Military Controversy: Pro-Life Groups Branded Terrorists in Fort Liberty Training

Earlier this week, attendees at an anti-terrorism briefing held at Fort Liberty (traditionally Fort Bragg) were shocked when one of the slides listed several prominent pro-life organizations as terrorist groups. Immediately following a training slide related to ISIS --the internationally recognized terrorist group of Islamic-extremist insurgents-- domestic pro-life groups National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) and Operation Rescue were listed as "terrorist organizations."

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is the oldest and largest national anti-abortion organization in the United States and is designated as a 501 (c)(4) advocacy group. The briefing included a slide displaying a license plate bearing the slogan "IM4IT," commonly used by pro-life supporters. This image was presented in a context that suggested mere advocacy for pro-life views could/should be equated with terrorism.

The presentation went on to condemn First Amendment-protected activities such as pro-life advocacy and opposition to Roe v. Wade, as well as demonstrations and "Truth Displays" as terroristic threats. Shockingly, the briefing also falsely attributed past incidents of abortion clinic bombings to pro-life charities, stoking fears and misconceptions about the activities of these organizations.

By branding these advocacy groups as outright terrorists, the military and the Department of Defense sent a chilling message regarding civil liberties and freedom of speech under the Biden administration.

An anti-terrorism brief was held on Fort Liberty (Bragg) today where they listed several Pro-Life organizations as “terrorist organizations.”

The slide you see here followed right after a slide about ISIS, a terror group in the Middle East.

The organizations labeled by the… pic.twitter.com/vlO6XjyGzE
— Shoe (@samosaur) July 11, 2024

Once a photograph of the slide was shared on social media, a commander's inquiry was conducted, according to Fort Liberty officials. According to a statement shared on Facebook, it was determined that the slides "were not vetted by the appropriate approval authorities, and do not reflect the views" of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Liberty, the U.S. Army, or the Department of Defense. Officials claim that these slides were created by a local garrison employee specifically for training soldiers at Fort Liberty's access points. Further, the statement says that the unauthorized slides will no longer be used and that future training materials will undergo review to ensure they comply with current Department of Defense anti-terrorism guidelines.

But why weren't the slides for such an important briefing vetted beforehand?

Fort Liberty's public affairs statement said:

***ATTENTION***
It came to our attention that an anti-terrorism slide was posted on social media –
After conducting a commander’s inquiry, we determined that the slides presented on social media were not vetted by the appropriate approval authorities, and do not reflect the views of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense.
The slides were developed by a local garrison employee to train Soldiers manning access control points at Fort Liberty.
These slides will no longer be used, and all future training products will be reviewed to ensure they align with the current DoD anti-terrorism guidance.

Fort Liberty should have larger concerns than Americans expressing anti-abortion sentiments. As RedState's Jennifer VanLaar previously reported, in May 2024 a Chechen man, Ramzan Daraev, was shot and killed while allegedly surveilling a Special Forces officer's home near Fort Liberty.

Initial reports suggested Daraev was working as a subcontractor for Utilities One, a company linked to engineering projects. However, several factors cast suspicion: Daraev lacked proper identification and utility gear, was found far from public access, and engaged in suspicious behavior by repeatedly taking photos near the soldier's home. The circumstances surrounding his death have prompted concerns about espionage or other criminal activity, and raise questions about his true intentions and affiliations.

This highly concerning shooting of a foreign national in May is not the only recent circumstance to raise eyebrows, either. In December 2022, multiple power substations were deliberately vandalized in Moore County, neighboring Fort Liberty. This criminal act of intentional vandalism resulted in widespread power outages affecting over 40,000 residents. To date, there have been no arrests or named suspects in the power grid attack.

It's clear that Fort Liberty should be more concerned with national security against potential threats to its infrastructure and personnel than what Americans' constitutionally-protected views on abortion might be.