Mattis' Letter on civil unrest

But right-wing agitators stirring the pot does not serve the narrative.
Just like the harassment of a group of high schoolers and parents who were holding up "Black Lives Matter" by middle aged white men in my town doesn't warrant coverage.
Assaulting peaceful protestors and grabbing their signs is not ok.
Maybe the administration should acknowledge the involvement of vigilantes acting outside of the law and depriving citizens of their constitutional rights to protest perceived injustice.
But...that would not serve the false narrative.
 
To me there are truths, half truths, outright lies and blatant hypocrisy on every side of every argument/debate this country is having or had for at least the past 20 years and it’s getting worse.

Its amplified by a biased and agenda driven activist media (On both sides) that is no longer motivated to find and report truth but rather to drive website clicks and ad revenue. You can find a media article espousing any side any argument you want to make.

Social media might just be the anti Christ as it gives a forum and voice to every inflammatory lunatic fringe desperate for “follows” and “likes”. The more outrageous the better.

Career politicians, desperate to cling to power where they make too much money from TV, books and corporate board seats, have to play to their base and parrot the appropriate left or right talking points to remain in office. They cant stay in office if the don’t toe the party line even if they disagree.

Finally we all live in left or right echo chambers. We follow the party we believe in and only get one sided arguments from that side’s media and Twitter supporters. We are stuck.

I used to love politics and watching the news. I can’t stand either anymore.
I’ve replaced it with virtually any sporting event, Forged in Fire, American Pickers, The Ozarks, and any documentary i can find on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
 
I would point out that the rioters (not protesters) are not Trump voters for the media pushing the right wing and not antifa crowds. On the contrary - they are anti-Trump.

They have already arrested antifa members. AG Barr and FBI Director Wray (at a press conference) said there were three groups - legit peaceful protesters (the majority), people taking advantage by looting, and finally the groups causing the destruction, damage, and assaults/death. The largest portion of this group is Antifa (black bloc) and several other bad groups. In fact, the DOJ has said they are going after the groups of people who are funding the riots.

The administration has been honest. Cities and states have allowed the protests. My own community has had at least four such events - coordinated with government, churches, black leaders, colleges, etc. And there hasn’t been anybody stopping the protests.

The issue is the attacks on police, the killings and assaults, the property damage, the Molotov bombs, the looting etc. This is what needs to be stopped by police, national guard, or military if those fail.

Now the cities want to disband the police. That won’t turn out well I suspect.
 
@SCubb great post that could have been mine except not as well written.

Speaking of Netflix, I’m currently watching The Last Kingdom for the second time. It’s about the formation of England from the various kingdoms. Names and locations are historically accurate but with a fictional protagonist named Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He’s the finest warrior in the land who finds himself pulled between the Saxons and he Danes. There’s only four seasons and I’m hoping they sign off on a fifth.
 
The Last Kingdom is great but you should read the books. They are even better. Also hoping for a fifth. The Arthurian book legends are also great and I hope they do that one also. Durfil and make a shield wall.
 
@SCubb great post that could have been mine except not as well written.

Speaking of Netflix, I’m currently watching The Last Kingdom for the second time. It’s about the formation of England from the various kingdoms. Names and locations are historically accurate but with a fictional protagonist named Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He’s the finest warrior in the land who finds himself pulled between the Saxons and he Danes. There’s only four seasons and I’m hoping they sign off on a fifth.
Love Bernard Cornwell. I hope Uhtred can hang on for a few more books.
 
The Last Kingdom is great but you should read the books. They are even better. Also hoping for a fifth. The Arthurian book legends are also great and I hope they do that one also. Durfil and make a shield wall.
I found an interview with the author and Uhtred actor Alexander Dreymon. Dreymon reminds me I should workout harder but he is almost half my age. He grew up in three countries and speaks fluently in all. When in those countries he speaks with that accent and language.
 
The Archers Tale and the Grail series is highly recommended. How the development of the English Long Bow won Hastings.
 
Love Bernard Cornwell. I hope Uhtred can hang on for a few more books.
In the interview I mentioned in the above post Cornwell said he has to fudge Uhtred's age as the timeline progresses in each book. When people ask how old he is he said he doesn't know.
 
In the interview I mentioned in the above post Cornwell said he has to fudge Uhtred's age as the timeline progresses in each book. When people ask how old he is he said he doesn't know.
Uhtred will have to die with a sword in his hand so he can get the express to Valhalla.
Again, apologies for carrying on again outside this important thread topic. We can re-hash Uhtred over in one of the book threads or COVID watching-what threads. We are like the people whispering to each other at a lecture.

I have been following all kinds of conversations on the original topic. Lots to digest.
 
And the Valkyries (Choosers of the Slain) will come to take him to Valhalla. Or he could just go to Fiddlers Green.
 
We are like the people whispering to each other at a lecture.

Some of us are sitting here thinking WTF. We signed up for a lecture about Gen. Mattis' letter. Instead we got a townhall meeting about systemic racism, police brutality, statistics, police unions, anarchists, civil disobedience, etc. All of these are valid issues and need to be discussed, but either on a dedicated thread or elsewhere in the cyber world. I had hoped there would be broad spectrum of informed opinion about the , among other issues:

  • What line separates the National Guard from Active Duty Military?
  • How has AD military been used in the past? Are there parallels?
  • What appearances are being given to the rest of the world?
  • For its many institutional shortcomings the US military has jealously guarded its independence from domestic politics. Is Mattis' letter and subsequent statements by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, and Gen Milley a manifestation of that?
  • Members of the 82nd are shipped to DC and then sent home. From the outside it looked like POTUS gave the order to deploy and Esper the order to return to Bragg. Why and Why? What is the process here?

Again, apologies for carrying on again outside this important thread topic.

No need to apologize. You have earned the right to hijack, derail, etc. because of your knowledge and civility. You know when and how to avoid a sucking vortex of political vitriol that this thread has become.

I have been following all kinds of conversations on the original topic. Lots to digest.

When it's fully digested. I'm more interested in the comments of @Capt MJ than Capt. Dowd.
 
Some of us are sitting here thinking WTF. We signed up for a lecture about Gen. Mattis' letter. Instead we got a townhall meeting about systemic racism, police brutality, statistics, police unions, anarchists, civil disobedience, etc. All of these are valid issues and need to be discussed, but either on a dedicated thread or elsewhere in the cyber world. I had hoped there would be broad spectrum of informed opinion about the , among other issues:

  • What line separates the National Guard from Active Duty Military?
  • How has AD military been used in the past? Are there parallels?
  • What appearances are being given to the rest of the world?
  • For its many institutional shortcomings the US military has jealously guarded its independence from domestic politics. Is Mattis' letter and subsequent statements by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, and Gen Milley a manifestation of that?
  • Members of the 82nd are shipped to DC and then sent home. From the outside it looked like POTUS gave the order to deploy and Esper the order to return to Bragg. Why and Why? What is the process here?



No need to apologize. You have earned the right to hijack, derail, etc. because of your knowledge and civility. You know when and how to avoid a sucking vortex of political vitriol that this thread has become.



When it's fully digested. I'm more interested in the comments of @Capt MJ than Capt. Dowd.
Consider a switch to Sanka.....LIGHTEN-UP..png
 
Some of us are sitting here thinking WTF. We signed up for a lecture about Gen. Mattis' letter. Instead we got a townhall meeting about systemic racism, police brutality, statistics, police unions, anarchists, civil disobedience, etc. All of these are valid issues and need to be discussed, but either on a dedicated thread or elsewhere in the cyber world. I had hoped there would be broad spectrum of informed opinion about the , among other issues:

  • What line separates the National Guard from Active Duty Military?
  • How has AD military been used in the past? Are there parallels?
  • What appearances are being given to the rest of the world?
  • For its many institutional shortcomings the US military has jealously guarded its independence from domestic politics. Is Mattis' letter and subsequent statements by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, and Gen Milley a manifestation of that?
  • Members of the 82nd are shipped to DC and then sent home. From the outside it looked like POTUS gave the order to deploy and Esper the order to return to Bragg. Why and Why? What is the process here?



No need to apologize. You have earned the right to hijack, derail, etc. because of your knowledge and civility. You know when and how to avoid a sucking vortex of political vitriol that this thread has become.



When it's fully digested. I'm more interested in the comments of @Capt MJ than Capt. Dowd.

National Guard service members serve under Title 32 Authorities and are responsive to the orders of their Governors. They can be federalized and serve under T10 authorities. We frequently see this when they mobilize and deploy overseas as an example.

Active Duty servicemembers serve under Title 10 Authorities and are responsive to the President and SECDEF.

Active duty servicemembers frequently execute Defense Support to Civil Authorites. This occurs when a Governor has a capability shortfall and is executed through a request from a lead federal agency. This is usually FEMA. US Northern Command is the DoD lead and typically executes through US Army North serving as the JFLCC.
In the current situation, the lead federal agency is the DOJ.
Washington DC is unique. The SEC ARMY serves in the role of Governor. JTF-National Capitol Region serves as the DoD lead.

Yes, thousands or T10 active duty servicemembers were ready to protect critical infrastructure in the NCR as directed. Doing so would have allowed the DC police and other security personnel including the DC Guard to tend to the protests more thoroughly. Protest are not the issue and never have been. Riots and the violence and crimes associated with them is the problem.

It all makes good sense.

The drama is full of hyperbole and blown way out of proportion in my opinion.
 
I for one don’t believe systemic racism exists anymore. Racism absolutely exists but the notion it is systemic is wrong. I think a lot of the problems we are seeing is as a result of systemic racism that used to exist plus some additional issues.

When issues are raised such as the disparity in education, healthcare life expectancy etc that is really a disparity that has a root cause of wealth not race. IMO we have to address the issue around poverty and the issues that are resulting in people not being as affluent as others. I would point out here that I am not a supporter of using social welfare to achieve this, because the people most negatively impacted by that are the middle class those who have recently lifted themselves out of poverty.

The US is fixated on college degrees and that is an item that certainly needs to be addressed. Either by acknowledging that academics aren’t the only path for success or changing the culture within US business that you are only worthwhile if you have a degree. I moved to the US 9 years ago from the U.K. and come from a poor family. As soon as I was able I had to go to work so I could contribute to the family. I have worked my way up in my industry (I.T.) over the past 35 years an now manage a team of close to 600 people. Yes I have applied for jobs in the US and not even obtained an interview because I don’t have a college degree (direct feedback from company HR on multiple occasions). That is simply stupid.

My youngest son will be the first person in our family to attend college (USCGA).

My point is that it is poverty that needs addressing and the factors that continue to keep some people unable to lift themselves from its grip.
 
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