Trump hints at expanded role for the military within the US. A legacy law gives him few guardrails

[mahatmakanejeeves]

POLITICS

Trump hints at expanded role for the military within the US. A legacy law gives him few guardrails

BY GARY FIELDS
Updated 12:03 AM EST, November 27, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — Campaigning in Iowa this year, Donald Trump said he was prevented during his presidency from using the military to quell violence in primarily Democratic cities and states. ... Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens,” the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination told his audience, “The next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it and we’re going to show how bad a job they do,” he said. “Well, we did that. We don’t have to wait any longer.”

Trump has not spelled out precisely how he might use the military during a second term, although he and his advisers have suggested they would have wide latitude to call up units. While deploying the military regularly within the country’s borders would be a departure from tradition, the former president already has signaled an aggressive agenda if he wins, from mass deportations to travel bans imposed on certain Muslim-majority countries.

A law first crafted in the nation’s infancy would give Trump as commander in chief almost unfettered power to do so, military and legal experts said in a series of interviews. ... The Insurrection Act allows presidents to call on reserve or active-duty military units to respond to unrest in the states, an authority that is not reviewable by the courts. One of its few guardrails merely requires the president to request that the participants disperse.

“The principal constraint on the president’s use of the Insurrection Act is basically political, that presidents don’t want to be the guy who sent tanks rolling down Main Street,” said Joseph Nunn, a national security expert with the Brennan Center for Justice. “There’s not much really in the law to stay the president’s hand.”

{snip}

[EarlG]

1. Good grief, the tone of this article...

“ While deploying the military regularly within the country’s borders would be a departure from tradition, the former president already has signaled an aggressive agenda if he wins…”

A departure from tradition?

And experts are worried that this law exists for Trump to misuse… how quaint. We’re talking about a guy with 91 felony charges stacked against him. If he’s already talking about regularly deploying the military on American streets, I doubt “the law” would be any obstacle to anything Trump decided to do in a second term.

[moniss]

3. Right you are and

everybody knows that they might first use the excuse of having the military on city streets because of violent crime but it would rapidly morph to putting down any demonstrations against their other plans.

[Ohioboy]

7. Add a few provocateurs and any demonstration can become violent

I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't their un-spoken plan.

[peppertree]

5. Like so many things Trump, it's straight out of the third world

His buddy Milei in Argentina has already threatened to do the same - when his Bush-like policies inevitably lead to collapse and riots.

And like Cheeto, he's got several "Aileen Cannons" ready to rubber-stamp the "constitutionality" of whatever the hell he does.

[stage left]

30. I would change that title

If Re-elected Donald Trump Promises to Use Miltary against American Civilians

[Chainfire]

2. Trump is telling us who he is. We ignore him at our peril.

[stage left]

31. He's been telling us

for seven long years. Or is it eight. I am absolutely sick to death of him.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. Voters need to pay attention to what Cheetohlini is saying.

Tuberville is not blocking military appointments because he opposes paying for travel; he's holding leadership appointments for his orange master. Tuberville is a good little Nazi, just like the rest of the GQP senators who pretend to try to get around him.

[peppertree]

6. His Republicans, for the most part, relish the idea though

They see Trump as a strongman who would beat down those they dislike.

"Honey - git me another beer. Makes me proud to be an 'merican ag'in!" they'll boast, watching it all on Farce News.

[sop]

8. "Experts" are calmly discussing Trump's proposed military takeover like it's a normal thing.

Shows just how far down the rabbit hole this traitorous POS has taken the country.

[Magoo48]

9. When a man shows you who and what he is, believe him.

And the people who follow a man, believe they are like minded.

To put a finer point on it—they are fucking fascists; he is their strongman.

[jaxexpat]

10. Why of course. Somebody's got to run the internment camps.

[Boomerproud]

11. What is going on in the military right now.

The article says "several" active duty have been
arrested re Jan 6th. I thought it more than "several". If this goes as planned, anyone just living their life and exercising their rights are in danger. Dear God.

[JohnSJ]

13. He has been saying for months he will go after his "enemies", so why should anyone be surprised by this?

Anyone who votes for Cornell West, Jill Stein, RFK jr, Dean, no label party, etc., or not voting Democratic, are voting to support the military takeover of the U.S.

There is no middle road or excuse for not voting Biden and Democratic.

[AverageOldGuy]

14. Speaking as a retired Army officer with 30 years of service:

I am quite confident that the Army's senior leadership -- the general officers -- would refuse such orders, even at the risk of being forced out. Ditto for the other services as well as for officers at the O-6 level.

[Cyrano]

16. If Trump tries to use the military to lock in his total control, I see two possible scenarios:

(1) He will replace the senior command level of military officers with his own "Yes Men" who will follow any orders he issues.

(2) The military will quickly perform it's own coup de'tat and arrest him. But if this were to happen, how and to whom would they hand over civilian control of the government?

Number two seems the better of two evils. But it carries with it problems that will take a very long time to sort out.

[PortTack]

21. Military personnel take an oath to the constitution, not to a dictator. If they are given an illegal order

From anyone including the president and follow thru with that…there’s a cement room waiting for them at Leavenworth

[SouthernDem4ever]

24. That all depends on who is running the military

Tubbyshitville is holding up promotions for a big takeover.

[PortTack]

25. They still take an oath to the constitution regardless!

[SouthernDem4ever]

26. So did Drump, Barr and an assortment of other assholes like Flynn

that all broke their oaths.

[stage left]

28. Oaths

mean nothing at all to people with no honor. We have a ton of them now "serving" in the House of Representatives.

[El Mimbreno]

15. Under trump...

SS would no longer mean Social Security. Replaced by Schutzstaffel.

[DENVERPOPS]

17. As I recall,

Cheney and Rumsfeld tried to repeal the Posse Comatatus Act when their corrupt CABAL was in power.

With this new USSC, I am not sure anything Trump and these "New" Republicans want would be rubber stamped.......

After All, the President *IS* the Commander in Chief of the Military.........

I have wondered if Trump has had some clothes designer secretly make up some samples of Uniforms he could wear, like other dictators and tyrants around he world have for public appearances??????? Remember when he wanted a military parade of U.S. Arms down the street in front of the inauguration during his installation??????? Huge tanks, Rockets, Howitzers, etc

Nothing says: "I have a really teeny penis" better than huge phallic shaped rockets on wheels moving down the streets...

[LiberalFighter]

18. It is a shame hackers can't access Maraloago data and finances.

[hadEnuf]

19. It would just be a matter of time before Trump would institute some form of Marhsall Law,

perhaps citing protests or a Reichstag fire of sorts. Make no mistake, his hardcore followers would have no problem doing false flags like that whatsoever. It's what terrorists like them train for.

It's gone far past wondering "if" or "might" he do something. It's a matter of when and how he WILL do something.

Our country has never been under a threat like this in modern times. Trump cannot be allowed near the levers of power again under any circumstances. We need to use every bit of political savvy and experience to keep this potential fascist dictator away from the White House.

[PortTack]

22. Marshal law can only be declared for two reasons. One, if local or state government has lost control

And the city or state has become lawless, and the governor must request help.
Two, if there is not a function judicial system.

That’s what they wanted to do b4 the orange mass left office and couldn’t because it doesn’t apply. They won’t get any further with it a second try.

It’s important to know what he’s threatening, it’s also important to know it’s f..king bullshit!!

Besides…he’s never going to be allowed anywhere near the WH!!!

[hadEnuf]

27. I hope you are right.

[Ford_Prefect]

20. To quote a famous former president, "There he goes, again!"

[Harker]

23. That's no "hint." n/t

[stage left]

29. You're right.

That's a promise.

[Harker]

34. A promise to his adoring deplorables...

and a threat to us and to our way of life.

[bucolic_frolic]

32. In his mind this is some form of MAGA Militia where he waves the Bible

Ragtag mental misfits for Trump.

[Irish_Dem]

33. Trump has learned no one will stop him.

He will do what he wants.