I wasn't engaged in these things at the time, but I imagine that Timothy McVeigh's execution led many to claim that domestic terrorism was no longer a concern in the US.
It happened in 2001, three months before the Sept 11 attacks. 1/
It happened in 2001, three months before the Sept 11 attacks. 1/
After 9/11, the War on Terror led to the Patriot Act and increased "awareness" of terrorism and radicalization.
However, all of this was xenophobic and focused on the extremists from abroad.
Meanwhile the danger posed by extremists from within grew unabated. 2/
However, all of this was xenophobic and focused on the extremists from abroad.
Meanwhile the danger posed by extremists from within grew unabated. 2/
A 2006 Threat Assessment by the FBI warned of “self-initiated efforts by individuals, particularly among those already within law enforcement ranks, to volunteer their professional resources to white supremacist causes with which they sympathize.” 3/
theintercept.com/2020/09/29/pol…
theintercept.com/2020/09/29/pol…
In 2015, internal FBI policy documents warned that white supremacist and anti-government militia groups investigated often have active links to law enforcement officials.
The threat was known but continually underplayed. 4/
assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3423…
The threat was known but continually underplayed. 4/
assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3423…
Despite costing trillions, the War on Terror failed to address threats in the US.
In 2017, the FBI reported that white supremacists posed a persistent threat that has produced more fatalities than any other category of domestic terrorists since 2000. 5/
documentcloud.org/documents/3924…
In 2017, the FBI reported that white supremacists posed a persistent threat that has produced more fatalities than any other category of domestic terrorists since 2000. 5/
documentcloud.org/documents/3924…
25 years after the Oklahoma City Bombing, these extremists are still underestimated.
2019 was the most deadly year for domestic terrorism since that event, and people still call them "LARPers" despite decades of reporting showing extensive ties to law enforcement. 6/
2019 was the most deadly year for domestic terrorism since that event, and people still call them "LARPers" despite decades of reporting showing extensive ties to law enforcement. 6/
In a 2020 report, DHS admitted that "White supremacists present the gravest terror threat to the United States".
They've been recruiting and radicalizing online, hiding among pro-Trump buffoons so that they're underestimated. 7/
politico.com/news/2020/09/0…
They've been recruiting and radicalizing online, hiding among pro-Trump buffoons so that they're underestimated. 7/
politico.com/news/2020/09/0…
Yes, many of those who attacked the Capital were hate-filled keyboard warriors who just wanted to yell.
But there were also combat veterans and LEOs equipped with zip-ties, bombs, molotov cocktails, and even napalm. 8/
newyorker.com/news/news-desk…
But there were also combat veterans and LEOs equipped with zip-ties, bombs, molotov cocktails, and even napalm. 8/
newyorker.com/news/news-desk…
These people didn't go away after McVeigh was executed. They're not going away once Trump leaves office either.
They have allies among law enforcement all over the country and experts have been sounding the alarm for decades.
Stop pretending they're not real threats. 9/9
They have allies among law enforcement all over the country and experts have been sounding the alarm for decades.
Stop pretending they're not real threats. 9/9
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