Watchdog Group Discovers U.S. Soldiers on Neo-Nazi Social Network
Warning: Due to the nature of the subject, this post contains offensive language.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a watchdog and civil rights advocacy group, released a report identifying members of the U.S. military proudly displaying their racial extremist views online. The report outlines a disturbing trend of recruiting efforts by right wing extremists within the military, and the continued failure of people to recognize that anything they post online is open to public consumption.
The SPLC found approximately 40 users on New Saxon (a social network run by the neo-Nazi group National Socialist Movement) who listed their occupation as "military" in their profiles. Many of the military personnel on the site were even brave enough to list their branch, where they were stationed, and their home towns. Their pages were adorned not just with Nazi images and Confederate flags, but also with violent and disturbing quotes. For example, a staff Sergeant from Wisconsin said, "I love and will do anything to keep our master race marching." A Sergeant in the Marine Corps proudly declared, "I fight every day to stem the tide of multiculturalism and to ensure that my children have a better world. SIEG HEIL!"
The SPLC has written a letter to Congress urging it to take action against racial extremists infiltrating the U.S. military and to prevent the armed forces from inadvertently becoming a training ground for domestic terrorists.
Some might call this reaction to military profiles on a white supremacist social network alarmist, but history shows that many domestic terrorists in the U.S. received training in weapons and explosives in the armed forces. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who were responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing, both served in the Army together. Similarly, the Michigan Militia was founded by a retired Air Force Officer, while the Olympic Park Bombings in 1996 were executed by former explosives expert in the U.S. Army Eric Robert Rudolph. The list goes on.
The SPLC fears that right wing extremists are looking to exploit and recruit returning veterans. Of course, part of that recruiting effort involves modern tools like social networking.
It's not clear that any disciplinary action will be taken by the military against the roughly 40 enlisted men and women identified by the SPLC, but in a world where teens are fired for calling their jobs boring on Facebook or cops lose their jobs by mooning on MySpace, the least that should happen to these supposed defenders of liberty and justice is a lesson in keeping tabs on one's online identity. [From: Southern Poverty Law Center, Stars and Stripes, and Boing Boing]
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
numerwan said 8:38AM on 7-14-2009
I don't agree with any racial supremacy, but isn't our freedom of speech and expression clearly covered under the constitution? And are they going to go to the black and hispanic sites and expose those people as well? I'm just saying... let's level the playing field...
Also, military is differnt than most civil jobs... In our state, its 'work-at-will' meaning that neither the employee nor the employer has any obligation to stay with each other...
And CMON!! 40 people? Do you really think thats a lot?? 40 out of the 100K military members? thats like .0004% of the military lol
Reply
terrence said 12:36PM on 7-14-2009
Freedom of speech isn't at issue here. The U.S. military clearly bars enlisted men and women from being active participants in extremist groups. Whether that group be the Black Panthers or the National Socialist Movement, both are grounds for discharge.
lsaidsltdown said 10:09AM on 7-14-2009
Hey, I would prefer that we leave these morons up there and let them do what they're doing publicly. They obviously aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree but I would much rather have them in the open where we can keep an eye on them.
Start making TOO big a stink about this and they'll scurry back into their holes and THAT'S when they become dangerous.
Reply
RUSSTYNAIL said 10:17AM on 7-14-2009
This is indicative of the ignorance that has infiltrated our armed services. As a former United States Marine, I am ashamed at these indivudials. I understand the first admendent but, hate speech only creates crime. I do not understand this mentallity. I wish that these people would channel that anger into fighting the enemy and winning this war. Oh well, to each its own.
Reply
SWEETGRANNIE6 said 10:23AM on 7-14-2009
AND THIS IS NEW TO SOME FOLK, WHY?? MY GRANDSON TOLD ABOUT SEVERAL IN HIS PLATOON WHEN HE WAS IN IRAQ, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. HE JUST MADE SURE WHEN HE WAS IN COMBAT NONE OF THESE IDIOTS WERE CLOSE BY HIM TO MISTAKE HIM FOR AN IRAQUI SOLDIER TO CLAIM FRIENDLY FIRE IF HE WAS HIT BY ONE OF HIS OWN.
Reply
james said 12:05PM on 7-14-2009
Very interesting uncovered fact, but your follow up was weak. yeah, the stated is a problem, but what about their motives for joining the army? Surely these are the people that are more likely to "not distinguish" between civilians and soldiers. These are the people that are going to cause more harm to any cause than good, and they are hence to be deemed incompetent at their jobs and told to leave.
It is the same problem as when several police officers were told to leave the force after being enlisted in the BNP. Same cause, different country.
Yes, freedom of speech is covered in constitutional rights, but incitement of racism? Nah, not so much. It's a thin line, but if people are saying they will "do anything to keep the master race marching" and then are given a gun and a troupe of people... that's irresponsible to ignore, and quite possibly dangerous too.
Reply
tm_metzger said 3:26PM on 7-14-2009
But the smart ones never go to a Racist chat rooms. In fact they are trained to pretend to be just the opposite. They avoid all organized groupslol Tom Metzger
Reply