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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDHS targeted Americans who fought against ISIS in attempt to tie antifa to foreign power
A Department of Homeland Security intelligence report leaked to The Nation has some experts skeptical of the department's motives.
The report targeted several left-wing American activists who the department would normally be prohibited from gathering intelligence on unless they had reason to believe the individuals were operating on behalf of a foreign power. The people named in the report, many of whom have identified with far-left causes, do have connections abroad they traveled to Syria in the past and fought against the Islamic State alongside Kurdish factions like the YPG, PKK, and the Peshmerga.
The U.S., of course, considers ISIS an enemy, so it may seem surprising the U.S. government would focus on people who volunteered to fight against the terrorist group, but critics argue the Syria connection could be a ruse to root out potential antifa members. (Some of the individuals denied membership in antifa, which does not necessarily operate in any organized capacity to begin with.)
Link to tweet
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The report eventually appears to conclude there is no evidence of a "centralized effort to give marching orders to returning antifa-affiliated" U.S. residents, but either way, the briefing didn't sit well with everyone. "They targeted Americans like they're Al-Qaeda," a former intelligence officer in the department with knowledge of the operations told The Nation. "They were essentially violating people's rights like this was the '60s." Read more at The Nation.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/leaked-report-shows-dhs-targeted-214300677.html
underpants
(182,819 posts)They fought ISIS so they are now Antifa operatives because they uh...well theres the part about Antifa not really being an organization....and then theres the fighting radical conservative religious types okay maybe thats it.
And the right went berserk when the Obama Administration noted that many good red blooded Murkans might get turned toward right wing militias after they return from the killing fields (war).
My head hurts.
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)this one has my head spinning.
underpants
(182,819 posts)Made for broadcast. Details arent important, just get those words said near each other and let the listener do the rest.
Did a lot of people do this? Go fight with the Kurds? If they did, those are some bad asses in my book.
LeftInTX
(25,349 posts)no correlation between activities abroad and current protest activities.
We have lots of Americans with foreign connections. The PRI in Mexico. (Dominant party until 2019) The BJP in India. (The Party of Modi)
Sorry if I got initials wrong. But are going to go after them when they get under our skin for some unrelated event here? For instance if someone with these connections is involved in nepotism or cronyism or we going to label them as terrorists?
underpants
(182,819 posts)Going overseas to fight with a people who dont have a country. No real availability of State DEPT. assistance if needed (as far as I know). That really working without a net.
LeftInTX
(25,349 posts)Will they go after Doctors Without Borders next?