Government

Rep. King Opens Hearing on Radical Islam: ‘Controversy and Opposition’

Editor’s note: you can watch the hearings live here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under heightened security, Rep. Peter King opened hearings Thursday into Islamic radicalization in America, dismissing what he called the “rage and hysteria” surrounding the hearings.

The hearings inspired days of protests by critics who said the hearings were overbroad and anti-Muslim.

The New York Republican has reignited a national debate over how to combat a spate of homegrown terrorism. The Obama administration has tried to frame the discussion around radicalization in general, without singling out Muslims. King has said that’s just political correctness since al-Qaida is the main threat to the U.S.

“Homegrown radicalization is part of al-Qaida’s strategy to continue attacking the United States,” King said as he opened the hearings.

In an op-ed in USA Today, King says the hearings are necessary because of a culture of secrets and protection within the Muslim community:

As chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, it is my obligation to investigate threats to our homeland. I am holding today’s hearing because the threat of al-Qaeda recruiting individuals from within the American-Muslim community is real.

The danger comes from a small segment within the Muslim community. Unfortunately, the issue we are facing is that not enough leaders in the community are willing to come forward when they know an individual is being radicalized. In some cases, these leaders have encouraged individuals to not cooperate with investigations.

The top Democrat on the committee, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, says he believes the hearings could be used to inspire terrorists.

“I cannot help but wonder how propaganda about this hearing’s focus on the American Muslim Community will be used by those who seek to inspire a new generation of suicide bombers,” Thompson said.

King told The Associated Press that he had larger security details for the past few months because of an overseas threat relayed in December. Since then, round-the-clock security has been provided by the New York Police Department and the Nassau County, N.Y., police.

On Thursday, at King’s request, the Capitol Police secured the congressional hearing room and surrounding areas, as well as his office.

Rarely does a congressional hearing attract as much advance controversy. Critics have likened them to the McCarthy-era hearings investigating communism.

The witnesses include family members of young men who were inspired by others to go into terrorism, with deadly consequences. They plan to tell Congress that the young men were brainwashed by radical elements in the Muslim community.

Despite the protests, there’s nothing in the prepared testimony that indiscriminately labels Muslims as terrorists, as critics had feared.

Melvin Bledsoe, whose son, Carlos, is charged with killing an Army private at a recruiting station in Little Rock, Ark., is scheduled to testify about his son’s conversion to Islam and his isolation from his family.

“Carlos was captured by people best described as hunters,” Bledsoe says in his prepared remarks obtained by the AP. “He was manipulated and lied to.”

Elsewhere at the Capitol, National Intelligence Director James Clapper was scheduled to address the threat of homegrown terrorism. In his prepared remarks, Clapper said 2010 saw more plots involving homegrown Sunni extremists – those ideologically aligned with al-Qaida – than in the previous year.

“Key to this trend has been the development of a U.S.-specific narrative that motivates individuals to violence,” Clapper said.

Comments (47)

1 2
  • Ron Morris
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 2:24pm

    Muslim Rep. Ellison weeps,GIVE ME A BREAK!!
    Americans,read the Koran,the Muslim cult religion,tells all Muslims to ,lie,cheat,steal,win you over,and to trust them,do not trust any Muslims.
    The Koran says that we American christians are all Infidels,and if they cannot convert you to Islam,than you must die!!! (THIS IS THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR BIBLE)!!!
    The Muslim Brotherhood is out to take over all countries,there sites are on America now.
    Barack Hussein Obama and his complete Administration,are all Muslim lovers.
    75% of Muslim Mosques are teaching Sharia law,they want Sheria Law in our America.
    To all Muslims their is no room for your Sharia Law in our America. If you want these Barbaric Laws,go back to your 3-rd world countries,and take all converts with you!!!
    We Americans are sick of this POLITICAL CORRECTNESS B-LL S–T,you Muslims will never take over the United States of America!!!
    To the Obama Administration,what about the 35- Muslim camps in our America?
    These camps are all gated and have armed guards,they are teaching,hate,guns and terrorism.
    The FBI,knows all about these camps ,were they are and what they are teaching,but will do nothing about closing these camps because of their religion.
    WAKE-UP AMERICA!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Kathleen3
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 2:11pm

    Bennie Thompson should be charged with dereliction of duty for his failures during his tenure as Chrm of House Committee on Homeland Security, which includes: the expansion of violent gangs in virtually every state; an increase in home-grown terrorists; and towns and cities being overtaken by foreigners – most who have no right to be here, and on and on.

    Mr. Thompson obviously is annoyed that now he has to work for his salary, having been replaced with a representative who honors his oath of office, our laws, and his constituents Vs the special interest groups that dictated Thompson’s activities….or lack thereof.

    Report Post »  
  • red_white_blue2
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 12:51pm

    Unless the Democrats denounce the Left and the Unions, they are in for many losses in elections to come. I can’t wait to unload on Obama come 2012!!

    Report Post » red_white_blue2  
  • Catfish
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 12:49pm

    Lee is from Texas and I am to, we will see it she dont need to be replaced along with every other damn Democrat.and I am not Republican either they are all rotten, choose between to bad partys, we need a new TEA PARTY and throw all of them in the ocean

    Report Post »  
  • Rights of Man
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 12:41pm

    Watch as a once proud nation commits suicide by refusing to name its enemy and defend itself accordingly.

    This is a tragedy, and the cost will be measured in millions of lives lost.

    Report Post » Rights of Man  
  • SantaFeBlue
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 12:29pm

    It appears it will only get worse as Glenn Beck has told us.

    Report Post »  
  • KL
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 12:23pm

    The problem with this country is we give WAY too many rights to radicals. WHY do we allow these types of places (radical mosques preaching sharia law and over throwing our government) to exist? I think the Land of the Free should be JUST for Americans! Get the radicals OUT~! Hey….that might include a lot of Americans…….oh well. lol

    Report Post »  
  • jeffile
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:56am

    The MSM will provide little or no coverage of the hearings except when they can display King as McCarthy.

    Report Post »  
  • ConsiderThis
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:25am

    Don‘t tell me that the domestic intelligence people don’t know who these radical Imams are.
    There is a simple solution – – -

    Report Post »  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:07am

    “I cannot help but wonder how propaganda about this hearing’s focus on the American Muslim Community will be used by those who seek to inspire a new generation of suicide bombers,” Thompson said.”
    ************************************************************************
    Oh okay, so we just keep our head in the sand and act like it doesn’t exist? Whether it is brought to light, via these hearings or not, those who seek to inspire a new generation of suicide bombers are going to do just that, hearings or no hearings on the issue. For the love of God stop coddling these people!!!

    Report Post » moreteaplease  
  • TMan2020
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:03am

    Islam, What the West needs to know. Check out this video.

    Report Post »  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:59am

    “Homegrown radicalization is part of al-Qaida’s strategy to continue attacking the United States,” King said as he opened the hearings.
    ******************************************************************
    Finally someone gives PC the boot and speaks the truth!

    Report Post » moreteaplease  
  • john.laperuta@us.ngrid.com
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:52am

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:51am

    Remember, people, politicians and artists HAVE BEEN KILLED in Europe for daring to question Islam, Jihad and Sharia.

    King, had best get the advice of individuals like Robert Spencer. People who know and understand Jihad.

    We must do all we can to remove the deceptions that the muslims will hurl in an effort to defect the hearings away from a real examination of Islam.

    We fight against Islam. We fight against Jihad. We fight against Sharia. We fight against the death penalty for apostates.

    This man has put himself and his family directly in the target of the Islamic Jihad in America. If we do not give him 100% support, the Jihad will utterly destroy him.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • tlewis
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:49am

    Why God created hell….for those who support radical islam…

    Report Post » tom  
  • UpstateNYConservative
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:29am

    I’m sick to death of hearing the term “McCarthyism” thrown around by people who weren’t alive when McCarthy was in office. It’s a word more over-used than the charge of “racism”.

    Another argument I don’t accept is that there are only “a few radicals”. There are ENOUGH of them in the world to cause serious mayhem, and no one knows how many might already be here or how many others are in process of becoming a danger. For all any of us knows, we might have budding terrorists in our own cities, living mere blocks away. Or, there may be none. The thing is that we just don’t know either way.

    Clapper should do stand-up comedy. If American words and deeds somehow create more terrorists, then why is the idea of US intervention in Libya being spoken of by Obow & Co.? Talk about being clueless and adrift…

    I hope King exposes more of what’s really going on behind closed doors at these mosques run by hard-line imams. I doubt that anything actionable will be undertaken by Holder, but at least we’ll know so maybe a new Administration will do more to protect America than the current one.

    I don’t know about anyone else, but I think the country was safer on 9/12/01 than it is right now.

    Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
  • victorymanns
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:27am

    crusades !!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Infidel and Proud
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:07am

    I admire the Congressman for taking the bull ( or PIGS in this case) by the horns and hopefully he will bring their demonic cult into the light of the public eye and further that it WILL enrage the savages to violence, also exposing their lies of peace.

    allah is a pig and islam Is Lame

    Report Post » Infidel and Proud  
  • BigPaulie
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:00am

    What does it hurt to talk about a very real and well known threat?? Liberals are slaves to political correctness, just one of many, many reasons not to trust them.

    Report Post »  
  • concernedsoldier
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:58am

    Clapper‘s statement is that the Muslim Radicals are pitching liberal viewpoints about the US to disenfranchised young men and that’s how their recruiting them to attack the US.

    This is exactly why we need to investigate the process of radicalization. The basic process of solving a problem is first admitting that there is a problem. So we can have the intelligent discourse on how to develop controls and a plan of action to generate possible solutions.

    Liberals do not have an open discourse about topics, they simply try to shutdown the discussion by labeling conservatives as racist, islamaphobic bigots because they know they can’t win the arguments on merit. The age of political correctness needs to end so we can confront the problems head on. We in the US are facing a radical Muslim contingent that wishes to harm Americans and the American way of life. Stop dancing around the topic and deal with the problem.

    Report Post »  
  • APatriotFirst
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:51am

    Onward and upward we go. This hearing is a MUST.

    All the cable channels and can’t find even one airing this hearing. Anyone know where it is??

    Report Post »  
  • Peabody
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:33am

    Whatever happened to this terror act ? This was back in July 2009

    Another Terror Act shoved under the table

    Muslim extremist murders Pvt. William A. Long

    The gunman, identified by the police as Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad of Little Rock, fled the scene and was arrested minutes later a short distance from the recruiting station, in a bustling suburban shopping center. The police confiscated a Russian-made SKS semiautomatic rifle, a .22-caliber rifle and a handgun from his black pickup truck.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnAlbZABjHA

    Report Post »  
  • absolutely
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:32am

    If we get the truth I will be in shock. Absolutely

    Report Post »  
    • 1959
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:41am

      Agree 100 percent!

      Report Post »  
    • weeblewacker1
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:25am

      here is a little truth for you: this congressmen has openly supported terrorism. don’t believe it? check for your self.just look up peter king I.R.A.

      Report Post »  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:29am

    “the Capitol Police will be securing the congressional hearing room and surrounding areas, as well as his office, as the House Homeland Security Committee takes testimony.”

    Let’s have a Muslim Cosby Show!!!

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:12am

      “The danger comes from a small segment within the Muslim community. Unfortunately, the issue we are facing is that not enough leaders in the community are willing to come forward when they know an individual is being radicalized. In some cases, these leaders have encouraged individuals to not cooperate with investigations.”
      ——————————————————————————————————————————–
      Then deport them back to their country of origin.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • lynnissmart
    Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:29am

    OMG, Clapper you are a commie just like Obamie….How dare you blame it on the U.S. ? I am serious, let’s get these guys out of office asap!

    Report Post »  
    • Ironmaan
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:35am

      Anyone opposed to exploring this issue and finding the truth should be targeted for removal at the next election. These guys are shills for the left and the socialist agenda.
      http://guerillatics.com

      Report Post »  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:45am

      Good, now maybe we’ll see what the religion of peace is really up to.

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:49am

      Thank goodness someone on Capitol Hill has the _____ (fill in the blank) to meet this issue head on, and there are parents and others willing to testify. If we are harboring people in the US willing to find dupes to carry out their plots (another case of the master minds keeping their hands clean) then they need to be exposed and put away. If they are citizens then they should be tried for treason and eliminated.

      Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:54am

      Clap on, clap off, clap on clap off,,,the clapper.

      How about CRAP? He is so full of it. Blame the US? Scvrew you Clapper!!

      Report Post »  
    • Live_Free_orDie
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 2:21pm

      The Muslims from the BS peaceful religion of Islam (not just the so-called Radical Islamic Extremist) were dancing and cheering in the streets of Paterson, NJ just after 0846 11Sep01. This celebration (minus AK 47′s) was denied by Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale, but I happen to know an eye witness (a business owner in Paterson) who saw it take place. So Boo Freakin Hoo Derkas…that makes you complicit!

      Report Post » Live_Free_orDie  
    • AZpatriotmama
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:21pm

      …so did anyone who watched the hearing notice that every black congressman that spoke was against this hearing? What’s up with that and why were they defending CAIR?

      The high point of the hearing was when the conservative congressman brought out the fact that it’s been proven that the two people who founded CAIR came from the Muslim Brotherhood. Let’s see if the media picks up on this. It should also give you some perspective on those who defend CAIR.

      To put a spin on ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’: the friend of my enemy is my enemy.

      Report Post »  
    • lillymckim
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 8:11pm

      does anyone take James Clapper seriously

      Report Post » lillymckim  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love