美政府警告：右翼极端份子蠢蠢欲动招兵买马
美国政府在一份最新完成的报告中警告，右翼极端份子正利用美国经济衰退以及美国选出首位非洲裔总统等发展，作为招兵买马的工具。
美国国土安全部（Department of Homeland Security）指出，忧心政府对持有武器设下限制，以及从伊拉克和阿富汗战场返乡，情绪不安定的退役军人，都有潜在“可能演变成恐怖组织或个别极端份子，有能力展开暴力攻击”。但是，国土安全部在这份4月7日对地方执法人员提出的机密建议指出，到目前为止，这些威胁“大部分仅是嘴巴说说”，还没有“成为攻击计划”。
国土安全部指出，目前并无特殊讯息显示美国境内右翼恐怖份子正在规划暴力行动，但是右翼极端份子可能已经在招兵买马，将来或许会诉诸暴力攻击。这份文件表示，“经济转为衰退，美国又选出第一位非洲裔美国总统，对右翼份子的更趋激进与招募同伙，提供了特别的驱动力”。
这份记注不可对媒体泄漏的文件，由“美国科学家协会”（Federation of American Scientists )的“政府机密专案”获得，并且公布在该组织的网站上。这份报告说，执法人员最主要关切的重点在于“右翼极端份子大量采购和储存武器和弹药”，因为他们担未来可能会禁止持有武器。
该部门并未特别点名任何积极活动的右翼极端份子组织，但是提到1995年4月在奥克拉荷马市发生的爆炸案。干下这起造成168人死亡事件的是美国退伍军人麦克威（Timothy McVeigh），他后来被判死刑已伏法。
这份报告提到，2001年9月11日美国发生最严重的本土遭恐怖攻击事件之后，美国政府开始强化安检，再加上经济成长，都使右翼极端份子日渐衰落。国土安全部指出，但“虽然目前大环境类似1990年代，孤狼式的个别恐怖份子和小型恐怖组织在最近几年间日益显着”。
有些极端份子组织利用奥巴马的新施政措施，来召集人马或激化他们的想法；这些新措施包括：支持改革美国移民法规，可能导致一些没有身分证明文件的移民可以取得美国公民权、扩大少数民族的社会福利计划、以及限制持有武器等。
该报告又提到，愈来愈容易取得的网站资讯，让极端份子学到如何制造炸弹，训练使用武器，而且更容易对外广泛接触到心态相同的人。因应911事件而成立的国土安全部不愿评论这份报告
“The consequences of a prolonged economic downturn–including real estate foreclosures, unemployment, and an inability to obtain credit–could create a fertile recruiting environment for rightwing extremists and even result in confrontations between such groups and government authorities,” according to a new assessment (pdf) from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
“In addition, the historical election of an African American president and the prospect of policy changes are proving to be a driving force for rightwing extremist recruitment and radicalization.”
“A recent example of the potential violence associated with a rise in rightwing extremism may be found in the shooting deaths of three police officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 4 April 2009,” the DHS report said.
See “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis, April 7, 2009 (For Official Use Only).
The report has drawn attention from several conservativebloggers and talk show hosts, who interpreted the report’s references to right-wing positions on abortion, immigration and gun control as defamatory in this context. The “document targets most conservatives and libertarians in the country,” according to The Liberty Papers blog.
The report, however, describes “extremists” more narrowly as those “that are primarily hate-oriented” and those that “reject federal authority,” not those who simply oppose abortion or immigration.
A 2001 report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy examined “Left-Wing Extremism: The Current Threat”(pdf).
DHS reportedly issued its own analysis of left-wing extremism earlier this year. (See Leftwing Extremists Likely to Increase Use of Cyber Attacks over the Coming Decade [pdf], Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis, January 26, 2009.)
Update: “Unfortunately, this report [on Rightwing Extremism] appears to have blurred the line between violent belief, which is Constitutionally protected, and violent action, which is not,” wrote House Homeland Security Committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson inan April 14 letter (pdf) to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “I am disappointed and surprised that the Department would allow this report to be disseminated to its State, local and tribal partners in its present form.”
In an April 15 statement on the report, Secretary Napolitano said: “We are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not – nor will we ever – monitor ideology or political beliefs.”
