US airman Aaron Bushnell claimed to have classified knowledge of US forces fighting in Gaza tunnels on night before setting himself on fire: pal

New York Post ^ | Feb 27 2024 | Jack Morphet , VIEW AUTHOR ARCHIVE GET AUTHOR RSS FEED Social Links forAndy Tillett and Social Link

[euram]

Aaron Bushnell claimed he had secret knowledge of US troops fighting in Hamas tunnels under Gaza — just hours before setting himself on fire in an “extreme act of protest” against Israel, a close pal told The Post on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old airman — who served in the Air Force’s 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, but also interacted with radical anarchist groups online — ranted that he had “top-secret clearance’’ for military intelligence data in the call to his friend Saturday night, he said.

[Brian Griffin]

“The 70th ISRW conducts global ISR in air, space, and cyberspace. It comprises of 6,200 Total Force Airmen assigned to six groups, 22 squadrons, and two detachments spanning 28 locations worldwide.”

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/446747/70th-isrw-welcomes-new-commander

[Delta 21]

[marron]

I would not be upset if it was true.

[desertsolitaire]

Thank you, I had forgotten how Manning did his data theft and it reminds me just how much of the security we have in our institutions depends upon the honor and decency of citizens acting in a lawful manner.

[Brookhaven]

He set himself on fire; he was a nut case.

There’s no reason to believe anything he ever said, because no sane person would burn themselves alive.

[af_vet_1981]

He should never have received or retained his security clearance, as evidenced by his divulging information he said was classified. The standards for clearances in the USAF other agencies seem to have fallen for various reasons. In this case, it seems to be a lack of integrity, patriotism, and antisemitism evidenced by hatred of Israel.

[af_vet_1981]

Not “a lack of” antisemitism evidenced by hatred of Israel, but rather a global pandemic of hatred for Israel.

[Night Hides Not]

Heck, one can go to college, get indoctrinated in a much more comfortable setting, and have the taxpayers pay for your experience.

That's how I graduated from Gonzaga with zero student debt. What I experienced on active duty was icing on the cake. Four years in Germany, lived in Traben-Trarbach, Platoon Leader (two years), XO, Battalion S-4. Was on AF Bases the entire time, closest thing to civilian life.

When I returned to the States, I was complimented by a hard ass uncle: last time I saw you, you were a pampered kid. Now I see a man standing before me. LOL, whatever.

[funwithfood]

Unfortunately the evidence was destroyed when he set himself on fire....

[af_vet_1981]

he was in a cult group (growing up). He enlisted in 2020. For the clearance...it seems the cult thing never came up. Prior to the 1990s...it would have been a red-flag.

I don't think it was a cult that did him in, but rather his rebellion from conservative Christianity, leading him to become an anarchist. There are some posters on FR that seem to be like him when one reads their posts, especially regarding their anti-Israel beliefs.

Hostile critics have attempted to shrug off Aaron’s action as the consequence of mental illness. On the contrary, Aaron’s choice was a political action arising from his deeply held anarchist convictions. In the following collection, we share Aaron’s own summary of his politics, followed by testimony from three of Aaron’s close friends.


As Aaron recounted to his comrades in a mutual aid group in San Antonio, he grew up in a very Christian conservative white enclave in Cape Cod. He was 18 years old when Donald Trump was elected; he joined the Air Force in 2019. While in the Air Force, he arrived at anarchist politics through a process of self-education.


Aaron states: I am an anarchist, which means I believe in the abolition of all hierarchical power structures, especially capitalism and the state… I view the work we do as fighting back in the class war which the capitalist class wages on the rest of humanity. This also informs the way in which I want to organize, as I believe that any hierarchical power structure is bound to reproduce class dynamics and oppression. Thus, I want to engage in egalitarian forms of organizing that produce horizontal power structures based on mutual aid and solidarity, which are capable of liberating humans…


“I wish for my remains to be cremated. I do not wish for my ashes to be scattered or my remains to be buried as my body does not belong anywhere in this world. If a time comes when Palestinians regain control of their land, and if the people native to the land would be open to the possibility, I would love for my ashes to be scattered in a free Palestine.”

There is a pandemic of evil sweeping the world in the form of a hatred of the Israel and the Jews in the Dispersion. Every soul is being tested.

[MrRelevant]

Mainly why its unbelievable. US is not committing forces to Israel.

[Owen]

The single thing I personally have found most annoying about this story is the inability of reporters to give an accurate rank.

There is no way he was an Airman after 4 years. I saw one media report he was an officer. And then a quote from his Linked In saying he was pursuing a degree.

He was likely an E3 or E4 and why can’t that be said?

As for being pro Palestinian, no reason military people can’t have an opinion on the Middle East. Beyond that, he was mentally ill. Military service generates mental illness in many ways, not least of which is the safe-seeming tinnitus from gunnery training. Over years that can cause all sorts of mental illness.

[af_vet_1981]

There is no way he was an Airman after 4 years.

Not an Airman but rather a Senior Airman (he probably would have made SGT but well, ... he had issues); not after 4 years but rather

Senior Airman Aaron Bushnell, of Whitman, Massachusetts, walked up to the embassy on Sunday afternoon, doused himself with accelerant and lit his Air Force uniform on fire. He was 25 years old and had been on active duty since May 2020, according to the service.

The man should not have retained his clearance but the winds, the winds are blowing, and not in a good direction, yet.

[gundog]

When I was in, E-3 was Airman 1st Class, and E-4 was Senior Airman for one year, and then Sergeant after a year and NCO schooling. Rank comes pretty slowly in the AF, or did.

[captain_dave]

Anyone who suicides by setting himself on fire is not mentally stable. Can’t believe anything from a person like that.

[gundog]

Looks like Sergeant has been eliminated as a rank in the AF. It goes from SrA to SSgt. Not sure what TIS/TIG requirements are tor promotion.

[BobL]

“Mainly why its unbelievable. US is not committing forces to Israel.”

True, they wouldn’t in Poland awaiting orders to enter Ukraine if that were the case.

[BobL]

“Why do you think our military accepted his enlistment?”

Because this IS NOT the Reagan Military anymore, this is the Dylan Mulvaney Military. That’s also one of the reasons we have NO BUSINESS picking a land war against Russia.

[Rowdyone]

Top Secret is not as elevated as one might think. Heck, I had a TS clearance as a Security Policeman over 50 years ago. This guy would need a much higher clearance to have pertinent knowledge of what he claimed to know.

[Rappini]

I would hope we are supporting them with Tunnel rats like they called them in Nam.