A chilling warning from a Pentagon expert has reignited concerns about extremism within the U.S. military following two deadly attacks on New Year’s Day. Bishop Garrison, the author of a 2021 Pentagon report on military extremism, cautioned that insider threats involving current or former service members could lead to further domestic violence.
The latest incidents involved a former U.S. Army serviceman and an active-duty Green Beret, sparking debates about the military’s approach to identifying and mitigating extremist tendencies.
On January 1, former Army serviceman Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowded New Orleans street, killing 14 people. Authorities later discovered Jabbar had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and was carrying an Islamic State flag in his vehicle.
In a separate attack the same day, Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret, detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, causing several injuries. Livelsberger’s motives remain unclear, but his actions intensified concerns about the potential for violence within the military ranks.
Both men had previously served at Fort Bragg and were deployed to Afghanistan at the same time. However, investigators have yet to uncover any definitive connection between the two attackers.
Bishop Garrison, a former White House liaison to the Defense Department under Barack Obama, spearheaded the Pentagon’s 2021 report on extremism in the military. In the wake of these attacks, Garrison expressed frustration that his recommendations were never fully implemented.
“As far as I know, there was never any implementation of our policies,” Garrison said. “The events on New Year’s Day highlight the unresolved dangers posed by extremist influences within the military.”
Garrison’s 2021 report aimed to address concerns about radicalization among service members, including those who might be vulnerable to extremist ideologies. However, critics have accused the report of focusing too heavily on political affiliations rather than addressing the broader issue of extremism.
President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, has taken a different stance on the issue. While Hegseth acknowledges the importance of addressing extremist threats, he has criticized past anti-extremism efforts as politically motivated and ineffective.
Hegseth singled out Garrison’s work, accusing him of using the extremism report to target Trump supporters. “A 1619 Project activist, a hardcore social justice Democrat,” Hegseth said of Garrison. “A man who believes all Trump supporters are racist and extremists. And what must we do to racists? We must define them and then we must purge them.”
Hegseth has also faced criticism himself. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) accused him of having ties to extremism, claiming he was removed from National Guard duty during President Joe Biden’s inauguration due to his Christian-themed tattoos, which she suggested could mark him as an insider threat.
Hegseth dismissed Warren’s accusations as “anti-Christian bigotry,” arguing that his tattoos are symbols of his faith and have no bearing on his conduct or beliefs.
The attacks and subsequent political fallout have revealed deep divisions over how to address extremism in the military. While some advocate for stricter screening and training programs to identify and counter radical influences, others warn that such measures risk alienating service members or unfairly targeting specific groups.
Critics of current anti-extremism efforts argue that the military’s focus on political ideologies rather than behaviors has hindered progress. “This is not about politics; it’s about protecting the integrity of our armed forces,” said one senior military official. “We need a balanced approach that ensures accountability without demonizing individuals based on their beliefs.”
The attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas have intensified calls for the Pentagon to revisit its approach to extremism within the military. Experts agree that systemic issues, such as gaps in screening processes and a lack of oversight for veterans, must be addressed to prevent future incidents.
Garrison emphasized the urgency of implementing robust measures to address the insider threat. “These tragedies underscore the need for action,” he said. “We owe it to our service members and the American people to ensure the safety and integrity of our military.”
Hegseth, however, maintains that any new policies must be grounded in fairness and avoid politicization. “Our military deserves better than a witch hunt,” he said. “We need solutions that unite, not divide, our armed forces.”
As the Pentagon grapples with these challenges, the nation is left to reflect on the delicate balance between safeguarding security and preserving the rights and freedoms of those who serve. The events of New Year’s Day serve as a stark reminder of the risks posed by unchecked extremism and the importance of vigilance in protecting the nation from within.
2 Comments
What???? Those of us who are not pussies or woke, have been screaming about Mozlem terrorists since 9/11.
We have warned you idiots-in-power, over and over, not to trust the Mozlem monsters, but you wouldn’t listen. You should have run them out of the U.S. 20+ years ago but you thought you could trust them. NO. You can never trust a Mozlem. Mozlems have infiltrated our Government and businesses & Cities. Look at the crimes they are committing in Europe! They are raping and murdering hundreds of people, mostly women and children.
Standard operating procedures for Mozlems: infiltrate a country, lay low, pretend to be harmless until your numbers increase and then start your Jihad. Mozlems hate everyone who isn’t a follower of Muhammad: Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus are all on their hit list. They think they are entitled to rape and murder the “infidels” (non-Islamists).
Here in the states, they should be rounded up and swiftly executed. Let Allah sort them out.
There is NO coexisting with Islam.
I wholly agree with you as this Biden cabal has put OUR COUNTRY in danger and has caused many to question what this geriatric 80 year old brain dead individual is doing. Biden must be charged with treason and /or sedition for his criminal acts against AMERICA and it CITIZENS. Caan’t wait to have a real leader in the Whitehouse! ! ! ! ! !