Trump's Private Army Is Scarier Than You Think

[Nevilledog]

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/07/president-trump-private-army-is-scarier-than-you-think.html


It doesn’t take a legal expert to know that what’s happening in Portland, Oregon is an abuse of power. When unidentified federal forces dressed as soldiers pull people off the streets into unmarked vans, something is gravely wrong. What’s less apparent is that this abuse is part of an ongoing effort by the administration to get around “posse comitatus”: the principle that the president cannot use the military as a domestic police force. The implications for the rule of law—and potentially for the 2020 election—are staggering.

The Department of Homeland Security personnel deployed in Portland are federal law enforcement agents, not members of the armed forces. But the evidence is mounting that they are not there to enforce the law. Instead, they are acting as a paramilitary wing to assist the president in his longstanding goal to (in his words) “take over” U.S. cities run by Democrats.

This goal dates back to the beginning of Trump’s presidency. Five days after his inauguration, he tweeted: “If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible ‘carnage’ going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 216), I will send in the Feds!” (Three and a half years later, he’s about to get closer to carrying out his threat: He announced on Wednesday that he will send 200 federal agents to the city, plus 35 additional agents to Albuquerque.) He has issued similar threats periodically throughout his time in office.

But it was the protests that erupted across the country in response to the brutal police killing of George Floyd that finally gave the president his chance. At the president’s direction, the governors of 11 states (10 of them Republicans) sent their National Guard units into Washington, DC, where largely peaceful protests had been marred by isolated incidents of violence and looting. The deployment was over the objections of the city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser.

*snip*

[Cha]

1. KR

[malaise]

2. He needs to be stopped and something is seriously wrong with the system

if the only thing that can stop him is an election.

[chia]

4. +1,000,000

[CatLady78]

5. Yeah honestly

I am glad right now that I fled half way across the world years ago. I'd be shitting myself if I was in the U.S. right now.
Not that things are great anywhere but this is frightening.

[IronLionZion]

10. This is entirely about the election

he's targeting Dem cities to suppress voter turnout and scare suburban voters

[jaxexpat]

13. That ain't the only thing that works.

Men and women with good will in places of power can fix it as well. Got any?

[malaise]

15. They will save the planet

See Portland

[jaxexpat]

17. I cherish your faith.

[malaise]

18. Did you ever expect to see so many Americans protesting about

police brutality towards African-Americans. Yes I do have faith in the regular folks

[jaxexpat]

19. Oh yes, and I am sincere in my previous post, Malaise.

[malaise]

21. I am so happy with the younger generations

and many older folks as well

[jaxexpat]

22. I am reminiscent of "Les Misrables".

The plot setting is eerily similar. Paris 1832, Portland 2020.

Youth and parents throwing themselves against the Power. The stuff of history.

[malaise]

24. The year of the Leaf Blower

Love it

[jaxexpat]

26. "fleur-de-leaf" blower

Woo-Hoo

[triron]

20. Or "Operation Valkyrie"

[trueblue2007]

3. SEND THE OREGON NATIONAL GUARD IN AFTER THOSE TERRORISTS !!!!! Come on Gov Brown, do it

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. With loaded guns.

This shit must be stopped.

[trueblue2007]

7. you got that right

[Roy Rolling]

8. Bigger?

They may be bigger, better equipped, or intimidating, but they are not scary.

That’s exactly what they want, to scare people. They don’t scare me, and I would suspect they don’t scare you either.

It’s just a slip of the tongue.

[PCIntern]

9. He can send 200 in and when 900,000 citizens take

To the streets, they’re gonna need that camo.

[Mendocino]

11. Blackwater Auxilliary

[sellitman]

12. This smells of Putin

A distinct odor.

[Evolve Dammit]

14. and Prince/ Devoss Blackwater (X)

[malaise]

16. No Prince n/t

[Traildogbob]

23. So Biden's AG

Can fire the Judges that are giving permission for these thugs to abuse constitutional rights. According to the laws I served under, and risked my life for, that should be an easy case to win. Prosecute them Along with Prince, Barr and all the traitorous pus bags involved. Remember “Tiger Lady”, the defense claws that collect DNA. That is one way to identify and prosecute these trump/Barr criminals. Does trump/Barr require NDA for his soldiers to get paid with our tax dollars?

[hedda_foil]

29. Sorry, the next president can't fire Trump's judges. They'd have to be impeached.

And good luck getting them convicted by 2/3 of the Senate. There won't be 67 Dem senators to do it.

[Traildogbob]

30. Buzz kill

Then the stupid ass lady of justice holding those scales needs to be thrown into the garbage heap. There is no justice, and our legal system is a damn joke. What the hell did I serve for?

[hedda_foil]

31. To uphold the Constitution.

[Traildogbob]

32. Oh right!

Like is being done now by the commander of military and head lawyer of the country. I sure did a good job. Guessing the Jack Boots and Police siding with them are honoring all of us that have served. Sure the Navy Vet that was Beaten feels the constitution is being upheld as well. The wonderful constitution offers the death penalty for treason. Let’s uphold that.

[hedda_foil]

34. Great idea!

[superpatriotman]

25. He cannot win an insurgent war

We’re like 0 for 3 fighting those

[raging moderate]

27. Chicago is not even in the top thirty for violence, right?

I saw a list the other day, of the top thirty US cities for violence. Chicago was not even on the list. Some of the cities seemed to me to be more under Republican influence. Could this perhaps be pointed out by some prominent persons?

[EX500rider]

36. Actually Chicago make the top 10 in homicide rates:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_crime_rate

[Ms. Toad]

28. Not "scarier" to me -

that is exactly what I have known it to be from the very beginning.

[panader0]

33. Yep

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213791214

[grantcart]

35. Mountain of misinformation here

1) Federal Protective Police ( those responsible for protecting Fed buildings) are sanctioned with arrest power but are not Federal Law Enforcement officers. It is an extremely small force (about 15 in San Diego). The 80% of security officers you see at Fed Bldgs checking packages etc are private security guards, no fire arms, no arrest powers.

VA facilities also have FPP type security.

None of these offices have separate detention facilities. If they detain someone (for bringing contraband into federal facility e.g.) they have to call the local police/sheriff's office to arrest and prosecute.

2) Keeping on the arrest and detention point for a minute misdemeanor or felony trespassing would be handled at local jail facilities because federal are very limited with very sparse locations however many federal facilities, like the one in San Diego, are not currently receiving any new prisoners because of Covid 19.

My understanding is that graffiti "suspects" were cited and released and not booked into prison

3) FED LEO Agents are NOT trained with heavy tactical arms and do not have tactical. Equipment, except for a very small group that undergoes a lengthy induction, training and field deployment that takes about 16 months before they get the contract that makes them "tactical" and available for deployment as needed.

This is at most 5 % of DHS LEOS , maybe maximum 3,000 nationwide. Other DHS Officers/Agents have location and job specific contracts and cannot be ordered to this kind of duty. They are not going to volunteer for it and their unions would fight it.

4) The bigger picture that people are not seeing a that Trump is failing at deployment of force agenda. He obviously. Went to the military to deploy federal military troops and was blocked.

Barr probably told him that he had a couple of thousand Swat trained DHS agents/officers that he could deploy, but there would be arrest and detention problems.

He shot the moon and not knowing details about federal law enforcement got trapped in a quagmire in a small West Coast city and is being out maneuvered by the local PTA.



As a legal/political issue the deployment of Fed LEO is a major issue that will need investigation, prosecution and new legislation but as a tactical/strategic issue it is not "scary" just another massive Trump fuck up that drives down his numbers and helps elect more Democratic Senators.