Several service members told advocacy groups they felt like pawns in a political game and assignment was not necessary

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.

  • teejay@lemmy.worldEnglish
    38·
    2 days ago

    It’s not the military’s duty to protect protestors. Just as the police have no obligation to protect and serve citizens.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      151·
      2 days ago

      I wholeheartedly agree with regards to the cops and ICE.

      But I actually completely disagree on that statement being applied to the NG and Marines.

      I’d argue that the armed forced have a rather explicit duty to protect their own fellow citizens as best they can.

      And if some dipshit commander orders the marines or CANG to actually open fire on US civilians, I really do think that the E4 mafia might have something to say about that, and that the commissioned officers and cops and ICE fascists might very quickly find themselves staring down the barrels of the deployed troops.

      Put another way: if active duty troops are ordered to fire on unarmed protesters, I would not at all be shocked if the enlisted and noncoms refuse the orders and mutiny, up to and including fragging the officers who gave the orders if they keep pushing.

      Orangeboi et al seem to think the troops are robots. They’re absolutely not.