Staff Reports
The latest saga involving would-be Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh raises a few eyebrows, not least because it underscores just how deeply entrenched the surveillance state is in the lives of American citizens. A former FBI agent recently weighed in, opining that it’s nearly inconceivable intelligence agencies would not already have Routh on their radar, especially given his quirky impatience to travel across battlefields while plotting to recruit foreign fighters for Ukraine. One has to wonder—how is it that a guy like Routh can go gallivanting across the globe, yet folks like him generate little more than head-scratching among those tasked with national security?
Routh’s escapades began after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when he decided he’d rather join the fray than sit at home. After getting spurned from the foreign legion due to his age and lack of military chops, he pivoted to a bold plan B: recruiting fighters. While some might label this as bravery bordering on stupidity, it certainly raises the question of how a 56-year-old with no combat experience believes he has what it takes to make a difference in a war that more seasoned professionals are attempting to navigate. Yet, that didn’t stop him from trying to whip together an “International Legion.” Who knew the role of armchair general turned international recruiter was open for applications?
This is a HUGE development. This means the cellphone, equipment, communications, and more are all in the hands of Flordia. The FBI cannot do a cleanup this time.
Ron DeSantis: "The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500… pic.twitter.com/gfC40OVOga
— Eric Deters (@bulllaw) September 16, 2024
The former agent didn’t mince words, suggesting that Routh’s devices were probably compromised, and it’s hard to argue with that kind of logic. Anyone traipsing around in conflict zones searching for recruits might just find themselves on the receiving end of some digital eavesdropping. That begs the question: if Routh’s devices were compromised, what kind of juicy intel are those agencies sitting on? It seems like Routh stumbled into more intrigue than he bargained for—and not even as a contestant on a reality show. Some might even say he’s living in a spy novel.
However, the die-hard optimism Routh displayed about the conflict being a “black and white” showdown might come across as naïve. A conflict that involves a tangled web of international interests and geopolitical rivalries hardly fits into his simplistic view of good versus evil. But that hasn’t stopped him from dreaming up a plan to recruit utes by suggesting they “should be motivated to support Ukraine.” If only the power of positive thinking could arm his battalion!
Routh’s previous musings about sneaking former Afghan soldiers out via “purchasing passports” from the “corrupt” Pakistani government is like something out of a bad action flick. This guy clearly has some ideas about how to cut through red tape like a hot knife through butter. At the end of the day, though, what’s most telling isn’t just Routh’s misguided attempts at glory but how the national security apparatus seems to stand by while he concocts his schemes. It raises the stakes on how effectively intelligence agencies monitor domestic threats, particularly when the individual in question has aspirations to commit political violence against a former president. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were more concerned about ensuring the safety of American citizens instead of tracking down every college kid waving a flag?
