US soldier joined army to "become better at killing black people"

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Sep 16:08

Killian M. Ryan, a US army paratrooper, is dismissed from the army after an FBI investigation found that he had enrolled to become better at killing black people.

At least 95 of the individuals indicted in connection with the uprising on January 6 were US military personnel (Bloomberg)

Following an FBI investigation, reported by CNN, links to white nationalist organizations and Nazi philosophy, were uncovered, leading to the ousting from the US army of a former soldier whom prosecutors allege enrolled to become better at killing black people.

According to court documents, Killian M. Ryan was arrested on August 26 and charged with one count of knowingly making a false statement on his application for a secret security clearance. He was dismissed from the Army on the same day for "serious misconduct," according to Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, an Army spokesperson.

Prosecutors said Ryan used social media to communicate with extremists, including the alarming allegation about why he opted to join the military.

According to a defense spokesman, the former paratrooper was dismissed for multiple driving under the influence of alcohol offenses, but prosecutors claim they discovered far more significant issues during their investigation.

Ryan allegedly made a false statement on his application to obtain a secret security clearance in May 2020, saying that it had been more than 10 years since he had been in contact with his father, who had felony convictions for drug offenses and vehicle theft.

However, investigators discovered a number of social media accounts allegedly registered to Ryan that were used to contact his father over a 10-year period.

"I serve for combat experience so I'm more proficient in killing n*****s," Ryan reportedly said in a post. The authorities discovered that Ryan established a few of these social media profiles using an email address that contained the phrase "naziace1488."

The Pentagon claimed that only a small minority of military personnel were extremists, but authorities later admitted that the Capitol riot served as a "wake-up call" for the Defense Department.

According to a CNN analysis of Pentagon and Justice Department records, at least 95 of the individuals indicted in connection with the uprising on January 6 were US military personnel.

Shortly after entering office, Austin issued an order for a stand down, or staggering halt in activities across the force, to examine the Defense Department's policy on extremism and to emphasize commanders' expectations of behavior for service members.

The Pentagon then released a more precise definition of extremist behavior toward the end of last year, which for the first time also included instructions on social media platforms and posts.