Jimmy’s Exclusive Interview w/ “Irregular Army” Author Matt Kennard
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The US military significantly lowered recruitment standards after 9/11, allowing neo-Nazis, gang members, and convicted criminals to enlist due to recruitment shortfalls.
- ❖Commanders often tolerated or even favored extremists, believing they would be 'better warriors' for difficult missions.
- ❖The deregulation of military standards is linked to atrocities committed abroad and a rise in domestic terrorism by radicalized veterans.
- ❖Whistleblowers who exposed these issues were persecuted, not celebrated, by the military and government agencies.
- ❖Host Jimmy Dore contends that events like the Oklahoma City bombing and January 6th were likely false flag operations orchestrated by the FBI to create division and target political opposition.
- ❖Both the host and guest argue that a 'permanent government' or 'deep state' operates beyond the public eye, influencing policy and manipulating events for its own interests, regardless of which party is in power.
Insights
1US Military's Post-9/11 Recruitment Crisis and Extremist Infiltration
Matt Kennard's book, 'Irregular Army,' details how the US military, facing massive recruitment shortfalls during the War on Terror, drastically lowered its standards. This included discarding regulations that would normally bar neo-Nazis, white supremacists, gang members, and convicted criminals (via 'moral waivers'). Recruiters were often unaware of or ignored explicit Nazi insignia, and commanders sometimes favored these individuals, believing they would be more aggressive fighters.
Kennard cites encounters with self-described neo-Nazis like Thoris Fogerty, who served in Iraq with Nazi tattoos and claimed commanders liked it (). He mentions an analyst's estimate that 10% of the military was gang-affiliated () and the expansion of moral waivers that allowed felons like Steven D. Green (perpetrator of the Mahmudiyah massacre) to enlist ().
2Consequences of Deregulated Recruitment: Atrocities Abroad and Domestic Threats
The influx of radicalized and criminal elements into the military led to increased atrocities in war zones, as individuals with violent ideologies were given weapons and impunity. Upon returning, these veterans, often trained by the US taxpayer, contribute to domestic terrorism and criminal activity, with some aiming to incite a 'racial holy war' in the US.
Kennard links the deregulation of standards to specific atrocities, such as the Mahmudiyah massacre (). He notes that a disproportionate number of January 6th participants were veterans or active duty personnel () and highlights cases like Kenneth Eastridge, a soldier with SS bolts who murdered a fellow soldier after returning ().
3Government Suppression of Whistleblowers and Institutionalized Extremism
Those who attempted to expose the problem of extremism within the military, such as Jeffrey Stoulson (who documented gang graffiti in Iraq) and Daryl Johnson (a DHS analyst), faced persecution, discharge, and professional ruin. This suppression, combined with political rhetoric, allowed the issue to fester and become institutionalized, even reaching high-ranking officials with extremist tattoos and ideologies.
Jeffrey Stoulson was persecuted and discharged for reporting gang graffiti (). Daryl Johnson was fired from Homeland Security for a report on veteran susceptibility to white supremacists (). Kennard points to Pete Hex, Secretary of War, having extremist tattoos and using neo-crusader rhetoric (), and formalizing the non-enforcement of extremism regulations ().
4The 'Deep State' and Bipartisan Continuity of Imperial Power
Both the host and guest assert that US foreign and domestic policy is largely driven by a 'deep state' or 'permanent government' that transcends partisan politics. This establishment, including intelligence agencies and the military-industrial complex, maintains a 'permanent war economy' and ensures that presidents, regardless of party, serve its interests, often through lawless actions and the concentration of power in the executive branch.
Kennard states that policies initiated under Bush continued under Obama () and that Trump is not an outlier but a 'bastard child of the War on Terror,' taking advantage of the 'imperial presidency' established earlier (). Dore emphasizes that Obama prosecuted more journalists under the Espionage Act than all previous presidents combined and refused to prosecute torturers ().
5Domestic Terror as Orchestrated False Flags to Divide and Conquer
Jimmy Dore strongly argues that major domestic terror events, including the Oklahoma City bombing and January 6th, were not solely grassroots actions but were likely orchestrated or heavily influenced by government agencies like the FBI. These operations serve to create 'false flag' narratives, scapegoat political movements (like MAGA), and foster division among the populace, diverting attention from the true powerful actors at the top.
Dore presents a video detailing anomalies in the official Timothy McVeigh narrative, suggesting FBI involvement and a 'John Doe number two' (). He cites Representative Clay Higgins's investigation into January 6th, claiming FBI assets were embedded and instigated radical actions (), and highlights the Ray Epps case as an alleged FBI plant (). He also mentions the Michigan Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot, where 9 of 13 participants were allegedly FBI or plants ().
Bottom Line
The US military's recruitment of individuals with extremist ideologies is not merely a failure of standards but potentially a calculated risk, as these elements can be 'useful' for covert operations both abroad and domestically, even if it means tolerating their radical beliefs.
This suggests a cynical calculus within the 'deep state' where the potential for internal threats is weighed against the utility of certain individuals for achieving strategic objectives, blurring the lines between national security and political manipulation.
Further investigative journalism into the specific deployment and post-service activities of known extremist veterans could reveal patterns of their utilization by intelligence or law enforcement agencies, or how their radicalization is leveraged for broader political ends.
The host suggests that the demonization of broad political movements (e.g., MAGA) as 'terrorists' or 'extremists' is a deliberate strategy by the establishment to prevent a unified front against systemic corruption, by turning citizens against each other.
This 'divide and conquer' tactic ensures that public anger and desire for change are misdirected at fellow citizens rather than at the powerful institutions and individuals who truly control policy and resources.
Grassroots movements could focus on educating the public about these alleged 'divide and conquer' tactics, promoting cross-partisan dialogue, and directing collective action towards challenging the 'deep state' and corporate power rather than internal political factions.
Key Concepts
Bad Apples Theory
The idea that systemic failures or widespread misconduct are attributed to a few 'bad apples' rather than acknowledging a deeper, institutional problem or policy directive. This theory is used by the political class to deflect blame from top-level decisions onto lower-ranking individuals.
Permanent War Economy
A concept suggesting that a significant portion of a nation's economy is dependent on continuous military spending and engagement in conflicts, making war a perpetual necessity for economic stability and growth, as opposed to genuine national security needs.
Managed Democracies
A political system where the appearance of democratic participation (elections, political parties) exists, but real power is concentrated within an unelected 'deep state' or powerful private interests, which sets tight confines on political discourse and prevents genuine change.
Lessons
- Critically evaluate official narratives surrounding domestic terror incidents, especially when inconsistencies or unanswered questions persist, considering the possibility of government infiltration or orchestration.
- Recognize that political leaders across the spectrum may serve a 'permanent government' or 'deep state' rather than their constituents, making bipartisan consensus on certain issues a red flag for hidden agendas.
- Support independent investigative journalism and whistleblowers who expose government secrecy and misconduct, as these are often the only means to uncover truths hidden by powerful institutions.
Notable Moments
Jimmy Dore's direct challenge to Matt Kennard's conclusions on domestic terrorism, presenting evidence for FBI orchestration of events like the Oklahoma City bombing and January 6th.
This exchange highlights a significant divergence in perspective, pushing the narrative beyond military recruitment failures to question the very nature of domestic threats and the role of state actors in their creation or manipulation, adding a layer of critical analysis to the guest's findings.
Quotes
"They thought that because I was a Nazi, they would send me out on hardest missions, I'd be a better warrior."
"They didn't go to Iraq because they believed in the mission. They went to Iraq to get training courtesy of the US taxpayer which they wanted to bring back to the United States to start what they call Raoa, which is racial holy war."
"Whistleblowers are persecuted rather than celebrated as the heroes they are."
"Trump is not an outlier. Trump is a continuation of what they've all been doing since the at least since the war on terror began if not before."
"The FBI's confidential human sources or FBI employees in some way instigated or orchestrated January 6, that's categorically false."
"To smear an entire movement like that because of the FBI's false flag operation that was definitely carried out that day lends to division in the United States. So we fight against each other instead of coming together to fight against the who are actually doing this."
"They're not secret to protect us. They're secret to protect them from us because they are political players and they don't want us to know how they are managing and organizing our society."
Q&A
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