Retired National Guard Major General Randy Manner condemns Trump's deployment of military forces to Los Angeles protests against immigration policies, citing threats to freedom of speech and states' rights. Manner warns of the dangerous precedent set by federalizing the National Guard without the governor's request, highlighting the potential for escalating conflict and the financial burden on the National Guard
“We would have never imagined ever doing this in this situation, to impede free speech, to impede what — quite frankly, for the majority of the people, has been peaceful demonstrations,” said Manner, former acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, in an interview with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace.
Manner noted that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) didn’t ask Trump to federalize and mobilize California National Guard troops (thousands of which will be joined by hundreds of Marines) to LA, warning of the implications of troops standing side-by-side across a “picket line” from their neighbors.
California has sued Trump for deploying the California National Guard troops to subdue protests against his deportations.
“So this is a very, very dangerous and contentious situation,” he said.
Manner, who served in his National Guard Bureau under President Barack Obama, told Wallace that he doesn’t believe it’s illegal for the president to deploy the National Guard to such demonstrations.
“The question is, ‘Are they appropriate?’” Manner emphasized.
He pointed to the Department of Homeland Security recently requesting 20,000 National Guard troops to aid in immigration enforcement, adding that it “shocks” him that Congress isn’t stepping in as the cost of such a request on an annual basis is between $2 billion and $3 billion.
He claimed that the Secretary of Defense would take money from other National Guard programs or from the U.S. Army to fund those exercises. He stressed that guardsmen could be at risk of losing income as a result.
For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. Support our mission to keep us around for the next 20 — we can’t do this without you.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. Support our mission to keep us around for the next 20 — we can’t do this without you.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
“Congress has got to step up and insist they have the authority to fund these kind of operations,” he said.
Source: Original Article