Written with contribution from Sheriff David Clarke
While the Democrats spent a great deal of energy last year clutching their pearls over the mere suggestion that anyone use the National Guard troops to quell widespread violence in reaction to the death of George Floyd, they apparently have very quickly shifting standards.
But what else is new?
National Guard troops are set to remain in the nation’s capital through March, something which the Democrats seem utterly unperturbed by—but House Republicans are now asking questions.
Fox News reports that 13 GOP lawmakers in the House are requesting a briefing from the Defense Department on why it is necessary for the troops to remain in Washington D.C.
Reps. Michael Waltz (R-FL), William Timmons (R-SC), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Lance Gooden (R-TX) were among those who issued a letter to acting Army Secretary John Whitley asking for the briefing.
https://www.scribd.com/document/492322104/GOP-Letter-to-Acting-Secretary-Whitley#from_embed
“Our intention is for the briefing to cover ongoing threats to the Capitol, justification of the decision for a significant troop presence through mid-March, and plans for troop utilization during the time period,” the letter, which Fox News obtained a copy of, reads.
“The National Guard should be used as an option of absolute last resort,” they also wrote. “We are seeking clarification and justification on behalf of the National Guard men and women that have kept us safe over the past month and year.”
A spox for the National Guard confirmed to Fox on Tuesday that several thousand troops will remain in Washington through mid-March, which as you’re probably aware is a full two months past the Inauguration Day proceedings they were originally deployed to guard.
“As we continue to work to meet the final post-inauguration requirements, the National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with 7,000 members and will draw down to 5,000 through mid-March,” National Guard Bureau spokesman Wayne Hall told Fox News.
“We are providing assistance such as security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to state, district and federal agencies.”
That sounds like militarization to me.
The reasoning is that the troops will be there for the second impeachment hearing of Donald Trump who yes, is no longer in office and yes, is being impeached anyway.
It’s amazing that this is the time that everyone figures out that perhaps the Capitol Hill or DC Metro police could use an extra hand—not when there actually were ongoing and significantly more chaotic and destructive riots that literally targeted a sitting U.S. president and his supporters over the summer.
This makes it all the less believable that the presence of National Guard troops has anything to do with a credible threat and everything to do with optics. And those optics should appall all Americans.
They’re trying to turn Trump supporters into domestic terrorists, having ignored the domestic terrorists running the streets for years now.
Just like COVID restrictions, troops on the street whenever conservatives are angry could easily become the new normal.
If we let it, that is.
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