Ala.: Anti-Abortion, Gay Rights "Terror"

State's Homeland Security Web Site Classified "Single Issue Extremists" As Terror Threats

(CBS/AP)  A Web site operated by the Alabama Department of Homeland Security identified gay rights organizations, anti-abortion groups, environmentalists and people opposed to genetically-altered foods among those who could be classified as terrorists.

Certain Web pages were removed from the Internet after the agency received complaints about the site.

It had listed different types of terrorists, such as hate groups, anti-government groups and anarchists, and included "single-issue extremists" which it said can be found in groups that rally behind specific causes.

The page had said, "Single issue extremists often focus on issues that are important to all of us. However, they have no problem crossing the line between legal protest and change and illegal acts, to include even murder, to succeed in their goals. In many communities, law enforcement officials feel that these groups offer the greatest organized threat to the community."

The site indicated that these "radical elements" are found in many of the following movements:

• Environmentalists
  
• Anti-Genetics (those opposed to genetically-altered crops)
  
• Animal Rights
  
• Anti-Abortion
  
• Anti-Nuclear
  
• Anti-War
  
• Pro-Gay Rights

The site softened its critique, somewhat, by stating, "Single-issue extremists are not trying to fight a cheap war or overthrow our government. In fact, they feel that what they are doing is necessary for a better world."

The department's director, Jim Walker, says his agency received a number of calls and e-mails from people who said they felt the Web site unfairly targeted certain people just because of their beliefs.

Walker says he plans to put the Web site back on the Internet, but will no longer identify specific types of groups.

Howard Bayliss, board chair for the gay and lesbian advocacy group Equality Alabama, says he doesn't understand why advocates of gay rights would be included on the list.

He says Equality Alabama has only had peaceful demonstrations. He says he's "deeply concerned we've been profiled in this discriminatory matter."

Allison Neal, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, says she has looked at parts of the Web site and is concerned about anything that pinpoints people "exercising their constitutional right to protest" as potential terrorists.

Walker says the Web site, which could be reached by links from the department's main Web page, had been up since spring 2004 and was inspired by a similar Web site in Pennsylvania where, he says, "citizens could go and learn about terrorists."

The department's main Web page is still active.

Walker says over three years the single-issue Web site got a relatively small number of hits and stirred little interest, until recently when it apparently became the subject of Internet blogs.

He says the site got 20,000 hits in one day and the department started getting calls from people who were offended by it.

Walker says he does not have a problem with the site.

"Just because people are listed," he says, "that doesn't make them extremists."

He continues: "But sometimes people will go to extremes." He cited examples of people who have bombed abortion clinics.

But Walker says because the Web site did not list every possible example of single-issue terrorism, he has decided to eliminate the examples.

[hypnotoad72]

I am pro-human, pro-life (unless the life of the mother is put into question), pro-nuclear (which is much cleaner than burning oil!), pro quality-of-life, and I understand the reasons for war and know when we need to do it.

If we are to feed the masses, we need genetically modified foods. With some regulation and care put into these things, it'll do no harm and a lot more good.

I am pro-environment in that I waste as little as possible.

So-called "environmentalists" who go about blowing up SUV or car dealers or sinking oil barges are not only hurting the environment, their actions do hurt other people too. Especially if you're caught in the blast zone. Want to be environmentally-friendly? Recycle and use things responsibly. Don't blow things up for self-righteous arrogance or anger. Duh.

And I rescued myself from the gay "lifestyle" a long time ago. Jeff Konrad wrote a terrific book about it.

I think the right people know who is out to cause trouble and who is not.

[michaelh2001]

Well, I rescued myself from mythology and the belief that I, as a gay American, was somehow "bad". I have been living a happy, fulfilled life since 1995 when I came out. Prior to that I had been miserable.

Alabama really needs to join the 21st Century...

[caldwellptr]

It is interesting that the article does not mention the Ku Klux Klan. If the definition of terrorist is a person or group that acts through fear and intimidation, I would certainly think the Klan would qualify. That would make them domestic terrorists.

[jumkey]

Apparently anyone who disagrees with the US Government is a potential terrorist in Alabama - which I guess means we're all terrorists.

In another article Mr. Walker describes the list on his department's website as "an idiot's guide to terrorists".

I have to agree with that. I wonder how much time Mr. Walker spends reading the list?

[drummer94]

Hey, they got to spend that homeland security money on something. No matter how bizarre.

Interesting that they didn't include the pro-life movement which is filled with apologists for medical clinic bombers. assassins of doctors. etc., or other right wing extremist political groups like the Klan. No, I'm not a liberal...just an American cocerned about the encroachment of government in every aspect of our lives.
This is particularly heinous political act and precisely why the gutting of the Constitution by the curent administration's "patriot act" is so dangerous.

[barbaraf4]

"It will be a cold day in hell before I contribute to any relief fund that provides any assistance to your state."
Posted by nvhorseman at 11:19 AM : May 27, 2007

I agree; however, unfortunately, our tax money goes to relief.

[fairandbal]

Must be proud to be Alabama these days! to single out groups who don't believe the way you do and label them 'terrorist' must be the right thing to do, right George Wallace? .... i mean, Mr./Mrs. current governor of Alabama.

Oh, and the Reverend Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas says he's proud that Alabama listed pro Gay groups as 'terrorist'.
Who's Reverend Phelps you ask? He's the leader of a group of anti-gay activists who protest at the funerals of soldiers from Iraq saying that America's love of *** has brought on the deaths of these soldiers.

[zorlacskates]

ah-ha. bush's insistence on waging a borderless and undefined "war on terror" rather than a more conventional or logical war on bin laden, or the taliban, or whomever begins to make a little more sense now. by being as vague as he was he's now opened the door for the definition of terrorist to mean just about anything. does this make alabama the stupidest state in the union, or the smartest for taking advantage of bush's war on, uh, whatever.

[ucellis]

Ugh.. doesn't help I just watched children of men last night. Movies that make you question your government lol. Oh no! I may have said too much already! They may ban the movie so we don't question our leaders! *gasps and hides*
On a serious side, stuff like this sickens me to know that people we vote in and put faith in just screw everything up.

[cfin5]

Does anybody here in blogsberg understand that they have just put nearly EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN in the terrorist box?.......You guys have got to be joking us! Who is the jackbooted profiler that made that policy? Another artificial problem trumpt-up by government to take away our first amendment rights for our own protection of course!

[soldat44]

Why in the h&ll did we spend 4 years and 600,000 lives bringing the confederate states back into the Union? We should have let them go. Slavery was on its way out anyway.
(can't wait for the comments on this one):-)

[jimbo554]

Once again South Carolina thanks Alabama for taking us out of the "redneck spotlight," even if only momentarily.

[cfin5]

......And thinking of our countries founding fathers, are they on the list too? Gonna disenture them to stand trial as terrorists? After all, you might as well do it to get to the root of all our dastardly terrorist ways you know......Man alive! Something is definitely wrong when patriots are afraid in their own country.

[radiob-2009]

The State of Alabama has proven once again that

The world is Flat

All democrats are weak and cave into other nations

All Republicans are war mongers

All Religions promote the destruction of others

Only my religion is the correct one

All that oppose the war are giving into the terrorist

All that support the war are neocons that have never served in the military

Israel creates all of the US problems

All Palestinians are terrorist

All Israelis want to wage war against the Palestinians

All Iranians want the destruction of the US and Israel

All Iranians are nice people there words are misunderstood

All Americans want to colonize the world

All Arabs want to colonize the world.

9-11 was a conspiracy planned by unnamed individuals to thrust the US into a war.

Howdy Doody was a great actor and very intelligent.

9-11 was a calculate move by all Muslims to overthrow the world.


The world is flat now once again.

[xzavierbrown]

******"... after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship ... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Hermann Goering, Nazi leader
Posted by DefndLiberty at 12:54 PM : May 27, 2007
+ report abuse***

your quotation fails is the fact that the current administration is going out this 2008..and the masses will vote for another administration.

[seven-pesos]

never a war the south couldn't lose.

jefferson davis lost his,
johnson lost his
bush will lose his.

the south has lost every war they started.

idiot southern creeps are only good for sunday afternoon parades

in their tight-butt uniforms.

ha,ha,ha.

war, division, arrogance, phony christian creeps, crooked republican snakes...

nothing good comes out of the south!

[manner6]

I'm struck dumb. This is ignorance and stupidity without measure!Is there something in the water?

[seven-pesos]

redneck states of america...georgia, south carolina and alabama.

war, hate, arrogance, ignorance, 9th grade educations...

bush loving slave state south.

that's the south for you folks.

[cfin5]

DefndLiberty.....Very good post! I am an anti-abortion advocate, but will NEVER go beyond the voting booth to change the laws of our land. I have nothing to do with the others. However, once government starts something like this they never stop. It's like the boiling a frog thing. Start out with cool water and slowly start increasing the temperature till he's a goner. The Nazis picked off their ideological enemies one by one till their view of peace within was almost reached......History is so very important to know. The faster history is forgotten, the faster it returns to repeat itself.

[missingamerica]

With all the people in this country prepared to hate whoever for whatever reason - but primarily because their souls lust after violence, the Government comes out with a list of potential targets. Now the real wackos can commit acts of violence out of "patriotism"..."Well, they were on the Government's web site, your honor - I thought I was doing our great nation a favor.". Smooth move.

[omega39-2009]

They forgot Anti-outsourcing, there are plenty of disgruntled middle class workers that saw their jobs evaporate in the name of "free trade". Oh well, I still fit into at least three of the above mentioned categories.

[seven-pesos]

christians are like cockroaches!

whenever you shine the light on them they run into their holes.

that's why i always wear my $300 dollar, lizard skin, 2" heel, chrome tipped

pointed texas cowboy boots...

so i can step on those cockroaches when they run into the corner.

ha,ha,ha.

war, hate, phony republican christian snakes...

nothing good comes out of the bush loving south

[grazinggoat]

Ooooooo... Aealaeaebaeaeaemah ! Sooo sawthern! Sooo deeeenp!

[radiob-2009]

DefndLiberty.....Very good post! I am an anti-abortion advocate, but will NEVER go beyond the voting booth to change the laws of our land. I have nothing to do with the others. However, once government starts something like this they never stop. It's like the boiling a frog thing. Start out with cool water and slowly start increasing the temperature till he's a goner. The Nazis picked off their ideological enemies one by one till their view of peace within was almost reached......History is so very important to know. The faster history is forgotten, the faster it returns to repeat itself.
Posted by cfin5




Do you shop at Wal Mart? Own a car not made in the US? Wear shoes? Own a pet? If you answer yes to any of the above questions more than likely you are supporting mandatory abortions.Goods made in China, Korea, Vietnam to start with as they are the main perpetrators of forced abortions.

[cfin5]

Sevenwhatevers!!......That does it! How dare you insult a pair of american cowboy boots. You are a cowboy boot terrorist! I'm calling those alabama boys to have that added to the list of guys to watch out for.

[jw218389]

Exercising OUR Constitutional RIGHTS make us Terrorists???

AlQaeda has won - they have destroyed freedom from WITHIN our own government, using our own xenophobic leaders. Why is that every right-wing whacko can't see this?????

GOD SAVE AMERICA AND OUR CONSTITUTION FROM BUSH CHENEY HALLIBURTON, Inc !!!!

P.S. Alabama? Shouldn't they have Black civil rights leaders on the list too? After all, according to Alabama's government, anyone who exercises their RIGHTS is a Terrorist!!

FREEDOM IS DEAD.

[cfin5]

radiob.......I know all about that stuff. I have to hold my nose and do it because of lack of money. I can approximately 500qts. a year from my own garden to help feed my family. In other words, we live as close to being a mennonite as we can without most of the religious stuff that goes with that church.

[seven-pesos]

you won't find america's enemies in the middle east...

you'll find them in the southern states of america.

war making, bible thumping, flag waving, phony christian, republican snake southerners...

bush's kind of people.

war, hate, arrogance, division, evangelist creeps...

nothing good comes out of the south!

[bvckvs-2009]

It's no surprise to see that the religious zealots, gun-nuts, and other inbreds in Alabama are *terrified* of human rights.

They're cowards - and *everything* scares them.

[seven-pesos]

the south has a dark and sordid history.

full of war, insurrection, slavery, lynching, assasination, rebellion, arrogance, death and destruction.

bush is just the latest southerner to do the worst to america.

never a war the south couldn't lose.

jefferson davis,
johnson,
bush,

all war making, slave state southern pieces of dixie trash.

war, hate, arrogance, republican snakes, ignorant christian creeps...

nothing good comes out of the south! he south never does good for america.

[kevboom]

Hey, easy on the south. True there are people down here who can't think outside of a box, but a mass characterization is taking it a bit far. As someone who was born in the midwest, grew up in the south, lived in the far west, and returned to the south, I can safely say there is no place I'd rather live. And by the way, the south doesn't have a monopoly on right-wing bigots and white trash. There's plenty in the midwest and "heartland" to go around and vote for the likes of Bush.

[lambofgoth]

Let's note...
Someone insults the south and someone with a "bellsouth" address wants to pick a fight.
Southerners are violent.
Most violent state in the nation? South Carolina. It's also the most conservative.

Thanks for proving his point.

[gil3al]

Dang!! Let's take a minute to review some history: the anit-bussing issues (late 60's early 70's)became riotous in liberal BOSTON, MA., the Watts (in liberal L.A.)riots in the 60's, the religious fanatics from KANSAS that protest dead soldiers' funerals (and anybody else that doesn't hate/fear ***), the separatist groups in IDAHO sorry guys, but you het the press). Ignorance, stupidity, small minds and mean-spirited souls are not gathered in one geographical location (yeh-I know its' too bad cause it would be so much easier to nuke 'em). At the risk of paraphrasing a b-movie from the 50's:"Look in the mirror, look at your neighbor, look in your town, but look." Liberals are all around you, standing next to you are conservatives, hell even us moderates stand with you.

[noplace2poop]

.

[tuckerndfw]

Everyone is a potential terrorist.

Trying to list motives for people to become violent, active terrorists is a waste of time and money.

As is the "war on terror" as being conducted by the Bush administration.

Anyone, other than law enforcement directly responsible for tracking potential threats, who concerns himself with the "terrorist threat" is a moron.

[grazinggoat]

.
Posted by noplace2poop

-rotflmao,
have you thought of FOXNEWS

[noplace2poop]

You want to know why the South is so bad? It's because it's hot as h.e.l.l down here! Mosquitoes eat you alive at night. Rabid bats also dive bomb you at night, trying to give you rabies if they manage to connect with your skin. Deer flies and horse flies bite you and suck your blood all during the day. You may find a rattle snake in your car seat or behind your refrigerator most any time. The people here are as rude as they can be. Dogs and cats roam wild, spreading all kinds of diseases. Each one of those felines and canines are heavily infested with 100s of fleas--most of those fleas carry tape worm eggs within their nasty bodies. Predator alligators are waiting to bite your foot off(or eat you alive)if you dare go near the shore line of any lakes, rivers or ponds.
This d.a.m.n place SUCKS! That's why the South is so bad. I'll take Alaska or Wyoming any day!

[radiob-2009]

.
Posted by noplace2poop


The narrow mindness of some posters?

[noplace2poop]

"radiob" says,
The narrow mindness of some posters?
Posted by radiob at 03:23 PM : May 27, 2007

"noplace2poop" says,
Your use of the eight letters "mindness" can't be found in any dictionary! What else you got? If you want to insult somebody, at least learn how to spell the word/s you use. You must be from the South, ha ha ha ha ha.

[cozzicon]

This is shocking.

[noplace2poop]

Posted by noplace2poop

-rotflmao,
have you thought of FOXNEWS
Posted by grazinggoat at 03:15 PM : May 27, 2007

There's not much at fox news to think about.....

[drummer94]

sevenpisos is really larsoo8 by the way pastes posts overnovernovernover.......

[feelfree1]

Re: "State's Homeland Security Web Site Classified 'Single Issue Extremists' As Terror Threats"

Would this include the fascistic boot-lickers at the Department of Homeland inSecurity?

[feelfree1]

Re: "State's Homeland Security Web Site Classified 'Single Issue Extremists' As Terror Threats"

Would this include the fascistic boot-lickers at the Department of Homeland inSecurity?

[bobgee_1999]

Single-issue extremists? About time they went after the NRA!

[radiob-2009]

"radiob" says,
The narrow mindness of some posters?
Posted by radiob at 03:23 PM : May 27, 2007

"noplace2poop" says,
Your use of the eight letters "mindness" can't be found in any dictionary! What else you got? If you want to insult somebody, at least learn how to spell the word/s you use. You must be from the South, ha ha ha ha ha.
Posted by noplace2poop


Insult no it was a comment on your comment that was essentially a period or a dot.

[seven-pesos]

history shows what happens when southerners get the power in america.

the south has a dark and sordid past.

bush is just the latest chapter to come out of that most militaristic and extremist region of america.

the south never does good for america.

always war, hate, phony christian creeps and crooked republican snakes.

ha,ha,ha.

that's the south for you, folks!

[mcvet]

How strange is this... a State that is most well know for it's terrorist activity during the 50's... a State who's NAME alone means terror and racism in most people's minds is classifying who is and is not a Terrorist!! What a bunch of simple minded morons the crackers are!! Sieg Heil Y'all.

[puzzler125]

Therefore, according to this group, Al Gore and Bono are terrorists! What a load of ***.