Factsheet: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

This act claims to set up a Commission for a study that will “examine and report upon the facts and causes” of so called violent radicalism and extremist ideology then make legislative recommendations on combating it.

SPONSORS

Primary sponsor – Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee chair Jane Harmon (D-CA) – reportedly in response to a 2005 plot to bomb synagogues in Los Angeles.

Co-sponsor – David Reichert (R-WA) stated that the commission would “focus exclusively on homegrown terrorism,” and become “a gathering point” for knowledge gleaned from both government agencies and academia. Reichert also said the commission will look at white power groups, new-Nazis and other extremists, too. “We don’t want to focus on any one group or leave anybody out,” he said.

Senate version is under construction by Susan Collins of Maine, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

CURRENT STATUS

Already passed by the House with a vote of 404-6 on October 23rd. It is possible that the bill will be referred out of Committee next Wednesday and brought to the Senate floor.

SUMMARY

The act claims to set up a Commission for a study that will “examine and report upon the facts and causes” of so called violent radicalism and extremist ideology then make legislative recommendations on combating it.

If we are lucky the commission will just be a way for congress and committee members to have a few meetings in expensive hotels and work on their tan. However the greater fear should be the possible future outcomes of any report, which will focus in on passing additional federal criminal penalties that are sweeping and inclusive in criminalizing dissent and protest work more surveillance on thought rather than on actions. Further this bi-partisan attempt can set the ground for an even more acquiescent Congress to Presidential power, never wanting to look weak on terrorism.

The bill will create a 10-member panel (house version is 10, current senate version is 12) to create the "National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism."

With staff, travel and other costs added in, the bill “would cost $22 million over the 2008-2012 period,” according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The Commission is tasked with compiling information about what leads up to violent radicalization, and how to prevent or combat it with the intent to issue a final report with recommendations for both preventative and countermeasures to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism and ideologically based violence in the United States. In theory they will get this information through the commissions own examinations as well as from foreign sources (specifically mentioning the governments of the UK, Canada, and Australia), federal, state, local or tribal government studies and experience, as well as academic studies.

At the end of its 18-month term, it would cede its work to one of the Homeland Security Department’s university-based Centers of Excellence The bill also includes the creation of a new such center – or the designation of an existing one - for the study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States.

NOTEWORTHY POINTS

“SEC. 899A (2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization' means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.”

What is an extremist belief system? term is left undefined and open to many interpretations, socialism, anarchism, communism, nationalism, liberalism, etc. that would serve to undermine expressions that don’t fit within the allowable areas of debate. A direct action led by any group that blocks traffic can be looked upon as being coercive.

“SEC. 899B. (3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.”

The focus on the internet is crucial, it can set up far more intrusive surveillance techniques, without warrants, and the potential to criminalize ideas and not actions can mean penalties for your stance rather than any criminal act.

“SEC. 899A. (4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically-based violence' means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual's political, religious, or social beliefs.”

What is force, is civil disobedience covered under that, if arrested at a protest rally and charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration, or even assault does that now open you up to possible terrorist charges in the future?

RAND CORPORATION INFLUENCE

Brian Michael Jenkins, Rand Corporation’s so-called Counterterrorism expert, testified on the Violent Radicalism hearings.

Jenkins is credited by Rand in the 1960s, of focusing in on the insurgencies in Vietnam and Cambodia, on Vietnamese military institutions, and on the styles and techniques of conflict. Drawing parallels between the rise of urbanization in the war in Vietnam and trends taking place in other parts of Asia and Latin America. The theory of guerrilla warfare as a strictly rural activity was being challenged as the guerrillas were taking their struggles to the cities. Jenkins outlined a five-stage process by which urban guerrillas could take over a city, he was able to make recommendations for government countermeasures. In his book on terrorism Jenkins says “In their international campaign, the jihadists will seek common grounds with leftist, anti-American, and anti-globalization forces, who will in turn see, in radical Islam, comrades against a mutual foe.”

Also of note a Rand study Trends in Terrorism" Chapter 4 on homegrown terrorism – advocated special attention to environmentalist, Anti-globalization activist and anarchists as potentially new terrorist in the making.