Posted on 06/05/2020 12:33:13 PM PDT by Scarpetta
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has told the District of Columbia National Guard and guardsmen from other states who have arrived in the nation's capital as backup to not use firearms or ammunition, a sign of de-escalation in the federal response to protests in the city after the killing of George Floyd, according to officials familiar with the decision.
The Department of Defense, led by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, appears to have made the decision without consulting the White House, where President Trump has ordered a militarized show of force on the streets of Washington D.C. since demonstrations in the city were punctured by an episode of looting on Sunday. Trump specifically had encouraged the National Guard to be armed.
Initially, a small group of the guardsmen deployed in the city had been carrying guns while standing outside monuments, but the bulk of the forces, such as those working with federal park police at Lafayette Square in front of the White House, didn't carry firearms out of caution. Now, all of the roughly 5,000 guardsmen who have been deployed or are deploying to Washington, D.C., have been told not to use weaponry or ammunition, according to four officials familiar with the order.
"The whole purpose behind that was a purposeful show of de-escalation," said one U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an order that hasn't been made public yet. "We're here, but we're walking things down."
The White House has not been involved in the decision, a senior administration official said. Trump has encouraged the National Guard to be armed, and wanted them to be as a show of force.
(Excerpt) Read more at thetelegraph.com ...
The story was scooped by Washington Post reporters, so you know it’s true! /s
“I hate them all. Literal hate.”
Same here. I can never reason with these folks or get along. Way beyond that.
Here’s a thread from yesterday that suggests to me that Trump, Barr, DOD, etc. may be using some misdirection:
https://twitter.com/drawandstrike/status/1268590120422248451
I think that is exactly what Esper wants, to get fired, either because he doesn’t like the job and/or Trump; or in the alternative he wants to be on the outside like General Mattis so that he can snipe at Trump for having been canned by him and to attack him politically like a good little Hate Trump RINO.
If this is against Trump's wishes, Esper should be fired and relieved of duty immediately.
“this guy is a TOTAL POS”
Maybe so but he’s Trump’s POS.
“Amazing how many people still fall for whatever the compost or other leftist sites print.”
These would be the same pearl clutchers who were screaming we were all gonna die from the China Virus.
Lots os trolls here on FR.
Bingo, Dont these assholes. ever think?
The kneepads are on order from China, but they have been delayed due to supply chain issues.
We need to restart our domestic kneepad industry!
;-)
A couple of observations for consideration:
From the excerpt: “Initially, a small group of the guardsmen deployed in the city had been carrying guns while standing outside monuments, but the bulk of the forces, such as those working with federal park police at Lafayette Square in front of the White House, didn’t carry firearms out of caution.”
It is not uncommon for the NG not to carrying firearms when they are on their lines for crowd control. Those “in the mix” have not been carry firearms.
Next: Almost every other person in DC is some kind of federal agent or cop. There will be plenty of armed folks there if, God forbid, they are needed.
Also: AG Barr is leading the protest response. It would hard to imagine that he would not have been informed and agreed.
Finally: Would this be the first time a media outlet would try to drive a wedge or foment dissension within the Administration by the way it presents a story?
I’m no troll and I wouldn’t put it past Esper to make a command decision to both stick it to Trump and telegraph weakness to the left.
Everything you said is true. Reporting these kind of stories are meant to damage Trump. No one retracts the lies after they’ve been told.
There are many trained, federal agent swat teams from federal departments that AG Barr has called up. There are also Secret Service agents. These aren’t under Esper’s control and are armed to the teeth. Look at that counter-sniper guy near St John’s church on June 1st. They’ve got lots of fire power, even if the NG is de-militarized (IF true). Awaiting confirmation on this report first.
Starting to wonder if Kelly and Mattis were in on the original coup and are worried about what’s about to be disclosed.
Hey! Stop that truth telling. This is all about fomenting chaos and exposing government assets to terrorists who are both organized and have had practice cracking fed heads.
The components of these massively complicated and coordinated operations do not function independently, as any military or special task force planner knows
Use your brians folks. DS wants everyone to believe Trump has lost the confidence and loyalty of the DoD .... part of the plan is to trot out Op Eds by all obamas retired Generals and hint darkly at active duty involvement.
That statement by Mattis isn't even logical. Political gibberish. So why and why now?
Fake news.
There’s another bum pick for a key position. What’s an Esper?
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