NEWS: “In a heated & contentious debate in the Oval Office on Monday morning POTUS demanded the military put 10,000 active duty roops into the streets immediately despite the objections of AG Barr, Defense Secretary Esper & Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley,” reports @CBSDavidMartin
“ In an attempt to satisfy Trump’s demand, Esper and Milley used the call with the governors later that morning to implore them to call up the National Guard in their own states.”
“If governors didn’t “call up the Guard we’d have (active duty) troops all over the country,” this official said. That same day the Pentagon started bringing in 1600 active duty troops to bases just outside the District of Columbia.”
“Late that afternoon, Esper and Milley were on their way to the FBI’s Washington Field Office where the command center for the military and law enforcement response to the protests was located. En route they received a call to come to the White House to give POTUS an update.”
“They did not brief the President but were asked to stay for his address in the Rose Garden and then to accompany him on the walk across the Lafayette Park to St. John’s church.”
“Milley had been wearing his dress uniform in the morning but changed to his combat fatigues because he knew it was going to be a long night at the FBI command center. Neither man realized the purpose of the walk was to stage a photo op in front of the church.”
“Wednesday, after 2 nights of peaceful protests, Esper ordered 700 troops from 82nd Airborne Division to return to Ft. Bragg, then delivered a statement in the Pentagon briefing room that he was opposed to using the Insurrection Act to sending active duty troops into the streets”
“Esper was saying in public exactly what he had been saying in private to the President, but the President was furious with him at a White House meeting later that morning. After the meeting, Esper reversed his decision to send the 700 troops home.”
“not because of the President’s anger but because he had received reports that protesters were planning a million man march on Washington for Saturday. After another night of no violence in the streets, Esper again gave the order to send the 700 paratroopers back to Bragg...”
“...on Friday gave another order to withdraw all but 350 of the troops who had been placed on alert. The remaining 350 are members of the Old Guard permanently based at Ft. Myer, VA/, just across the Potomac River from the District, & they were placed on a lower state of alert.”
All of the above was reported by CBS News Pentagon Correspondent David Martin.
