The Capitol Looks Different Than It Did Last Week

[Johnboy60]

National Guard troops flooded the building on Wednesday

The Capitol looked a lot different Wednesday morning than it did a week earlier. As reporters arrived ahead of a House impeachment vote, they were met by hundreds of National Guard troops lined up in the Congressional Visitor Center, with some sleeping in nearby hallways. For CNN political reporter Rebecca Buck, the scene resembled the quartering of Union soldiers in the Capitol during the Civil War more than 150 years ago. "Many are cuddling their firearms, fatigues over their heads to block light, and riot gear in neat piles," tweeted reporter Nathaniel Reed, per the Week.
The Capitol Looks Different Than It Did Last Week

 

[Desk trauma]

Sad but necessary,.

 

[dqhall]

National Guard troops flooded the building on Wednesday

The Capitol looked a lot different Wednesday morning than it did a week earlier. As reporters arrived ahead of a House impeachment vote, they were met by hundreds of National Guard troops lined up in the Congressional Visitor Center, with some sleeping in nearby hallways. For CNN political reporter Rebecca Buck, the scene resembled the quartering of Union soldiers in the Capitol during the Civil War more than 150 years ago. "Many are cuddling their firearms, fatigues over their heads to block light, and riot gear in neat piles," tweeted reporter Nathaniel Reed, per the Week.
The Capitol Looks Different Than It Did Last Week

In 1967 100,000 anti-Vietnam War protestors went to the mall in DC. Thousands of the long haired Hippies marched to the Pentagon. They wanted to levitate the Pentagon. The 82nd Airborne and police officers were there to stop them. They fired tear gas. Hundreds of protestors were arrested. Hatred of the military was so bad some officers assigned to the Pentagon were instructed to wear civilian clothes to work to avoid the possibility of protestor attacks. The young men protesting did not want to be sent to war. There was a forced draft at that time. Men waited without knowing if they would be called to service. They were old enough to be forced to go to war and die, but not old enough to vote or drink beer. The voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971. In Virginia they lowered the drinking age to 18. The war effort was eventually abandoned with billions of dollars worth of military supplies and infrastructure left behind in Vietnam.

 

[timothyu]

Doing a remake of Hogan's Heros

 

[mark46]

There are more US military in DC than in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria combined.

 

[timothyu]

How about tribal leaders?

 

[mark46]

Given such events, I am actually surprised that the military presence seems limited to the National Guard.
I would think that regular US Army troops might have been included, especially since the Secretary of the Army has been so involved so far.

In 1967 100,000 anti-Vietnam War protestors went to the mall in DC. Thousands of the long haired Hippies marched to the Pentagon. They wanted to levitate the Pentagon. The 82nd Airborne and police officers were there to stop them. They fired tear gas. Hundreds of protestors were arrested. Hatred of the military was so bad some officers assigned to the Pentagon were instructed to wear civilian clothes to work to avoid the possibility of protestor attacks. The young men protesting did not want to be sent to war. There was a forced draft at that time. Men waited without knowing if they would be called to service. They were old enough to be forced to go to war and die, but not old enough to vote or drink beer. The voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971. In Virginia they lowered the drinking age to 18. The war effort was eventually abandoned with billions of dollars worth of military supplies and infrastructure left behind in Vietnam.

 

[timothyu]

Given such events, I am actually surprised that the military presence seems limited to the National Guard.
I would think that regular US Army troops might have been included, especially since the Secretary of the Army has been so involved so far.

How South American do you want to make it look?

 

[mark46]

How South American do you want to make it look?

I believe that regular troops have been used before. There are many units of the military that would better than the guard at preventing problems.

 

[mark46]

How South American do you want to make it look?

It was last week that we looked like banana republic, with insurrectionist mobs waving the flags of the opposition taking control of the capitol. We should have had troops in place LAST week.

Of course, that was impossible, given the fact that leaders of the capitol police and perhaps the DC police apparently had no intention of attacking Trump's 8000 marchers, even if they had molitov cocktails and machine guns.

Even when law enforcement was in charge, they gently escorted Trump's beloved followers out of harm's way. His genius followers even took tens of thousands of photos that are now available to the FBI who will be prosecuting the domestic terrorists involved for many months.

 

[timothyu]

His genius followers even took tens of thousands of photos that are now available to the FBI who will be prosecuting the domestic terrorists involved for many months.

Is that why ones not taking selfies but were behind the cameras 'documenting' were released?

 

[wing2000]

There are more US military in DC than in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria combined.

...and yet one week ago, it took 5 hours to regain control of the U.S. Capitol. Maybe it's time we redeploy are resources based on where the threat resides.

 

[timothyu]

Maybe it's time we redeploy are resources based on where the threat resides.

Seems like only a year ago people would totally flip out at the thought of military patrolling the streets.

 

[wing2000]

Seems like only a year ago people would totally flip out at the thought of military patrolling the streets.

No one, including those in charge of D.C. security, never imagined a MAGA crowd would pose a threat. Perhaps its time we take the blinders off. Last week's disaster would not have happened with proper security planning.

 

[mala]

No one, including those in charge of D.C. security, never imagined a MAGA crowd would pose a threat. Perhaps its time we take the blinders off. Last week's disaster would not have happened with proper security planning.

the fact that nobody saw this coming would be hilariously inept. last weeks outcome was pretty much to be expected.

 

[timothyu]

Last week's disaster would not have happened with proper security planning.

Last weeks disaster wouldn't have happened if the nation hadn't become to divisive over anything. This was brewing for decades. The people are responsible and need to take the blame for their own shortcomings.

 

[mark46]

...and yet one week ago, it took 5 hours to regain control of the U.S. Capitol. Maybe it's time we redeploy are resources based on where the threat resides.

The situation is now much different. There is a centralized command, I believe under the Secret Service. The capitol police and others will not be free to assist the intruders. There will no hands off orders given to those closest to the capitol.

There is a protocol for such national security events. A similar event is protecting the UN when the leaders are meeting.

In any case, I agree with Clyborne that the ceremony should be moved inside, perhaps to the House chamber. Absent that I would prefer regular military to the guard. With this being said, I believe 30K or so law enforcement working under a central command should work fine.

 

[timothyu]

In any case, I agree with Clyborne that the ceremony should be moved inside, perhaps to the House chamber. Absent that I would prefer regular military to the guard. With this being said, I believe 30K or so law enforcement working under a central command should work fine.

That's right. Show the world how destabilized you've become.

 

[Vylo]

Can we get these guys some cots or something, shame they have to sleep like that while defending the capitol. I get that they are probably more used to this sort of thing than most of us, but would still be nice to give them somewhere half decent to rest.

 

[variant]

Given such events, I am actually surprised that the military presence seems limited to the National Guard.
I would think that regular US Army troops might have been included, especially since the Secretary of the Army has been so involved so far.

The US military is for foreign threats not some crazy militia folks with daydreams of revolution.

The guard are more than a match for the threat IMO.