The Dash To Dumb - Special DHS Edition

The DHS has decided that folks who think the Federal government is too powerful or taxes are too high represent a threat to society.  Groan.  However, the DHS also unwittingly makes the case for higher taxes - with their current budget they are unable to perform simple Google searches and are presenting as "open source" analysis stories that were debunked years ago.  One wonders what else these DHS analysts believe that is simply not so. 

But before we dive in, Captain Ed captures the sense of outrage; Andrew Sullivan chooses to miss the point and savor an "I told you so moment", exulting in his criticism of Bush's shredding of the Constitution and expansion of the "Surveillance State".  Uh huh - the problem with this DHS study is not that they are threatening extra-Constitutional surveillance and interrogation of people; it is that they are coming very close to attempting to criminalize non-violent political dissent.  That is deeply problematic even if they do it with all the proper warrants.

OK, back to debunking the DHS - the King has a job to do!  Let's pick up on this DHS history lesson:

(U//FOUO) DHS/I&A assesses that rightwing extremist groups’ frustration over a perceived lack of government action on illegal immigration has the potential to incite individuals or small groups toward violence. If such violence were to occur, it likely would be isolated, small-scale, and directed at specific immigration-related targets.

— (U//FOUO) DHS/I&A notes that prominent civil rights organizations have observed an increase in anti-Hispanic crimes over the past five years.

— (U) In April 2007, six militia members were arrested for various weapons and explosives violations. Open source reporting alleged that those arrested had discussed and conducted surveillance for a machinegun attack on Hispanics.

— (U) A militia member in Wyoming was arrested in February 2007 after communicating his plans to travel to the Mexican border to kill immigrants crossing into the United States.

The militia story from April 2007 represents a ridiculous failure by the "open source" analysts at DHS, who are presenting a discredited story.  Maybe Google can help.

Back in April 2007 the Alabama Free Militia was busted, to much hoopla:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This morning in DeKalb, Marshall and Jefferson Counties, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the execution of four federal search warrants at the homes of members of a group called "The Free Militia." During the search warrants, ATF, along with state and local law enforcement recovered 130 grenades, an improvised rocket launcher with live rounds, a grenade launcher, a machine gun, a short barreled shot-gun, two silencers, numerous other firearms, 2500 rounds of ammunition, explosive components, approximately 70 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), and commercial fireworks. Also recovered was enough ammunition to fill a U-Haul trailer, and over 120 Marijuana plants. While executing the search warrants, officers encountered booby traps at one location.

"Deadly explosives have been removed from these communities due to outstanding investigative efforts," stated Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney. "All evidence developed will be presented quickly to a federal grand jury. We will also ask that those arrested be detained without bond."

The defense attorney poo-poohed it, as well he might:

Even prosecutors say the ragtag group called the Alabama Free Militia had no intended target and was simply stockpiling munitions, said Boudreaux, who plans to meet this weekend with his client, Raymond Kirk Dillard, 46, of Collinsville, a supposed major in the paramilitary group.

"Frankly, I don't think that's a big deal," said Boudreaux. "It seems to be much ado about nothing."

Other reports were also a bit subdued:

Investigators said the DeKalb County-based group had not made any specific threats or devised any plots, but was targeted for swift dismantling because of its heavy firepower.

But at the bail hearing shortly thereafter, testimony from a Federal agent made the headlines that found their way into the DHS report two years later.  From the AP:

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  —  Five members of a self-styled Alabama militia were denied bond Tuesday after a federal agent testified they planned a machine-gun attack on Mexicans.

Adam Nesmith, an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, testified that the five men planned an attack on Mexicans in a small town just north of Birmingham, and went there on a reconnaissance mission April 20.

Machine-gunning down hapless Mexicans?  Pretty serious stuff.  Odd that wasn't mentioned to the defense attorney or in the initial press reports.  The Southern Poverty Law Center, not a group that is naturally sympathetic to this sort of behavior, picks up the story:

At a May 1 bail hearing, ATF agent Adam Nesmith seemed to testify that the government had evidence of the five militia members plotting a machine-gun attack on Mexican immigrants in the nearby town of Remlap. Nesmith described a reconnaissance mission the militia allegedly conducted in Remlap and told the judge, "There was a plan to attack a group of Mexicans in the Remlap area with their machine guns." The judge denied bail, and the alleged backwoods militia machine-gun plot made news across the country. One typical headline the day after the bail hearing read, "Alabamians planned to machine gun Mexicans."

But there is no mention of any specific plan to kill Mexicans in the search warrant affidavits or any other court document related to the Alabama Free Militia defendants, and the ATF says Nesmith's testimony was misconstrued. [ATF regional director] Cavanaugh told the Intelligence Report that Nesmith did not mean to suggest that the defendants plotted to machine-gun Mexicans. What Nesmith meant to convey, Cavanaugh said, is that the militia members were planning to steal machine guns from Mexicans in Remlap — not to shoot the Mexicans with machine guns. "The purpose of the [reconnaissance] trip described by the agent in the testimony was to go to those Latinos and take their machine guns, which the militia believed them to possess," Cavanaugh said.

Stealing guns from criminals - the humanity!  Or maybe the Mexicans owned them legally?  One begins to understand the resentments of an oppressed white guy who is barred from owning machine guns himself and is reduced to stealing illegal guns from illegal immigrants.

Well.  It appears that for all their bluster the militia in Alabama don't remember the Alamo:

The informant told the ATF that [militia leader] Dillard repeatedly ordered militia members to open fire on federal agents if ever confronted by them. But no shots were fired during the April raids. In fact, Dillard cooperated, even pointing out booby trap tripwires to bomb squad agents. "It did surprise me that it went peacefully," DeKalb County investigator Jones told the Report.

So that is the story of the militia which plotted a "machinegun attack on Hispanics".  I'm disappointed that the DHS was not able to unearth any of this with their open source, or even closed source, research.  My goodness, a phone call to the BATF could have spared them this embarrassment.  Our tax dollars at work.

Let's glance at the last case described by the DHS sleuths:

A militia member in Wyoming was arrested in February 2007 after communicating his plans to travel to the Mexican border to kill immigrants crossing into the United States.

Richard Serafin sounds like a loathsome fool who can stay behind bars, but... the reporting on the death threats is a bit more blurry at both the AntiDefamation League and SPLC sites.

In their sentencing story, the ADL writes that:

During the original investigation, Serafin told an undercover Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent that he is the leader of a tiny militia group called the 45^th Battalion, 44^th Field Force (Central Wyoming Militia), and of his alleged personal plans to move to the Arizona/ Mexico border to assist in killing immigrants.

However, that has changed from their trial coverage, where they wrote:

Serafin told an undercover U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent, to whom he also sold an illegal rifle, that he planned to travel to the Arizona-Mexico border and help border vigilante groups keep out immigrants.

In the ADL arrest story, "Serafin allegedly told an undercover law enforcement officer that he was relocating to the Arizona-Mexican border to harm illegal immigrants."

And here is how the SPLC treated it:

Earlier, [Serafin] told the agent that he planned to travel to the Arizona border to harm immigrants and boasted that "there may be fewer illegal Mexicans" after his trip.

I'll bet as much as a cup of coffee that Serafin used the phrase "kick ass", which has subsequently been paraphrased into a plan to harm immigrants.  As to boasting that there will be fewer immigrants, well, that would be the point of his mission, but it could be accomplished by scaring people back across the border and discouraging others from attempting to enter.  Here is one last account from the courtroom:

[ATF Agent] McFarland, operating under cover, contacted Serafin by the Internet and expressed an interest in learning more about militias and eventually buying weapons.

In January, Serafin said he intended to travel to the Mexican border and harm illegal immigrants after drug runners allegedly burned down his brother's house in Arizona, McFarland wrote. "He added that he has a 'bad feeling' about what might happen in Arizona, once he gets there. Serafin also said there may be fewer illegal Mexicans coming into the U.S. after he is there."

Geez, for a guy planning mass murder, Serfin sure is bashful about actually saying "kill" or "cap 'em with a nine", or anything a bit more specific.  Serafin has "a bad feeling" about what he might do? I have a bad feeling about this DHS effort - I think they are editorializing with this report, and if there are fewer such reports going forward, that would be all to the good.

MORE:  Although DHS went 0-2 on actual evidence of militias orgainizing against Hispanics, hate crimes against Hispanics have risen from 2003 to 2007, as compiled by the FBI: 529 offenses in 2003 versus 775 in 2007.  For blacks, there were 3,032 offenses in 2003 versus 3,275 in 2007.  And I didn't even have to check with "prominent civil rights organizations" to glean that.

WORTH CHECKING: From the DHS report:

(U//FOUO) Rightwing extremist paranoia of foreign regimes could escalate or be magnified in the event of an economic crisis or military confrontation, harkening back to the “New World Order” conspiracy theories of the 1990s. The dissolution of Communist countries in Eastern Europe and the end of the Soviet Union in the 1990s led some rightwing extremists to believe that a “New World Order” would bring about a world government that would usurp the sovereignty of the United States and its Constitution, thus infringing upon their liberty. The dynamics in 2009 are somewhat similar, as other countries, including China, India, and Russia, as well as some smaller, oil-producing states, are experiencing a rise in economic power and influence.

...

 — (U//FOUO) Law enforcement in 1996 arrested three rightwing militia members in Battle Creek, Michigan with pipe bombs, automatic weapons, and military ordnance that they planned to use in attacks on nearby military and federal facilities and infrastructure targets.

Hmm.  The three arrests almost surely took place in 1998 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), not 1996.  Otherwise, the specific point of this example eludes me.  From the AP:

In April 1997, Carter allegedly told the undercover agent his objective was "to attack, create chaos and hold on for three to four days, at which time the entire country would rise up against the government."

[end of thread]

Comments

[verner]

6. My guess is that the sentiments revealed in the report I read are the tip of an iceberg that the DHS would prefer to keep submerged until it needs to reveal it. This iceberg is the heavy-hand of government; a government with large and awful eyes, in whose heart there is no love for freedom, and on whose face there is no smile."

Clarice, if that's what the bastards are willing to put into writing, just IMAGINE what they're doing under the radar.

[clarice]

test

[clarice]

Yeah, verner..I wonder how far they'll get the vets are on a warpath already.

I wonder how long it ia before Napolitano will be on a real hotseat? She said today she'd read it and stands by it.

Of course, it'll take a couple of days for the DHS report on the left is more widely circulated and they start banging on her teakettle.

[MayBee]

Yeah, verner..I wonder how far they'll get the vets are on a warpath already.

Aren't they basically warning vets to not to speak against Obama?

[verner]

Fred just twittered that she stands by it. I've downloaded the 10 pages of Stalinist crapola and read them carefully. If she stands by it,SHE NEEDS TO GO.

[Captain Hate]

The sleeping verner has been awoken: Consent of the governed bitchezzzzz!!!!!!

[clarice]

Well, gosh, there must be someone not offended by this who'll stand by her..HEH

[verner]

Team America F-yeah!

[clarice]

Has anyone begun analyzing and comparing the DHS left wing extremists and right wing one?

[Ranger]

Hmmmm. Who knew it was so easy to shut down the Obama White House:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Flung-teabags-lock-down-West-Wing-43049647.html>Flung teabags lock down West Wing

I remember when lefties were saying that the way people evacuated the White House during 9/11 showed how poorly that administration was prepared for crisis. What does it say about this one that they are terrified of tea bags?

[bad]

Teabags flung at d-bags....

[clarice]

Hot Air has a good comparison between the right and leftwing DHS reports: http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/15/the-vaunted-left-wing-extremism-report/

"

[Ranger]

Hey Clarice,

I posted the link to that and a summary along with my own take on it on the previous page of comments.

[mockmook]

Note to Sully (and Mark), if there was no DHS, a report like this would still be generated by agency ______ (fill in the blank).

Nitwit.

[bad]

Tancredo was to speak at UNC last night:

Tancredo was escorted from the room by campus police.

About 200 protesters reconvened outside the building. "We shut him down; no racists in our town," they shouted. "Yes, racists, we will fight, we know where you sleep at night!"

The left is all non-violence and free speech, right.....

LUN

[clarice]

Ah, Ranger--so sorry--I was busy, then knocked off the IT and then couldn't get back in here.

[clarice]

Do you suppose Kerry will try to toss his/someone else's teabags/teacups over the White House fence just for old times' sake?

[Pofarmer]

Well, I couldn't attend a tea party, but I stapled a tea bag on my antennae as an act of solidarity.

That'll show em.

[glenda]

Clarice- you are a jewel. Many people will never know about the leftwing extremist DHS report--the nuts at Obama's propaganda media (CNN,MSNBC,ABC,NBC,CBS,) only mentioned the tea parties with icy condescension...I wanted to jump through the TV screen and give Anderson Cooper a screaming wedgie, but then I realized he would enjoy it!
Verner-your tea party signs are brilliant!

[clarice]

Verner's the jewel, I'm just the diarist,glenda. Hmm, maybe we need to send out a search party for her come to think of it.

[Fresh Air]

TM--

This thread is too long. Please put up a new one dedicated to the Tea Parties. I think all of the attendees would like to compare notes.

Thank you for your attention!

Everyone else--

The Tea Party in downtown Chicago was very well attended, probably 5-6,000 people there, tons of homemade signs, lots of creative messages and NORMAL people. I see so many weirdos on a daily basis, it's always nice to be reminded that there are decent, normal and conservative citizens in my own backyard. The media will downplay it, but this thing has legs. The "Don't Tread on Me" flag is becoming the semi-official standard of the Anti-Zero/Reid/Pelosi forces. I'm going to go buy one.

[verner]

Hi All!

After party report from Franklin TN. It was a picture post card evening. The rally was held in the square--which looks like a movie set it is so quaint. The crowd was estimated at 2,000, in little ole Franklin no less. Very well behaved folks. Many mentions of the DHS paper.

My signs were very well received. Several people borrowed them to hold up. An older lady from Germany who as a child lived under Hitler's jackboot took a pic of my Hitler Stalin poster. She said that it was her very favorite one.

A lady told me there were 20,000 in downtown Nashville, and another 2,000 in Wilson county. There were 50 tea parties in Tennessee alone.

Haven't gotten a report from my mom in Memphis yet. My daughter in Baton Rouge said there were around 500 at the La state capital in the afternoon.

Trust me folks, we are not alone! There are many millions who get it just fine, and they are not happy.

[clarice]

Whew! You left so full of spirit and with such good ideas for signs, we were heading for the smelling salts when so much time passed and we'd not heard from you, verner.

[verner]

Don't worry about me Clarice. I was in very good company. So glad I went.

And Glenda, as for lots of folks never finding out about the DHS report--don't worry. It is a HOT issue, and people are MAD about it. Especially the vets in the crowd.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

For convenience, by the way, the "don't tread on me" flag is formally called the Gadsen flag. That will make it easier to find.

[verner]

Fresh, you're right. Don't tread on me was very popular in Franklin as well. Lots of soviet references, and lots of Am Revolution references in the signs. Also some very funny ones.

Not a single pre printed sign, not a box lunch or a bus in sight! Not a blade of astroturf, nothing but pure natural green grass sod!

[clarice]

Doug Ross has a video of a ridiculous "interview" by a CNN reporter trying to ridicule the tea party protest and notes how some media absolutely ignored it in contrast to their wall to wall coverage of Cindy Sheehan's pathetic parades around Crawford:
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/04/tea-parties-code-pink-and-sickness-of.html>What's news and what isn't or why don't they simply shutter J Schools?

[Ranger]

The dynamics in 2009 are somewhat similar, as other countries, including China, India, and Russia, as well as some smaller, oil-producing states, are experiencing a rise in economic power and influence.

Hmmm... Sounds like the DHS people are avid Krugman readers. The fact that all of the countries listed are facing much worse economic dislocation from the global slowdown then the US seems to have missed these stellar intel types.

[Ranger]

The "Don't Tread on Me" flag is becoming the semi-official standard of the Anti-Zero/Reid/Pelosi forces. I'm going to go buy one.

Posted by: Fresh Air | April 15, 2009 at 08:55 PM

Yes, it does seem to simply and completely sum up the core of the issue. I've been thinking about getting one myself.

[Ranger]

Though, I have to say I saw one that really struck my fancy and would be good for people who value the 2nd Ammendment too. A simple white flag with a star, a cannon, and the words "Come and Take It!"

[Fresh Air]

Ranger--

The flag really stands out in a crowd, and it's totally nonpartisan, which is in keeping with the spirit of this movement. Yes, I'm calling it a "movement." I've been observing the political scene since Nixon. This thing is taking off. The Mediacrats won't know what hit them next year. People are pissed, and willing to get off their duffs and do something about it. This is the most activist I've seen conservatives since Reagan.

As an aside, regarding the ad hominem attempts to ridicule the Tea Parties. These J-school dopes think "bandwagoning" equals success. But they have the cart in front of the team. People are interested in this because of what it is, not because of who is involved in it. Seems to me that just about every damn "protest movement" the liberals have run since the Sixties is phony. That's probably why they don't understand why people even bother.

[verner]

To give y'all an idea of the space I'm talking about photo LUN

The Square was completely packed with overflow into the adjoining streets.

I have a feeling these crowds are going to be underestimated by the media...big surprise there, huh.

[clarice]

When I last looked , Verner, PJTV had calculated the crowds around the country totalled about 210k.

[Soylent Red]

In honor of Tax Day and possible upcoming Texas Secession, why not hoist the Gonzalez Cannon Flag, more commonly known as the Come and Take It?

I've been flying a Gadsden on the Fourth of July for about ten years now (got my first one, oddly, during the Clinton Era). It always raises eyebrows because of what it represents.

I have a snappy Bonnie Blue on the back window of my truck and I've been noticing a LOT more of those and Gadsden flags lately, even in moonbat Charlottesville.

Interesting times, people. They say New Braunfels is nice this time of year...

[glenda]

Verner..sounds like it was thrilling! Franklin?? I have family in Columbia and the last time I visited, we spent a lot of time in Franklin! Loved it! My S-I-L spends a lot of her time there, antiquing and a fabric store where she gets her quilting supplies.I remember some old factory/cistern they had turned into a mall--I have a picture of a giant rocking chair with 3 of us sitting together!

[verner]

I love it too Glenda. Why don't you move back to TN, bring all the rest of the JOMers with you and we'll secede with Texas.

Clarice, I saw the CNN Susan Roesgen interview of the Chicago tea party. That CNN doesn't fire that bi-ach for negligence and stupidity speaks volumes on why a) nobody watches CNN and b)nobody watches CNN because the hate DNC propaganda.

It was as blatant as that bow of Obama's that eh wasn't really a bow.

[glenda]

Soylent--New Braunfels?? Are you coming to central Texas, soon? Great little German town with lots of bakeries and beer! The big draw is the Guadalupe River and Gruene(where George Strait got his start) We used to go every year when the girls were young--they still go and have a ball-Schlitterbahn Resort & Beer Gartein is a must! And at Gruene Hall--no tango, but lots of Texas Two-Step and good restaurant carved out of the river bank rocks and trees ,serving beer and very good margaritas! My girls will be there July 20/25, I think.

[verner]

Clarice, I think it was much higher. Remember, there are loads of mid sized cities that may not even be counted yet. And I honestly think from some of the aerial photos I've seen that the crowds are underestimated.

Remember, this was on a WORK DAY, many of the gatherings were unstructured, and the crowds tended to ebb and flow.

Hey, O'Reilly is showing the Roesgen clip now. Damn, she's interrupting the guy she's interviewing. What a total snot.

[clarice]

Keep those girls under lock and key is Soylent shows up. Just sayin, Glenda.

[MayBee]

A few years ago, Susan Rosegen was reporting on an idea by Trent Lott that she said would "go over like a fart in church" live on CNN.

She's just that classy. And that concerned with the type of language people use.

[Soylent Red]

New Braunfels, in the event that things going irreparably wrong here and Texas secedes, is where I will build my compound, sandbag myself in, and wait the whole thing out.

Schnitzels, Lutherans and firearms. Just like Nebraska, only with accents and better Mexican restaurants.

Your girls can teach me to two-step glenda.

[verner]

I'm so glad CNN has reporters like Roesgen. There's nothing that endears Americans more to a network than seeing a snotty stuck-up flat chested plain faced ivy-league looking info-babe acting ugly and condescending to a nice looking regular guy holding his kid and trying to make an intelligent point about liberty and taxes while invoking Abraham Lincoln.

Hey CNN, MSNBC already has the nutroots niche market, and they ain't doing too good.

As they used to say on SNL....Rosegen, you ignorant slut.

[clarice]

That's basically my thought, verner..Much easier work for us if they are utterly unsubtle and right in our faces.

Niters..
Soylemy--Braunfels also has a great German sausage place.

[clarice]

"Soylemy?" Soylent, of course. I have to accept that I cannot type and play with the cat toy at the same time,

[Chuck Pelto]

TO: Scott
RE: That Oath for Enlisted

Having served as a 'mustang', i.e., enlisted BEFORE getting a commission, I'm well aware of the differences between the two oaths.

My point with respect to the officers' oath is that they are required to respect the Constitution of the United States over ALL thinks. That includes the President of the Untied States and the officers appointed over them.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. As for failing memories.....don't feel like the lone ranger. At yesterday's tea-party, I was interviewed by the newspaper for the 'extreme' banner I was carrying, which ready....

Stop the Insane Jackasses.

During the background information asked me by the reporter, I gave him an incorrect age.....TWICE!

[Porchlight]

New Braunfels is a lovely spot for a compound, Soylent! Haven't been tubing on the Comal in years but it is always tops. I have been to a couple of the bakeries but I have yet to try the sausage. And I love Gruene Hall - my husband's band is playing there in June fwiw.

[daddy]

"When I last looked , Verner, PJTV had calculated the crowds around the country totalled about 210k."

Do you guys think its time that we finally give Obama credit for being a great Community Organizer?

[USA PATRIOT]

"The best part of the report for me is the use of the word terrorist when referring to Americans."

are you familiar with the USA PATRIOT act ? if not, take a look at section 802, "Definition of Domestic Terrorism":

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/Section802.html#802

you may be surprised at how little it takes to be legally known as a terrorist.

yes, Bush passed this one. yes, the GOP defended it for 8 years.

[Sue]

USA Patriot,

You left out part of my quote. That would be really funny if it was on the Krugman thread.

[Sue]

porch,

I'm not very good at counting heads, it would seem. Our local paper reported 300 on hand.

[Porchlight]

Sue,

That's great news. More is better and I'm glad that your paper didn't try to downplay the numbers.

It must be quite a job to count up all the numbers at the rallies. PJM had over 210K last time I checked.

[Porchlight]

Oops, duh, the 210K number was already posted just upthread! Sorry, I'm late getting coffee today...

[Gus]

Dumbass, this is the kind of thing people were worried about under Bush. We tried to get you to imagine what the powers Bush was claiming would be like under President Hillary Clinton, but you wouldn't listen. I have absolutely no sympathy.

[Gus]

And to clarify, that's how long ago we were screaming about executive overreach. We though that Clinton would likely be the next Democratic Presidential nominee.

[Silas]

I have a hard time seeing where the outrage at this article is coming from. His example of Hillary Clinton getting power and having the same extra-constitutional powers that GW Bush appropriated is particularly apropos. We as conservatives failed in protecting liberty when the Republicans held power. Protecting liberty should be our foremost concern. As much as it can stick in your craw to admit it, this is one area where Sullivan has been right and we (general, no specific of course) have been out to lunch for a long time.

[Gilmont Fannheim]

And everything, turn, turn, turn.

Suck it up hypocrites. If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear, at least that was the logic going around three years ago.

[Mark]

The right seems to believe in democracy, except when they don't. When they are out of power, suddenly democracy changes its name to tyranny. Makes as much sense as all the other policy decisions.

[newfie]

"The right seems to believe in democracy, except when they don't. When they are out of power, suddenly democracy changes its name to tyranny."

Wrong! It changes its name to fascism and/or socialism. Try to keep up, Mark.

[sbw]

'Turf alert!