Dave's Blog

the chilling threat of eco-terrorism

While the media is riveted on nuclear options and the last installment in the Star Wars series, Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe is standing guard against the threat posed by eco-wackos. Inhofe's the guy who said the idea of climate change is the biggest hoax ever invented (by environmental groups). Inhofe held a hearing yesterday on how such losers as the Earth Liberation Front are an imminent threat to the republic.

Thank goodness that for another 19 months, Vermont Independent James Jeffords will be in the U.S. Senate -- and able to inject a little sanity into the debate. Here's what he said:

I am puzzled why the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is examining the issue of animal rights and eco-terrorism since the Committee lacks jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement issues. Such matters are more appropriately addressed by the Judiciary or Homeland Security Committees. Nevertheless, I look forward to learning what the Environment Committee can do to address the problems posed by domestic terrorism. For that reason, I am extremely disappointed that Congressman Bennie Thompson, the ranking member of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, has not been allowed to testify today. This violates basic congressional courtesy and Senate tradition. Moreover, based on his position as ranking on the Homeland Security Committee, his testimony would certainly have been relevant to this hearing on terrorism.

I’d like to submit for the record a report Congressman Thompson prepared, entitled - quote - “Ten Years After the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Department of Homeland Security Must Do More to Fight Right-Wing Domestic Terrorists.” The report highlights the apparent failure of DHS to assess the threat posed by right-wing domestic terrorist groups in the Department’s five-year budget planning document. I share his concern that the Department of Homeland Security needs to protect us from all terrorist threats and should not focus on eco-terrorism at the expense of other domestic terrorist groups, such as the KKK, right wing militias, abortion bombers and skin heads.

http://epw.senate.gov/pressitem.cfm?id=237813&party=dem