Norton explains that this is “yet another example of what intelligence agencies refer to as ‘blowback.’ Blowback is where far-right forces that the CIA, the military, and other forces support abroad are then radicalizing and working with violent extremists here at home, who carry out domestic acts of terrorism.”

“So this should be a major scandal, similar to the acts of blowback of ISIS and other Salafi-jihadist extremists in Syria and Libya, who were empowered by the CIA and the US, and then carried out violent acts of domestic terrorism here or in Europe, very similar,” Norton continued.

“Of course the reason we don’t hear that is because this group that he wanted to join, the Azov battalion in Ukraine, just so happens to be backed by the US government, and fighting Russia.”

Aaron Maté is a journalist and producer. He hosts Pushback with Aaron Maté on The Grayzone. He is also is contributor to The Nation magazine and former host/producer for The Real News and Democracy Now!. Aaron has also presented and produced for Vice, AJ+ , and Al Jazeera.