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kpete

(71,994 posts)
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:37 AM Apr 2014

Thought Experiment: What If Instead Of Shouting "Heil Hitler" Suspect Had Shouted "Allahu Akbar"?

Peter Bergen, writing for CNN.com:

Now let's do the thought experiment in which instead of shouting "Heil Hitler" after he was arrested, the suspect had shouted "Allahu Akbar." Only two days before the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, this simple switch of words would surely have greatly increased the extent and type of coverage the incident received.

Yet the death toll in the shootings in Kansas is similar to that of last year's Boston Marathon bombings, where three people were killed and the suspects later killed a police officer as they tried to evade capture. (Many more, of course, were also wounded in the Boston attacks; 16 men, women and children lost limbs.)

In fact, since 9/11 extremists affiliated with a variety of far-right wing ideologies, including white supremacists, anti-abortion extremists and anti-government militants, have killed more people in the United States than have extremists motivated by al Qaeda's ideology. According to a count by the New America Foundation, right wing extremists have killed 34 people in the United States for political reasons since 9/11. (The total includes the latest shootings in Kansas, which are being classified as a hate crime).


MORE:
http://us.cnn.com/2014/04/14/opinion/bergen-sterman-kansas-shooting/
http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/maddow-why-arent-domestic-terrorists-cause
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/15/us/prosecutors-to-charge-suspect-with-hate-crime-in-kansas-shooting.html

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randys1

(16,286 posts)
1. Heard Rachel say this last night
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:41 AM
Apr 2014

This is just another perfect example of how broken our country is, we cant look into our most dangerous enemies, rightwing terrorists

which most cons are nowadays anyway.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
2. There is no Third Reich anymore. He is saluting a long dead dictator.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:42 AM
Apr 2014

Who would the authorities go on alert for? Illinois Nazis? The few remaining Nazis that fled to Mexico and parts of Central America? HOWEVER, there are still thriving terrorist networks out there...so shouting Allahu Akbar would raise the threat level to something far beyond saluting a dead German dictator, whose army surrendered and fled long ago.

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
3. I beleive you underestimate the white supremacist movement in this nation.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:46 AM
Apr 2014

It's far more extensive and organized than any Islamist based terrorist network.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
5. I seriously doubt that. I bet Hezbollah is far organized then the WIM.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:51 AM
Apr 2014

As a matter of fact, I read that the KKK is on a never seen before decline in membership. And as far as the Arian Nation goes...it is now more a criminal empire (like MS-13), than an anti-government authority.

CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)
4. That's why they're called neo-nazis nowadays.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:50 AM
Apr 2014

And they certainly exist in America, Europe and elsewhere.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
8. Not saying the don't exist, but are they really as organized as say Hezbollah?
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:52 AM
Apr 2014

I worry far more about terrorism then I do the 3rd Reich being resurrected.

CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)
10. According to Janet Napolitano and the DHS they are.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:58 AM
Apr 2014
Napolitano defends report on right-wing extremist groups
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/15/extremism.report/

Hezbollah is a regional group, I doubt you'll come across them in your everyday travels. Also Hezbollah is a Shi'ite group. We seem to have more problems with the Sunni groups supported by our allies.

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
6. you must not live in the midwest They have big parties dressed like German Nazis - der idols
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:52 AM
Apr 2014
http://anp14.com/platform/index.php

do not know about other US areas though but keep dreaming it ain't so..........

2012 doc


 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
9. No I live in south Texas, no nazis but many many stupid birthers.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:54 AM
Apr 2014

My point is that they do not number in the 100s of thousands, they have no organized military. I am far more worried about terrorism, than say the resurrection of the 3rd Reich.

 

Loudly

(2,436 posts)
7. The Boston bombing took a plan and some skill to execute.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:52 AM
Apr 2014

What's important to me is how impulsive someone with a gun can be.

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