Oregon, Terrorist Haven?

Why would a radical Muslim cleric from halfway around the world consider Oregon as a place where he might like to set up his summer camp for terrorists? Maybe he didn’t choose it. Maybe, he felt invited.
Earlier this week, the United States government indicted Abu Hamza al-Masri, a radical London, England-based Muslim cleric for terrorism. He is accused of participating in a 1998 hostage taking plot in Yemen that resulted in four deaths. He is also accused of conspiring with James Ujaama to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
Masri, whose real name is Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, was the spiritual advisor to Richard Reid, who tried to detonate a shoe bomb on a plane trip across the Atlantic. He counseled Zacarias Moussaoui, who stands accused of conspiring with the rest of the September 11th hijackers and is often referred to a the 20th hijacker.
Oregon has been something of a hot bed for Islamic terrorism. Just last autumn, the last of 7 accused Portland area terrorist wannabes pleaded guilty to plotting to fight alongside al-Qaida against the United States in Afghanistan.
Why Oregon? And why shouldn’t Oregon find herself subjected to the same ridicule and amateur sociological speculation that Idaho has at times been forced to endure? In truth, Oregon has much more to answer for and it’s much easier to connect the dots between Oregon public posturing and Oregon’s terrorist appeal.
Idaho has found herself held up to ridicule because white supremacists and anti-government types have occasionally chosen to set up camp in this lovely state. Elite opinion has demanded that Idaho perform some sort of self-examination and asks why Idaho is a magnet for these kooks. How is it that racists feel so comfortable in Idaho of all places?
In truth, Idaho does not really attract such people so much as it is a place where such people can settle unnoticed. Idaho is a state where people tend to mind their own business and land is (or once was) comparatively cheap. There will never be a Ruby Ridge in Massachusetts, because potential Randy Weavers could never find similar isolation there and couldn’t even afford to pay the property taxes There is nothing in the typical Idahoan’s mindset that predisposes him to become a neo-Nazi.
Unlike Idaho, one can easily point to a welcoming environment for terrorism in Oregon. Such organizations as Earth First!, the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front operate comfortably within Oregon’s borders. The former governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber used to drive around with a "Hayduke Lives!" bumper sticker on his car. Hayduke was the “hero” in Edward Abbey’s novel, “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” that told the story of a band of eco-saboteurs. The Monkey Wrench Gang is credited with inspiring the formation of the eco-terrorist “Earth First!” organization.
Among Earth First’s favored tactics is tree spiking. Steel spikes are driven into trees so that loggers’ chains saws will fly apart dangerously upon contact. Should a spiked tree reach the saw mill, the spike can shatter band saw blades exposing mill workers to flying saw teeth. If Earth Firsters don’t kill directly, they certainly exhibit a criminal disregard for human life. And the former Governor of Oregon was a proud fellow traveler with these goons.
What sort of message does it send the world when the governor of a state openly proclaims his sympathy with terrorists?
Oregon’s biggest city, Portland, under the leadership of its kook burger mayor, Vera Katz, was the first in the nation to refuse to cooperate with federal authorities in the war on terror, beating even Berkeley, California for that honor.
A couple of years ago, Vera Katz withheld the Portland Police Department from the scene of an anti-war/anti-globalization/anti-civilization riot and later stated that she wished she could have participated in the civil disobedience.
Additionally a former aide of the mayor had to leave town in a rush after being accused of complicity in an Earth Liberation Front attack. Terrorists on the government payroll? I thought that only happened in Iran, Iraq, or Syria now that we’ve kicked the Taliban from its thrown.
Clearly Oregon can be held more responsible for its reputation as a magnet for terrorists than Idaho does as a haven for white supremacists. But don’t expect Dan Rather or Tom Brokaw to question Oregon’s commitment to American ideals.