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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| The Pentagon is investigating extremism in the military. Here's how bad the problem is |
| 2022-04-04 |
| [FoxNews] Dozens of current and former service members spoke to Fox News about extremism within the ranks. The Pentagon’s most recent search for extremists within the ranks was just the latest failure to find evidence that the military is a breeding ground for violent radicals, a Fox News review has found. The Department of Defense identified fewer than 100 instances of confirmed extremist activity in 2021, the Pentagon reported in December. Despite significant rhetoric from Democrats, media pundits and activists, the finding was unsurprising to more than 30 current and former service members who spoke with Fox News. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #13 I thought that choice by the reporter interesting, Skidmark. Are they the only ones unafraid to be interviewed? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2022-04-04 22:31 |
| #12 Note the quotes are from gentlemen of units with tight cohesion. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2022-04-04 22:03 |
| #11 what Rapone is up to these days. For M. Murcek: University Of Texas Accepts ‘Commie Cadet’ Who Posted Photos Praising Cuban Revolution, Communism Chrissy ClarkAug 16, 2021 [DailyWire] Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Spenser Rapone was hired by the University of Texas as a professor. It has been corrected to note that he is attending the university’s graduate program. The article has also been corrected to note that The New School is based in New York, and is not part of the university. The University of Texas accepted a man known as the “commie cadet” as a graduate student in the university’s history department. Spenser Rapone, also known as the “commie cadet,” was removed from the U.S. Army on an “other-than-honorable” discharge after he posted photos praising communism during a West Point graduation ceremony. Rapone has since started attending the University of Texas as a graduate student. During a May 2016 graduation ceremony, Rapone was photographed opening his dress uniform to show a T-shirt with a red image of socialist icon Che Guevara. Guevara is a Marxist revolutionary who played a major role in the Cuban Revolution. In a second image, Rapone is seen raising his fist and showcasing the inside of his hate which reads, “Communism will win.” Rapone echoed this sentiment on Twitter. According to Army Times, an investigation into Rapone’s online behavior uncovered that the former cadet used his online presence to advocate for a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking military officers. Rapone was reprimanded for “conduct unbecoming of an officer.” West Point released a statement after Rapone’s photos caused an uproar on social media. “In no way [do Rapone’s actions] reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army.” Speaking to The Associated Press, Rapone said that he considers himself a “revolutionary socialist.” He encouraged members of the armed forces to stop fighting on behalf of the United States, or as he calls the country, “the agents of imperialism.” “I consider myself a revolutionary socialist,” Rapone said. “I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement.” In an interview with Jacobin, Rapone said that he does not believe that the U.S. military fights for “freedom,” “truth,” or “justice.” “I was always told growing up that the U.S. military protects the innocent, that we fight for freedom, truth, and justice,” Rapone said. “It didn’t take me long to realize that my experiences did not reflect that in the slightest… We were just persecuting and terrorizing some of the most exploited people on Earth with one of the most technologically advanced militaries in history.” Rapone’s University of Texas biography states that he has a continued interest in socialism and conducts research on the subject. In particular, he researches “Ba’thism,” which is a fusion of socialism and Arab nationalism. “[Rapone’s] research is primarily concerned with the question of the spirit and soul in modern thought,” his biography reads. “Specifically, he seeks to reconstruct and historically situate politico-theological ideologies such as Ba’thism and similar thought-forms in the Arab World and beyond.” His biography fails to mention his military service or his “other-than-honorable” discharge. Rapone’s interests are in “Modern Arab intellectual history, Modern Middle East and North Africa, metaphysics, consciousness, political theology, decolonization, [and] violence.” |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2022-04-04 21:56 |
| #10 Bragging on social media about hiding in their car to avoid saluting the flag during Reveille, does that count? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2022-04-04 15:51 |
| #9 Extremist, like taking your briefcase full of notes, ignoring the Commander in Chief, and playing ball for China? What about literally cutting your balls off for a promotion; seems a bit extreme. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2022-04-04 15:48 |
| #8 I served on two with a bunch of sailors who were extremely likely to be part of a liberty incident. If that is not the type of extremism we are talking about, then maybe would need to define terms. They don’t seem to like servicemen that are extremely patriotic. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2022-04-04 15:29 |
| #7 How about investigate all the gang members in the military and their offspring. Even back in the 90's I visited my brother on the airforce base in Sumter SC, and there was plenty or gang graffiti all around the base then. Oh wait, I guess those would be black gangs so no worries. |
| Posted by: Chris 2022-04-04 14:47 |
| #6 I notice there have been no glowing stories about what Rapone is up to these days. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-04-04 14:05 |
| #5 "If it ain't broke, first break it." |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2022-04-04 14:03 |
| #4 To paraphrase Lavarenty Beria, you find me the soldier, I'll find you the extremist. |
| Posted by: Tom 2022-04-04 14:02 |
| #3 ...the head of the Pentagon’s anti-extremism working group, Bishop Garrison, said supporting former President Trump is supporting racism and extremism... Don't be surprised when the CWII goes kinetic that these troops drag you out of your nice comfortable HQ and hang you in the street. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2022-04-04 12:06 |
| #2 Odd. There were reports of communist extremists at West Point, and a steady stream of reports of extreme woke stances in the higher ranks. Or do those not count? |
| Posted by: James 2022-04-04 10:26 |
| #1 "Our study didn't find any extremists in the military but we did manage to undermine recruitment and morale." Army struggles to find recruits under Biden. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2022-04-04 09:42 |