DHS sends out domestic terrorism alert
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a national terrorism alert Wednesday warning that domestic extremists in the coming weeks could potentially carry out attacks, following the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.
"Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence,″ the bulletin said.
While not pointing to a specific threat, the DHS bulletin said there is "a heightened threat environment across the United States" that it believes "will persist" in the weeks after President Joe Biden's January 20 inauguration.
The bulletin, part of a public alert called a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, is the department's first in about a year, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Wednesday's DHS bulletin did not discuss the ideology or political allegiances of such extremists or any specific plot but rather warned generally about "individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances and ideological causes fueled by false narratives."
The bulletin also discussed a series of factors in recent history that they say have increased the likelihood for extremists, which the bulletin refers to as "domestic violent extremists" (DVEs), to carry out politically motivated violence.
These motivational factors include: "anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force have plotted and on occasion carried out attacks against government facilities." The bulletin also said that "[l]ong-standing racial and ethnic tension" and "opposition to immigration" have motivated DVE attacks, citing a 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas that killed 23 people.
"DHS is concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some DVEs may be emboldened by the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. to target elected officials and government facilities," the bulletin said.
Moreover, the bulletin also spoke of violent riots in "recent days," which is likely referencing violence that has recently broken out in Portland, Oregon, spurred by far-left groups.
The DHS is currently headed by acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske while Biden's nominee for the role, Alejandro Mayorkas, is undergoing the Senate confirmation process.
You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.
Related Topics:capitol riotsDHSdomestic terrorismextremistsviolence
Trump: Tanks to Ukraine could escalate to use of 'NUKES'
Alexander Carter
Former President Donald Trump stated bluntly on Truth Social, "FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES. Get this crazy war ended, NOW. So easy to do!"
Trump was referring to the escalation of war in Ukraine. He, like many other commentators and lawmakers, are warning that the decision to continue sending weapons – and now tanks – could potentially lead to the use of "nuclear weapons."
It's mission creep and it's dangerous, they say.
Why? Because Russian President Valdimir Putin has indicated in two different speeches that he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russia, if needed. Those warnings are not just bluster but a very real possibility.
And the escalation of war is visible.
Russia launched 55 missiles strikes across Ukraine Thursday, leaving 11 dead. The strikes come one day after the United States and Germany agreed to send tanks to Ukraine in an effort to aide the country. 47 of the 55 missiles were shot down according to Ukraine's Air Force command.
Eleven lives were lost and another 11 were injured additionally leaving 35 buildings damaged in the wake of the attacks. According to The New York Times, Denys Shmyhal, said in a post on Telegram. "The main goal is energy facilities, providing Ukrainians with light and heat," he said.
Ukraine is now demanding that they need F-16 fighter jets. In a post on twitter Ukrainian lawmaker, Oleksiy Goncharenko said, "Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16."
Morning. Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) January 26, 2023
The US has abstained from sending advanced jets in the chances that a volatile decision could foster more dangerous attacks like former President Trump's post on Truth referred to. If the US did authorize the decision to lend Ukraine the F-16 jets Netherlands' foreign minister, Wopke Hoekstra, would be willing to supply them. According to The New York Times, Hoekstra told Dutch lawmakers, "We are open-minded… There are no taboos."
F-16 fighter jets are complex to work on, they are not the average aircraft that can be learned in a matter of weeks. It can take months for pilots to learn how to fly these birds. European and US officials have the concern that Ukrainian forces could potentially use the jets to fly into Russian airspace and launch attacks on Russian soil.
Western allies are trying to avoid such a provocation, because that could lead to nuclear warfare in reference to what Putin has said he would do to defend his country.
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