Army Sec. Dan Driscoll defended the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to help combat violent crime, insisting soldiers are "thrilled" to support their own communities. (Spc. Luke Sullivan from the 75th Ranger Regiment)
City leaders have credited the Guard with helping ease pressure on overstretched police forces, though questions remain about the scope of the mission and how long troops will remain on the streets. Civil liberties advocates, meanwhile, argue the deployment risks normalizing the use of military forces in civilian policing. They warn the precedent could expand beyond the capital and create lasting tensions between communities and uniformed troops.
"Most of the reporting on the slippery slope logic around this is flawed and misunderstands the actual value that the President and Secretary of Defense are providing to the people of D.C. and our nation right now," Driscoll said.
The White House has suggested the military may soon deploy the Guard to other cities like Chicago and Baltimore.
VANCE SAYS NATIONAL GUARD IS 'BUSTING THEIR A--’ IN WASHINGTON, FLOATS MISSION EXTENSION
(Spt. Luke Sullivan/75th Ranger Regiment )
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Driscoll pushed back on concerns the deployment could undermine the Guard’s readiness to deploy abroad if needed. "These are soldiers who live here," he said. "Their families are here. They see the effects of crime in their own neighborhoods, and they are proud to be part of restoring safety to the nation’s capital."
For Driscoll, the mission reflects what he calls a practical use of the force. "They’re out there contributing every day, and the people of D.C. are safer for it," he said.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/thrilled-here-army-secretary-says-guard-troops-eager-dc-crime-fight