As the United States prepares itself for the post 9-11 world, it must fight the threats of domestic terrorism as well as terrorism abroad.  Osama bin Laden’s network, Al Qaeda, tops most people’s lists of the most serious threats to our security, and for good reason, but there are also many homegrown terrorist groups at work in this country.  As the war on terror continues, we must destroy all terrorist groups that seek to cause loss of life, liberty and property.  We cannot take any threat lightly, and we must neutralize those groups that want to bring our great nation to its knees.  One of these domestic terrorist networks is a fringe of the animal rights movement.  These sometimes apparently docile organizations have engaged in violent acts of terror, and will continue to do so until they are dealt with appropriately.

 

An FBI agent has testified before the U.S. Congress that, "actions by special interest extremists, including animal rights groups, is the most dangerous threat to the country."  The groups, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Earth Liberation Front, participate in violent behavior that has been characterized as terrorism. 

 

Bruce Friedrich, the campaign director of PETA, has remarked, "Of course we are going to be blowing stuff up and smashing windows.  I think it is a great way to bring about animal liberation."  At a PETA convention he stated, "It would be a great thing if all of these fast-food outlets, these slaughterhouses, these laboratories, and the banks that fund them exploded tomorrow… Hallelujah to the people who are willing to do it."

 

In talking about the foot and mouth disease scare of a few months ago, Friedrich said that an outbreak would be good for his cause, and he then hinted that he might try to import the disease.  The seriousness of his comments has convinced Wisconsin congressman Mark Green that the USDA should "decontaminate him" when he returns to the United States from trips to other countries.

 

These statements are a direct encouragement to activists to cause large-scale damage in the name of "liberating animals."  The public should be outraged at these comments, and should demand that law enforcement take these threats seriously.  Friedrich has made it clear that his group intends to break the law and put lives at risk in order to achieve its goals.  He and his cronies are a direct threat to the security of American institutions.  Citizens of this country should not accept this, but should work to bring down this violent group that seeks the destruction of anyone or anything that stands in their way.

 

The FBI has described the Earth Liberation Front as  "the largest and most active U.S.-based terrorist group."  The bureau has reported that this particular environmentalist terror organization has caused more than forty-three million dollars in damage since 1996.  PETA has contributed thousands of dollars to the ELF in order to "support their program activities."  Recent activities of the group have included firebombing the Vail Ski Resort four years ago, and setting fire to a Michigan State University research facility.  The total property damage of these two "activities" was over twelve million dollars.

 

Here, at the University of Texas, there is a registered student group called Students Against Cruelty to Animals.  This group holds rallies a few times a year on the west mall and preaches the creed of protecting animal rights.  I recently emailed the group and asked them if they are in any way affiliated with PETA or the ELF, and they responded that some of their members have participated in events with these groups.  But, they claimed that they did not, as a group, endorse these other organizations.  However, one can assume from those statements that at least some of the members of SACA that attend UT have been involved in events organized by either PETA or the ELF.  Therefore, the next time you walk by a rally held by this organization, remember what some of these people have been involved in.  If you think that by donating money to one of these groups you are fighting for animal rights, think again.  You just may be giving money to people that want to blow up banks or destroy important and valuable research facilities.  This means that you may be unwillingly or unknowingly supporting domestic terrorist activities in the U.S.  The next time SACA takes over the west mall and gives a speech about animal rights, UT students should protest them vigorously and continuously in the name of fighting domestic terrorism.

 

These acts of vandalism, arson, intimidation and assault must not go unpunished.  This nation cannot tolerate terrorism no matter what the goals of the terror group are.  Groups that seek to achieve change in the system must go through the same democratic process as all other special interest groups.  Those groups that choose to engage in terrorism to achieve their ends must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  Terror has many faces, all of them evil and ugly, and they must all be dealt with in the same way.  The fate of our nation rests on its ability to secure for its citizens the freedom to pursue their dreams without the presence of violence and fear.  It is the duty of all Americans to protect their freedom by actively supporting those that promote the rule of law and order, and by opposing those that use violence and terror as a means to their end.