By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Pentagon announced that all National Guard members deployed in Washington D.C. would be armed with live weapons and conduct joint patrols with local police, a significant shift in the rules of engagement for domestic military deployments. This decision follows a recent shooting of two guardsmen, one of whom died, near the White House, prompting the administration to order more troops to the city. The move to arm these troops comes as a recent order finding the deployment unlawful is on hold, pending the Trump administration’s appeal. Additionally, the suspect in the shooting, an Afghan national, has caused the administration to launch a review of immigration policies.
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Pentagon says every national guard soldier deployed in Washington DC ‘is now armed’. Well, that certainly changes the dynamic, doesn’t it? It’s hard not to immediately think, “What could possibly go wrong?” Especially when you consider the context. The question that really comes to mind is, why weren’t they armed to begin with? It feels like an escalation, like turning up the heat on an already tense situation.
These are often young adults, maybe 18 to 22 years old. They may be well-intentioned, but they may not be prepared for the kinds of situations that can arise. To hand them weapons and give them a vague mission, well, it’s a volatile combination. You have to wonder about the intended consequences.
The official mission is “High Visibility Patrol”. That sounds a bit ominous. It implies a goal of intimidation. They’re basically there to make a statement. Some may have picked up trash, but their main purpose is to be seen and, now, to be armed. The D.C. police are providing escorts, which suggests that the authorities recognize the potential dangers.
The whole thing seems a bit counterintuitive. These troops can’t legally perform law enforcement duties, yet they are now armed. Their presence subtracts from the city’s police resources rather than adding to them. There’s a real legal gray area here. If these troops shoot someone, the legal ramifications could be devastating, putting it in the same category as an armed group opening fire on spectators at a 4th of July parade.
Why are they even there? There’s no natural disaster, no widespread riots. This doesn’t seem to make sense. Washington D.C. has a police force. You can’t help but wonder if this is a prelude to something larger, something potentially more sinister.
The use of armed military personnel in a domestic setting raises serious questions about the separation of powers and the potential for abuse. It’s one thing to have the military fight an external enemy; it’s quite another to deploy them, armed, within our own borders.
This deployment seems like a step toward a police state. Is this what the G.O.P. was seeking when they held up Gadsden flags? Now they’re seemingly applauding armed soldiers in cities. This does not feel right. Is there a desire to find a reason to use the army in blue states, potentially interfering with elections?
The possibility that Trump won’t leave office after an election is a scary prospect. It’s a setup, an attempt to stay in power until the very end. This is a deployment of armed National Guard soldiers that is, from a legal perspective, questionable, and the whole thing feels like a carefully orchestrated performance.
One has to wonder about the training these soldiers have received. Do they have clear orders about the use of force? How much has been spent on this deployment? Some of these people may have had very little recent experience with weapons. Are these troops intended to be a private army?
The financial burden alone is immense. It costs money to feed, house, and care for our veterans. This deployment is a misappropriation of resources. And then there’s the question of their loyalty and the potential for a coup, even if it’s the more subtle, incremental variety. It all feels like a dangerous game. Are we heading towards a civil war?
The rhetoric surrounding this deployment is disturbing. The talk of “antifa” and the possibility of “martial law” is deeply concerning. The possibility of these soldiers shooting someone is very real.
This situation appears to be escalating. Why now, and why the sudden need for every soldier to be armed? It’s hard not to see this as a potential catalyst for violence, a spark waiting to ignite.