FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF DC IS NOT JUST AN “UNUSUAL DIRECTIVE”

Who will take responsibility if and when this all goes south? “National Guard members participating in the military deployment that the President Donald Trump has ordered in Washington, D.C., will “soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons,” the Pentagon said in a statement Friday, following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s formal authorization allowing troops to carry firearms in the nation’s capital.” WaPo 8/22 Will they? Officials with Joint Task Force-DC said in a statement Friday morning that they were aware of media reports about the authorization to carry firearms, but insisted that “no change to our arming posture” had been made. Maybe them? After Trump ordered the deployment on Aug. 11, military officials said troops would not carry firearms but would have them nearby. The Army later said last week that Guard members would wear body armor but would not have firearms with them or in their vehicles. Or them? A White House official, responding to written questions, said last weekend that National Guard troops “may be armed, consistent with their mission and training, to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.” Will this person? Is anyone willing to inform the public as to this occupation reality? Who’s making all these decisions? More likely, too many cooks in the kitchen and they all think they’re chefs. Interesting factoid: About 5,000 Guard members were deployed in DC to quell protests in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd. How many were deployed during 1/6? “Military commanders have coordinated with police officials, balancing the unusual directive to deploy troops on domestic soil with President Donald Trump’s desire to involve the military in a federal crackdown on crime.” Unusual directive? Is this what we’re calling a federal takeover of DC? Because we know exactly who’s in control of the city. “We’re not playing games. We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places,” Trump said. “But we’re going to stay here for a while. We want to make this absolutely perfect. It’s our capital.” Can you say trial run?