If things weren’t screwed up enough in this country right now, it’s been 48 hours since I had power and my utility company says it could be another 36 hours before I can expect to see any. It’s not easy to write using your car as a charger and your throttled phone as a hotspot. Yet, I don’t know how well I’d be doing even in better circumstances, because things are so confusing and out of control.
To read David Ignatius, our brave military leaders have finally found their backbone and stood up to President Trump. He wanted to use our armed forces to put down anti-police violence protests and they forced him to back down. That might be true to a certain extent, but then who are the soldiers who are milling about the capital without insignia or any transparent chain of command? Why is the attorney general seemingly in command?
Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, has had few options this week to hold back the overwhelming show of federal force in her city: the national guardsmen from outside D.C. whom she did not request, the Bureau of Prisons and Border Patrol officers the city rarely works with, the troops in unmarked uniforms who have upset residents.
Attorney General William P. Barr has directed all of this, making the nation’s capital the primary stage for President Trump’s vow to “dominate the streets” to quell protests.
It seems to me like the Pentagon has largely extricated itself from this task, but not entirely since the National Guard is still involved. This looks more like covering their own asses than putting any kind of affirmative stop to what Trump and Barr have in mind. It Trump had to relent and allow the 82nd Airborne to demobilize from the DC area, he’s still got his border and prison cops, and his mysterious mercenary army. He may even revive his idea of federalizing the DC police force.
It a good thing that three former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have joined former Defense Secretary James Mattis in condemning Trump’s actions, and it’s encouraging that the current Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs chairman have publicly revolted. But it’s unclear that this will be sufficient to prevent the president from finding the men he needs to “dominate the streets.”
Perhaps the pushback from the Pentagon will increase the political cost, but if congressional Republicans won’t break with the president, then he’ll probably be able to create the carnage he seeks without too much difficulty.
I don’t think anyone should be doling out backslaps or high fives. The risk is as high as ever, and if the military is going to protect the people, they’re going to have to do more than let it be known that they don’t approve.
5
5
Here’s hoping that protesters and their allies in the DC area have some talented and creative leaders skilled in the use of nonviolent tactics. https://masscommons.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/this-is-an-uprising-gene-sharp-the-tools-of-civil-resistance/
In particular, Trump’s desire (need?) to dominate can be used against him. Mayor Bowser ordering DPW to work with local artists to paint “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street is one example of a clever tactic. Trump just put up a couple of miles of fencing. Can protesters use it as a backdrop for banners? Or repaint it? Or wrap it up a la Christo?
The “Cupid Shuffle” is fast becoming the unofficial dance of these protests, with clever police departments joining in the dancing and defusing potentially tense confrontations. Plus, it’s morally, legally, and politically more difficult for cops/troops to attack crowds that are dancing.
This would also be a good time for representatives and senators, bishops and archbishops, priests and rabbis and imams and monks and deacons, to take to the streets…all in the full regalia of their offices. Again, it’s harder (not impossible by any means, but harder) morally and politically to attacks those leaders than it is a bunch of “kids”.
Trump’s support among several of his key constituencies—the elderly, white Catholics, white evangelicals—is buckling. Another attack by “his” troops on clearly peaceful protesters could cause a collapse in his approval from it’s heretofore steady 42% down into the mid or low 30s.
If *that* happens there’s a decent chance that Trump’s loss of support from retired military leaders could spill over into some faction of the Republican party leadership. Even if it doesn’t, it will weaken his ability to maneuver and hurt his chances at reelection.
This is way beyond what’s gone before. They’ve been organizing all this time, knowing eventually they would be needed. They have done the most important thing…get an over reaction. Now anybody paying attention knows.
Then the lawsuit! I have no doubt Black Lives Matter is getting top flight level advice.
.
I would be more concerned as to how many soldiers will back him.
A reasonable concern. That’s why it’s significant (and helpful) that so many retired military commanders and DOD secretaries have spoken out this week. It’s a signal to the enlisted women and men *not* to back Trump.
Gene Sharp’s great essay, “From Dictatorship to Democracy”, is basically a blueprint for nonviolently overthrowing a dictatorship. One of his central points is that dictators depend on the active or passive support of key pillars of the society (e.g., religious, media, schools, the military and the police). If the opposition can build its power to the point where those pillars remove their consent from the dictator, the dictator will fall.
The US isn’t ruled by a dictator, but the same principles apply. The loss of public support in the past two weeks for violent crackdowns by the police and the military against demonstrators is an important victory in the campaign to remove Trump from office this year.
5
I think those mysterious soldiers are not federal employees at all. They are Eric Prince’s mercenaries – that’s why they have uniforms at the ready without any any markings etc.
Maybe they declared a civil war and forgot to tell us? It is going to be a lot of fun when the king loses the election and refuses to leave. Barr’s army will protect him and he will have ready made reasons all so smart.
Has that been confirmed? Haven’t seen that anywhere else.
no that has NOT been confirmed. I’ve seen reports that they are Bureau of Prisons officers.
Who pays for the mysterious army Barr is leading into battle? Is this now a civil war we have yet to recognize? Who paid for the new fencing around the WH? Did Nancy know what she was doing in the last round of money for this jerk? I think it may be all so easy to answer but someone might want to ask at the next silly news conference by that silly woman.
It looks like Trump is using National Guards from red states to put down the protests after Blue State governors refused to help. One step closer to civil war.
5