this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2023
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politics

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[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 121 points 11 months ago (2 children)

An annual Pentagon report on extremism within the ranks reveals that 78 service members were suspected of advocating for the overthrow of the U.S. government and another 44 were suspected of engaging or supporting terrorism.

I wonder how many they don't know about?

[–] jimbo@lemmy.world 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm sure they're wondering the same thing.

[–] hex_m_hell@slrpnk.net 11 points 11 months ago

How about a few that we do know about? Like Atomwaffen Division's Brandon Clint Russell, who was trying to build a dirty bomb with his friends who he killed. Or, like... Timothy McVeigh? There's a long history of extemism in the US military and it goes from bad to catastrophic.

Given the ones we do know about, the ones don't are even more frightening.

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I wonder how many are liberal and how many are conservative? I’d like to see the numbers when trump was in power also. If you’re wondering why I think any would be liberal at the moment with a liberal government it’s because some people are absolute idiots and it’s interesting when it happens

[–] Kittengineer@lemmy.world 85 points 11 months ago

Because we know how well Trump talked about and regarded the troops.

Are these fools too stupid to look at the latest bills supporting vets and how republicans voted?

It’s mind blowing how republicans are able to convince people to vote against their own self interests so voraciously.

[–] Trigger2_2000@sh.itjust.works 78 points 11 months ago (4 children)

I have a good friend that works with these nut cases daily.

I call them nut cases because about 70% of them keep taking about how they need to violate their oath to the US Constitution to (in their exclusive opinion) "protect the country for the deep state".

The US government is way too stupid to either develop a "deep state" or keep it secret.

Conspiracy theories are rampant in the US military.

[–] Aleric@lemmy.world 36 points 11 months ago

I think it's a lack of critical thinking skills. They never stop to really analyze why things are the way they are. They just realize they don't know, so they seek easy answers on the Internet or just start piecing convenient, if unrelated or nonsensical, points forget until it forms a loosely cohesive theory.

[–] joel_feila@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

Well the deep state originally ment political momentum. Things deeply rooted into usa policies. Not a secret cabal government.

[–] banneryear1868@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

"Deep state" is like the administrative apparatus and institutions of government. In reality it's pretty boring, but people in the US are generally losing trust in these institutions because there is a degrading of the social contract people are expecting under this system.

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago

The US government is way too stupid to either develop a "deep state" or keep it secret.

I have heard of such an organization. I believe it's called the Federalist Society.

[–] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 60 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Soo.... file this under mutiny or treason then? Call it what it is.

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 11 points 11 months ago

Treason is a very specific crime, defined in the US Constitution. Very few acts qualify, and far fewer than its usage in common English. Most people (from a legal standpoint) mean insurrection.

The article does mention some of their plans as terrorism as well, which is an apt description

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 53 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 36 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I mean, 183 out of 1.4+ million is pretty small, even if you account for the ones they don't know about.

[–] CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world 42 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The problem isn't the small percentage. The problem is that if these people are in the right places, they can cause a lot of damage.

Bare in mind that the 2020 election was saved when a handful of people refused to follow Trump into fascism.

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Sure, but again I think you're underestimating just how enormous the US military industrial complex is. It'd take a notable percentage of mid to high ranking individuals to cause a significant amount of damage to the US's military. You also have to consider the military isn't just service members, but also civilians and contractors, so add in another few million people to that number.

Jan 6th wasn't even remotely close to Trump actually succeeding in his half-assed coup attempt. The only real danger during that election was from the conspicuous attempts from Trump to get states to overrule the election results, which has nothing to do with the military.

I'm not saying this particular report isn't concerning, I'm just saying it isn't cause to become seriously worried for the future of the military's allegiance to the constitution and their impact on the democratic process.

[–] TallonMetroid@lemmy.world 35 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Quite frankly, I'm surprised that there's only so few cases. Back when I was still Chair Force, pretty much all the TVs in common areas would be blaring nothing but FOX News constantly,

[–] AquaTofana@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago

Fortunately it's changed a ton since I've been in, and for the better. While we still have a lot of work to do, I came in when DADT was still a thing for context. I've been LOVING the direction we've been heading, and hope it keeps on trucking even when I'm done.

That being said, my last duty station was filled with a bunch of retiree civilians who ADORED Fox News. It was fucking INFURIATING to listen to that shit (and them bitching about politics) all day. It sucks too thinking of the impact that they could be having on all the younger Airmen if they're still around.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Quite frankly, I'm alarmed at how many must be going unreported, especially when you consider that the most likely reason for them not to be reported would be if the traitorous sentiments were conveyed to a like-minded audience.

[–] kerrigan778@lemmy.world 25 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Seems like very solid grounds for a discharge, possibly a dishonorable one. A clear violation of oath.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Isn't treason a punishable offence?

[–] Rooskie91@discuss.online 10 points 11 months ago

From the UCMJ:

Rebellion or insurrection

Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

Well now it's just a requirement to be MAGA

[–] fluxion@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago
[–] DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is exactly why Tommy Tuberville has been throwing a shit fit about military promotions, because I guess somebody has to protect the racist fascist traitors in our ranks. /s

[–] grue@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Tommy Tuberville has been stalling military promotions in furtherance of Project 2025. It's not just a "shit fit;" it's an affirmatively traitorous act in and of itself.

[–] DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

No, this goes beyond that stupid Project 2025 bullshit, that's just the marketing version of their continuing insurrection against our democracy.

Tuberville is doing this in service of keeping insurrectionists and their sympathizers in our military ranks, the Pentagon wants them purged from the ranks, as does anyone else with any sense, and he's just using abortion as the main cover for his actions to protect his fellow racist fascist traitors.

The only other question is if Tuberville is also taking foreign money to do this.

[–] arensb@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago

From the article, I get the impression that the number in the headline is a severe undercount, because a lot of people in charge of running anti-domestic-terrorism programs in the military don't see the value in them, so they either don't see the problem in their ranks, or turn a blind eye to it.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There's probably tens of thousands that want to and would go along. All in the name of a charlatan.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

The problem is commanding officers issuing orders. They need to root them out.

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

"Thank you for your service"

[–] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Why do they all wear tan pants?

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Closest thing to camo that won't get you mistaken for a servicemember?

[–] recapitated@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Support the troops

[–] banneryear1868@lemmy.world -4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Leftist US troops right? ...right?

Maybe they've overthrown so many governments around the world it's like an instinctual thing for them to do at this point.

[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago

if all you got is a hammer

[–] GutsBerserk@lemmy.world -5 points 11 months ago

A very sinister part of me wants the USA to suffer an authentic old school coup. I just want Americans to experience Democracy and Freedom first hand 😈 ✌️ jk