two things are simultaneously true: there is a much larger subset of American troops who radicalize to the left vs ex cops and IDF, and the American left are conditioned to go easy on (or even lionize) their country’s military without the requisite expression of regret, process of vetting, and earning of trust through action that allows former imperialist troops to take roles in socialist movements. Israel is brainwashed and sick to the core through generations of an active process of settler genocide and the subsequent propaganda apparatus around it, and cops are largely pampered, suburban reactionaries.

whereas there is an actual significant subset of ex-military who fit the “impoverished barely adult tricked into service, then chewed up and spat out by the system” talking point that’s often thrown around, even if they aren’t the majority of the US military’s demographic. I think this largely explains the disparity. I also want to say that the radicalized socialist former US troop is still very much a niche, and former American soldiers are much more likely to be reactionary or just plain depoliticized.

that’s all I really care to say on the matter on hexbear dot net. while the banned user’s timing was bad and their word choices were harsh (and I think this site skews more elder gen Z and millennial than literal kids lol), their point was ultimately right that this is an atomized, antisocial place that puts a higher value on taking a posture of maximum righteousness (even on the most inane, niche issues) than on movement building, comradely political education & growth, or on genuine communal care. the above (ultimately pretty mild) degree of contradiction is too much for a space like this - hexbear isn’t uniquely bad or anything, the internet is just tainted enemy territory at its very core that discourages movement building IMO. (i’d also add/clarify, that this issue in particular is not inane or niche)

EDIT: also if I wasn’t clear, none of the middle paragraph applies to Platner, I’m just commenting on a broader recurring struggle session. should’ve been a firm line of “fuck that guy” even before he was outed as a nazi. 4 tours (one with a comically evil private mercenary group) in your late 30s/early 40s is deep commitment to the evils of imperialism.

There’s not much nuance with the IOF or cops, they’re more or less universally bad. The US military as an organization is also evil but their recruitment strategies prey on poor people who want an out that doesn’t typically exist. I don’t think it applies to blackwater mercs but some ex military people are chill.