Mother Jones: The Radicalization of Peter King

[marmar]

Rep. Peter King (R-NY), last seen calling WikiLeaks a terrorist organization, is back in the news after annnouncing plans to hold hearings next year on the radicalization of America's Muslim communities. King believes Muslim leaders have been less than helpful in combatting extremists in their ranks, and he'd like to find out why.

The timing is a little curious: Just two weeks ago, members of a mosque in Orange County became so concerned about a possible extremist in their ranks, they reported him to the FBI (It turned out he was an FBI agent; this is basically Fletch for the terror age). But the larger issue is King, whose ability to spot terrorists is unmatched. That is, he constantly spots terrorists where there are none at all, like an Icelandic clairvoyant tasked with inspecting construction sites for the presence of elves. Here's what he told Sean Hannity back in 2004, for instance, while promoting his novel, Vale of Tears:

"I would say, you could say that 80-85 percent of mosques in this country are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists...Those who are in control. The average Muslim, no, they are loyal, but they don't work, they don't come forward, they don't tell the police."

80-85 percent! Run for your lives!

But there's more to the story. In the '80s and 90s, King was himself captivated by a bearded, charismatic leader dismissed by many as a radical extremist. King's friend was driven by an unshakable religious conviction, and a centuries-long list of grievances; his network was known for its brutality—dismembered digits were a hallmark—and for the fear they instilled among the general public. Oh, and bombings. Especially the bombings. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/12/radicalization-peter-king

[Cetacea]

1. K&R

[Puregonzo1188]

2. That's interesting that he admired Gerry Adams since the party he is head of,

Sinn Fein, is officially a self-described "democratic-socialist" party which supports gay marriage, national healthcare, and an end to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. Not exactly things King is a big supporter of...