Can Someone Explain How This Militia Group, Hutaree, Is Not Being Labeled As A Terrorist Group

[Yavin4]

When you plot to kill law enforcement and their families in order to advance some political agenda all under the cloak of a religion, does that not make you a terrorist? How are they any different from Al Qaeda, and why isn't the media going into full scale alarmist mode like they did with the underwear bomber?

The Web site, which describes the group as “preparing for the end times,” featured video clips of people running through woods in camouflage gear and firing assault rifles, along with links to gun stores and far-right media. It also features an elaborate system of military ranks for its members. The site says it coined the term Hutaree, intended to mean Christian warrior.

“Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment,” the Web site says, adding, “The Hutaree will one day see its enemy and meet him on the battlefield if so God wills it.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/us/30militia.html?hp

Again, how are these statements any different from what Al Qaeda says and does?

[xultar]

1. It is because they are white people.

[Posteritatis]

3. And (ostensibly) Christian.

The combination makes them bulletproof in that regard.

[katsy]

5. +1

White + religiously insane = republican.

That's the formula for deciding whether one is a terrorist or republican.

[louis-t]

23. To repugs, these people are only

slightly to the right of center.

[gratuitous]

13. Whoomp, there it is

White people are terrorists only if they're "eco-terrorists," which includes just about anyone who doesn't think it's a good idea to poison the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the land we live on. Otherwise, it's perfectly fine and acceptable that people with the cushiest berth on the planet who face hardship or reversal of any kind can run for the gun to rectify the terrible injustice of being forced to have better access to health care.

[Gman2]

14. Sorta. The same freakout as wanting Napolitano fired for report.

The white supremacists will freak if we start talking about white terror sleeper cells. Come to think about it, so will the rest of us.

I want to smack all my early teachers. They made it so the great depression can never happen again. WE fixed racism with the civil rights act. yadda yadda. It feels like the 60s never happened.

[Cirque du So-What]

19. Not all white people get off so easy

especially if they're part of an environmental group such as ELF. Not that I condone their tactics, but at least ELF and similar groups aren't setting out to kill anyone (although their tactics CAN put firefighters & law enforcement officers in danger when they respond to their crimes against property, and I'd sure hate to hit a nail with a chainsaw in a 'spiked' tree). Regardless, if property gets damaged, the entire organization gets labeled 'eco-terrorists.'

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. That's it. "white" is only 50% of the answer.

"Right-wing" is the other 50%.

[JoeyT]

28. The ALF is another example.

I'll stick the "Don't condone the Animal Liberation Front's actions because they're crazy" disclaimer here too.
Hell the HSUS are constantly called terrorists and they haven't even blown anything up or planned to blow anything up. The only evidence of their terrorism comes from a right wing advocacy group that's known to lie about absolutely everything. (Personally I'm not a fan of the HSUS either.)

[sui generis]

2. clearly because only muslims can be terrorists?

:sarcasm:

They are terrorists-in-diapers - but unless they had some active plan to disrupt or cause violence, then they can't really be called terrorists.

Vague statements about being christian soldiers aren't good enough to qualify, unfortunately.

[Brickbat]

4. They're white and identify as Christian.

[HopeHoops]

6. All white.

[KG]

7. white, xtian peoples can never be terrorists.

their actions are justified.

[PVnRT]

8. They're not Muslim

There's your answer.

[PDJane]

9. Actually.........

Since, apparently, the FBI raided some of their compounds in four states yesterday, that conclusion may be premature.

[sui generis]

17. agreed -

merely belonging to militia is not evidence of terrorism. Unfortunately.

Having a plan to disrupt or terrorize with violence, coercion or fear is evidence of terrorism, as is preparation to do so, i.e., stakeouts, preliminary intimidation, or even intimations of violence.

We look like we're trolling for outrage when we start making statements like some in the thread here - it has nothing to do with faith, nationality or skin color at all.

[maddezmom]

10. I've been wondering about this for the past couple days. Could it be something to do with how they

would be treated in the justice system? Hopefully someone with more knowledge than I will figure it out because it sure makes no sense to me.

[Echo In Light]

11. The Powers That Be don't want them cast as a primary threat in their phony "war"

... use em? Sure. But not as targets

[sui generis]

12. Let me be unequivocable

They are not terrorists until they have an actionable plan or a history of disruption and violence.

It doesn't have the tiniest damn thing to do with being white or christian or non-muslim.

[Yavin4]

16. Okay. How about this...

Evidence of a Plan

The indictment charged that between August 2008 and the present, the defendants — led by David Brian Stone, 45, who also used the name “Captain Hutaree” — developed a conspiracy that they hoped would result in a war against the United States government. They allegedly decided they would kill a local law enforcement officer, and then bomb the funeral caravan. The killings “would intimidate and demoralize law enforcement diminishing their ranks and rendering them ineffective,” it said.

Afterward, the indictment said, Hutaree members would retreat to several “rally points” and wage war against the government, using prepared fighting positions as well as “trip-wired and command-detonated” bombs.

[sui generis]

20. then that would be terrorism

I don't understand why we're assuming the crash position about it not being labeled terrorism quickly enough. The news only broke early this morning didn't it?

[MattBaggins]

15. Only Darkskinned people can be terrorists

the NY Times itself believes this.

[unblock]

18. it would alter the "brand" -- the marketing image of "terrorism"

the military-industrial complex has invested heavily in the marketing term "terrorism" for use in promoting excuses for war.

fighting domestic terrorism clouds the issue as the military would not really be involved, and the domestic resistance to fighting against american bad guys is very different from the domestic resistance to fighting foreign bad guys.

they're just trying to stay on message.

[tom_paine]

21. They're White and Christian - it really is that simple n/t

[Bullet1987]

22. Same reason the KKK has never been considered a terrorist group

Americans cover for their own and ignore homegrown terrorism.

[struggle4progress]

25. I don't much care what names wackos are called, as long as their plots are stopped

[Bitwit1234]

26. So what does this say about their form of religion

The Jesus we know preached compassion for our fellow man. He wanted people to held the poor and needy. He did believe in forgiveness, look at the forgiving of the guy on the cross.

So this bunch of common right wing psychos, believe in killing and taking over a legal form of government and in denying services to the poor and needy. What's Christian about that. Sorta kinda like the Christians Palin and Bachmann believe in. One and all the same bunch of wackos.

[Chisox08]

27. Because they are

1. White
2. Christian
3. Republican/ Right Winger
4. They are not Muslim