An absence of expertise... defines this MAGA GOP administration, dangerously so

TAT readers,

This is a very short piece today. Something I read in the morning news, demanded that I at least offer a couple of comments about my former profession, CT/ Counterterrorism. I posted these comments to LinkedIn a short while ago but as always, I find Substack readers far better informed and with a perpetual desire, to better know the world that we live in. The appointment of an fresh out of college, 22-year-old at the head terrorism prevention at DHS, is ludicrous on a level that even I cannot fathom.

Below are my comments from LinkedIn.

“Were this appointment not so dangerous, it would be laughable. With most of my career in CT/ Counterterrorism, I can assure anyone that there is zero chance in hell, that this kid is worthy of anything more, than an internship or some innocuous, entry level position.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security and associated domestic terrorism components have spent an entire generation, ignoring the most lethal and dangerous, domestic extremists and domestic violent extremists in our nation, the far-right. Go ahead, check the stats, that this administration has not already struck from the public record.

I have written on this topic often and in-depth, not from a political perspective, but based on my operational expertise and deep supporting academic research.

• Hey there FBI and DHS, this is for you - by Paul Cobaugh

  

• January 6th, 2021 was an act of domestic terrorism and Donald Trump was the Osama Bin Laden of MAGA. Prove me wrong

  

  
  
  Like everything else that this administration touches, there is danger and an overwhelming lack of expertise leading any government agency or entity. This appointment will lead to tragedy.
  
  The way I have always proposed improving our CT posture, is to prioritize threats based on facts, knowledge and experience, and then apply resources commensurate with those factors.”

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My friends, CT requires deep, experienced and well-trained expertise in a wide variety of specialties. All of this also requires life experience, in order to understand humanity. Everything from tactical expertise, psychology, philosophy, Narrative Warfare, social engagement and a thousand other things go into the CT profession. Deep experience is required in all of these things or at least, a very long training period and education in all aspects of this critical national security focus. No 22-year-old has any of this, save maybe a handful of college courses, that barely scratch the surface.

No my friends, this appointment could turn tragic often and painfully. DHS has largely ignored the far-right threat, since their creation, in 2002. The far-right has been the most lethal form of domestic terrorism for the past two decades, and whose extremist far-right ideology is not significantly different from the MAGA GOP’s. This is not a political statement in any way. As noted above, I’ve written deeply on this topic in the past, and those links are included in my LinkedIn comments.

Domestic Terrorism Threats... - by Paul Cobaugh

This is just one more data point demonstrating that our national security community, is being systemically dismantled by this administration, by replacing experienced leadership with incompetence.

On a related note, Friday June 6th, the 81st anniversary of D-Day, there is a massive Unite for Veterans, Unite for America rally in DC on the mall, and others all across the nation. The rally’s agenda:

“to be a nonpartisan call to preserve veterans' jobs and benefits and promote the protection of democratic principles, according to its organizers, the Unite for Veterans Coalition, a group of veterans from various advocacy organizations."

Veterans Organizing 'Call to Action' Rally on D-Day Anniversary in Nation's Capital | Military.com

Friends and readers, we must put a stop to the dismantling of our national security and in fact, our constitutional republic. These issues should be at the forefront of what we loudly protest at every single GOP congressman’s home offices and in their social media.

When violent extremism threats of all types but the most dangerous one are contained, all that is left, is one fascist movement, masquerading as a political party.

Onward with courage

Paul