U.S. and Russian generals stand in front of their respective nations’ flags and shake hands. ''The two military leaders discussed Syria, strategic stability and a variety of operational and strategic issues to enhance deconfliction and improve understanding to reduce risk,'' Joint Staff spokesperson Air Force Col. DeDe S. Halfhill said in a written statement issued after the meeting. The meeting is the latest in a series that began in February 2017 in Baku, Azerbaijan, between then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford and Gerasimov. Before that, U.S. and Russian military leaders had not met since early 2014 -- before Russia illegally annexed Crimea and intervened in eastern Ukraine. Other meetings have occurred in Turkey, Finland and Austria. This is the first such meeting in Switzerland. https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2043133/top-us-russian-military-leaders-meet-to-improve-mutual-communication/
Вчера в Вашингтоне:
As military helicopters flew low over the nation’s capital and National Guard units moved into many cities, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly aligned themselves behind a president who chose tear gas and rubber bullets to clear peaceful protesters from a park so that he could stage a photo op at a nearby church. In so doing, Mr. Esper, who described the country as a “battlespace” to be cleared, and General Milley, who wore combat fatigues on the streets of the capital, thrust the two million active-duty and reserve service members into the middle of a confrontation in which the “enemy” is not foreign, but domestic. The reaction has been swift and furious. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote on Twitter that “America is not a battleground. Our fellow citizens are not the enemy. Gen. Tony Thomas, the former head of the Special Operations Command, tweeted: “The ‘battle space’ of America??? Not what America needs to hear … ever, unless we are invaded by an adversary or experience a constitutional failure … ie a Civil War.” Adm. Mike Mullen, another former chairman, wrote in the Atlantic: “Whatever Trump’s goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.” Television networks broadcast images of General Milley and Mr. Esper walking behind Mr. Trump as he crossed Lafayette Square Monday evening to pose for a photo holding a Bible in front of St. John’s church. Earlier in the day, Mr. Esper joined the president’s call with governors, saying, “We need to dominate the battlespace” - a comment that set off a torrent of criticism. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/us/politics/military-national-guard-trump-protests.html
Пресс-конференция Белого дома:
Q Kayleigh, in this call with the governors, the President said that he had put General Milley in charge of all this. What does that mean? Putting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in charge of policing American streets, what did he mean? MS. MCENANY: So I’m not going to get ahead of any actions that will be announced. But what I will say to you is this: that he has had two briefings today with Secretary Esper and AG Barr, and General Milley was there. And there will be additional federal assets deployed across the nation. There will be a central command center, in conjunction with the state and local governments. That will include General Milley, Secretary Esper, and AG Barr. But I won’t go any further in announcing what actions. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-press-secretary-kayleigh-mcenany-060120/
Использование штыков в "Операции Фемида" - зеркальное отражение "Битвы в Оксфорде" 1962.
President Donald Trump ordered military aircraft to fly above the nation’s capital Monday night as a “show of force” against demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd, according to two Department of Defense officials. Show-of-force missions are designed to intimidate and, in combat zones, warn opposing forces of potential military action if provoked. The officials, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing operations publicly, did not say how many or what type of aircraft had been mobilized. Videos and photographs posted on social media showed helicopters flying low over buildings and hovering just above groups who were on the street despite a district-wide curfew. On Tuesday, roughly 700 members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division had arrived at two military bases near Washington. Another 1,400 soldiers are ready to be mobilized within an hour, the two Pentagon officials said. The soldiers are armed and have riot gear as well as bayonets. The officials said the mission has been named “Operation Themis.” In Greek mythology, Themis was a titaness of divine law and order, whose symbols are the scales of justice. https://apnews.com/e4b7abdbf3e59eb3668e4e9e51def340
Some 1,600 active-duty soldiers are now staged just outside Washington, D.C. awaiting possible orders to support protest response in the city, the Pentagon announced Tuesday night. The troops were dispatched from Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Drum, New York at the order of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, according to the announcement. "Active duty elements moved to the National Capital Region by military aircraft over the last 24 hours," officials said. Officials confirmed on Monday that active-duty units from Bragg had been moved into the region and placed on alert status. Tuesday night, they identified the units that had been deployed. They include the following: - An infantry battalion, designated Task Force 504, out of Fort Bragg - 16th Military Police Brigade headquarters, out of Fort Bragg - 91st Military Police Battalion, out of Fort Drum It's not clear how many troops from each element were deployed. Officials said that the 16th Military Police Brigade headquarters would provide command and control capability for military police and engineers attached to the 91st. <...> Some 2,700 National Guard members from Washington, D.C.; Utah; New Jersey; Indiana; South Carolina and Tennessee are now in the district to support local law enforcement. Pentagon officials said Tuesday that they were not armed with non-lethal weapons such as tear gas and rubber bullets, although some carried long guns and sidearms. A striking photograph published Tuesday night showed masked Guard members -- unarmed but in helmets and body armor -- standing in rows on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as the sun set. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/06/02/these-are-active-duty-units-deployed-dc-region-protests.html
Ныне он идет на перевыборы с новыми страшилками и призывает ввести войска, пугая нигилистически-мародерствующими анархо-антифашистами: "nihilist criminals are simply out for loot and the thrill of destruction, with cadres of left-wing radicals like antifa infiltrating protest marches to exploit Floyd’s death for their own anarchic purposes" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/opinion/tom-cotton-protests-military.html
The police violence against protestors in Hong Kong is unacceptable. We must support these brave individuals standing against Chinese Communist Party tyranny and pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. https://t.co/tZhPCtpb2g - Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 12, 2019
“No quarter?” @TomCottonAR went to West Point. No quarter means “combatants will not be taken prisoner, but *killed.”* Don’t know about you, but I find a US Senator *actively* asking the US military to kill US citizens a bit.... disturbing. - John Orloff (@johnorloff) June 1, 2020
We do not need to militarize our response to protests. We need to unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing that all of us are equal before the law. Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us…was ‘Divide and Conquer.’ Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’” We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis-confident that we are better than our politics. Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people-does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children. We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another. The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country. We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Park. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/james-mattis-denounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/
June 3, 1989, the troops started clearing Tiananmen Square. QUITE an anniversary for a US senator to drop this. pic.twitter.com/wD7DztB1u4 - Kathleen McLaughlin (@kemc) June 3, 2020
It was March 1990, and Trump was being interviewed by Playboy magazine about his life as a real estate mogul. At one point, Trump was asked about a trip he'd taken to Moscow a few years prior. Trump said he'd been "very unimpressed" with the Soviet Union. "Their system is a disaster," Trump said. "What you will see there soon is a revolution; the signs are all there with the demonstrations and picketing. Russia is out of control and the leadership knows it. That's my problem with [former Soviet President Mikhail] Gorbachev. Not a firm enough hand." Trump was then asked if he meant "firm hand as in China." "When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength," Trump replied. "That shows you the power of strength. Our country is right now perceived as weak...as being spit on by the rest of the world." On June 4, 1989, after several weeks of pro-democracy and pro-reform demonstrations, Chinese troops entered Tiananmen Square in Beijing and fired on unarmed people. Hundreds, possibly thousands, were killed. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-praised-china-tiananmen-foreshadowing-response-to-george-floyd-protests-2020-6
Про университеты Коттон тоже не забыл, предлагая выкинуть из них китайских студентов.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) today unveiled the SECURE CAMPUS Act, legislation that would prohibit Chinese nationals from receiving visas to the United States for graduate or post-graduate studies in STEM fields. The bill would also place restrictions on participants in Chinese foreign talent-recruitment programs, such as the Thousand Talents Program. Congressman David Kustoff (R-Tennessee) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. "The Chinese Communist Party has long used American universities to conduct espionage on the United States. What's worse is that their efforts exploit gaps in current law. It's time for that to end. The SECURE CAMPUS Act will protect our national security and maintain the integrity of the American research enterprise," said Senator Cotton. https://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1371
Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the appointment of Timothy J. Shea as Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “I am pleased to appoint Tim Shea as DEA Acting Administrator,” said Attorney General Barr. “A highly regarded public servant, Tim’s long career in both federal and state government and extensive experience in law enforcement well-equips him to lead the premier drug enforcement organization in the world. As this country continues to struggle with the evolving drug crisis, Tim’s commitment to combatting drug trafficking and violent crime will be instrumental in furthering the important work of DEA. I would also like to express my gratitude to Uttam Dhillon, who has served with dedication as DEA Acting Administrator since 2018. Throughout his tenure, Uttam has proven to be a great colleague and a dedicated and thoughtful leader. I look forward to working with him as he assumes a senior leadership role in the Department.” Shea assumed the role of Acting Administrator starting today. https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2020/05/19/attorney-general-barr-announces-timothy-j-shea-new-acting-administrator
Сегодня стало понятно для чего.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been granted sweeping new authority to “conduct covert surveillance” and collect intelligence on people participating in protests over the police killing of George Floyd, according to a two-page memorandum obtained by BuzzFeed News. <...> The DEA is limited by statute to enforcing drug-related federal crimes. But on Sunday, Timothy Shea, a former US attorney and close confidant of Barr's who was named acting administrator of the DEA last month, received approval from Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer to go beyond the agency’s mandate “to perform other law enforcement duties” that Barr may “deem appropriate.” Citing the protests, Shea laid out an argument for why the agency should be granted extraordinary latitude. “In order for DEA to assist to the maximum extent possible in the federal law enforcement response to protests which devolve into violations of federal law, DEA requests that it be designated to enforce any federal crime committed as a result of protests over the death of George Floyd,” Shea wrote in the memo. “DEA requests this authority on a nationwide basis for a period of fourteen days.” <...> In addition to “covert surveillance,” the memo indicates that DEA agents would be authorized to share intelligence with local and state law enforcement authorities, to “intervene” to “protect both participants and spectators in the protests,” and to conduct interviews and searches, and arrest protesters who are alleged to have violated federal law. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/george-floyd-police-brutality-protests-government
We are concerned about the increased militarization and lack of clarity that may increase chaos. I am writing to request a full list of the agencies involved and clarifications of the roles and responsibilities of the troops and federal law enforcement resources operating in the city. Congress and the American people need to know who is in charge, what is the chain of command, what is the mission, and by what authority is the National Guard from other states operating in the capital. To make matters worse, some officers have refused to provide identification and have been deployed without identifying insignias, badges and name plates. The practice of officers operating with full anonymity undermines accountability, ignites government distrust and suspicion, and is counter to the principle of procedural justice and legitimacy during this precarious moment in our nation’s history. The Department of Justice itself in the past has stated that allowing officers to work anonymously creates “mistrust and undermines accountability” and “conveys a message to community members that, through anonymity, officers may seek to act with impunity.” In recent days, many former high-level DOJ officials have echoed these concerns and warned that allowing federal law enforcement officers to operate without identification can fatally weaken oversight efforts and fails to send the message that abuse will not be tolerated. https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/6420-0
There was a dispute this week about whose street this is. Mayor Bowser wanted to make it abundantly clear that this is DC’s street and to honor demonstrators who peacefully protesting on Monday evening. https://t.co/bjdVXLUf12 - John J. Falcicchio #StayHomeDC (@falcicchio) June 5, 2020
From a source, here’s a BOP SORT team posing with AG William Barr. Photo appears to have been snapped in the DOJ courtyard. pic.twitter.com/GJEuGFODVG - Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) June 11, 2020
Москва. 4 июня. ИНТЕРФАКС - Вопросы, представляющие взаимный интерес, обсуждались в четверг в ходе телефонного разговора начальника Генштаба РФ Валерия Герасимова и председателя комитета начальников штабов вооруженных сил США Марка Милли, сообщили в Минобороны РФ. "Стороны обсудили вопросы, представляющие взаимный интерес", - говорится в сообщении, поступившем в "Интерфакс". Детали разговора не сообщаются. Ранее в четверг о переговорах Герасимова и Милли сообщили американские военные. "Оба военачальника обменялись мнениями по вопросам, вызывающим беспокойство у обеих сторон", - завил представитель Милли. О предыдущих телефонных переговорах Герасимова и Милли Минобороны РФ сообщало 28 февраля этого года и в октябре 2019 года. 2 июня переговоры по телефону провели министр обороны России Сергея Шойгу и глава Пентагона Марк Эспер. Шойгу пригласил Эспера на парад Победы, который состоится 24 июня в Москве на Красной площади, сообщили в Минобороны РФ. https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=532960&lang=RU
Сообщение Кремля о разговоре 1 июня 2020:
Проведён обмен мнениями о принимаемых в обеих странах мерах по борьбе с коронавирусом. Владимир Путин выразил признательность в связи с поставкой в Россию американских аппаратов искусственной вентиляции лёгких. Президент Российской Федерации поздравил Дональда Трампа с состоявшимся 30 мая успешным запуском пилотируемого космического корабля «Крю Дрэгон», доставившего американских астронавтов на Международную космическую станцию. Подтверждён обоюдный настрой на развитие взаимовыгодного сотрудничества в космической сфере. Рассмотрено положение дел на мировом нефтяном рынке в контексте реализации соглашения «ОПЕК плюс». Констатировано, что эта многосторонняя договорённость, достигнутая при активной поддержке президентов России и США, ведёт к постепенному восстановлению спроса на нефть и стабилизации цен. Дональд Трамп проинформировал о своей идее проведения саммита «Группы семи» с возможным приглашением лидеров России, Австралии, Индии и Республики Корея. Отмечена важность активизации российско-американского диалога в области стратегической стабильности и мер доверия в военной сфере. Условлено о продолжении контактов на различных уровнях. Разговор носил конструктивный, деловой и содержательный характер. http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63444
Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Тэмми Дакуорт (D-IL) is demanding investigations by and information from both the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after multiple reports of low-flying military aircraft intimidating large groups of Americans in Washington, D.C., followed Donald Trump’s threats of military action against those protesting the killing of George Floyd on Monday evening. Duckworth, a former Army Black Hawk pilot who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee which has jurisdiction over DOD and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation which has jurisdiction over FAA. “Our military-and its equipment-exist to protect American citizens, but what we saw on Monday night was our military using its equipment to threaten and put Americans at risk on American soil,” said Duckworth. “I cannot believe that a military officer gave the orders to those pilots, or that those pilots executed the orders or flew that low above Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. President Trump, Secretary Esper and General Milley should be ashamed of themselves-and the American people need to know how this happened.” Video from Monday evening shows helicopters flying in close proximity to an open gathering of people. Flying military helicopters, or any helicopter, this close to the ground risks causing significant property damage as a result of the aircraft’s rotor wash, and worse, could cause injury or loss of life to humans if something catastrophic were to happen. Senator Duckworth’s letters to officials in the DOD and FAA request answers to why military forces were deployed in this manner. https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-duckworth-former-army-black-hawk-pilot-demands-investigations-into-military-helicopters-threatening-american-civilians
Сенатор Тэмми Дакуорт лишилась обеих ног, когда ее вертолет был сбит в Ираке во время битвы за Фаллуджу. Она служила вместе с другим известным вертолетчиком, генералом Макконвиллом, нынешним Chief of Staff of the Army.
General McConville & I served together 15 yrs ago & we’re both recovering logistics officers. Yesterday, I had the honor of asking him in a Senate hearing how he would ensure our rapidly modernizing military technology has the logistical support network in place to maintain it. pic.twitter.com/M45IaWBJgL - Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 3, 2019
Макконвилл замазан в решение о применении вертолетов в Вашингтоне.
Top Pentagon officials ordered National Guard helicopters to use what they called “persistent presence” to disperse protests in the capital this week, according to military officials. The loosely worded order prompted a series of low-altitude maneuvers that human rights organizations quickly criticized as a show of force usually reserved for combat zones. Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army secretary and one of the officials who authorized part of the planning for the helicopters’ mission Monday night, said on Friday that the Army had opened an investigation into the episode. Two Army National Guard helicopters flew low over the protesters, with the downward blast from their rotor blades sending protesters scurrying for cover and ripping signs from the sides of buildings. The pilots of one of the helicopters have been grounded pending the outcome of the inquiry. <...> On Monday night, both Mr. McCarthy and the Army’s chief of staff, Gen. James C. McConville, pressed Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, to increase his forces’ presence in the city, according to a senior Defense Department official. <...> Documents obtained by The New York Times show that planning for the National Guard mission included oversight by Mr. McCarthy and General McConville. The operation had been reviewed by a judge advocate team - military lawyers - before aviation units were instructed to apply “persistent presence.” These types of maneuvers are well known to Mr. McCarthy, who served in the Army’s elite Ranger Regiment during the opening operations of the war in Afghanistan. The episode, which occurred about three hours after a 7 p.m. curfew in the capital went into effect on Monday, began when a Black Hawk helicopter, assigned to the District of Columbia National Guard, began a low and slow pass over a group of roughly 200 peaceful protesters in the Chinatown neighborhood. The downward force of the helicopter’s rotor blades snapped a small tree, with debris almost hitting several people. The second helicopter tried a similar maneuver. Roaring overhead, the Lakota, adorned with a red-and-white cross denoting its medical affiliation, hovered over the crowd, staying at rooftop level, blowing debris and sending protesters scattering. The red cross with white background is a “universally recognized symbol of medical aid and is protected under the Geneva Conventions,” Human Rights Watch said in a report Friday. “Its misuse is prohibited under the conventions and it has no place in a ‘show of force’ or to forcibly disperse protesters.” “The wind speeds created by a low-hovering helicopter can lift objects and cause serious damage, potentially leading to injury or death,” the report said. “These risks are amplified in congested urban environments, where the consequences would be exceptionally dangerous if something were to go wrong.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/us/politics/protests-trump-helicopters-national-guard.html
U.S. and Russian generals stand in front of their respective nations’ flags and shake hands.
''The two military leaders discussed Syria, strategic stability and a variety of operational and strategic issues to enhance deconfliction and improve understanding to reduce risk,'' Joint Staff spokesperson Air Force Col. DeDe S. Halfhill said in a written statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting is the latest in a series that began in February 2017 in Baku, Azerbaijan, between then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford and Gerasimov. Before that, U.S. and Russian military leaders had not met since early 2014 -- before Russia illegally annexed Crimea and intervened in eastern Ukraine. Other meetings have occurred in Turkey, Finland and Austria. This is the first such meeting in Switzerland.
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2043133/top-us-russian-military-leaders-meet-to-improve-mutual-communication/
Вчера в Вашингтоне:
As military helicopters flew low over the nation’s capital and National Guard units moved into many cities, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly aligned themselves behind a president who chose tear gas and rubber bullets to clear peaceful protesters from a park so that he could stage a photo op at a nearby church.
In so doing, Mr. Esper, who described the country as a “battlespace” to be cleared, and General Milley, who wore combat fatigues on the streets of the capital, thrust the two million active-duty and reserve service members into the middle of a confrontation in which the “enemy” is not foreign, but domestic.
The reaction has been swift and furious.
Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote on Twitter that “America is not a battleground. Our fellow citizens are not the enemy. Gen. Tony Thomas, the former head of the Special Operations Command, tweeted: “The ‘battle space’ of America??? Not what America needs to hear … ever, unless we are invaded by an adversary or experience a constitutional failure … ie a Civil War.”
Adm. Mike Mullen, another former chairman, wrote in the Atlantic: “Whatever Trump’s goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.”
Television networks broadcast images of General Milley and Mr. Esper walking behind Mr. Trump as he crossed Lafayette Square Monday evening to pose for a photo holding a Bible in front of St. John’s church. Earlier in the day, Mr. Esper joined the president’s call with governors, saying, “We need to dominate the battlespace” - a comment that set off a torrent of criticism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/us/politics/military-national-guard-trump-protests.html
Пресс-конференция Белого дома:
Q Kayleigh, in this call with the governors, the President said that he had put General Milley in charge of all this. What does that mean? Putting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in charge of policing American streets, what did he mean?
MS. MCENANY: So I’m not going to get ahead of any actions that will be announced. But what I will say to you is this: that he has had two briefings today with Secretary Esper and AG Barr, and General Milley was there. And there will be additional federal assets deployed across the nation. There will be a central command center, in conjunction with the state and local governments. That will include General Milley, Secretary Esper, and AG Barr. But I won’t go any further in announcing what actions.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-press-secretary-kayleigh-mcenany-060120/
Reply
President Donald Trump ordered military aircraft to fly above the nation’s capital Monday night as a “show of force” against demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd, according to two Department of Defense officials.
Show-of-force missions are designed to intimidate and, in combat zones, warn opposing forces of potential military action if provoked. The officials, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing operations publicly, did not say how many or what type of aircraft had been mobilized.
Videos and photographs posted on social media showed helicopters flying low over buildings and hovering just above groups who were on the street despite a district-wide curfew.
On Tuesday, roughly 700 members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division had arrived at two military bases near Washington. Another 1,400 soldiers are ready to be mobilized within an hour, the two Pentagon officials said. The soldiers are armed and have riot gear as well as bayonets.
The officials said the mission has been named “Operation Themis.” In Greek mythology, Themis was a titaness of divine law and order, whose symbols are the scales of justice.
https://apnews.com/e4b7abdbf3e59eb3668e4e9e51def340
Reply
The troops were dispatched from Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Drum, New York at the order of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, according to the announcement.
"Active duty elements moved to the National Capital Region by military aircraft over the last 24 hours," officials said.
Officials confirmed on Monday that active-duty units from Bragg had been moved into the region and placed on alert status. Tuesday night, they identified the units that had been deployed. They include the following:
- An infantry battalion, designated Task Force 504, out of Fort Bragg
- 16th Military Police Brigade headquarters, out of Fort Bragg
- 91st Military Police Battalion, out of Fort Drum
It's not clear how many troops from each element were deployed. Officials said that the 16th Military Police Brigade headquarters would provide command and control capability for military police and engineers attached to the 91st. <...>
Some 2,700 National Guard members from Washington, D.C.; Utah; New Jersey; Indiana; South Carolina and Tennessee are now in the district to support local law enforcement. Pentagon officials said Tuesday that they were not armed with non-lethal weapons such as tear gas and rubber bullets, although some carried long guns and sidearms.
A striking photograph published Tuesday night showed masked Guard members -- unarmed but in helmets and body armor -- standing in rows on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as the sun set.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/06/02/these-are-active-duty-units-deployed-dc-region-protests.html
Reply
Ныне он идет на перевыборы с новыми страшилками и призывает ввести войска, пугая нигилистически-мародерствующими анархо-антифашистами: "nihilist criminals are simply out for loot and the thrill of destruction, with cadres of left-wing radicals like antifa infiltrating protest marches to exploit Floyd’s death for their own anarchic purposes" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/opinion/tom-cotton-protests-military.html
The police violence against protestors in Hong Kong is unacceptable. We must support these brave individuals standing against Chinese Communist Party tyranny and pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. https://t.co/tZhPCtpb2g
- Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 12, 2019
“No quarter?” @TomCottonAR went to West Point. No quarter means “combatants will not be taken prisoner, but *killed.”* Don’t know about you, but I find a US Senator *actively* asking the US military to kill US citizens a bit.... disturbing.
- John Orloff (@johnorloff) June 1, 2020
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We do not need to militarize our response to protests. We need to unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing that all of us are equal before the law.
Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us…was ‘Divide and Conquer.’ Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’” We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis-confident that we are better than our politics.
Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people-does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.
We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another. The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country. We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Park. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/james-mattis-denounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/
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June 3, 1989, the troops started clearing Tiananmen Square. QUITE an anniversary for a US senator to drop this. pic.twitter.com/wD7DztB1u4
- Kathleen McLaughlin (@kemc) June 3, 2020
It was March 1990, and Trump was being interviewed by Playboy magazine about his life as a real estate mogul. At one point, Trump was asked about a trip he'd taken to Moscow a few years prior.
Trump said he'd been "very unimpressed" with the Soviet Union.
"Their system is a disaster," Trump said. "What you will see there soon is a revolution; the signs are all there with the demonstrations and picketing. Russia is out of control and the leadership knows it. That's my problem with [former Soviet President Mikhail] Gorbachev. Not a firm enough hand."
Trump was then asked if he meant "firm hand as in China."
"When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength," Trump replied. "That shows you the power of strength. Our country is right now perceived as weak...as being spit on by the rest of the world."
On June 4, 1989, after several weeks of pro-democracy and pro-reform demonstrations, Chinese troops entered Tiananmen Square in Beijing and fired on unarmed people. Hundreds, possibly thousands, were killed.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-praised-china-tiananmen-foreshadowing-response-to-george-floyd-protests-2020-6
Про университеты Коттон тоже не забыл, предлагая выкинуть из них китайских студентов.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) today unveiled the SECURE CAMPUS Act, legislation that would prohibit Chinese nationals from receiving visas to the United States for graduate or post-graduate studies in STEM fields. The bill would also place restrictions on participants in Chinese foreign talent-recruitment programs, such as the Thousand Talents Program. Congressman David Kustoff (R-Tennessee) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
"The Chinese Communist Party has long used American universities to conduct espionage on the United States. What's worse is that their efforts exploit gaps in current law. It's time for that to end. The SECURE CAMPUS Act will protect our national security and maintain the integrity of the American research enterprise," said Senator Cotton.
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1371
Университет Арканзаса - лучший университет в его штате - находится на 153-ом месте в стране https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-arkansas-1108
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Thank god none of this stuff will happen under Donald trump!
- Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 4, 2020
Пресс-секретарь Белого дома Кейли Макенани закончила Гарвард (Harvard Law School), как и Том Коттон.
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These guys said they’re with “the federal government.” pic.twitter.com/qOWdj23zJw
- Dan Friedman (@dfriedman33) June 2, 2020
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Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the appointment of Timothy J. Shea as Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“I am pleased to appoint Tim Shea as DEA Acting Administrator,” said Attorney General Barr. “A highly regarded public servant, Tim’s long career in both federal and state government and extensive experience in law enforcement well-equips him to lead the premier drug enforcement organization in the world. As this country continues to struggle with the evolving drug crisis, Tim’s commitment to combatting drug trafficking and violent crime will be instrumental in furthering the important work of DEA. I would also like to express my gratitude to Uttam Dhillon, who has served with dedication as DEA Acting Administrator since 2018. Throughout his tenure, Uttam has proven to be a great colleague and a dedicated and thoughtful leader. I look forward to working with him as he assumes a senior leadership role in the Department.”
Shea assumed the role of Acting Administrator starting today.
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2020/05/19/attorney-general-barr-announces-timothy-j-shea-new-acting-administrator
Сегодня стало понятно для чего.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been granted sweeping new authority to “conduct covert surveillance” and collect intelligence on people participating in protests over the police killing of George Floyd, according to a two-page memorandum obtained by BuzzFeed News. <...>
The DEA is limited by statute to enforcing drug-related federal crimes. But on Sunday, Timothy Shea, a former US attorney and close confidant of Barr's who was named acting administrator of the DEA last month, received approval from Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer to go beyond the agency’s mandate “to perform other law enforcement duties” that Barr may “deem appropriate.”
Citing the protests, Shea laid out an argument for why the agency should be granted extraordinary latitude.
“In order for DEA to assist to the maximum extent possible in the federal law enforcement response to protests which devolve into violations of federal law, DEA requests that it be designated to enforce any federal crime committed as a result of protests over the death of George Floyd,” Shea wrote in the memo. “DEA requests this authority on a nationwide basis for a period of fourteen days.” <...>
In addition to “covert surveillance,” the memo indicates that DEA agents would be authorized to share intelligence with local and state law enforcement authorities, to “intervene” to “protect both participants and spectators in the protests,” and to conduct interviews and searches, and arrest protesters who are alleged to have violated federal law.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/george-floyd-police-brutality-protests-government
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We are concerned about the increased militarization and lack of clarity that may increase chaos. I am writing to request a full list of the agencies involved and clarifications of the roles and responsibilities of the troops and federal law enforcement resources operating in the city. Congress and the American people need to know who is in charge, what is the chain of command, what is the mission, and by what authority is the National Guard from other states operating in the capital.
To make matters worse, some officers have refused to provide identification and have been deployed without identifying insignias, badges and name plates. The practice of officers operating with full anonymity undermines accountability, ignites government distrust and suspicion, and is counter to the principle of procedural justice and legitimacy during this precarious moment in our nation’s history.
The Department of Justice itself in the past has stated that allowing officers to work anonymously creates “mistrust and undermines accountability” and “conveys a message to community members that, through anonymity, officers may seek to act with impunity.” In recent days, many former high-level DOJ officials have echoed these concerns and warned that allowing federal law enforcement officers to operate without identification can fatally weaken oversight efforts and fails to send the message that abuse will not be tolerated.
https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/6420-0
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I request that @realDonaldTrump withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence from our city. pic.twitter.com/AvaJfQ0mxP
- Mayor Muriel Bowser #StayHomeDC (@MayorBowser) June 5, 2020
There was a dispute this week about whose street this is. Mayor Bowser wanted to make it abundantly clear that this is DC’s street and to honor demonstrators who peacefully protesting on Monday evening. https://t.co/bjdVXLUf12
- John J. Falcicchio #StayHomeDC (@falcicchio) June 5, 2020
#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/OQg6977n5r
- Muriel Bowser #StayHomeDC (@MurielBowser) June 5, 2020
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From a source, here’s a BOP SORT team posing with AG William Barr. Photo appears to have been snapped in the DOJ courtyard. pic.twitter.com/GJEuGFODVG
- Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) June 11, 2020
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff #GenMilley:
"We all committed our lives to the idea that is America--We will stay true to that oath and the American people."
Read the Chairman's full message to the Joint Force: https://t.co/4repOZWTqP @DeptofDefense pic.twitter.com/h4RdrThWnK
- The Joint Staff 🇺🇸 (@thejointstaff) June 3, 2020
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"Стороны обсудили вопросы, представляющие взаимный интерес", - говорится в сообщении, поступившем в "Интерфакс".
Детали разговора не сообщаются.
Ранее в четверг о переговорах Герасимова и Милли сообщили американские военные. "Оба военачальника обменялись мнениями по вопросам, вызывающим беспокойство у обеих сторон", - завил представитель Милли.
О предыдущих телефонных переговорах Герасимова и Милли Минобороны РФ сообщало 28 февраля этого года и в октябре 2019 года.
2 июня переговоры по телефону провели министр обороны России Сергея Шойгу и глава Пентагона Марк Эспер.
Шойгу пригласил Эспера на парад Победы, который состоится 24 июня в Москве на Красной площади, сообщили в Минобороны РФ.
https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=532960&lang=RU
Сообщение Кремля о разговоре 1 июня 2020:
Проведён обмен мнениями о принимаемых в обеих странах мерах по борьбе с коронавирусом. Владимир Путин выразил признательность в связи с поставкой в Россию американских аппаратов искусственной вентиляции лёгких.
Президент Российской Федерации поздравил Дональда Трампа с состоявшимся 30 мая успешным запуском пилотируемого космического корабля «Крю Дрэгон», доставившего американских астронавтов на Международную космическую станцию. Подтверждён обоюдный настрой на развитие взаимовыгодного сотрудничества в космической сфере.
Рассмотрено положение дел на мировом нефтяном рынке в контексте реализации соглашения «ОПЕК плюс». Констатировано, что эта многосторонняя договорённость, достигнутая при активной поддержке президентов России и США, ведёт к постепенному восстановлению спроса на нефть и стабилизации цен.
Дональд Трамп проинформировал о своей идее проведения саммита «Группы семи» с возможным приглашением лидеров России, Австралии, Индии и Республики Корея.
Отмечена важность активизации российско-американского диалога в области стратегической стабильности и мер доверия в военной сфере.
Условлено о продолжении контактов на различных уровнях.
Разговор носил конструктивный, деловой и содержательный характер.
http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63444
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Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Тэмми Дакуорт (D-IL) is demanding investigations by and information from both the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after multiple reports of low-flying military aircraft intimidating large groups of Americans in Washington, D.C., followed Donald Trump’s threats of military action against those protesting the killing of George Floyd on Monday evening. Duckworth, a former Army Black Hawk pilot who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee which has jurisdiction over DOD and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation which has jurisdiction over FAA.
“Our military-and its equipment-exist to protect American citizens, but what we saw on Monday night was our military using its equipment to threaten and put Americans at risk on American soil,” said Duckworth. “I cannot believe that a military officer gave the orders to those pilots, or that those pilots executed the orders or flew that low above Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. President Trump, Secretary Esper and General Milley should be ashamed of themselves-and the American people need to know how this happened.”
Video from Monday evening shows helicopters flying in close proximity to an open gathering of people. Flying military helicopters, or any helicopter, this close to the ground risks causing significant property damage as a result of the aircraft’s rotor wash, and worse, could cause injury or loss of life to humans if something catastrophic were to happen. Senator Duckworth’s letters to officials in the DOD and FAA request answers to why military forces were deployed in this manner.
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-duckworth-former-army-black-hawk-pilot-demands-investigations-into-military-helicopters-threatening-american-civilians
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General McConville & I served together 15 yrs ago & we’re both recovering logistics officers. Yesterday, I had the honor of asking him in a Senate hearing how he would ensure our rapidly modernizing military technology has the logistical support network in place to maintain it. pic.twitter.com/M45IaWBJgL
- Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 3, 2019
Макконвилл замазан в решение о применении вертолетов в Вашингтоне.
Top Pentagon officials ordered National Guard helicopters to use what they called “persistent presence” to disperse protests in the capital this week, according to military officials. The loosely worded order prompted a series of low-altitude maneuvers that human rights organizations quickly criticized as a show of force usually reserved for combat zones.
Ryan D. McCarthy, the Army secretary and one of the officials who authorized part of the planning for the helicopters’ mission Monday night, said on Friday that the Army had opened an investigation into the episode.
Two Army National Guard helicopters flew low over the protesters, with the downward blast from their rotor blades sending protesters scurrying for cover and ripping signs from the sides of buildings. The pilots of one of the helicopters have been grounded pending the outcome of the inquiry. <...>
On Monday night, both Mr. McCarthy and the Army’s chief of staff, Gen. James C. McConville, pressed Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, to increase his forces’ presence in the city, according to a senior Defense Department official. <...>
Documents obtained by The New York Times show that planning for the National Guard mission included oversight by Mr. McCarthy and General McConville. The operation had been reviewed by a judge advocate team - military lawyers - before aviation units were instructed to apply “persistent presence.” These types of maneuvers are well known to Mr. McCarthy, who served in the Army’s elite Ranger Regiment during the opening operations of the war in Afghanistan.
The episode, which occurred about three hours after a 7 p.m. curfew in the capital went into effect on Monday, began when a Black Hawk helicopter, assigned to the District of Columbia National Guard, began a low and slow pass over a group of roughly 200 peaceful protesters in the Chinatown neighborhood.
The downward force of the helicopter’s rotor blades snapped a small tree, with debris almost hitting several people. The second helicopter tried a similar maneuver. Roaring overhead, the Lakota, adorned with a red-and-white cross denoting its medical affiliation, hovered over the crowd, staying at rooftop level, blowing debris and sending protesters scattering.
The red cross with white background is a “universally recognized symbol of medical aid and is protected under the Geneva Conventions,” Human Rights Watch said in a report Friday. “Its misuse is prohibited under the conventions and it has no place in a ‘show of force’ or to forcibly disperse protesters.”
“The wind speeds created by a low-hovering helicopter can lift objects and cause serious damage, potentially leading to injury or death,” the report said. “These risks are amplified in congested urban environments, where the consequences would be exceptionally dangerous if something were to go wrong.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/us/politics/protests-trump-helicopters-national-guard.html
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