Trump to send 800 active duty military troops to southern border

[Ohiogal]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is planning to dispatch at least 800 active duty troops to the southern border at the direction of a president who has sought to transform fears about immigration into electoral gains in the midterms as a caravan of thousands of migrants makes its way through Mexico.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is expected to sign an order sending the troops to the border, bolstering National Guard forces already there, an official said Thursday. The action comes as President Donald Trump has spent recent days calling attention to the caravan of Central Americans slowly making their way by foot into southern Mexico, but still more than 1,000 miles from U.S. soil.

Trump, who made fear about immigrants a major theme of his 2016 election campaign, has been eager to make it a top issue heading into the Nov. 6 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. The president and senior White House officials have long believed the issue is key to turning out his base of supporters.

https://www.apnews.com/e7ffd2d5764244cdb1d1474bd895a863

[dameatball]

1. I hope I am wrong, but the dumbass could be creating his own Kent State situation.

Other than feeding his 35% base, what is this accomplishing? Much more downside than upside IMHO.

[Ohiogal]

2. He's stirring up the deplorables, all right

calling the caravan an "onslaught" , etc.

Hey Dumpy, these are human beings, just like you. Oh wait .....

[DBoon]

3. The troops should be there

to protect the asylum seekers from armed MAGAs.

Yes I know the intent is opposite, but I would be worried about vigilantes attacking the group

[dameatball]

4. Right. Over militarizing leads to unexpected reactions.

Kent State was National Guard, as far as I know. Who knows what this situation will bring. If this is indeed a "caravan" it can't be very hard to pinpoint the arrival time and place. They have been tracking it the entire way. Why throw another 800 armed troops into that sector? Way to much margin for error and death.

[sarah FAILIN]

5. I think we have laws against this.

"Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

[hedda_foil]

6. Sure it violates posse comitatus but what they hey!

[Vinca]

7. I hope they're armed with baby formula and Huggies.