FBI Alert for Treehugger Wackos
by TreeHugger on 05.19.05
We just had to screenshot that Sploid headline. Environmental and animal rights extremists who have turned to arson and explosives are the nation’s top domestic terrorism threat, the FBI has told lawmakers. Don't just worry about those foreigner types anymore- now check out what's under the next poncho. Call this treehugger wacko, but how high can the paranoia get cranked? Office sit-ins and keying hummers are equivalent to al-Qaida? Give me a fu**ing break. ::Sploid by [LA]
Skepticism from some (via CNN)
Some committee members have expressed skepticism over the high level of concern toward environmental and animal rights extremists.
"The Department of Homeland Security spends over $40 billion a year to protect the home front," Sen. Frank Lautenberg said. After listing al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah, the Democrat from New Jersey wanted to know who else the law enforcement agencies considered terrorists: "Right to Life? Sierra Club?"
Lautenberg declared himself "a tree hugger."
And Sen. James Jeffords also issued a statement expressing doubt about the target of concern.
"Congress can't do much about individual extremists committing crimes in the name of ELF or ALF, but we can act to significantly enhance the safety of communities across the nation," the independent from Vermont wrote.
"ELF and ALF may threaten dozens of people each year, but an incident at a chemical, nuclear or wastewater facility would threaten tens of thousands."
But the right wingnuts love it...
Center for Consumer Freedom to Expose Support of ALF/ELF Terror Groups by PETA and Others
WASHINGTON, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- As our nation continues to fight the international war on terror, eco-terrorism is steadily gaining prominence within the United States. Homegrown eco-terrorists and animal-rights extremists, including the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), have claimed credit for more than 1,100 terrorist crimes and $110 million in damage. These have included arson, assault, vandalism and other crimes against scores of individuals and American companies. The Department of Homeland Security recently added ALF and ELF to its list of terror groups, while the FBI has been forced to pull precious resources away from the hunt for al-Qaeda to fund the crackdown on these groups' increasingly violent actions.
Also alarming are the relationships these domestic terrorist groups have with tax-exempt organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Humane Society of the United States, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Senator James Jeffords (I-VT), and the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works will explore these domestic terror groups and their relationships with above-ground organizations in a committee hearing tomorrow on Capitol Hill. Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko will be delivering testimony and providing evidence on the issue, and is available for comment.
Gristmill says:
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee convened a hearing on "eco-terrorism" yesterday, anxious to warn the nation of a rising danger that has already killed ... well, nobody. Despite the unimpressive body count, a growing number of property crimes make fringe ecological and animal-rights groups the single greatest domestic terror threat facing the U.S., according to the FBI's John Lewis, who testified before the committee. He acknowledged that groups like the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front have not caused bodily harm, per se, but cited "troubling signs that this is changing," like "violent rhetoric." After the testimony, committee chair James Inhofe (R-Okla.) got to the real agenda: Smearing the larger environmental movement. "Just like al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organization, ELF and ALF cannot accomplish their goals without money, membership, and the media," he said darkly, vowing to look more closely for ways that radical groups get assistance from "mainstream activists." That's you, folks.
Wonkette says:
Code Green: Radical Treeists are Biggest Domestic Threat
If we were a Ford Explorer or an empty building, we'd probably feel differently. But in the wake of the FBI's announcement that "environmental and animal rights extremists who have turned to arson and explosives are the nation's top domestic terrorism threat," we're feeling relatively safe today. Not yet charting on the FBI's list of homegrown menaces: pie-throwing liberals or popular talk-show hosts who publicly fantasize about choking Michael Moore to death.
most of the recent terrorist acts in the u.s. have been done by right wing nuts. these terrorists have killed hundreds in the last 15 years, but you dont see them on the top of the FBI list. in my opinion, these well-armed, well-financed nuts are just as dangerous as al qaeda inspired terrorists.
The commies being gone, we need some new scapegoats right? TreeHuggers are everywhere, lurking behind car dealerships even, saping our vital bodily fluids. Someone has to do something before imaginations get out of control,forcing our nation to pay attentino to things that really matter. Wait.. look...over there...its a runaway bride!
drew, right-wing nuts have killed tens of thousands in the last few years alone.
Check out the BBC documentary "The Power of Nightmares" - Al Qaeda and the folks currently in control of the US are two sides of the same ideological coin - a fear of moral relativism.
which one is more of a threat:
a) OK city and abortion clinic bombers mass-murdering in the name of right-wing ideology
b) property vandalism in the name of environmental ideology?
all terrorism is a problem, not just eco. frankly, vandalism isn't life-threatening and leaves few, if any, people feeling terrorized. it seems like anti-environmentalists tagged some people with the term 'terror' and half the race is won. why haven't i heard of christian terror? or right-to-life terror? it looks like another example of the right-wing being more successful at framing issues.
I went directly to the transcript on the FBI website and here's what John E. Lewis actually said: "One of today's most serious domestic terrorism threats come from special interest extremist movements such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), and Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign."
The Independent says "The FBI has sounded a new and surprising alarm, suggesting environmental and animal-welfare militants are now the biggest terrorist threat in the US, increasingly using incendiary devices on targets ranging from housing developments and research laboratories to car dealerships."
However, CNN says "Violent animal rights extremists and eco-terrorists now pose one of the most serious terrorism threats to the nation, top federal law enforcement officials said Wednesday."
That "one of the most serious" qualifier makes a huge difference in whether this is silly dribble or slanderous, lie-filled drivel. If they say that so-called "eco-terrorists," which the cnn article mentions have never killed anyone, are the nation's "top threat," then we have an obvious lie on our hands and another case of "LOOK OVER THERE!"
Partly I think semantic confusion and labeling are to blame: lumping PETA in with envionmental conservationists and people interested in conserving energy makes no logical sense but a terrific sound byte for anyone fearing change. It reminds me much of the times when anyone with long hair (read as anti-establishmente or "different") was labeled as HIPPY. The flip side of that labeling war was iconically portrayed by Dylan's "Something is happening here and you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Jones". Anything that can be done to distance animal rights interests from traditional environmental interests is a framing necessity.
Treehuggers = people who care about the enviornment, that we all have to live in together, in spite of money hungry companies & other ignorant individuals that sacrifice our waterways and land just to turn a buck or to satisfy their own needs. We, "Treehuggers" are pushed aside and not taken seriously thanks to the current administration and that is why some have turned to more drastic measures to get noticed - makes sense doesn't it? Ultimatly the goal would be for the current administration to recognize and rectify the damage that is being done to the environment - well, we all know that's not going to happen, too much money at stake! So instead, let's string them all up and call them eco-terrorists!! Maybe the consequence for the eco Non-profits will be permanent closure for interfering with the Homeland Security ACT - That should fix it!
i think you're right, john. environmentalism and animal rights are an odd match. sure there's some overlap, but if we want to change doubting minds, environmentalism should be argued in logical terms which is not difficult. animal rights arguments are generally appeals to emotion which is a hard sell that often ends in animosity at a religious level.
The ultimate eco-terrorist lives in the White House. Impeach him!