Notice….
The media is going breathlessly report that President Trump is gonna send 800 troops to the American Southern Border….
Most people are gonna think these arecogmbat troops sent to stop the ‘caravan ‘ people from setting foot across the border…..
Forget it….
THAT, as I have pointed out in the past, is not things work….
The troops will provide ‘supporting’ non-combat help….
Defense Secretary James Mattis is expected to sign deployment orders as soon as Thursday that could send 800 or more troops to the border with Mexico to help border patrol authorities stop a caravan of migrants from Central America moving through Mexico to enter the US, according to three administration officials.
The officials tell CNN final details are being worked out including where the troops will come from and their specific tasks.
It is not yet clear if all or part of the new deployment will be federally activated National Guard forces or active duty troops.
The troops will not engage in lethal operations to stop the migrants. Instead they are expected to provide fencing, wall materials and other technical support at several key points along the border where it is believed the migrants may try to cross.
The troops will also provide tents and medical care for border authorities in those areas. The troops retain the right of self-defense, but border patrol officers will still be the ones physically stopping illegal migration, the officials said.
President Trump hinted at the upcoming effort with a Thursday morning tweet, saying “I am bringing out the military for this National Emergency.”
The troops are expected to be in position next week.
This deployment is separate from an ongoing National Guard effort along the border to support border authorities with technical assistance. That mission has approximately 4,000 personnel authorized but only 2,100 are currently in place according to the Pentagon….
Note….
President’s Obama and Bush did the same thing…..
image….Vox
I just read a screaming headline about Trump sending 5,200 more troops to the Southern Border….
Those troops will do the same thing the 800 sent to border a week ago will do..
Support missions, engineering, roads, Intel and anything NOT combat or direct engagement with border apprehensions ….
This announcement is strictly political and aimed at Trump’s base on the issue of immigration and the ‘caravan’….