In this task, you are given a public comment from online platforms. You are expected to classify the comment into two classes: threat and non-threat. Threat is a statement that someone will be hurt or harmed, especially if the person does not do something in particular.

Comment: Oh I believe we need to get out of there and let them kill each other with impunity.
Threat

Comment: So you would like to see police officers shoot and kill more criminal suspects so Alaska can lead the nation? Is that your position?
Threat

Comment: You offer the most reasonable approach for this group.  However, that isn't what they are going for, IMO.

To your first paragraph, I point to Rules for Radicals, Nos. 4 and 13.
The letter itself is a classic example of using all of the RfR except, perhaps, Nos. 9 and 12; I doubt that Paprocki (or anyone, for that matter) believe this group is any actual threat nor does there seem to be a fallback if their opposition fails.

Non-threat