Veterans are usually much less probably than American civilians to assist radical ideologies or again extremist teams resembling antifa or White supremacist outfits, in line with a new survey, casting doubt on the narrative that the navy is a breeding floor for extremists.
The research from the RAND Corp. surveyed almost 1,000 veterans late final yr. The report’s launch comes amid a concerted push contained in the Pentagon to establish and weed out potential extremists within the ranks, an effort that started in earnest after the Jan. 6, 2021, protest on the U.S. Capitol. Dozens of veterans and a number of other active-duty troops allegedly took half that day, fueling fears that right-wing political violence might emanate from inside the armed forces and threaten the steadiness of the nation.
The RAND report means that isn’t true.
“There was no evidence to support the notion that the veteran community, as a whole, manifests higher rates of support for violent extremist groups or extremist beliefs than the American public,” the research’s authors wrote in a abstract of their findings.
The report sought to reply a key query on the coronary heart of the matter: Are veterans, with their navy coaching and familiarity with firearms, extra prepared to hunt friendship and assist from extremist teams than American civilians? That notion has taken maintain within the media and a few left-leaning political circles, however RAND researchers instructed there’s no clear knowledge to again it up.
“Extremist groups can provide a new and supportive social network, and their shared mission can provide a new sense of purpose that can fill in gaps left in the lives of those who no longer experience the sense of meaning and belonging provided by military service,” the research reads. “Despite such rising concern, little empirical research into the prevalence of support for violent extremism among veteran communities exists. While numerous surveys have sought to measure the prevalence rates of support for violent extremist movements and ideologies, no such study has examined such attitudes in a representative population of veterans.”
In nearly all particular situations, the RAND analysis signifies that veteran assist for extremist causes throughout the political spectrum is under the degrees seen among the many common inhabitants.
For instance, 5.5% of veterans mentioned they maintain a “very or somewhat favorable” opinion of left-wing antifa. Among the American public, that determine is 10%, the report discovered, citing earlier consultant surveys of the inhabitants at massive.
Just over 4% of veterans surveyed mentioned they’ve a really or considerably favorable opinion of the Proud Boys group. Among the general public, the determine is 9%. Several high-profile leaders of that group have been convicted of felonies in reference to the Jan. 6 protest.
Just 0.8% of veterans had a really or considerably favorable angle towards White supremacists. Among most of the people, the determine is 7%, the research discovered.
Veterans had been requested whether or not the nation is to date off monitor that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save the country.”
Just below 18% of veterans mentioned they “completely or mostly agree” with that sentiment in contrast with 19% of most of the people.
About 13.5% of veterans expressed some solidarity with the beliefs espoused by the group QAnon in contrast with 17% of the overall inhabitants.
RAND researchers mentioned among the veterans interviewed could also be in danger for recruitment by extremist teams.
“The majority of veterans who support the need for political violence in the abstract are not supportive of any of the four extremist groups we studied,” the research reads. “There may thus be many veterans who have the potential to be recruited by extremist groups (via their willingness to endorse political violence) but who are not currently supportive of a specific group.”
The Pentagon‘s anti-extremist push started weeks after President Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin took workplace. Mr. Austin ordered all service members to spend a day discussing hateful ideologies, bigotry, discrimination and associated points.
The marketing campaign towards far-right extremism and ultranationalism within the ranks turned up only a minuscule variety of instances, and critics say the deal with social points takes away from the overriding precedence of molding an efficient combating drive to defend the nation. Republicans say it’s an instance of the Pentagon‘s deal with a woke agenda, the place points resembling gender id and political ideologies are prioritized over lethality and navy preparedness. Defense officers reject these expenses.
Within navy circles, the Jan. 6 protest has turn out to be a part of the talk. In testimony earlier than Congress in June 2021, Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, instructed racism was an element within the march on the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump — a lot of whom had been navy veterans protesting what they noticed as a rigged presidential election.
“I want to understand White rage, and I’m White,” he mentioned on June 23, 2021.
The common confronted stiff criticism for seemingly implying a direct racial connection to the occasions of Jan. 6. A month after his feedback, he promised to deal with the subject extra absolutely at a later date.
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