Domestic Terrorism
Right-wing bloggers spent quite a bit of time last month complaining about an FBI report warning of the dangers posed by right-wing extremists, calling it an Obama-orchestrated “hit job” on conservatives, among other things. One of the many passages found objectionable reads as follows (emphasis mine):
Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.
It looks like the FBI was right. In the words of Mark Kleiman, “If you’ve ever said ‘abortion is murder,’ be sure to use lots of soap and water when you try to wash the blood off your hands.”
The killing of George Tiller was a terrorist act, and should be investigated and prosecuted accordingly.
Update 10:40 PM: Kleiman nails it.