Can we talk about the National Guard, when it was deployed and by whom?

[Anonymous]

There was a lot of confusion about the National Guard yesterday and who ultimately called them in. It seems Pence eventually called them in without Trump's input, which is stunning by itself. But the fact that before that, repeated requests were rebuffed, says all I need to know about whether Trump needs to be removed from office now.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) offered new details Thursday about the delayed response to assist law enforcement at the Capitol, saying the Maryland National Guard was ready to help but were “repeatedly” told they did not have the authorization needed to join the effort. Hogan received a panicked call from House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md), who pleaded with him to send in troops from Maryland, the governor said. Hoyer told him that he was calling from a secure location with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).

“I was actually on the phone with Leader Hoyer who was pleading with us to send the guard,” Hogan said. “He was yelling across the room to Schumer and they were back and forth saying we do have the authorization and I’m saying, ‘I’m telling you we do not have the authorization’.”

Hogan said Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, was repeatedly rebuffed by the head of the National Guard at the federal level.

Gowen “kept running it up the flagpole, and we don’t have authorization,” Hogan said. “We don’t have authorization.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/07/capitol-protests-dc-live-updates/#link-EF65NBEEYNEDZHPSTUC5H7VD34

[Anonymous]

In this case, Hillary's words prove true.

It really is a vast right-wing conpsiracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this case, Hillary's words prove true.

It really is a vast right-wing conpsiracy.

I never believed her. Now I do.

Glad Pence finally did the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a lot of confusion about the National Guard yesterday and who ultimately called them in. It seems Pence eventually called them in without Trump's input, which is stunning by itself. But the fact that before that, repeated requests were rebuffed, says all I need to know about whether Trump needs to be removed from office now.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) offered new details Thursday about the delayed response to assist law enforcement at the Capitol, saying the Maryland National Guard was ready to help but were “repeatedly” told they did not have the authorization needed to join the effort. Hogan received a panicked call from House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md), who pleaded with him to send in troops from Maryland, the governor said. Hoyer told him that he was calling from a secure location with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).

“I was actually on the phone with Leader Hoyer who was pleading with us to send the guard,” Hogan said. “He was yelling across the room to Schumer and they were back and forth saying we do have the authorization and I’m saying, ‘I’m telling you we do not have the authorization’.”

Hogan said Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, was repeatedly rebuffed by the head of the National Guard at the federal level.

Gowen “kept running it up the flagpole, and we don’t have authorization,” Hogan said. “We don’t have authorization.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/07/capitol-protests-dc-live-updates/#link-EF65NBEEYNEDZHPSTUC5H7VD34

Should have sent them in and asked for forgiveness later.

[Anonymous]

well, I hope there is a very thorough investigation about what happened. I am sure members of Congress, even the right wing one, did not enjoy the day yesterday and the fact that it took HOURS for help to be sent to Congress downtown in Washington DC, not in the middle of the wilderness in Montana, is beyond appalling.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting OP. I don't know why there is so little focus on this aspect of the "siege." Doesn't it go straight to (Trump's) intent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a lot of confusion about the National Guard yesterday and who ultimately called them in. It seems Pence eventually called them in without Trump's input, which is stunning by itself. But the fact that before that, repeated requests were rebuffed, says all I need to know about whether Trump needs to be removed from office now.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) offered new details Thursday about the delayed response to assist law enforcement at the Capitol, saying the Maryland National Guard was ready to help but were “repeatedly” told they did not have the authorization needed to join the effort. Hogan received a panicked call from House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md), who pleaded with him to send in troops from Maryland, the governor said. Hoyer told him that he was calling from a secure location with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).

“I was actually on the phone with Leader Hoyer who was pleading with us to send the guard,” Hogan said. “He was yelling across the room to Schumer and they were back and forth saying we do have the authorization and I’m saying, ‘I’m telling you we do not have the authorization’.”

Hogan said Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, was repeatedly rebuffed by the head of the National Guard at the federal level.

Gowen “kept running it up the flagpole, and we don’t have authorization,” Hogan said. “We don’t have authorization.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/01/07/capitol-protests-dc-live-updates/#link-EF65NBEEYNEDZHPSTUC5H7VD34

Should have sent them in and asked for forgiveness later.

That's JUST not how it works. If you would like it to work that way, you need to change a lot of laws and chains of command. And the bitching this summer about National Guard in DC has left the DOD EXTRA cautious and scrupulous about proper authorization.

[Anonymous]

The DOD wanted absolutely no involvement. They were more worried about Trump demanding a military coup, so that’s why they were staying away. Most in the military would not support a coup, but there are a few that would. That would lead to chaos in the DOD.

[Anonymous]

This interview with Malcolm Nance is very insightful. According to him, the NG was only called in because of the presence of Pence and Harris (and Pelosi). DC's request was denied and ignored. The Capitol police needs to clean house. I hope Biden and Congress deal with that ASAP.

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/01/07/pro-trump-extremists-capitol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DOD wanted absolutely no involvement. They were more worried about Trump demanding a military coup, so that’s why they were staying away. Most in the military would not support a coup, but there are a few that would. That would lead to chaos in the DOD.

It's the National Guard. Trump unwilling or unable to send them in to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DOD wanted absolutely no involvement. They were more worried about Trump demanding a military coup, so that’s why they were staying away. Most in the military would not support a coup, but there are a few that would. That would lead to chaos in the DOD.

It's the National Guard. Trump unwilling or unable to send them in to help.

National Guard is part of the DOD.

[Anonymous]

I want to get to the bottom of this too OP. Lots of people failed their duties yesterday and we need to know who. And we need to ensure it can’t happen again, even in similar circumstances.

[Anonymous]

There were Russian among those who breached the Capitol. GOP literally fostered Russian spies to have full, unfettered access to Intel Committee and other classified info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were Russian among those who breached the Capitol. GOP literally fostered Russian spies to have full, unfettered access to Intel Committee and other classified info.

Trump has already given them our secrets. They have been propping him up since 2016.

[Anonymous]

"Hogan said Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, was repeatedly rebuffed by the head of the National Guard at the federal level."

That is General Hokanson.

The NG is NOT the same as active duty military. They fall under a different authority and command structure depending on the activity. It is complicated and one of the reasons the National Guard Chief was added as a member of the Joint Chiefs in 2011 (and position given a fourth star) was supposed to help coordinate efforts.

"In his position, General Hokanson will be responsible for the domestic response and combat preparedness of more than 450,000 national guardsmen in the Army and Air National Guard. The chief of the NGB is also a senior military adviser to the president, secretary of defense, and National Security Council."

It makes no sense to have Hokansen on the Joint Chiefs if all he is going to do is punt or stall. Defeats the purpose of the position.

The Guard should have seen this coming, actively communicated the requirements for their activation and prepared accordingly.

I'd be curious to know what was going on in the NG during all this. I hope Tammy Duckworth digs into it.