Nothing the Trump administration has done in this incident is clearly beyond the pale. The National Guard is being given non-lethal weaponry and has lawful orders to prevent violence.
As the situation in Los Angeles deteriorates and the Trump administration federalizes California National Guard units to end the violent protests against ICE and FBI agents amid a crackdown on illegal immigration, it is important to understand what systems the Guard will be deploying to end the chaos.
The core mission of the National Guard units will be the restoration of law and order. However, the Guard walks a tightrope here: if poorly-trained or overzealous Guard units resort to violence without need, they could unintentionally fan the flames and make the situation worse. To achieve their mission, Guard units must balance de-escalation with the application of intimidation—and the judicious use of force.
The military has been spotted landing Black Hawk helicopters full of ammunition near areas of operation. But these systems have been flown in a relatively limited manner, and from most indications the systems being delivered by the Black Hawks for the National Guard to use are non-lethal.
What the National Guard Is Bringing to the Fight
Some of the systems the National Guard will be using include tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades—standard fare for riot police around the world. For the protection of the guardsmen, riot shields and batons are also being made available. Only a handful of guardsmen have been pictured carrying M4 carbines or M249 light machine guns. These two weapons are obviously lethal, but their presence is clearly limited—likely to be reserved for the most extreme incidents, if something catastrophically wrong occurs and National Guard units are in imminent danger from a rampaging crowd.
A core tenet of National Guard responses during riots—including past riots in Los Angeles—revolves around de-escalation or de-confliction rather than suppression through force. For these reasons, one is unlikely to see lethal force deployed against the crowds in Los Angeles. The goal is to break the crowds up, identify actual violent perpetrators mixed in among more peaceful demonstrators, and confuse the rioters long enough for law enforcement to restore control over the streets.
Tear gas will be used to disperse the crowds. Rubber bullets are the definition of non-lethal. They will be used at a distance to stunt the mob. Flash-bang grenades will be deployed to disorient and control unruly crowds.
National Guardsmen are explicitly trained never to harass innocent civilians, or target those who are protesting peacefully.
This Isn’t a Peaceful Protest Any Longer
But by and large, the situation in Los Angeles has gone beyond peaceful or principled protest. Instead, it has become a magnet for militant elements angry at the current administration and seeking to undermine societal order.
Remember, the original spark for this particular fire was over ICE and FBI agents arriving to arrest suspected illegal immigrants in Los Angeles. Locals took umbrage to law enforcement raids, and media and local officials fanned the flames. Today, the situation in LA is reminiscent of the 1992 Rodney King riots—in which the National Guard had to be deployed to restore order, too.
Nothing the Trump administration has done in this incident is clearly beyond the pale. The National Guard is being given non-lethal weaponry and has lawful orders to prevent violence. If the Trump administration is truly plotting a fascist takeover of the United States, it is off to a remarkably slow start.
Let the National Guard do their work. Los Angeles is America’s second-largest city, and one of its most iconic metropolises. The city deserves peace, law, and order.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Hayk_Shalunts.
