Post-riot effort to tackle extremism in the military largely overlooks veterans
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/veterans-extremism-capitol-attack/2021/04/19/3597018a-9651-11eb-8e42-3906c09073f9_story.html
The Defense Department is focusing on how to weed out possible extremists from the active-duty ranks in the wake of the Capitol riot, with a recent, military-wide “stand down” for troops to discuss the issue ahead of policy decisions on the matter by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
But the arrest data from the riot shows that allegedly criminal participation in the insurrection on Jan. 6 was far more prevalent among veterans than active-duty forces, a more difficult problem for the U.S. government to address.
Of the nearly 380 individuals federally charged in connection with the riot, at least 44 are current or former members of the U.S. armed forces, according to service records and data compiled by The Washington Post. At least three other veterans are among more than two dozen people charged in D.C. Superior Court for crimes like trespassing and curfew violations. ...
First of all, the Jan. 6, 2021 protests at the Capitol did not constitute an "insurrection." And it certainly was not an "armed insurrection," as so many libtards have falsely asserted. The Capitol protests were child's play compared to the BLM and Antifa riots across the country.
So, you want the government to go full fascist and have the military crack down on veterans who are no longer serving in the military, eh? Even for "crimes like trespassing and curfew violations"?! Wow ... are you even listening to the CRAZY you are spewing right now?
“We wouldn’t have the resources and certainly don’t have the authorities to be checking up on veterans,” Kirby said in an interview. ...
Wrong word, asshole. It's not that you don't have the "authorities" necessary to crack down on veterans - YOU DON'T HAVE THE F**KING "AUTHORITY" TO DO IT. They are private citizens and you have no legitimate authority over them, unless they are still in the reserves and can be called back into active duty.
Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said the military could consider going a step further and claw back benefits from veterans engaged in extremist activities in certain circumstances. At a minimum, she said, the government can work with veterans groups to increase awareness.
“There could be a lot more done to work with the veterans associations to take stands against extremism,” Beirich said, noting that right-wing extremist groups often target veterans as recruits. ...
Ah, yes ... "extremism" ... so, if veterans express any beliefs contrary to the Democrat Party platform, then DoD bully-boys will try to take away their earned benefits or subject them to re-indoctrination training, eh? They must be goose-stepping really hard over at the Pentagon these days.
| 
