Bill Text: NJ AR49 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges United States Congress to investigate Department of Homeland Security report that may portray veterans as potential terrorists.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR49 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR49-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SCOTT RUDDER
District 8 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO
District 8 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Urges United States Congress to investigate Department of Homeland Security report that may portray veterans as potential terrorists.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Congress to investigate a Department of Homeland Security report that may be perceived as unfairly portraying veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as potential terrorists.
Whereas, On April 7, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security released the report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," which may be perceived as unfairly portraying veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq as potential terrorists, suggesting that some soldiers are prone to recruitment from right-wing extremist groups; and
Whereas, The report cites a Federal Bureau of Investigation program initiated in December, 2008, dubbed Operation Vigilant Eagle, designed to target right-wing extremist groups, with part of the focus on veterans, as possible sources of domestic terrorism; and
Whereas, The Department of Homeland Security report notes that some veterans returning home from Afghanistan may be disgruntled and disillusioned, similar to the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who happened to be a military veteran; and
Whereas, The report offers little in the way of specific data to support a focus on veterans, presents a blanket view that veterans may be more susceptible to extremist activity than other segments of society, and may distract the government from the pursuit of other, more worthy counterterrorism activities; and
Whereas, The brave men and women who risk their lives for this country should be regarded as heroes upon their return home from Afghanistan and Iraq, and it is a travesty that their own government has launched an operation and published a document that may suggest otherwise, and may serve to demoralize veterans, as well as soldiers currently fighting overseas; and
Whereas, Those responsible for the Federal Bureau of Investigation program that, in part, focuses on veterans, and the Department of Homeland Security report that may portray veterans as potential domestic terrorists, owe our nation's military veterans and soldiers in the Armed Forces a clarification of their intentions, as well as an apology; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to investigate the Department of Homeland Security report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," which may unfairly portray veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as potential terrorists.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the Majority and Minority leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Majority and Minority leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges Congress to investigate the Department of Homeland Security report which may unfairly portray veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq as potential terrorists.
The report cites a Federal Bureau of Investigation program designed to target right-wing extremist groups, with part of the focus on veterans, as possible sources of domestic terrorism. It also notes that some veterans returning home from Afghanistan may be disgruntled and disillusioned, similar to the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who happened to be a military veteran. The report offers little in the way of specific data to support a focus on veterans, presents a blanket view that veterans may be more susceptible to extremist activity than other segments of society, and may distract the government from the pursuit of other, more worthy counterterrorism activities.
The brave men and women who risk their lives for this country should be regarded as heroes upon their return home from Afghanistan and Iraq, and it is a travesty that their own government has launched an operation and published a document that may suggest otherwise. This document may serve to demoralize veterans, as well as soldiers currently fighting overseas. At the very least, those responsible owe our nation's military veterans and soldiers in the Armed Forces a clarification of their intentions, as well as an apology.
