Islamic Radicalization News Today

Landscape here when were also now in the middle of a very emotional hearing talking about the issue of radicalization of the muslim community in america. >> well, i dont know what has changed exactly. and whether that particular question. i think when weve seen people ask in the past, do you believe that islam is a religion of peace, they say yes. theres several questions here. we talked earlier about the pew poll where 40% of people said they thought that muslims were more likely -- that islam ...

>> all right. well, weve been having a little trouble with the signal off and on. well work on getting that back to you. but lets get you up to speed so far on these controversial hearings. you were hearing right there from congressman keith ellison testifying. these are hearings on radical islam in america. theyre happening now on capitol hill. peter king of the homeland security committee, the chairman, he wants to know more about how muslims in the u.s. are being turned into radical -- into...

Our homeland security correspondent jeanne meserve is here as well and covering the issues of just that, homeland security. dana, lets start with you. you talked with congressman king and spent a lot of time with him the past week and you got a look at what we can expect to hear from him in his opening statements. what are you expecting and what are you looking for? to hear today? >> reporter: its very interesting. he is well aware that the fact of the matter is, as you mentioned, these hearings...

Threatens our security, or could potentially. finally, we need increased understanding and engagement with the muslim community in order to keep america safe. let me elaborate on my first point. understanding the roots of domestic terrorism is the legitimate business of the house homeland security committee. i share the chairmans concern about violent extremism, i voted for the violent radicalization and home grown prevention act of 2007, authored by representative jane harman. it was a commonse...

Shed with these witnesses that he has. >> very good point. lets turn to jeanne and talk about the witnesses and just that. congressman ellison says the hearings are about emotion and not practical solutions and dont get to the heart of the problem because no top law enforcement of the fbi or cia to testify. what are you hearing on that? >> reporter: i think to some degree law enforcement wants to cope at arms length from what is going on here because there is real question about what the implica...

A couple things i want to touch with you on, one, i want to get your thoughts on congressman keith ellison, because he said this hearing is all about emotion, thats clearly true, in terms of his thoughts on it. but he also said the problem is this isnt going to get to the heart of the problem because there arent really any high-ranking law enforcement officials being called here to testify to make their case. what are you hearing -- what are your thoughts on that? >> well, sheriff baca is testif...

Intervention. the safety of our families and communities is at stake in our discussion today. we should apply the utmost professionalism to this issue, which leads me to my second point. we need to conduct a thorough, fair analysis and to do no harm. the approach of todays hearing, i fear, does not meet these standards. todays hearing is entitled the extent of radicalization of the american muslim community, and that "communitys" response. its true that specific individuals, including some who a...

Rage and hysteria. let me make it clear today that i remain convinced that these hearings must go forward and they will. to back down would be a craven surrender of political correctness and an abdication of what i believe to be the main responsibility of this committee to protect america from a terrorist attack. despite what passes for conventional wisdom in certain circles, there is nothing radical or un-american in holding these hearings. indeed, congressional investigation of muslim american...

Explain why this hearing has gotten so much controversy this time around. >> reporter: youre exactly right, kate. on the senate side of the capitol. joe lieberman held half a dozen at least hearings. but he approached it in a different way. he called them things like looking at violent islamist extremism. different tone and different tenor that pete king is setting in calling his hearings looking at radicalization of muslims in america. those words are important when it comes to the message that...

Of homegrown terrorism. this is from the perspective of peter king, the committee chairman, and certainly many in law enforcement, this is a prime example of what they are talking about. so, he talked about what happened to his son. talked about the fact that he felt he was brainwashed. now, were listening to the uncle of another american, a somali-american, who he is telling the story about how he also from his perspective got brainwashed. actually went to somalia, was training there and was ac...