[Maru]

I did see some information before it was taken down..



The would-be shooter purports to be recruiter for Ukraine. The post above is supposed to be from his FB (you can see his picture under the American flag). Note there's also a seemingly random reference to Taipei in the top right... Google "Taipei 228 Memorial" and it produces interesting results. I'm not convinced he's all that he claims. His political postings are all over the place and yet he's still attached enough to reality that he's capable of taking action on his views. All that said, this isn't the actions of someone whose one man army has been going very well, so someone with something to prove maybe...

Interestingly, NYT claims they interviewed him in the past:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/15/u...ect-routh.html

Mr. Routh, a former roofing contractor from Greensboro, N.C., was interviewed by The New York Times in 2023 for an article about Americans volunteering to aid the war effort in Ukraine. Mr. Routh, who had no military experience, said he had traveled to the country after Russia’s invasion and wanted to recruit Afghan soldiers to fight there.

From this article (paywalled, but I'm pasting contents here):

Spoiler:

Volunteers trained Ukrainian soldiers last year as part of the Mozart Group, which two former Marines established to help Ukraine. It disbanded after one founder sued the other, alleging theft and harassment.Credit...Laura Boushnak for The New York Times

Justin Scheck and Thomas Gibbons-Neff

Justin Scheck, an international investigative reporter, and Thomas Gibbons-Neff, the Ukraine correspondent, reported this article from Ukraine and around Europe.

Published March 25, 2023Updated June 24, 2023

Want to stay updated on what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine? , and we’ll send our latest coverage to your inbox.

They rushed to Ukraine by the thousands, many of them Americans who promised to bring military experience, money or supplies to the battleground of a righteous war. Hometown newspapers hailed their commitment, and donors backed them with millions of dollars.

Now, after a year of combat, many of these homespun groups of volunteers are fighting with themselves and undermining the war effort. Some have wasted money or stolen valor. Others have cloaked themselves in charity while also trying to profit off the war, records show.

One retired Marine lieutenant colonel from Virginia is the focus of a U.S. federal investigation into the potentially illegal export of military technology. A former Army soldier arrived in Ukraine only to turn traitor and defect to Russia. A Connecticut man who lied about his military service has posted live updates from the battlefield — including his exact location — and boasted about his easy access to American weapons. A former construction worker is hatching a plan to use fake passports to smuggle in fighters from Pakistan and Iran.

And in one of the more curious entanglements, one of the largest volunteer groups is embroiled in a power struggle involving an Ohio man who falsely claimed to have been both a U.S. Marine and a LongHorn Steakhouse assistant manager. The dispute also involves a years-old incident on Australian reality TV.

Such characters have a place in Ukraine’s defense because of the arms-length role the United States has taken: The Biden administration sends weapons and money but not professional troops. That means people who would not be allowed anywhere near the battlefield in a U.S.-led war are active on the Ukrainian front — often with unchecked access to weapons and military equipment.

Many of the volunteers who hurried to Ukraine did so selflessly and acted with heroism. Some have lost their lives. Foreigners have rescued civilians, aided the wounded and fought ferociously alongside Ukrainians. Others raised money for crucial supplies.

Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.

A version of this article appears in print on March 26, 2023, Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: U.S. Volunteers Add to Chaos On Battlefield.

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His reply section on his X account (his activity) was very recently active (before his acct was killed off) and he @'s everyone it seems... anyone willing to listen, but only users of actual importance, because of course...

Ever since the debate, the rhetoric has gotten worse, so not surprising it incentivizes the crazies to act and make themselves a focal point to separate themselves from the rest of the noise... they did get him alive, which is rare... so maybe needed answers will eventually come of that.

Re: NYT Article; Contract mercenaries are a thing. Some people leave the military and they go that route and the US govt benefits because they don't have any involvement with the dirtier aspects. We know someone who used to be in the field, but it's common knowledge. The military is one part of a big industry... a sad one.

As to whether political violence is acceptable, it's never acceptable, regardless of which party or candidate it targets... before this happened, I was saddened to see some of the directions posts and threads were going. I think it's fine to ask questions and to speculate, but there really does seem to be a thirst among some for a "something" to happen, like it's a form of entertainment... and indeed, something did.