How do you define terrorism? And what constitutes support for terrorism? Let’s take a look at Rep. Peter King (R-NY) who represents a district on Long Island.
“We must pledge ourselves to support those brave men and women who this very moment are carrying forth the struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry,” Mr. King told a pro-I.R.A. rally on Long Island, where he was serving as Nassau County comptroller, in 1982. Three years later he declared, “If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the I.R.A. for it.”
Sometimes the I.R.A. attacked military installations, like the Chelsea Barracks on October 10th, 1981. Other times, they placed bombs in drinking establishments, like Wimpy’s Bar on October 26th, 1981. Sometimes they blew up department stores, like the bomb that went off in Harrod’s on December 21st, 1983. That one killed six and wounded 90 as they went about their Christmas shopping. Many other bombs were placed in metro or railway stations. The I.R.A. did not restrict itself to attacking military or government personnel. They killed many civilians.
And, yet, Peter King is in charge of the House Homeland Security Committee and thinks Glenn Greenwald should be arrested for reporting on the NSA’s alleged activities. He even falsely accused Greenwald of threatening to divulge the identities of covert CIA officers.
Shouldn’t there be some penalty for a sitting congressman who makes a false allegation about a U.S. citizen, potentially arousing some lunatic to take action to prevent what he thinks is treason?
Glenn Greenwald never threatened to divulge the identity of CIA officers, but King went on Fox News and said:
“I’m talking about Greenwald. Greenwald, not only did he disclose this information, he has said he has names of CIA agents and assets around the world and threatening to disclose that,” King said. “The last time that was done in this country, we saw the CIA station chief murdered in Greece.”
He just completely made that up.
Here is a man who actually has direct ties to a notorious terrorist organization who distinguishes himself from al-Qaeda supporters like this:
Of comparisons between the terrorism of the I.R.A. and that of Al Qaeda and its affiliates, Mr. King said: “I understand why people who are misinformed might see a parallel. The fact is, the I.R.A. never attacked the United States. And my loyalty is to the United States.”
I’m sure that is comforting to the family of Danielle Carter who died at the age of 15 when the I.R.A. pulled a large white truck up to the Baltic Exchange and detonated a one-ton fertilizer bomb consisting of 45 kg of semtex.
But King is loyal to the United States, so who cares, right?
He can hold hearings that question the loyalty of our Muslim citizens. He can make false allegations about citizens on television. He can be responsible for Homeland Security. And he can do all of this without offering any apologies for being a terrorist supporter himself.
