Pentagon officials say they're increasingly uncomfortable with the prominent role the military is playing in tamping down violent protests, and Trump's growing tendency to call on troops for domestic missions ranging from border security to law enforcement
Today, the nation is confronting the prospect of civil strife that rivals the racial unrest of the late 1960s in scale, even as civil-military tensions reach levels not seen since the use of National Guard units to respond to anti-Vietnam protests at Kent State university.
The Pentagon was “taken aback” by the president’s comments putting Milley in charge, according to one senior defense official. The scene erupted Monday night after police cleared protesters from Lafayette Square so that Trump could walk from the White House to the church so he could be photographed holding a Bible. Esper and Milley walked with Trump, and Esper posed for the photo as well.
Esper and Milley were actually on their way to the FBI’s Washington Field Office on Monday night when they were asked to instead head to the White House to update the president on the protest response, according to the two defense officials. “It serves no useful purpose, and perpetuates the message that the military is being put in charge of the overall response; that this is a military, rather than a social or political problem to solve,” said Lindsay Cohn, an associate professor at the Naval War College specializing in civil-military relations.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Pentagon official walks back Trump claim that top military officer is in charge of protest responseIn a contentious call with the nation's governors Monday, Trump described Joint Chiefs Chairman U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley as 'a warrior' with 'a lot of victories and no losses,' according to audio obtained by NBC.
Lire la suite »
Pentagon officials express concern as Trump threatens to use military to 'dominate' protestorsDefense officials tell CNN there was deep and growing discomfort among some in the Pentagon even before President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is ready to deploy the military to enforce order inside the United States.
Lire la suite »
Pentagon official says Defense Secretary Esper and Gen. Milley were not aware of Trump church photo op plan'Their understanding was that they were going out of the White House to go into a Lafayette Park to review the efforts to address the protests,' the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity added.
Lire la suite »
Former Defense official resigns from Pentagon post, slams Esper for role in Trump photo opIn an extraordinary resignation letter, provided to The Washington Post, a Pentagon official resigned citing Secretary of Defense Mark Esper's role in President Donald Trump's photo op.
Lire la suite »
There's Only One Reason To Be Scared Of ANTIFA (Because You Like Fascism)Even though the group’s stated doctrine is fighting fascism in all its forms, the right has long sought to use examples of violence and skirmishes at protests as examples of false equivalency between ANTIFA members and the often self-declared white supremacists they frequently square off against.
Lire la suite »
Trump says he will deploy military if state officials can't contain protest violenceTo do so, the president would need to invoke the Insurrection Act that allows U.S. troops to be deployed domestically.
Lire la suite »