Fallin Rips ACLU Over Detainee Abuse Photos

Congresswoman Mary Fallin today participated in a forum investigating the consequences surrounding the potential release of photos depicting detainee abuse in the War on Terror and after it ripped the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for "pursuing an agenda that serves no purpose other than to give aid and comfort to our enemies."

The photos may eventually be released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the ACLU. Although the Justice Department had initially signaled it would hand over the photos without contesting the request, an unnamed administration spokesman said today the White House now opposes their release.

The forum was attended by other members of Congress and included testimony from Tom Korologos, Former Ambassador to Belgium and expert in outreach to Muslim and Arab communities; Mark Pfeifle, Former Deputy National Security Advisor; and David Rehbein, National Commander of the American Legion

Following the forum, Fallin said, “The ACLU is currently pursuing an agenda that serves no other purpose than to give aid and comfort to our enemies. Releasing these pictures will help no one except the leaders of groups like Al Qaeda, who will gain a powerful new recruiting tool and a new source of anti-American hate.

“No one is condoning prisoner abuse. In fact, the Pentagon is taking appropriate steps to punish the very small number of troops who might have participated in such misconduct and to ensure no further instances occur. We can pursue justice, however, without releasing images that will surely be used as a weapon against the United States.

“It is mindboggling that the ACLU could be so indifferent to the success of the two wars we are currently fighting, our national security and our diplomatic efforts, particularly in the Middle East. The warped vision of the constitutional process championed by their liberal army of lawyers and lobbyists does not represent the best interests of this nation, nor do their views represent those of mainstream Americans. The testimony of our expert witnesses today, all of whom oppose the release of these photographs, has strengthened my belief that the ACLU is pursuing an agenda that will make Americans less safe.”

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Napolitano Seeks To Remove Foot From Mouth

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today sought to douse anger among conservatives and veterans groups like the American Legion over a report from her department warning of a rising threat of right-wing extremism.

"We are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not -- nor will we ever -- monitor ideology or political beliefs," Napolitano said in a statement amid charges that the department had done just that.

American Legion chief David Rehbein on Tuesday blasted the report as "incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased" and took special aim at its warning that returning veterans having difficulties reintegrating society could be recruited by right-wing groups for possible terrorist attacks.

In a letter to Napolitano, Rehbein underlined the document's mention of Oklahoma City bombing author Timothy McVeigh's US Army background and called it "as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole example of Islam."

"The American Legion is well aware and horrified at the pain inflicted during the Oklahoma City bombing, but Timothy McVeigh was only one of more than 42 million veterans who have worn this nation's uniform during wartime," said Rehbein, who group comprises some 2.6 million members.

Napolitano said she accepted Rehbein's request for a meeting and stressed: "I will tell him face-to-face that we honor veterans at DHS and employ thousands across the department, up to and including the deputy secretary."

The report said that fears of possible new restrictions on firearms, as well as troubled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, "could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks."

Rehbein said the accusation, levelled in an April 7 document designed for local law enforcement officials, was "without any statistical evidence."

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