was her statement? Just from reading the posts of some of our desperately unhappy local residents (and ex-pats), gives one pause. Some sound quite hysterical and angry. Add a bit of paranoia and some anti-government sentiment and you have the recipe for home grown terrorism, or interest in violence. Losing control can cause weak people, who perceive themselves to be strong, to do incredibly insane things in the name of "godly" liberty. I see no problem with truth telling, and fair warning about the potential threats we may be exposed to. There are many threats to America and not all of them are foreign born.


Talk about your angry unhinged people Roll Eyes
quote:
Originally posted by geddon97:
quote:
Originally posted by meanasasnake:
She apologized, but how true was her statement? Just from reading the posts of some of our desperately unhappy local residents (and ex-pats), gives one pause. Some sound quite hysterical and angry. Add a bit of paranoia and some anti-government sentiment and you have the recipe for home grown terrorism, or interest in violence. Losing control can cause weak people, who perceive themselves to be strong, to do incredibly insane things in the name of "godly" liberty. I see no problem with truth telling, and fair warning about the potential threats we may be exposed to. There are many threats to America and not all of them are foreign born.


Talk about your angry unhinged people Roll Eyes


Two words: Nichols and McVeigh.

I know its hard for you to admit that the right has its own terrorists, but the facts are the facts. 168 people died, and 800 were injured. It remains the largest act of domestic terrorism in this nation.
quote:
Originally posted by meanasasnake:
quote:
Originally posted by uandurine:
"There are many threats to America and not all of them are foreign born."

But most of them are either retired from public office or are currently serving.


Some are working for Fox News.


I bet if you try real hard, you can find examples to support any hair brain theory. Sunday school teachers, coaches, priests, medical students and so on. Do you suggest locking up all of us veterans? I promise, I am not a threat to our government.
Last edited by uandurine
quote:
Originally posted by uandurine:
quote:
Originally posted by meanasasnake:
quote:
Originally posted by uandurine:
"There are many threats to America and not all of them are foreign born."

But most of them are either retired from public office or are currently serving.


Some are working for Fox News.


Do you suggest locking up all of us veterans? I promise, I am not a threat to our government.


Of course not - don't get carried away. I never suggested any such thing. I have several family members who are Vets, and worked at the V.A in Birmingham several years ago. I trust that you are a perfectly good American citizen. That is not to say, however, that Vets are not subject to extremist views. Should we not be aware of ALL threats?

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