The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the topic of “extremism in the military” on Wednesday. During the hearing, representatives and witnesses were unable to agree on a definition of extremism, let alone agree on whether it exists in the military, how data on this topic could be collected, and, if it is found, what actions should be taken.
The hearing did provide a bird’s-eye view of how the culture wars have infiltrated both our politics and the military, even as the latter remains one aspect of America where they should not exist at all.
The committee hosted witnesses including Michael Berry, general counsel at First Liberty Institute and a Marine Corps veteran. I interviewed Berry, who now serves as a litigator, before the hearing. He said he would be testifying about the need for the Defense Department “to ensure service members’ constitutional rights are not trampled upon in the name of eradicating extremism in the military.”
The hearing got bogged down with disputes about the definition of extremism. Who defines it, and how is it enforced? I asked Berry that as well.
“If we define extremism as using, threatening, or advocating violence to achieve one’s objective, then I’ve never observed extremism in the military other than what I’ve seen on the news,” he said, naming the 2009 Fort Hood shooter as one example. “But I’ve seen some very worrying trends. For example, a U.S. Army training presentation categorizes evangelical Christians and Catholics as religious extremists along with Hamas, al Qaeda, and the KKK. Based on the definition of true extremism, the only kind of extremism that is acceptable is when it is used against America’s enemies.”
In his testimony, Berry continued to advocate for military members’ First Amendment rights, which are sometimes labeled as extreme by certain groups.
“Congress must hold the Department of Defense accountable to the constitutional guarantees of free speech and religious freedom for all Americans, including our service members,” Berry told the committee. “A truly diverse military means one that is open and welcoming to all who meet the standards for service. Likewise, it means a rejection of attempts to target a religious belief or worldview with which one disagrees. In the zeal to expel the extreme, our leaders must ensure that these bedrock principles of American virtue are not only protected but cherished.”
Berry’s testimony provided a stark contrast to that of Lecia Brooks, the chief of staff of the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of those groups with an obvious liberal bias. Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais asked Brooks about the definition of extremism and how the SPLC handles it. “Is it true that the American Family Association, the Family Research Council, and the American College of Pediatricians have all been labeled extremist hate groups?” he asked.
“Yes, that is true,” Brooks replied. After additional questions, Brooks confirmed that antifa, on the other hand, was “not labeled a hate group” because it is so loosely organized, among other reasons.
Luckily, the committee chairman was clear that the SPLC was welcome to express its ideas and opinions about extremism in the military, although representatives weren’t going to spearhead any changes made to reflect Brooks’s testimony.
Many representatives remained unconvinced any so-called extremism even existed, partially perhaps because a definition remained obtuse. Others agreed that if members of the military were found to be tied to an ideology that regularly advocated for violence outside of a mission, perhaps that was extremism. Only a handful of members at the hearing remained committed to the core mission of the military and were able to talk over the politically correct noise.
The goal of the military is to secure the country’s defenses. It is not to reflect civilian culture’s controversies, including religion, transgender issues, and even white nationalism and antifa. It is imperative that our nation’s military remain dedicated to that mission, that members’ First Amendment rights remain intact, and all else is left alone. “We don’t want to punish thoughts, ideas, or beliefs,” Berry told me. “We want to punish conduct.”
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
