Secretary of Defense Mark Esper used the term “battlespace” to describe protests in US cities in a phone call with governors on Monday. “I think the sooner that you mass and dominate the battlespace, the quicker this dissipates and we can get back to the right normal,” Esper said.
Over 17,000 troops in 24 National Guard jurisdictions have been activated to deal with the civil unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The troops are also being used to enforce curfews across the country. More than 40 cities have set curfews in place.
President Trump also spoke with the nation’s governors on Monday and called on the states to “dominate.”
“The president says he wants to dominate the streets with National Guard, with a police presence,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a briefing on Monday, explaining the president’s comments.
In the phone call, Trump also said he was putting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley “in charge” of the protest response. Gen. Milley is technically the highest-ranking military official in the country. It is not yet clear exactly what his role will be.
“General Milley is here who’s head of Joint Chiefs of Staff, a fighter, a warrior, and a lot of victories and no losses. And he hates to see the way it’s being handled in the various states. And I’ve just put him in charge,” Trump said.
Taking things a step further than bringing in the National Guard, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) called on President Trump to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, which would allow the president to deploy active-duty troops to cities across the country. The act was last invoked in 1992 as a response to protests and looting in Los Angeles after the Rodney King incident.
“If local law enforcement is overwhelmed and needs backup, let’s see how tough these Antifa terrorists are when they’re facing off with the 101st Airborne Division,” Cotton said on Twitter. President Trump retweeted Cotton and said, “100% Correct. Thank you Tom!”
Press Secretary McEnany said the Insurrection Act is an option for Trump. “The Insurrection Act, it’s one of the tools available, whether the president decides to pursue that, that’s his prerogative,” McEnany told reporters.
Speaking at the White House Monday evening, President Trump said, “if a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
Trump went on to address his plan to deal with protests in Washington DC, demonstrations that drove the president to seek shelter in an underground bunker on Friday. “As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the wanton destruction of property,” Trump said, speaking of measures he is taking in Washington.
Does this count as a “new” war ?
Most probably Dave!
We all know that Don the Con has been itching for a new war with either Iran, Korea, Russia or China.
Since that doesn’t seem to be happening soon enough perhaps the sable genius figured he would start the shooting at home instead.
The “Scientists” support Trump because the anarchist portion of the demonstrations aren’t social distancing.
It looks like we have a war. And it started with response to Corona virus, with Federal Government pretty much deciding that epidemics control mechanisms were not to be invoked. Instead an unscientific method of lockdown was implemented — expecting that in 3-6 weeks virus was going to weaken having fewer available bodies to transmit it. The standard rules — contain hotspots, quarantine the infected and test intensively — were thrown overboard. But without limiting travel — infections spread. Now, states are being blamed. And asked to open if they wish. This protest business feels similar. Feds with Trump at helm had set the combative tone from day one. Now, claiming states are weak —. he is taking over the problem. But what is next — as Governors are made look stupid, and now what. Will they fight back federalizing the problem?
There is SOME kind of war going on from the time Trump won the presidency. But it is not always clear who is behind the political barricades, and what are they defending.
But is clear Trump is knocking down the barricades and exposing the intelligence agencies as criminals one agency , governor or political opponent at a time . Trump is winning so much it is getting tiring . But I guess Trump told us we would get sick of winning every time ..
I can see what is going on. Everybody — without having to be Trump’s fan — could see the extent to which his opponents have tried to frame him, accuse him of anything imaginable. And one has to ask question — why? That various secret agencies are the hornets’ nest of power games —sure.
He is beating his opponents — sure.
But what is this all about? He gives to Israel anything they dreamed off. He gives to Pentagon anything they dreamed off. He gives power of money making out thin air to Fed — to the tune of trillions. And all that before Congress passed the legislation in Covid-19 relief.
So, which interest is he endangering?
The interest endangered is trump’s “victim” brand. No elected official of any sort has whined so much while doing so little.
Errmm…frame him ? That’s a laugh.
No it is not a laugh. One dies not have to be a Trump fan to be objective, and to be concerned about the justice system abuses fir political purposes in pursuing Trump Russiagate.
In terms of US justice history, russiagate was a fly speck. All played into trumps victim brand, and fodder for his victim base. Gave him a nice excuse for not getting any work done.
The bloviating rubberstamp is doing the gop bidding, they are covering his ass, and letting him steal the money on the national dresser. You can call it winning if ya want. Yer right about one thing, he is tiring…long time ago.
This is still not answering basic question — why? Why is he so dangerous? Keep in mind that Republican party set him up for Mueller investigation — did not have to, had control of both houses.
Republican or Democrat parties are corporations that represent other corporate interests.
One thought — are both afraid that with his presidency the perfect veneer of Presidency will lose its mystery, will reveal how it actually works, and with his disrespect to institutions — create a voter base questioning the legitimacy of parties and institutions?
But the vitriolic attacks of barely elected president signified something else — some interests he was prone to endanger. Still, what?
What interests ? It is known trump was or is a mobbed up pos. His reality show base could not know what they electing, there was no record of past policy, just different random thoughts on different days. The gop wanted to insure their rubberstamp would not taint the party, or worse.
The trump presidency has been a gift horse to moneyed, and military interests, so, he remains.
Trump hasn’t exposed anyone. He bloviates about it but if he really had that as a goal, he’s done an awful job. His reaction is more reactive which indicates he just needs a scapegoat.
So it’s a Downfall remake: Trump cowers in the Fuhrerbunker, whining that the American people weren’t worthy of him and coming up with increasingly bizarre plans for the military to save his dumb ass.
Secret Service directs where he stays… If he’s in der bunker its at their direction. The same Bunker that Obama, Bush and Bubba have I’m certain all visited at some point in their worthless lives.
Oh if only… He showed his contempt for peaceful assembly and freedom of movement by forcing people out of his path for an unscheduled visit to the so called church of the presidents just so he could hold up a bible, as if to say, “Dieu et mon droit. God is with me, not these whiny little bitches who should know their place”, a tableau vivant depicting the abuse of power in all its naked hypocrisy, a bible in the hands of a man whose golden toilet is a new golden calf. His followers think he is the new King Solomon, but he fancies himself a new Pharaoh of the Potomac.
“whose golden toilet is a new golden calf”…lol..maybe that explains the runs on toilet paper…..
I’m sure he has some kind of Ultra Ultra Ultra Soft Tissues made from the finest silks, imported from DJHINA.
Doesn’t, no, can’t wipe his own ass, has an illegal gal do it fer cheap.
That’s how it started with Melania. Love at first wipe. PS Sorry for the image.
And then deports her back to Mexico. He uses a different one each time the cheeseburgers are ready for departure.
It is not his finest hour.
I get it. You only read Trumps tweets.
“Instead an unscientific method of lockdown was implemented — expecting that in 3-6 weeks virus was going to weaken having fewer available bodies to transmit it.”
At no point in time did any of the authorities imposing lockdown measures cite anything resembling such an idiotic expectation.
At no point in time did the authorities have the constitutional authority to destroy millions of lives over a “maybe”. Especially seeing as its been overblown and deliberately miscalculated in order to foment fear. The absurdity and criminality of that alone is beyond absurd.
The virus is now the leading cause of death wordlwide. Hardly overblown.
I beg to differ. Over one hundred thousand dead, whole families wiped out. Here in my small community 50% of deaths come from nursing homes, but fighting for life are two teenage boys from the same family. If they survive they will have organ damage as well as some brain damage.
Pray that you do not have to make a decision between having to eat and getting this horrible disease.
Far from scaring people too much — authorities failed to be honest about the nature of the illness.
I question the authorities denial of the best treatment too . No doctor in democrat states will allow hydroxychloroquine to be used with zinc . So I believe the authorities are doubling the damage the virus does .too .
You know Trump’s not a doctor right? And it increases chance of death by heart failure / attack?
Of course — they are quite adept at saying things.
But since US did NOT implement containment of high infection rate areas, did NOT quarantine infected, and did NOT have purposeful testing regimen — I am SURE they had some OTHER plan for combatting the epidemics.
Since the only plan that was rolled out in all states was lockdown and shuttering of any business other than deemed essential or on-line — I am sure the plan came with EXPECTATIONS of effectiveness. Are you saying the directives that were implemented were based on NO concept of efficacy? Did it just to do something?
Now, it all seems to be moving in the direction of Vox Populi — and opening based on nothing but a hope.
Hearings in Congress are finally giving voice to true Public Health officials that are not too impressed with the process or outcome thus far.
I never said they are SAYING anything this idiotic — but they are certainly doing it.
You keep making it clearer and clearer that you haven’t the faintest idea who did or did not do what, or why, or how it turned out.
Which would be fine, if you didn’t keep pretending to know who did what, or why, or how it turned out.
Can’t imagine Minneapolis mayor pulling the police out of the 3rd precinct refusing to allow the firetrucks to run because it is just too dangerous . When We need our firetrucks and police the most Our Mayors pulls them . This man should not be mayor .He should be Charged and pay for all the damage he allowed under his care . This mayor needs a cell right next the rogue cop that will be serving time for murdering George Floyd
it only toke a few days into the crisis before the Dems. on CNN blamed Russia for being behind the riots and demonstrations across US.
“If local law enforcement is overwhelmed and needs backup, let’s see how tough these Antifa terrorists are when they’re facing off with the 101st Airborne Division,” Cotton said on Twitter.
And as always the other side will be woefully overmatched with weaponry. Just like how Tommy boy “fought” in Iraq. So easy to talk smack when you know the other side is always starting at a major disadvantage. Lets drop a Battalion of Rangers into Afghanistan with weaponry equal to the Taliban and with no air support and have Cotton in charge. We’ll see how long tough guy Tommy lasts.
Besides, I thought the 101st is antifa..
These certainly are some military times. The president sees the problem as unrest, not police brutality. He seems to think you put out a fire by smothering it with gasoline. If that doesn’t seem to work, perhaps
not enough gas was used. If he insists this be resolved by force of arms, he will probably find plenty of willing participants. The last remnants of American democracy might not survive this, but it may help us recognize that we actually live in a corporate dictatorship. The political process works perfectly as designed, it just wasn’t designed to work for most of us.
This article explains well the basic issue, less well why so little has changed to address it over decades.
https://www.vox.com/2020/5/31/21276004/anger-police-killing-george-floyd-protests
Totalitarian dreams of wealth and domination have squeezed the people with austerity supported by divide and rule racial and partisan hatreds, that’s fairly obvious. Though the countervailing power is not so obvious it is far greater than the vision of those who would borrow money to contain Russia and China militarily.
Evolution is accelerating at an accelerating rate along with Cosmos expanding at an accelerating rate. Attacking America with brainwashed police and soldiers is like attacking ocean waves with swords. Those soldiers and police are produced by desperation born of austerity, their loyalty is based on ignorance that could destroy humanity and leave the rich without wage slaves.
What will we replace obsolete representative democracy with? I propose voting for None of the Above as step one, assuming evolution does not sweep aside the long time corrupt and phony election process before November.
Grow a garden now or you will be eating grass and bark along with wanna be dictators this winter.
So if you are anti- anti-fa doesn’t that make you pro-fa? Once you start blathering about dominating the battlespace you have lost it, you are thinking about this in the wrong terms.
Those are our citizens it is the job of the police to protect those citizens and property as best they can while using the least violence possible.
I see police shooting deliberately harassing reporters (arresting, shooting),
Consider what you do if someone has a seizure and maybe poses a “threat” to your big screen do you shoot him? No you attempt to separate him from your TV while doing no damage.
Esper is calling for the “killing of his own people”, a charge that was aimed at every middle eastern leader not in the US’ good books.
According to Amnesty International, hundreds of US law enforcement officials have gone through training in Israel, both on privately and publicly funded trips, while thousands more have been trained by Israeli forces in the United States. ….who kill palestinians 24/7.
Read this link on Anti war.
Palestinian Americans draw stark comparisons of US and Israeli uses of force.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-americans-george-floyd-comparison-between-us-and-israeli-force