Understanding America’s Violent Far-Right

Last November the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point issued a 147-page treatise entitled “Challengers From the Sidelines: Understanding America’s Violent Far-Right” (PDF). Supposed menaces from the right are broken down into three categories, none of which poses a significant terrorist threat: white supremacists (the KKK is not exactly in its heyday), “antifederalists,” and “fundamentalists” (white supremacists who own Bibles). The Introduction has this to say about antifederalists:

The antifederalist rationale is multifaceted, and includes the beliefs that the American political system and its proxies were hijacked by external forces interested in promoting a “New World Order” (NWO) in which the United States will be absorbed into the United Nations or another version of global government. They also espouse strong convictions regarding the federal government, believing it to be corrupt and tyrannical, with a natural tendency to intrude on individuals’ civil and constitutional rights. Finally, they support civil activism, individual freedoms, and self government.

This describes patriots, not terrorists.