Three members of a Georgia militia have been arrested and charged in federal court regarding a conspiracy to attack federal agencies with explosive devices. On February 15th two of the men attempted to obtain pipe bombs and thermite devices in order to carry out their attack on the TSA and FEMA and other agencies, according to the US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. The three men allegedly chatted online from January 23rd to February 15th regarding their plans to attack the Federal government.
“This case is a stark reminder of the threat we face not just from abroad, but from within our own borders from our own citizens,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “When plans turn violent, law enforcement must step in to protect our communities from harm. Fortunately, the FBI was able to stop these defendants before they were able to carry out their plans.” […]
Authorities say that between Jan. 23 and Feb. 15, [Brian] Cannon, [Cory] Williamson, and Terry Eugene Peace, the third defendant, participated in online chat discussions about carrying out an operation against the government that was to be launched in February.
Peace encouraged members of the militia to review guerrilla warfare tactics, small unit tactics, accumulate supplies, and prepare their families, authorities charge. Peace also identified targets such as “…TSA, DHS, non-emergency FEMA, road blocks, etc.” The discussions were reported to the FBI, and the FBI then began consensually monitoring the communications.
Fortunately, these idiots were stupid enough to use the internet to broadcast their conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack on our government. How much of a threat the three men actually posed, and how many other members of their group may have been involved in this operation is not known. But as acting FBI Special Agent in Charge, Rex Maxwell noted, the FBI can’t wait for such individuals bent on committing terrorist acts to acquire material for making bombs.
“The FBI can no longer wait to respond to the aftermath of a radicalized individual’s or group’s threats. Instead, we have to bring our investigative and analytical assets to bear in getting ahead of those threats and potential attacks and do so within the rule of law.”
The two men arrested in Cartersville drove there with the intent to purchase pipe bobs and thermite devices. What they did not know was that the person from whom they requested bomb material was cooperating with the FBI. When they arrived in Cartersville they were handed inert devices which this individual had been given by law enforcement authorities. I am going to take a wild guess that their attorney will raise the defense of entrapment. We’ll just have to wait and see how the case proceeds.
However, it again demonstrates that the threat posed by radicalized right wing militias and hate groups is at least as great a threat, if not greater than the threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations. Janet Napolitano should never have been forced by outraged Republican politicians to make any apology for the assessment that right wing terrorists are as much a threat as other terrorists. Indeed, after so many attempts by radicalized right-wing individuals and groups to commit acts of terrorism since that report was first issued, I think they owe her an apology, don’t you?
Not that I expect one to be forthcoming.
