MSNBC - There are growing signs that some of the National Guard troops whom President Donald Trump deployed to Los Angeles are demoralized and discontent with their ostensible mission of quashing the “rebellion” of protests against federal immigration raids. For those of you watching the “how close are we to an authoritarian state?” dial, it’s a small but meaningful indication that Trump might not be able to get all the armed forces on board in future authoritarian power grabs.
The latest reporting comes via The New York Times, which interviewed nearly two dozen people, including National Guard troops and officers, as well as officials and civilians who worked closely with them. The interviews “show that many members of the Guard are questioning the mission,” the Times reports. Six members of the Guard, ranging from infantrymen to officers to officials in leadership positions, described “low morale and deep concern that the deployment may hurt recruitment for the state-based military force for years to come.”...
The Times says several of the guard members had “raised objections themselves or knew someone who objected, either because they did not want to be involved in immigration crackdowns or felt the Trump administration had put them on the streets for what they described as a ‘fake mission.’” According to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, the rate at which soldiers are set to extend their service during the deployment is dramatically lower than the typical extension rate.
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