In a message to the force on Monday, Austin said the department believes that only a few service members violate their oath and participate in extremist activities. But Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other leaders launched a broader campaign to root out extremism in the force after it became clear that military veterans and some current service members were present at the Jan. The military has long been aware of small numbers of white supremacists and other extremists among the troops. The officials provided additional details about the rules on condition of anonymity because they were not made public. But several officials said that as a study group spoke with service members this year they found that many wanted clearer definitions of what was not allowed. What was wrong yesterday is still wrong today, said one senior defense official. Previous policies banned extremist activities but didn’t go into such great detail, and also did not specify the two-step process to determine someone accountable. The rules also specify that commanders must determine two things in order for someone to be held accountable: that the action was an extremist activity, as defined in the rules, and that the service member “actively participated” in that prohibited activity. The new policy lays out in detail the banned activities, which range from advocating terrorism or supporting the overthrow of the government to fundraising or rallying on behalf of an extremist group or “liking” or reposting extremist views on social media. And for the first time, it is far more specific about social media.
#PENTAGON EFFORTS ROOT OUT EXTREMISM RANKS FREE#
Officials said the new policy doesn’t largely change what is prohibited but is more of an effort to make sure troops are clear on what they can and can’t do, while still protecting their First Amendment right to free speech. But they warn that the number may grow given recent spikes in domestic violent extremism, particularly among veterans. Capitol, triggering a broad department review.Īccording to the Pentagon, fewer than 100 military members are known to have been involved in substantiated cases of extremist activity in the past year. The new guidelines come nearly a year after some current and former service members participated in the riot at the U.S. Another person with military service was shot and killed in the assault.Warning that extremism in the ranks is increasing, Pentagon officials issued detailed new rules Monday prohibiting service members from actively engaging in extremist activities. They include a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel from Texas, an Army officer from North Carolina and an Army reservist from New Jersey. investigation into the Capitol siege, still in its very early stages, has identified at least six suspects with military links out of the more than 100 people who have been taken into federal custody or the larger number still under investigation. 6, senior leaders of the 2.1 million active-duty and reserve troops have been grappling with fears that former or current service members will be found among the horde.
In the days since a pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol on Jan. He Pentagon is intensifying efforts to identify and combat white supremacy and other far-right extremism in its ranks as federal investigators seek to determine how many military personnel and veterans joined the violent assault on the Capitol. The nation’s military has a history of downplaying white nationalism and right-wing activism, but the siege of the Capitol has created a new urgency for dealing with them. Pentagon Accelerates Efforts to Root Out Far-Right Extremism in the Ranksīy Eric Schmitt, Jennifer Steinhauer and Helene Cooper, The New York Times
0 kommentar(er)
