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NYT reporting Army leaders leaned on Guard to be aggressive in DC so combat troops wouldn't be used
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/us/politics/national-guard-protests.htmlInterviews with two dozen military officials as well as texts, internet chats, audio recordings, emails and documents obtained by The New York Times also show that:
Senior Army leaders — in an effort to prevent what they feared would be a calamitous outcome if President Trump ordered combat troops from the 82nd Airborne Division holding just outside city limits to the streets — leaned heavily on the Guard to carry out aggressive tactics to prove it could do the job without active-duty forces.
Guard leaders issued a flurry of ad hoc orders that put thousands of Guard troops in face-to-face conflict with fellow Americans.
Some of the Guard troops were just out of basic training, and others had no experience in controlling disturbances in the streets. Troops were allowed to drive heavy vehicles on the streets without the usual licensing.
Senior Army leaders — in an effort to prevent what they feared would be a calamitous outcome if President Trump ordered combat troops from the 82nd Airborne Division holding just outside city limits to the streets — leaned heavily on the Guard to carry out aggressive tactics to prove it could do the job without active-duty forces.
Guard leaders issued a flurry of ad hoc orders that put thousands of Guard troops in face-to-face conflict with fellow Americans.
Some of the Guard troops were just out of basic training, and others had no experience in controlling disturbances in the streets. Troops were allowed to drive heavy vehicles on the streets without the usual licensing.
Found this thanks to a tweet minutes ago from BuzzFeed's Paul McLeod:
Link to tweet
10 replies
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The horror!
Thank God they don't have guns!! Oh wait...
Damn Dick Act, reinventing the militia and all.
I am quite happy they are "well-regulated"
For example, a 2014 Government Accounting Office report cited 2,000 to 5,000 rounds being used per soldier each year during training and certification programs. “Experienced officers use about 600 rounds a year,” said the report.
People who try to make an issue of stuff like this are asses.
Edit: Pssst - know what else they have?
The 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard is located at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The 113th Wing is the air component of the District of Columbia National Guard. As the only federal National Guard unit, its chain of command extends from the President of the United States, through the Secretary of the Army, to the Commanding General, DC National Guard. The 113th Wing is an Air Combat Command-gained unit and is also an Air Mobility Command component.
The 113th Wing fiercely defends the National Capitol Region with an unrivlaed 24/7 Aerospace Control Alert force and provides domestic operation capabilities in support of the District of Columbia. The Wing engages globally through exceptional airlift for national leaders and provides lethal fighter aircraft and agile combat support forces for Combatant Commanders.
The 113th Wing fiercely defends the National Capitol Region with an unrivlaed 24/7 Aerospace Control Alert force and provides domestic operation capabilities in support of the District of Columbia. The Wing engages globally through exceptional airlift for national leaders and provides lethal fighter aircraft and agile combat support forces for Combatant Commanders.
