News -> INDReporter FRI, MAR 5 11:11AM by Nathan Stubbs

Militia-forming sheriff cites terrorist 'cells' in Bossier Parish

Bossier Parish Sheriff Larry Deen, who's banded together a citizen militia of ex-cops to ready the parish for counter-terrorism, natural disasters and general doomsday scenarios, is now citing intel of local terrorist "cells" as partial justification for its "Operation Exodus." Ed Baswell, a spokesman for the Bossier Parsih Sheriff's Office, told national news blog Talking Points Memo that while 9-11 was the original inspiration for instituting the program, there has since been evidence of Islamic terrorist activity closer to home.  

"We understand, based on some intelligence that we've collected over the last year, year and a half, that there have been cells and people operating even within our parish that have been trained as terrorists or went overseas to be trained as terrorists. So this is not something that's far, far away. This is something that is a possibility here in Bossier Parish."

Baswell told TPM the sheriff's office worked in conjunction with the FBI on tracking any terrorist activity. He then added: "We didn't get the impression they were plotting an attack. We got the impression they were in training or headed for training overseas. We don't believe in any way shape or form that there is any sort of imminent threat.

"Islamic terrorists have been in and out," he added. "And we've had intelligence information that confirmed that for us." The FBI has yet to confirm its involvement.

Deen's office announced "Operation Exodus" earlier this week and has gathered approximately 100 volunteers, a rag tag collection of retired police and patriotic jingoists (as is evidenced by the video below) to sign on for hand-to-hand combat training and other preparations.

In a press release on its Web site, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office expounds on mission of Operation Exodus:

As evidenced by recent terror threats, it is apparent that homegrown terrorists are in our midst. With the easy accessibility of the internet, it is quite possible that these local and international terrorists can form a national or multiple location attack on our nation at any given moment. And no matter whether we are a direct target or not, fear and panic will still permeate our community. Control will have to be regained to ensure the safety of our residents. That is where Operation Exodus comes into play. It utilizes preventive measures to safeguard Bossier Parish from the fear and outcry that will inevitably transpire.

The press release also makes clear the meaning of the name Operation Exodus:

The name Operation Exodus was chosen for three reasons. The word “Exodus” literally means “going out” or “departure.” For the Bossier Sheriff’s Office, Operation Exodus is a “departure” from our normal duties to amplify the protection we provide our citizens. As for the volunteers, they will be “going out” of their way to help the people of the community. And the last reason it was chosen is because of its Biblical relevance. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were totally on their own, learning to be self-sufficient and handle everything alone, just as the plan provides.


Comments (12)add
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written by Unpaid Terrorist , March 06, 2010 - 12:19 am
Sign me up.
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written by Plumpy , March 06, 2010 - 12:38 am
Why isn't the government moving in on these terrorists cells?
If they're getting information that there forming. Then, why isn't the FBI checking into these people ? Why isn't the FBI conducting raids ? This doesn't look right to me. Something else going on here ...
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written by unklebeau , March 06, 2010 - 01:46 am
In another article about this, Sheriff Deen says they are "not militia" in fact he says they are the opposite of that word. Wish we had a sheriff like that here.
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written by northsidian , March 06, 2010 - 02:07 am
I now realize that people will do anything to get re-elected!! This guy should be registered!! My God, how many others are out there like him?
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written by Observer , March 06, 2010 - 03:14 am
Here is a little more "Balanced" report on this...
http://www.nwlanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18165&Itemid=56
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written by Farrow , March 06, 2010 - 03:49 am
Again, I think The Ind is poking fun at these people unjustly -- and I'm no right winger myself. I think it was unfair of The Ind to frame this group as though it were some kind of militia waiting for the "End of Days" in a biblical sense, when, in fact, the Sheriff said nothing of the kind, and, when asked about it, first did not comment and now explains otherwise. Furthermore, let's remember that a former USL student turned out to be a terrorist; I refer to Wadih El Hage. (See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/...lhage.html). So it's not so odd, perhaps, and not so laughable, I think.
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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , March 08, 2010 - 02:56 am
AY, IT WILL HIT THE FAN, " AND BE SPREAD NEAR ME, AND NEAR YOU, WHENEVER THEY ELECT TO DO SO, WHEREEVER THEY ELECT TO DO SO , AND TO WHOMEVER THEY ELECT TO DO THIS TO, THEY ARE BIDING THEIR TIME WAITING FOR THE MOMENT, AND THIS LAWMAN HAS SEEN THIS MATERIALIZING, AND UNDERSTANDS THAT FOR ALL THE ANTI-TERRORIST MONEY APPROPRIATED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM, SAID MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT NILLY-WILLY, AND IN THE END, IT WILL BE THE AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO WILL PUT DOWN THE TERRORISTS ATTACKS FROM WITHIN, WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT AMERICA STANDS UP, AND STOPS BEING A CANDY-ASS NATION WHO SENDS GIRLS TO FIGHT IN BATTLE, """ WHILE STRONG, ABLE-BODIED SON'S OF WEALTHY FAMILIES, AND POLITICIANS, HIDE UNDER THEIR MOMMY'S SKIRTS............
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written by Resident , March 08, 2010 - 09:09 pm
Hmm, let me take a guess at their complex and exhaustive set of criteria for ferreting out potential terrorists.

1. Muslim

Islamophobes looking for a chance to dish out some oppression, I'll wager.
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written by Vieanna , March 11, 2010 - 03:34 am
Well "Plumpy" I bet yo o'l golly that the FBI ain't ganna tell people where their doing raids. You know, just to make sure they don't tip off the terrorist. unklebeau of course he says their not malitia. He's hiding the truth to get people to sign up. and finally, NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN I bet a girl fighting in the army will to a whole lot more damage then those pot belly malitia dudes. People, get your heads out of the sand and think long and hard about what is going on here. The south is racist. They don't like people who don't look like them. I am sure that the word "terrorist" is code word for anybody of color. Their forming a malitia, they took an oath to disobey all federal laws they don't agree with, and their committing treason. They need to be punished by the law. Why didn't they start this malitia in 2001? why did they start it 9 years later, a year after we voted the first black man into office?
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written by The Ville , March 16, 2010 - 06:55 pm
Next thing you know, this militia will go after the few Catholics left in N. Louisiana...
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written by jim wilson , August 29, 2010 - 11:59 pm
Boy there are a lot of liberal p@@@ys out there, Here that vieanna.
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written by jim wilson , August 30, 2010 - 12:03 am
Libs and dems are such cowards. Fear your goverment not a militia.
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