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US domestic deployment: broad front against Trump

US soldiers against demonstrators? President Trump’s threat had caused great horror. Now several ex-ministers of defense joined the criticism.

At the beginning of the week, US President Donald Trump threatened to use the army to end the sometimes violent nationwide protests against racism and police violence. Since then, resistance to the possible military deployment at home has been increasing. Now, several former defense ministers, along with dozens of other former politicians and officers, also opposed Trump’s push.

“Members of our military are always ready to serve to defend our nation, but they must never be used to violate the rights of those they have sworn to protect,” said a guest post in the Washington Post “appeared. He was signed by ex-defense ministers Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel and Ashton Carter. In addition, there were the names of 86 other former defense politicians and officers.

Unnecessary and unwise

Should US troops be used in this way, it threatens to undermine the constitutional rights of the Americans. The army mission put into play by Trump would not only be unnecessary, but also unwise.

It could also damage the apolitical nature of the US military if it were involved in the “politically charged” protests. “There is also a danger that the confidence of the Americans in our military – and with it the security of America – will be weakened for years to come,” the guest article continues.

Serious riots after George Floyd’s death

The cause of the protests is the death of Black George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May. During a police operation, one of the officers had kneed on his neck for several minutes and had not let up, although Floyd repeatedly warned that he was out of breath. The 46-year-old died in a clinic shortly afterwards. Charges have been brought against the four police officers involved and who have since been released.

In Minneapolis in particular, the incident, which was made public through an internet video, led to massive protests and riots. Meanwhile, people across the United States and worldwide are taking to the streets against racism. Protest campaigns were also held in several cities in Germany yesterday.

Trump’s own ex-defense minister is also a critic

The former defense ministers are not the first prominent politicians to clearly criticize Trump’s threat. Already on Wednesday, James Mattis had spoken, who held the post of Trump’s Defense Secretary for two years. In his view, the use of the army in his own country constituted an abuse of government power, Mattis emphasized, also in a guest article for “The Atlantic” magazine. Trump tries to split the people instead of uniting them. Trump’s previous favorite surprised with his open criticism: Before that, Mattis had always emphasized that he did not want to comment on political events while Trump was still in office.

Two days after this verbal attack on the president, Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, also voted in the criticism. He agrees with Mattis, Kelly said in a live stream interview. And he added, “I think we need to take a closer look at who we choose.” Both character and ethical characteristics should play a role here.


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