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. WASHINGTON | Warning that extremism in the ranks is increasing, Pentagon officials issued detailed new rules Monday prohibiting service members from actively engaging in extremist activities. In early February, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed commanders and supervisors at every level of the military to conduct a one-day “stand down” - a pause in normal business - by early April to discuss extremism in the ranks.Īs the discussions have gone on, Colón-López said troops have expressed confusion about various groups and questioned why those involved at the Capitol are different than those involved in the racial protests in Seattle, for example, in the wake of the death of George Floyd.FILE – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pauses while speaking during a media briefing at the Pentagon on Nov. “They were geniuses about making sure that they target certain populations to go ahead and get that membership.”Ī recent Pentagon report noted that members of the military “are highly prized by these groups as they bring legitimacy to their causes and enhance their ability to carry out attacks.”
PENTAGON EFFORTS ROOT OUT EXTREMISM RANKS MOVIE
“We've seen this movie play before,” he said. He said the Pentagon has to take the threat seriously, noting that the Islamic State and other terror groups in the Middle East used social media to recruit followers. But, he added, “there’s communication going back and forth, especially in light of 6 January, about who do we need to pay attention to and so on.” Speaking to a small number of reporters at the Pentagon, Colón-López said he is not aware of any specific coordination that has started between the Defense Department and law enforcement. Of those, as many as 33 individuals had military backgrounds, including 31 veterans and a member of the National Guard and a member of the Army Reserves, according to the Program on Extremism, which is based at George Washington University. More than 300 people have been charged so far in the riot that resulted in the deaths of five people, and at least 100 more are expected to be charged. But Pentagon leaders launched an all-out effort to root out extremism in the force after it became clear that a significant number of military veterans and some current military members were present at the January insurrection in Washington, D.C. The military has long been aware of small numbers of white supremacists and other extremists in its ranks.
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