That military activity in Portland has more than one goal in mind.

[lunatica]

It’s to push our side around and thus it will please his spittle flinging raging base because we’re being shot in the head and gassed and jackbooted around, but it also plays into the fears of the 1% that we’ll storm the gates and eat them.

He’s been touting that he’s a law and order leader. He is desperate for his base to stay loyal and continue to support him. Even if he has nothing else to offer he can always make them happy by kicking us around.

The thing to remember about Trump is his craving to be loved by the 1%.

[The Wizard]

1. Methinks

it's Blackwater mercenaries. It's how he circumvents the law.

[lunatica]

2. I think you're right.

Their job is obviously to follow orders in a way that the normal military would object to.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Here's how the Portland Provocation might be operating

My speculation fleshed out along your lines: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213775926

[BittyJenkins]

3. And I bet the Proud Boys

are helping them out, pretending to be Antifa and cause destruction. Then they can call it a riot.
Very scary.

[lunatica]

4. I wouldn't bet against your bet

We must keep reminding ourselves that it’s all theater all the time with Trump. ALL the time.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. tRump thinks he can win back the white suburbs by breaking Portland and "fixing it". . . . nt

[lunatica]

7. Trump is setting himself up as their protector.

The 1% are very fearful of us.

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. "fears of the 1% that we'll storm the gates and eat them"

Pass the ketchup!

[lunatica]

14. Ha!

Ketchup is a great condiment under the right circumstances!

[Wounded Bear]

9. Nacht und Nebel...look it up...nt

[lunatica]

12. If Trump had the resources and personnel to do that

it would happen. In this case he most likely only has these few thugs. And so far none of these people were disappeared or killed.

But they have to start somewhere.

[Wounded Bear]

15. Yeah, well that is the premise for the OP...

Portland is a dry run and proof of concept test.

[lunatica]

17. My intention was to add more to what is motivating him

He may just be trying to impress his followers and funders and the Republicans who seem to be distancing themselves from him. He wants to impress them and show he will protect them from the filthy masses.

If this is his attempt to take over with military muscle it’s really a pathetic action. Every successful tyrant takes over all at once when it comes to the militarized policing. And they hit many targets at once. They knock all their enemies off their footing at once.

I also have a hard time picturing him planning something like this for real. His shtick is to do theater. Put on a show. Look good.

[empedocles]

10. . . . and more deflection

[Imallin4Joe]

11. I'm with the many who say that the militarization of police forces is a glaring example of Fascism.

nt

[lunatica]

13. No argument there

We’ve debated that at great length.

[Wounded Bear]

16. Yeah, it's been going on for a while...nt