Recently in War on Terrorism Category

Jay, I'd like you to revisit a little blog-versation we had a few months back.  A Department of Homeland Security memo had suggested that it was important for law enforcement agents to concern themselves with domestic, not just foreign, terrorist threats.  Most of the right side of the blogosphere, including yourself, insisted this had the taint of a smear campaign and a whiff of First Amendment violation.  In particular, you were concerned about a reference to "pro-life" groups.

Well, one "pro life" activist thought he had the backing of some such groups (and certainly that his actions fit perfectly into the amoral universe of such ethical charlatans as Randall Terry and Pastor Wiley Drake).  That activist, of course, is Scott Roeder and he stands accused of the assassination of Dr. George Tiller, a doctor who performed abortions that his patients chose to have.

Barry, I really don't understand what you are talking about.  Much of what President Obama is being criticized for revolves around substantive issues - not style.  And, it's hardly "nitpicking" as you suggest.  A lot of troubling developments have occurred in the Obama Administration's First 100 Days.

 

Let's just take a look at his record on the issue of life.  As I chronicled in an earlier post, President Obama is on the fast-track to becoming one of the most pro-abortion president's in recent memory.  From the very start, he set a disappointing tone that's put this country on a path that will result in more abortions and less protection for the unborn.

Barry, let's call this Homeland Security report on "Rightwing Extremism" what it is - offensive and insulting to millions of law-abiding citizens - including veterans and pro-life supporters - who exercise their constitutional rights to speak about issues that matter most to them.

 

Here's the definition of "rightwing extremism" that appears in the DHS report:

 

"Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

Jay, I can't believe you have gotten roped into complaining about the Department of Homeland Security's recent assessment of potential terrorist threats from right-wing groups. You are joining Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and "columnist" Michelle Malkin in making a mountain out of a molehill.  In fact, this is an instance when the molehill is a warning any responsible person would want to know about lest they ignore a possible infestation of vermin in and from their own front yard.

Janet Napolitano issued a report last week which noted, among other things, that "right-wing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent isssues".  Two of those issues are abortion and immigration.  The report simply points out that the election of Barack Obama has led to anger among fringe characters about the direction of the country.  I should note that the Southern Poverty Law Center has documented the growth of activity around really extreme Web sites which feed off hatred against African-Americans.

Barry, rest assured there is a new and vibrant generation of conservative Christians that are already engaging what are called the "Culture Wars."  I personally have never liked that phraseology. This is really a clash of world views. There is no doubt that Dr. James Dobson, Founder of Focus on the Family, has laid an important foundation.  Dr. Dobson has been an ardent advocate for the family and a passionate defender of life. He has made significant contributions over the years and never wavered in his commitment to work to protect the family and the unborn -- serving as a powerful voice for millions of Americans.

   

The fact that Dr. Dobson wants to make room for new leadership should not be viewed as a sign of weakness. Rather, it is an indicator of the intensity of the engagement and a desire for a new generation to take the lead. You have experienced first hand the training that is ongoing at Regent University, founded by Dr. Pat Robertson. You know of the capacity of these students and their desire to impact the critical issues facing their generation, including abortion. Upon graduation, these students will have a significant impact on the clash of world views. I enjoyed having you in my class at Regent and the students did as well. And, it's also clear that we can respectfully disagree on key issues.

Barry, I just returned from the Middle East where I witnessed firsthand the terror that the Israelis face from the longstanding attacks by Hamas - rockets launched into Israel causing death, injury and terror.   I was in two Israeli...