Several service members told advocacy groups they felt like pawns in a political game and assignment was unnecessary
California national guards troops and marines deployed to Los Angeles to help restore order after days of protest against the Trump administration have told friends and family members they are deeply unhappy about the assignment and worry their only meaningful role will be as pawns in a political battle they do not want to join.
Three different advocacy organisations representing military families said they had heard from dozens of affected service members who expressed discomfort about being drawn into a domestic policing operation outside their normal field of operations. The groups said they have heard no countervailing opinions.
“The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for,” said Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative, which represents the interests of military spouses, children and veterans.
History will absolutely consider Donald Trump an American traitor. A LOT of people just can’t see that from within the situation. They’ll only be able to see it in hindsight, if at all. It’s really sad.
If you lie about an election, you are a traitor.
If you send a mob to stop the certification of an election, you are a traitor.
If you bend the knee to authoritarian leaders, you are a traitor.
If you irreparably damage our alliances by threatening our allies, you are a traitor.
If you steal classified documents and then refuse to give them back, you are a traitor.
If you send the military to threaten/assault American citizens, you are a traitor.
If you spend every day in, and out, of office dividing Americans, you are a traitor.
- John Harrington