New Pentagon Mission: Ban Extremism, But Not Free Speech
That rang a bell with me. Back in April 2009, experts at the Department of Homeland Security drew political fire for a warning to police departments that proved to be prescient.
“Right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat,” the DHS experts wrote. “These skills and knowledge have the potential to boost the capabilities of extremists — including lone wolves or small terrorist cells — to carry out violence.”
But instead of responding with some positive action, Republican politicians and right-wing media lambasted then-President Barack Obama and other Democrats.
Why? Supposedly for disrespecting loyal, hardworking service personnel and possibly hoping to suppress conservatives. Considering how conservative media and their movement tried to blame the Capitol attack on the lefty antifa movement, which the FBI denied, I won’t be surprised if they try to suppress the Pentagon’s actions, too.
For now, we have been learning from the House Select Committee investigation of the Capitol attack that the “lone wolves” and “small terrorist cells” scenario is looking obsolete. Instead, we’re learning of surprisingly large networks of social-network-connected groups and individuals, looking for their next battle.
With all that in mind, I appreciate the Pentagon’s new rules, released Monday to clarify what is allowed and what isn’t in the long-standing ban against “active participation” in extremist activities or groups by service members.
For example, they’re free to read or possess extremist materials but can’t particulate, fund or support one — even with a “like” on Facebook.
Yet, Rep. Anthony Brown, a Maryland Democrat and retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel, raises an important point by questioning why known members of extremist groups should be allowed to serve at all, “with or without active participation.”
Good question. The rules could be changed again and maybe they will. But for now, I’m pleased to see military leaders try to protect constitutional freedoms, even to those who might want to deny those freedoms to others.
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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.)
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