The Associated Press reports on this hostage taking guy in Pittsburgh and they start the article with the nebulous fact that he has a “military background”. No explanation as to the background at all, just the factoid all by itself. He could have grown up by a recruiting station for all we know.
He was also arrested for robbery a few months ago, but it’s more important to lead the story with this “military background” crap because it explains the whole thing so well.
[Klein Michael Thaxton] has a criminal record that includes a guilty plea to robbery earlier this year and a minimum six-month jail sentence.
But let’s get the military thing out front, shall we?
Thanks to Twist and Chief Tango for the link.
1, 2, 3…..PTSD
RangerUp was posting this earlier, someone said he was in, but never deployed anywhere…
He probably has a public school background too. Did the AP mention that? He is or was probably employed. Did the story also say, for instance, that he has a retail or construction background? There are stories that one can conjure in which a military specialty is relevant to the crime perpetrated. But it is unabashed tomfoolery to include one’s possible military service in a story that has nothing whatsoever to do with that service. But it is stock in trade for the modern journalist.
You mean it is not likely that he had a MOS in hostage taking?
I’ve been poking around and NOTHING I’ve seen or heard gave any hint as to his “military background”. Was he Force Recon? How about a Green Beret? Maybe he was the feared Supply Clerk from the Pa ARNG. Did he do a full tour or did he wash out in book camp? 2-17 AirCav’s right. Unless the hostage served with the taker and maybe there was ome bad blood there, taker’ military background has nothing to do with it!