Islamic Radicalization in America

As we await the full accounting of the jihadist attack on two Chattanooga military recruiting stations by gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, our hearts ache for the victims and their families. Our minds wonder how a 24-year-old whom colleagues and friends described as “a fun guy” and “easy to get along with” could carry out this kind of carnage against the country that embraced him and liberated his homeland of Kuwait.

We are also reminded, once again, that America has a serious Islamic radicalization problem on its hands.

This man who killed four Marines and injured three others was obviously hell-bent on destroying as many lives as possible in a barrage of gunfire. And now a U.S. Navy sailor who was wounded in the shooting has also lost his life. When Abdulazeez didn’t score victims at the first site, he moved on to a second location. Somewhere along the way, this man was radicalized. Whether it was online or during his recent stint in the Mideast, we don’t yet know. But we do know there is a trail of horrific examples of young Muslim men who transition from being “a regular guy” to a cold-hearted mass murderer in the name of Islam.

The incident reminds us of the difficult task our law enforcement and intelligence agencies have in stopping these fanatics. With over 100 Americans recruited to fight with ISIS this year alone, there is clearly the potential for a lot more carnage here at home. Sleeper cell activation is a serious concern — especially given the numbers of Muslims we have allowed (and continue to allow) into our country as legal immigrants.

Since 9/11, the number of Muslims in the U.S. has doubled, according to Census numbers. In 2012, the number stood at 2.4 million, up from 1 million in 2000. Islam is now the fastest growing religion in America.

Abdulazeez was born in Kuwait in 1990, ironically the same year America launched the war to free that country from Saddam Hussein’s forces.

Of course, the overwhelming majority of Muslims who have come here from the Middle East or Africa are not future jihadists, nor do they support these horrific attacks. But since the overwhelming majority of domestic terror strikes (both attempted and successful) are committed by radicalized Muslims, we have some soul-searching to do as a nation about our focus and strategy. Our anti-terror resources and efforts should be trained on those communities where the terror is born.

Law enforcement officials say their hard work and intelligence gathering stopped attacks over the Fourth of July weekend. But clearly they must enlist and encourage more Muslims to assist in rooting out the evil in their midst — in mosques, community centers, Islamic schools, and online. Our government should not anguish about being politically correct or hurting the feelings of Muslims who feel unfairly targeted.

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, there have been nine lethal terrorist attacks in the United States carried out by homegrown extremists. According to an April 2015 study by the Mershon Center at Ohio State University and the Cato Institute, there have been at least 53 other domestic attempts by radicalized Islamists to murder Americans that were foiled by law enforcement or that failed to inflict a death toll.

Death Toll of Domestic Radicalization since 2001: 35

2015 Chattanooga Marine Corps Reserve Center Shooting: 4
2014 Second Fort Hood Shooting: 4
2014 Washington and N.J. Killing Spree: 4
2014 Oklahoma Beheading: 1
2013 Boston Marathon Bombing: 5
2009 Little Rock Shooting: 1
2009 Fort Hood Shooting: 13
2006 Seattle Jewish Federation Shooting: 1
2002 Los Angeles Airport Shooting: 2

It is worth noting that just a few months into his presidency, President Obama decided to set the tone regarding domestic terror threats. Remember the now-infamous Department of Homeland Security Secretary April 2009 report about “Right Wing Extremist Threats” to the U.S.? Then-DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano cited the threats posed by returning veterans, and by single-issue voters who have intense feelings about issues such as illegal immigration or abortion.

Here a few actual excerpts from that April 2009 report entitled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment”:

• “Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents 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.”
• “Rightwing extremists were concerned during the 1990s with the perception that illegal immigrants were taking away American jobs through their willingness to work at significantly lower wages. They also opposed free trade agreements, arguing that these arrangements resulted in Americans losing jobs to countries such as Mexico.”
• “The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.”
• “DHS/I&A assesses that rightwing extremist groups’ frustration over a perceived lack of government action on illegal immigration has the potential to incite individuals or small groups toward violence. If such violence were to occur, it likely would be isolated, small-scale, and directed at specific immigration-related targets.”

When the blowback on this came from groups such as the American Legion, Napolitano issued a media release that insisted, “We are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not – nor will we ever – monitor ideology or political beliefs. We take seriously our responsibility to protect the civil rights and liberties of the American people…” (emphasis added)

For the past month or so, after a white supremacist committed mass murder in a Charleston church, our nation has spent a lot of time and energy on banning the Confederate battle flag. Now some in our midst want to ban even more symbols, statues, names, memorials, and other historical references to the Confederacy.

As we fret about Confederate symbols, however, jihadists are plotting killing sprees. Instead of spending an inordinate amount of time erasing vestiges of the past, perhaps we should focus more on erasing the threats of today.

This article was updated on July 18, 2015, to reflect the passing of a fifth U.S. service member.

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