Esper breaks with Trump to oppose using active duty troops to quell protests
Source: CNN
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Wednesday that he does not support using active duty troops to quell the large-scale protests across the United States triggered by the death of George Floyd and those forces should only be used in a law enforcement role as a last resort, directly contradicting President Donald Trump.
"The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act," he said during a briefing at the Pentagon.
Esper also attempted to explain his use of the word "battlespace" when discussing quelling violence on the streets amid civil unrest.
"It's something we use day in and day out ... it's part of our military lexicon that I grew up with...it's not a phrase focused on people," he said. "In retrospect I would have used different wording."
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/politics/esper-insurrection-act-protests/index.html
Maeve
(42,281 posts)onetexan
(13,036 posts)He's realizing he's losing control and public support, so is tightening his authoritarian grip. The more frightening thing is Cotton, LowBarr and Mcturtle and other enablers are in lock step doing his bidding. Horrifying. I hope to God Esper will hold his stance and NOT obey this criminal administration's orders to deploy troops to our streets. God help us, this is really unnerving.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)Cognitive_Resonance
(1,546 posts)sarisataka
(18,618 posts)From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to the service heads said. It referred to the military's oath to the Constitution and the National Guard working in the states.
In the military world that is an unheard of rebuke to allow such a memo to go public.
bucolic_frolic
(43,137 posts)realize 24/7 dementia care will offer them no sanctuary
AllyCat
(16,180 posts)I have no confidence in anyone in 45's administration or leadership circle.
Pantagruel
(2,580 posts)As I proposed yesterday, calling this bluff would probably confound Trump. Generals and troops don't want to do this, not what they signed up for, more likely to cross over to the protesters side.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213528407
angrychair
(8,697 posts)Most people in the military are either a white nationalist, neo-nazi or religious zealot or combination thereof and would not hesitate to kill and destroy in trump's name.
DC proved they are more than willing to follow trump's orders to attack unarmed civilians on his command.
Pantagruel
(2,580 posts)While all these elements are present they don't dominate.
They're not the SS.
dware
(12,369 posts)I served 35 years in the USMC and what you say is an out and out lie, the vast majority of military personnel are not what you claim they are, they are honest hard working people who take their oath very seriously.
You should be very ashamed of yourself by lying about our military men and women.
angrychair
(8,697 posts)Yes, there are many dedicated and brave people in the military. Doesn't change the fact that it has a serious white nationalist problem.
Places named Fork Polk, Fort AP Hill, Fort Hood should also make one ask the right questions.
https://warontherocks.com/2020/05/of-course-the-u-s-military-has-a-white-supremacy-problem-its-baked-in/
dware
(12,369 posts)You said most people in the military, which is an outright lie.
Yes, there are some as you describe, but to label as most of the people is a slur against the men and women of the military.
Done here.
dware
(12,369 posts)I suspect you can't because what you're claiming is an outright lie.
angrychair
(8,697 posts)There are former military, racist rage monsters, that find a home in the police force.
It is not uncommon, that when a racially motivated attack on a person of color is documented that police officer was former military and often had discipline issues.
dware
(12,369 posts)That's what you said.
Those are your words.
I've literally been around the military my entire life. My father served for 28 year years, including 4 tours in Vietnam. I worked with the military for 18 years as an adult.
"Most" is appropriate given that the racism is foundational, from the way we name our facilities and ships, to how the military has treated people of color in the past.
Lets take Vietnam as an example. A disproportionate number of black men were drafted into the military and in combat units in Vietnam. At one point during the war black men in combat units, mainly Army and USMC, represented 20% of all deaths in Vietnam.
Its institutionalized within the military itself. We are training and deploying people of color in the military on facilities named after slave-owning, Confederate war-era officers, on boats named after self-avowed segregationists. As recently as a survey in 2019 over half of POC in the military experienced or witnessed white nationalism if some kind.
Link: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/02/06/signs-of-white-supremacy-extremism-up-again-in-poll-of-active-duty-troops/
I didnt say the military had a white nationalist problem, people in the military did. The military itself did. It will continue to be that way as long as we have facilities and see ships named for racists and treat people of color as second class citizens in their own nation's military.
dware
(12,369 posts)and served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, so those are my creds also.
Yes, there a some bad apples in the Armed Forces, but it's not a majority of the men and women who serve our country, like you claim.
angrychair
(8,697 posts)And ignore the systemic racism that the military continues to promote to this day.
If I change "most" to "to much" is that better?
Will it change the name of Fort Hood? Or the USS Stennis? Or the 53% of active duty poc in the military that experienced or witnessed white nationalism in the military?
I'll change whatever word you want to that allows us to get past word usage and to acknowledge that it is a real and pervasive and foundational issue in the military.
keithbvadu2
(36,778 posts)Time for Dotard to fire/replace Esper with a better sycophant.
I mean 'resign to spend more time with the family.'
2naSalit
(86,569 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,778 posts)NCjack
(10,279 posts)a) the Covid-19 infection and death rates will increase at least over the next 2 weeks; and
b) the launch to open businesses will slide backwards.
Trump is finished.
Each Republican senator must eat a bottle of calcium pills, grow a backbone, and deliver this message to Trump: Resign immediately or senators will invite the House to do an emergency impeachment.
ArizonaLib
(1,242 posts)or that this 'president' is more likely to do a photo op than anything decent or constructive?
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)Except for McTurtle, but the demented must support each other, right?
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)Motherfucker
ArizonaLib
(1,242 posts)Lying liar - who else would president sphincter put in charge of the most powerful and expensive military in history? Someone willing to go King George on Americans.
yonder
(9,663 posts)Former Secretary of Defense breaks with tRump to abide by the law.
Mustellus
(328 posts)( which I've been with for > 40 years )
An all hands message. Diversity and inclusion are our strengths. https://www.airforcemag.com/goldfein-wright-to-host-town-hall-on-racial-inequality-in-the-air-force/
Included the entire text of yesterdays message from the First Sargent of the Air Force https://www.stripes.com/news/air-force/air-force-s-top-enlisted-leader-speaks-out-on-black-rage-urges-change-1.632076
Reading the tea leaves, Trump is losing the military.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)Lock him up.
(6,927 posts)... formerly known as "Blackwater" and he's keeping his white-supremacists nazi cRackpots.
Lock him up.
crickets
(25,963 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)A little back info. He is one of the Senior Enlisted Advisors to the JCS. Each branch has one, including the Nat Guard. They are the ranking enlisted in their particular branch. They report directly to the JCS about all things enlisted and they are listened to. They are the bell weather. Further, they seldom go public -- unless Them What Be In Charge tell them "Got your back. Go for it."
Chief just went on record that Zoomers are not happy, especially the black ones.
"....Trump is losing the military."
He's just forced them to consider ...
"Is that an illegal order and what will I do if it's given?" That one no one wants to think about because if your superior(s) are total looney tunes, things get unpleasant.
Yes, some will go to "Kill 'em all; let God sort them out." I believe many more will ask themselves "Can I kill another American just because s/he stole a TV?" Some may be asking themselves that right now.
ProfessorGAC
(65,001 posts)Thanks for posting that.
He's smart & reasoned.
He actually said "loony tunes".
sarge43
(28,941 posts)The vetting those guys go through is fierce, so he has some chops.
What I like was no bs. Off duty old war birds gettin' real language.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,922 posts)or more than likely Esper's trying to cover his ass.