You might remember that, following the January 6 storming of the Capitol, Rep. Steve Cohen expressed his concerns about security during President Biden’s inauguration. By Cohen’s math, probably only 25 percent of the National Guard members in Washington, D.C., had voted for Biden and so the Guard couldn’t necessarily be entrusted with Biden’s safety. What was the military doing to make sure Guard members were loyal to their oath? Had their political views been vetted?
In February, the Department of Defense directed commanding officers and supervisors at all levels to conduct a one-day “stand-down” for training on extremism, although from anecdotal evidence we’ve seen online, some said the subject was changed when they brought up Antifa or Black Lives Matter: We’re not talking about that, they were told. It was those white supremacist militia members who managed to close down the Capitol with the threat of a second attack (that turned out to be a mirage) that were the subject.
The Washington Post has looked at the percentage of people who breached the Capitol who are veterans and determined that the military’s effort to root out right-wing extremism overlooked veterans.
Post-riot effort to tackle extremism in the military largely overlooks veterans https://t.co/g6wETlnag1
— Matea Gold (@mateagold) April 20, 2021
add it to the list @SirajAHashmi
— Nathan (@nathano321) April 20, 2021
✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️
— The Ancient Mariner (@AncntMariner) April 20, 2021
Now do Antifa and BLM
— greta (@gretathegreek) April 20, 2021
It's not veterans burning down cities for over a year. It's not veterans rioting in the streets for criminals
— Rotbringer Decrona (@PoxFulcrum) April 20, 2021
Recommended
What about the extremism that produces this? Hint: public schools and universities pic.twitter.com/ofEg7Vt63D
— Senior Legal Analyst Deedo (@Deedo_70) April 20, 2021
And by "extremism" she means those soldiers and veterans refusing to bend the woke knee…because – you know – the oath they took to defend the constitution actually means something.
— JHitTheB (@JHitTheB) April 20, 2021
Extremism = not being liberal
— Robin (@RobinYvarra) April 20, 2021
So, you are targeting veterans now?
— SYME (@SYME81615545) April 20, 2021
Come and get us!? @codeofvets
— Charlie Temple (@CharlieTemple10) April 20, 2021
Wait veterans are now active military? When did that change?
— Michelle (@msheffi972) April 20, 2021
Which part of “veteran” needs to be explained?
Is it the part where we’re not in the military anymore, or the part where we just want to be left alone?
Your headline, (and likely the article too) is trash.
— Captain Chaos (@TheCPTChaos) April 20, 2021
I can guarantee you that the very one group you fascist lunatics least want to start messing with is our US veterans. It would be an egregious mistake.
— mjhubbard??CHINA LIED (@mjhubbard1) April 20, 2021
Oh look, a political purge of the military! That always leads to good things, and is not at all concerning.
— JerichoJosh (@JerichoJosh1) April 20, 2021
— Okay ?? (@mythbuster1304) April 20, 2021
As a veteran who has served in combat, just shut up.
— WicDavid (@wic_david) April 20, 2021
Do you hear yourself?
— Miss Fee (@fionathepest) April 20, 2021
Think you may wanna start looking at your own profession.
— Slack Span (@span_slack) April 20, 2021
Learn to code, because you are a crappy journalist.
— Doc. Block (@MedicPlastic) April 20, 2021
What you're saying is that the witch hunt you're participating in isn't as extreme as you'd like.
You're a ghoul & a perfect example of how far "journalism" has fallen.
— RedWingToo (@too_wing) April 20, 2021
Matea thinks that the purges won't eventually come for her.
Let's keep watching to see if she is correct.
— SomeKindOfPunderful (@OfPunderful) April 20, 2021
It's a shame college doesn't teach common sense. All these blue check journos seem to forget that they wouldn't be able to sit at their golden perch if it wasn't for veterans protecting us day in and out so we can live in ignorance in America.
— Audi – Proud Anti-Masker (@DFacTor82_KC) April 20, 2021
— ??David?????Jesus is Lord (@Warrior417) April 20, 2021
I didn’t wanna lose brain cells today but here I am
— B (@FloridianKooK) April 20, 2021
I’m more worried about extremism in the White House
— Neil M (@Neil10790465) April 20, 2021
We have an extreme border crisis currently.
— Mary Eagle ? (@MaryMcA80506373) April 20, 2021
So what’s the plan? Require training sessions on right-wing extremism for VA benefits?
Related:
‘How to Be an Antiracist’? ‘The New Jim Crow’? The Navy’s suggested reading list for sailors has some pretty woke titles https://t.co/NK0KTBEy6U
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 17, 2021
Join the conversation as a VIP Member