The events at the Cliven Bundy ranch in Nevada and the horrible killings in Kansas City have once again reminded us of the threat posed by right wing extremists in the United states. But are they a greater threat than the Islamic terrorists? Peter Bergen thinks so:
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).
By contrast, terrorists motivated by al Qaeda’s ideology have killed 23 people in the United States since 9/11.
The numbers speak for them selves. Now while no one has been killed at Cliven Bundy’s ranch stand off I don’t see it ending well. Bundy has made it clear that he does not consider the Federal Government to be legitimate. I would appear that he and his followers are willing to die for their cause, not unlike suicide bombers. The Federal Government can’t let him get away with it. Most of the other ranchers in the area pay their grazing fees to the BLM – Bundy has not paid his since 1993 and owes over a million dollars. That’s how this all started, the BLM went in to seize his cattle for non-payment. Cliven Bundy is a right wing anarchist and should be treated as such.
But still he has become a hero to many Republican politicians, right wing talkers and FOX news. This should be reason enough for advertisers to take their ads off of FOX.
Yes the extreme right wing is a greater threat than Islamic terrorists in this country but any attempt to say so brings howls from many Republicans and the right wing media complex.
Note: a good run down of the various right wing killings can be found here.