SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A recently published government memo warning police agencies about recruiting by so called "rightwing" extremist groups is raising concern among Utah veterans.
The memo, titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" was released to police agencies across the country to warn against what the Department of Homeland Security believes may be an increased threat of domestic terrorism.
The DHS memo says that the election of Barack Obama, coupled with recent economic troubles and members of the military returning from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq might lead extremist groups to recruit more veterans with combat experience. According to the memo, the election of the first African-american president in U.S. history has influenced more white supremacist groups to increase recruiting efforts.
The memo says domestic terrorism during the 1990s involving former military members aligning themselves with extremist groups is similar to present-day issues. The report also says that the economic downturn was a factor in two of the more publicized violent events of the early 1990s, most notably the clash at Ruby Ridge with Randy Weaver and his family and the bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City.
Some say the memo unfairly profiles veterans as vulnerable to such recruiting, including Utah Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Dennis Howland.
"Anyone who thinks our veterans are vulnerable to such recruiting has lost faith in our young men and women," said Howland.
The "Extremism" memo isn't law, but House Republican leader John Boehner says the report unfairly characterizes military veterans as rightwing extremists.
Howland agreed.
"It concerns me that Homeland Security would make such a broad statement about vets," said Howland. "Veterans are less potential extremists because they've seen how bad things can get."
Howland added that people who are susceptible to join such groups might have a natural predisposition to join without military or war experience.
What does the memo mean to local law enforcement?
ABC 4 contacted Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank, and he said the report is something he and others take under advisement, but plainly stated, "We don't profile."
Burbank says he and other agencies are glad to work with Homeland Security, but they won't be looking for veterans as potential extremists.
"We look at criminal acts, and not veterans," said Burbank. "If someone were to become a threat, we would investigate that as a local law enforcement issue before it becomes a federal one."
Burbank added that if anyone were concerned that police officers might look at veterans as potential domestic terrorists to remember that many officers are veterans themselves.
