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Holder Warns of Homegrown Terror Risk

AG: 'American people would be surprised'

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 30, 2009 9:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – The chilling big picture suggests that “the radicalization of Americans” who leave the country and return wanting to do “harm to the American people” is a growing threat, Eric Holder tells ABC News. It’s “something that didn’t loom as large a few months ago as it does now," says the AG. "That’s the shifting nature of the threats that keeps you up at night.”

“The American people would be surprised by the depth of the threat, but also reassured to see the assets that have been deployed around the world,” Holder said, praising the Bush administration’s leftover infrastructure. Some in the Justice Department, however, “simply lost their way” on detention and interrogation, he says. It is his job “to hold people accountable” if laws were broken, though “we want to move forward.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Attorney General Eric Holder congratulates the Shawl House program as he discusses how Recovery Act funds are being used to support the fight against violence against women July 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Attorney General Eric Holder makes remarks during a news conference at City Hall in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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The possibility exists that there could be some people who are held in a preventative way under the laws of war.
- Attorney General Eric Holder

Based on what I know of Professor Gates and what I've heard about Sgt. Crowley, my guess is that they both think they might have reacted, perhaps, a little differently.
- Attorney General Eric Holder

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 13 comments

DontLikeYou___

Aug 12, 2009 12:05 PM CDT

I thought you libs didn't like to use the word terrorism? Oh, I see, if its the American people, then its okay to call them terrorists. God help you.

DontLikeYou___

Aug 12, 2009 12:02 PM CDT

Notice as the people continue to show resistance, the government does not change. Instead, it calls the "protestors" criminals. Welcome to China. Welcome to the Soviet Union. Of course, the snot nosed brats who support Obama aren't educated enough in history or other subjects to even spell "fascist" much less recognize a fascist ruling over their liberty...

DontLikeYou___

Aug 12, 2009 11:58 AM CDT

The Obama administration is full of brown shirt fascists, just as the Bush admin was. For 8 years Bush supporters (many of them) cheered on as Bush demantled our liberty. Now that Obama is in power, liberals are the ones cheering as Obama (and Holder) dismantle our liberty. You pro Obama people are so ignorant it is truly frightening.

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Politics • Crime & Courts • US

Bush administration • War on Terror • Department of Justice • terrorism • Attorney General • interrogation techniques • harsh interrogation • domestic terrorism • detainees • Eric Holder • Obama administration

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Holder Warns of Homegrown Terror Risk