As we head into what could be another big protest weekend, here are the questions I would have asked @SecArmy, who hastily cancelled a briefing to HASC yesterday on the role of the military in responding to civil unrest.
For everyone's safety, we still need answers right quick.
For everyone's safety, we still need answers right quick.
While I want answers for what happened in Lafayette Square and afterwards, I’m still concerned about the present.
We’re in a very tenuous moment where the role of the military could still spiral into some pretty dangerous scenarios.
My questions for @SecArmy:
We’re in a very tenuous moment where the role of the military could still spiral into some pretty dangerous scenarios.
My questions for @SecArmy:
First, what’s the chain of command: there are over half a dozen federal security forces active in DC today.
Some are under the @SecArmy, some are under AG Barr. Who reports to whom? How do both the senior leaders and the units communicate?
Some are under the @SecArmy, some are under AG Barr. Who reports to whom? How do both the senior leaders and the units communicate?
On rules of engagement: are all these forces carrying weapons? What are rules for using them? How will they respond to provocation?
There's a real possibility for one shaky member to respond inappropriately & events to spiral out of control. Public should understand those rules.
There's a real possibility for one shaky member to respond inappropriately & events to spiral out of control. Public should understand those rules.
Are these forces trained to manage civilian protests? Policing and crowd control are learned skills.
Few of the personnel out there today appear to have any training in domestic law enforcement or crowd control.
Few of the personnel out there today appear to have any training in domestic law enforcement or crowd control.
The military is trained to treat the “other” as an adversary. For domestic law enforcement, these are the people you are sworn to protect.
It’s a totally different mindset and a toxic mix if these forces are looking at the crowd as enemies.
It’s a totally different mindset and a toxic mix if these forces are looking at the crowd as enemies.
These are basic questions. This info isn't classified. HASC has asked the U.S. military these same Qs regularly on wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, and military engagements around the world.
The least they owe us is a response when the lives of their fellow Americans are on the line.
The least they owe us is a response when the lives of their fellow Americans are on the line.
