After the attack on Capitol Hill by supporters of Donald Trump, the US Department of Defense requested a report on the fight against extremism in its ranks.
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The tremors of the assault on Capitol Hill by supporters of Donald Trump are still being felt. The Pentagon announced on Monday, December 20, that approximately 100 members of the United States military had taken part in some form of“prohibited extremist activity” during the past year. US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin ordered a review last February on the fight against extremism in his ranks. The announcement came after the revelation of the participation of dozens of former soldiers in the attack on January 6.
“The overwhelming majority of men and women in the Defense Ministry serve this country with honor and integrity”said Lloyd Austin, quoted in a statement accompanying the report of a task force on countering extremism. “They respect the oath they have taken to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
“We believe that only a very small number of people violate this oath by taking part in extremist activity.”
Lloyd Austin, US Minister of Defensein a press release
The activities in which these soldiers engaged were not specified, but the fact of advocating the overthrow of the government or the “domestic terrorism” were cited as examples of prohibited practices. The Pentagon also presented its new recommendations, which included increased training for the military on what constitutes prohibited extremist activity. “This includes in particular instructions on social networks, what is allowed or not”, explained John Kirby, spokesman for the Pentagon.