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USA: According to a media report, the Pentagon wants to fight right

2021-01-19T16:04:38.714Z


Initial FBI findings suggest that several people with links to the military participated in the storming of the US Capitol. According to the New York Times, the Pentagon is now reacting.


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Soldiers in the U.S. Capitol: The FBI is investigating how many military-affiliated people joined the mob on Jan. 6

Photo: Susan Walsh / dpa

A good two weeks ago, supporters of the outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol.

The incident caused international horror and sparked a debate in the United States about right-wing extremists within the army and other state security agencies.

According to a report in the "New York Times", the Pentagon wants to intensify its fight against right-wing extremists and supporters of the "white supremacy" movement within its own ranks.

In addition, national investigators should clarify according to the report, how many military personnel and veterans would have participated in the storming of the Capitol.

Six people identified with ties to the US military

Since the January 6 incidents, senior military leaders have been confronted with former and active military personnel mingling with the mob, the report said.

If you add up the active troops and reservists, the US military consists of more than two million people.

According to the New York Times, of the more than 100 people arrested in connection with the storming of the Capitol, at least six suspects with links to the military have so far been identified.

These include a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel from Texas, an Army officer from North Carolina and an Army reservist from New Jersey.

Another person in military service was shot dead in the attack.

The New York Times also emphasizes that the FBI investigation into the storming of the Capitol is still in its infancy.

The investigation puts the Pentagon in distress.

As the "New York Times" reports, the problem has so far been downplayed at the headquarters of the US Department of Defense.

The paper refers to cases of right-wing extremism within the armed forces of other countries, including Germany.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, the Bundeswehr - and above all the elite Special Forces Command (KSK) - had recently made headlines with right-wing extremist incidents.

In the USA, however, the storm on the Capitol gave the issue a new urgency.

"These people are not representative of the military in our country," General Mark A. Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, is quoted by the newspaper.

Most active troops and veterans would "continue to serve honorably and keep their oath to protect and defend the US Constitution."

Social media posts should be monitored more closely

However, the New York Times has now learned from the Defense Ministry that right-wing extremists in their own ranks will be identified more quickly in the future and will be taken tougher.

Among other things, one wants to watch the social media posts of military personnel more closely, the report said.

Last Tuesday, General Milley and the rest of the joint chiefs of staff had sent an extraordinary letter to all military personnel, reminding them that Joe Biden would soon be their commander in chief and that they had an obligation to defend the constitution.

The report also says it will investigate how effectively Pentagon policies are being enforced in dealing with right-wing extremists.

According to the guidelines, right-wing extremists and supporters of the "white supremacy" movement would have to be excluded from service.

The new US President Biden will officially take office on Wednesday.

The security precautions are extremely high.

25,000 National Guard soldiers are to be deployed in and around Washington.

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Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-01-19

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