Don't Ask, Don't Heil

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a hate-group watchdog organization based in Alabama, will present documentation to Congress on Friday about the presence of active duty military personnel on the white supremacist social networking site newsaxon.org. On that website, SPLC spotted 40 users who claim to be serving in the military, an apparent violation of Pentagon regulations prohibiting racist extremism in the ranks.

Watchdog group: Dozens of active-duty troops found on neo-Nazi site (Stripes.com, via Wired.com Danger Room)

PointBlank said:
On the one hand, white power skinheads in the military is a bad thing. On the other, without them we might not have had this headline. I'm torn.

Otoki said:

Exactly what I was thinking. I wonder why the Pentagon is "brushing" this off. Seems like a problem to me.

hawkorhandsaw said:
well, it might be a problem, but i'm not sure anything can be done. being a skinhead isn't illegal, and espousing racist views isn't illegal either. unless the military has different rules (which is totally possible), i'm not sure what they can do to stop them.

MrCrisp said:
an apparent violation of Pentagon regulations prohibiting racist extremism in the ranks.

hawkorhandsaw said:
unless the military has different rules (which is totally possible), i'm not sure what they can do to stop them.

There is no place for racial hatred or extremism in the U.S. military, Defense Secretary William Perry said in a press release. He said every service member takes an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

"The men and women in the military understand the gravity of this oath," said Perry. "Department of Defense policies state that military personnel may not actively participate in organizations that espouse supremacist causes."

hawkorhandsaw said:

well, it might be a problem, but i'm not sure anything can be done. being a skinhead isn't illegal, and espousing racist views isn't illegal either. unless the military has different rules (which is totally possible), i'm not sure what they can do to stop them.

A Defense Department directive issued in 1996 lays out the guidelines for “dissident” activities by service members, from publishing underground newspapers to organizing demonstrations.

“Military personnel must reject participation in organizations that espouse supremacist causes,” the rule states. “Active participation, such as publicly demonstrating or rallying, fund raising, recruiting and training members, organizing or leading such organizations, or otherwise engaging in activities in relation to such organizations ... that are viewed by command to be detrimental to the good order, discipline, or mission accomplishment of the unit, is incompatible with Military Service, and is, therefore, prohibited.”

But military officials gave conflicting answers this week when asked how policies governing racist behavior are being enforced.

A spokesman for the Department of the Army said the service takes seriously any allegations of membership in racist, extremist or hate groups. But he said such allegations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis at the unit disciplinary level or in the military justice system, and are not being addressed as an Army-wide problem.

The Army spokesman then referred Stripes to the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command for more information. But that office refused to comment on Army policy on hate groups, saying that the issue of extremists infiltrating the ranks was “an Army-wide issue” that should be addressed at the service command level.

...

In 2006, the SPLC released a report asserting that “thousands” of active-duty troops like clarkpatrick88 could have hate group affiliations. The law center said that some military officers conceded that recruitment and retention pressures forced them to look the other way when presented with overwhelming evidence of hate group membership.

Later, the FBI said it suspected hundreds of servicemembers had been recruited into extremist groups.

Last November, the SPLC, feeling its warnings to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had been ignored, urged the current secretary, Robert Gates, to revisit the issue.

Phaedrius said:
you know, i dont want to be a dick about this, i really dont; but unless you're a combat veteran, i dont think you have the fucking right to question those who are willing to be.

but again, thats me.

Phaedrius said:
you know, i dont want to be a dick about this, i really dont; but unless you're a combat veteran, i dont think you have the fucking right to question those who are willing to be.

but again, thats me.

Phaedrius said:
you know, i dont want to be a dick about this, i really dont; but unless you're a combat veteran, i dont think you have the fucking right to question those who are willing to be.

but again, thats me.

Phaedrius said:

i can sit here and tell you that i've known fags and flat out racists (his grandfather was a straight nazi in WW2 and he was proud of it) who were top notch Marines and knew their shit.

in my world, as long as you're willing (and able) to pick up your weapon and effectivly lay some rounds down range (key word effectivly), i dont give a fuck about your personal life.

but thats me.

Phaedrius said:
you know, i dont want to be a dick about this, i really dont; but unless you're a combat veteran, i dont think you have the fucking right to question those who are willing to be.

but again, thats me.

Section 4–12, Extremist organizations and activities

Participation in extremist organizations and activities by Army personnel is inconsistent with the responsibilities of military service.

It is the policy of the United States Army to provide equal opportunity and treatment for all Soldiers without regard to race, color, religion, gender, or national origin. Enforcement of this policy is a responsibility of command, is vitally important to unit cohesion and morale, and is essential to the Army’s ability to accomplish its mission. It is the commander’s responsibility to maintain good order and discipline in the unit. Every commander has the inherent authority to take appropriate actions to accomplish this goal. This paragraph identifies prohibited actions by Soldiers involving extremist organizations, discusses the authority of the commander to establish other prohibitions, and establishes that violations of prohibitions contained in this paragraph or those established by a commander may result in prosecution under various provisions of the UCMJ. This paragraph must be used in conjunction with DODD 1325.6, Subject: Guidelines for Handling Dissident and Protest Activities Among Members of the Armed Forces. DA Pam 600–15 provides guidance in implementing Army policy on extremist activities and organizations.

a. Participation. Military personnel must reject participation in extremist organizations and activities.

Extremist organizations and activities are ones that advocate racial, gender, or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, or national origin, or advocate the use of or use force or violence or unlawful means to deprive individuals of their rights under the United States Constitution or the laws of the United States, or any State, by unlawful means.

b. Prohibitions. Soldiers are prohibited from the following actions in support of extremist organizations or activities.

Penalties for violations of these prohibitions include the full range of statutory and regulatory sanctions, both criminal (UCMJ), and administrative.

- (1) Participating in public demonstrations or rallies.
- (2) Attending a meeting or activity with the knowledge that the meeting or activity involves an extremist cause when on duty, when in uniform, when in a foreign country (whether on or off duty or in or out of uniform), when it constitutes a breach of law and order, or when it is likely to result in violence or when in violation of off limits sanctions or commander’s order.
- (3) Fund raising activities.
- (4) Recruiting or training members (including encouraging other Soldiers to join).
- (5) Creating, organizing, or taking a visible leadership role in such an organization or activity.
- (6) Distributing literature on or off a military installation, the primary purpose and content of which concerns advocacy or support of extremist causes, organizations, or activities; and it appears that the literature presents a clear danger to the loyalty, discipline, or morale of military personnel, or the distribution would materially interfere with the accomplishment of a military mission.

Phaedrius said:
you know, i dont want to be a dick about this, i really dont; but unless you're a combat veteran, i dont think you have the fucking right to question those who are willing to be.

but again, thats me.

Phaedrius said:
you know, i dont want to be a dick about this, i really dont; but unless you're a combat veteran, i dont think you have the fucking right to question those who are willing to be.

but again, thats me.