In DC, there were already 1,200 National Guards helping around the White House and other areas. Apparently that wasn't enough. Another 3,300 were called in from several states, including Special Forces units from Utah because they were getting ready to be deployed elsewhere. Why Special Forces units for the White House?www.yahoo.com/gma/qu estions-arise-over-s pecial-forces-guardi ng-donald-trump

@DennisinMH : @DennisinMH :
Actually I have to say that some people really do wonder if the Secret Service is keeping their eye on something else.
Trump is going to Maine today and after that no travel for awhile. He had a golfing outing scheduled for tomorrow which was canceled.
In some ways this is exactly like what happened right after the OKC incident. We made a day trip out to VA and got back around 7pm and there were very well armed police around seeming to keep an eye on things. About 10:30 that night suddenly Clinton announced that traffic in front of the White House on PA Ave was going to be shut down effective at midnight and the no parking area was extended. Police were everywhere. Parked cars and trucks were towed and barriers were erected in some places. It was almost like they knew of something. Some very interesting coincidences in the mix here especially that it all is happening in a small area. The biggest security situation I can recall was when Rabin and Arafat met with Clinton at the White House . Yet there are
some glaring differences too.

@JeepPilot I would imagine many cities say that their large, well trained police force can handle the situation. (NYC). Some Mayors don't trust the POTUS to let go if he ever got his hands on the reins. Some probably don't want the paranoia of the citizens to escalate. Some may think the presence of armed troops would serve as a challenge to those who would be causing mayhem. Some may welcome the relief that could be offered to stressed, tired and overworked police forces where many have been forced to work double shifts and face all sorts of situations.

@RambleOn : These are exactly the sorts of answers I was looking for. Both sides of the coin seem logical.

Word on the street from Secret Service is DOD Sec,Esper has told the DC National Guard and other guardsmen that are in the District not to use firearms or ammunition. The decision was made without consulting the White House.We were downtown today but several blocks from the White House. There are families with children of many ethnic groups coming out of the subway carrying signs that say Black Lives Matters and Resign Now walking in the direction of Lafayette Park. Lots of seniors and nuns too.

DOD Sec. Esper has also issued orders to send home all active duty troops that were called up by Trump earlier this week as a sign of de-escalation of the situation.
It certainly sounds and feels like that if Trump over ruled Esper there will be significant resignations at the Pentagon.There will be multiple rallies and marches tomorrow in DC. It is going to be a beautiful day and the crowds could approach 200,000.

@billybob : So Trump will be in Maine Saturday or the WH bunker for this?

@mypeez :
He was in Bangor, Maine today. He cancelled a golf outing for tomorrow. I bet he goes to Camp David to escape it all. Streets are blocked off starting from 6am to midnight tomorrow.

@billybob : Hard to get immediate details on the overnight from DC.www.nbcwashington.co m/news/local/raising -tensions-over-out-o f-state-nationa
Raising Tensions Over Out-of-State National Guardsmen in the District
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested that the National Guard troops be removed from the District after more recent protests have been peaceful. She also unveiled a new mural and plaza with the phrase "Black Lives Matter." News4's Mark Segraves reports from downtown D.C.

Well now we know why the governors deployed Nation Guard troops at the State level. Unfreakin' believable!!! He set this fire by his own hatred and then starts crying as the circle of flames closes in on him. My @ss he didn't hole up like a baby in the bunker last weekend.Trump demanded 10,000 active-duty troops deploy to streets
www.msn.com/en-us/ne ws/us/trump-demanded -10-000-active-duty- troops-deploy-t
In a heated and contentious debate in the Oval Office last Monday morning, President Trump demanded the military put 10,000 active duty troops into the streets immediately, a senior administration official told CBS News. Attorney General William Barr, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley objected to the demand, the official said.

 

In an attempt to satisfy Mr. Trump's demand, Esper and Milley used a call with the nation's governors later that morning to implore them to call up the National Guard in their own states, the official said. If these governors didn't "call up the Guard, we'd have (active duty) troops all over the country," this official said.

 

...

 

On Wednesday morning, after two nights of peaceful protests, Esper ordered 700 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to return to Fort Bragg, and then delivered a statement in the Pentagon briefing room that he was opposed to using the Insurrection Act to send active-duty troops into the streets.

 

Esper was saying in public exactly what he had been saying in private to the president, but Mr. Trump was furious with him at a White House meeting later that morning, the official said.

An extremely interesting mix of people in both parties strongly believe more and more will continue to come out on this story. When it does they are convinced beyond any doubt that Sec. Esper and Joint Chiefs Milley will truly turn out to be the adults in the room. There isn't much people agree on but this is an exception.

How long do you really think Esper will be Lowe's to stay in the room though?

@AverageSue :
At the moment too many people in both parties have Espers back. Including Sen. Lindsey Graham who is a military lawyer and McConnell. They have issued strong statements in his support. It is well within the possibility that a figure of much more than 10,000 troops was the first figure mentioned.
Long before this Sen. Tom Cotton R-AK was thought to be a strong candidate for eventual replacement for Esper. However, he is running for re election in November, He has been quite blunt about staying in that race. Now, in the mean time, there is that op-ed he wrote about putting troops in the cities.