US military probes hundreds of cases of domestic extremism within ranks

The US military has received hundreds of reports of “domestic extremism” within its rank and file in the past year, according to a damning new report, pointing to the rot in the country's security sector.

The Pentagon inspector general released a report on the matter, covering the period from the start of October 2021 to the end of September, according to a report in Newsweek magazine. 

Within that year, it noted 211 reports of domestic extremism related to service members, from which 183 resulted in investigations.

As a result of investigations, 48 cases were subjected to military legal action while 112 service members were referred to civilian law enforcement for further investigation, according to the Newsweek report citing Navy Times.

The US Defense Department (DoD) has ordered all military services to compile data on “every report” taken and “every investigation” launched into “prohibited activities” in an effort to try to confront racially motivated, violent, or anti-government domestic extremism.

It is the first year when the US military has tracked such information, following urgings from top defense officials in the wake of the January 6 Capital riots.

Prior to 2021, tracking such information was not required for the military. However, after the deadly insurrection on January 6, top defense officials asked for new data as numerous active service members and veterans were among the Capitol rioters following then-President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally.

In its first report on the matter, the main problem the inspector general reported was the absence of consistent terminology in all branches of the Armed Forces regarding “domestic extremism”, therefore making it hard to present department-wide data.

ME