Most media coverage of this portrays Ethan Melzer as a neo-Nazi, and the whole thing as a neo-Nazi, white supremacist plot. Reality is more complicated, and less convenient for the media narrative.
One important aspect of this story is that it shows yet again that the neo-Nazis do not oppose jihad, as is often claimed, but support it and want to ally with jihadis.
“US Military Private Ethan Melzer pleads guilty of terrorism,” by Ashley Hermalin, Jerusalem Post, June 26, 2022:
US Army Private Ethan Melzer (Also known as Etil Reggard,) in conjunction with the Order of the Nine Angles terrorist group, planned an attack on his unit during a scheduled deployment to Turkey. He pled guilty to it on Friday….
Melzer had been a member of the terrorist organization since 2017 or earlier, according to the US Department of Justice. While stationed in Italy in 2019, he consumed the media propaganda from the Order of the Nine Angles and other extremist organizations, such as ISIS.
What is Order of the Nine Angles?
Order of the Nine Angles is a terrorist organization known for its Neo-Nazi and white supremacist views. The organization has publicly admired Adolf Hitler and Usama Bin Laden and holds satanic beliefs. Members are ordered to infiltrate governmental bodies to access secure information, gain training, and identify individuals to recruit for the purpose of committing further violence. Melzer enlisted for these reasons….
Melzer and his co-conspirators labeled the attack a “Jihadi attack” and its objective was mass-casualty.
Having a far Islamist reach
The information was then shared with members of al Qaeda and Melzer demanded the attacks’ success in return for his possible sacrifice of losing his freedom. “[Y]ou just gotta understand that currently, I am risking my literal free life to give you all this,” he said in an encrypted message.
Melzer plead guilty to the attempted murder of military members, attempting, and providing material support to terrorist organizations and illegally transmitting national defense information that could injure the country. In his statement to the police, Melzer admitted to committing treason….
