Thread by @capitolhunters

#SeditionHunters have wondered for months how the unruly crowd on Jan. 6 could produce synchronized action. Let’s ask an expert: Lt Col. Doug Mastriano (ret.), who taught Strategy at the U.S. Army War College & writes about “hybrid warfare” (link). 1/
fpri.org/article/2016/0…

Mastriano: Russia might use “not .. uniformed separatists.. but largely people in civilian attire, bemoaning fictional abuse... Hiding behind the veil of ambiguity, the unrest would appear local... If NATO [then] dithers”, Russian forces could move in “without firing a shot” 2/

Mastriano has gotten a lot of press recently for being an elected state rep. at the insurrection. But there are lots of those on Jan 6! So far AZ, GA, MO, PA, TX, WV... What sets him apart is this background. Here are some things that might scare you. 3/

In his paper, Mastriano admires the Russian strategy. At U.S. Capitol, action went pretty smoothly too. On Jan 6, Mastriano’s path suggests that he watched the 1:47 PM breach of the NW Scaffold (L), then walked to the NE corner to observe the 1:57 PM breach (R). 4/

Manipulating big crowds requires a lot of crowd control. Who could provide that? At the Capitol on Jan 6 we see some interesting groups: domestic militia, and also the Vets for Trump. Mastriano seems to know them both. (L photo are III%ers.) 5/

Here is Vets for Trump spokesman Rear Adm. Chuck Kubic (ret.) explaining how the group was founded in 2015 to provide crowd control at Trump rallies. “We started by helping to augment his security force...helping direct the crowd”. At CPAC, Feb. 2021 6/

Let’s ask Vets for Trump founder Joshua Macias! Here he is on Jan 6 shouting about Pence: “You backstabbed the veterans!” Might have to be quick because he's facing felony weapons charges for driving to Philly on Election Day in a Hummer full of guns. 7/

Or let’s ask Vets for Trump spokesman Thomas Speciale, intelligence officer (Army Reserves), employee National Counterterrorism Center. Here he is on Jan 6 shouting on Russian TV: “It doesn’t belong to them - it belongs to us!” 8/

Speciale is very instructive! Here he is watching a Thermobaric Improvised Explosive Device at a training camp. He really puts the “terror” in domestic terrorism! (Quiz: when was a thermobaric IED first used in the U.S.? A: Nashville, Dec. 2020) 9/
thedailybeast.com/nashvilles-big…

We could try to ask Speciale’s former boss at the NCTC, Chris Miller, who moved to Acting Sec. of Defense and supervised the (non) deployment of the National Guard on 1/6. But, Miller apparently doesn’t like answering questions much. 10/

You could ask our FORMER Secs. of Defense, though. On Jan 3 all 10 of them issued an unprecedented warning: “Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory” 11/
washingtonpost.com/opinions/10-fo…

Or ask the Joint Chiefs, who did something similar on Jan 11: "As Service Members...we support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values, and oath; it is against the law." 12/
16af.af.mil/News/Article/2…

Note that nothing in this thread is difficult to obtain. The video is public. The information is public. The strategies are routinely taught. When are we going to ask these questions? Who is going to ask them? 13/

Mastriano himself explains the “brilliance” of hybrid attacks: if they fail one “..simply can wait for another opportunity to apply this strategy of ambiguity when and where the strategic environment is favorable.”

No. Not again, not on our watch. 14/

Updates
#IamDougMastriano is running for PA governor
#IamJoshuaMacias remains out on bail
#IamThomasSpeciale continues to work at NCTC
Details at jan6attack.com/individuals_to….

There were many more with similar expertise at the Capitol on 1/6. Stay tuned. 15/
inquirer.com/politics/penns…