West to sponsor Capitol Hill briefing by Citizens for National Security

According to recent reports, Rep. Allen West, R-Fort Lauderdale, has again aligned himself with a controversial group. As reported yesterday by blogger Spencer Ackerman, West will sponsor a July 25 briefing by Citizens for National Security, a self-described group of “concerned citizens interested in education on extremism, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction.”

From a press release on the event:

Less than two months before the ten-year anniversary of 9/11, Congressman Allen West (R-FL) will sponsor a Capitol Hill briefing this coming July 25, on Homegrown Jihad in the USA: Culmination of the Muslim Brotherhood’s 50-year History of Infiltrating America. It will be the first-ever report of its kind produced entirely by a private group of U.S. citizens, notes West in a letter about it to his congressional colleagues.

On its website, the group says it has no less than six “task forces” devoted to investigating the Muslim Brotherhood in North America. As noted by Salon.com, the group makes little distinction between “Islam” and “Islamic extremists.” Task Force 4 for example, is simply aimed at identifying ”‘Islamic’ businesses, social and religious organizations, schools, etc. throughout North America.”

In February, West raised eyebrows when he met with Brigitte Gabriel, president, and CEO of ACT! for America. As the head of ACT!, Gabriel has been deemed a “radical Islamaphobe.”