U.S. Airmen and Soldiers with the Alaska National Guard assist local authorities with security near the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2021. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women have been authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical missions in support of federal and District authorities leading up and through the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Mike Risinger)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has approved a request by the U.S. Capitol Police for continued National Guard support through May 23, 2021, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed Tuesday. The request was made amid security concerns of further violence following January’s deadly insurrection at the iconic building. About 5,100 National Guard members remain in D.C., down from the approximately 25,000 that were brought in for President Biden’s inauguration.
“Nearly 2,300 National Guard personnel will continue the support mission. This represents a reduction of nearly 50 percent of the current support force. This decision was made after a thorough review of the request and after close consideration of its potential impact on readiness.”
-Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby
“During this extended period, DOD officials will work with the U.S. Capitol Police to incrementally reduce the National Guard footprint as conditions allow. We thank the National Guard for its support throughout this mission, as well as for its significant efforts across the nation in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with National Guard Soldiers and senior leaders at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Jan. 29, 2021. The National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with security, communications, medical evacuation, logistics, and safety support to district, state, and federal agencies through mid-March. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Jaros)
U.S. Capital Remains on High Alert To Deter Potential Violence
(credit: Gary Raynaldo ©Diplomatic Times) National Guard troops on duty in front of U.S. Capital building fortified with barricaded fencing and razor wire in Washington D.C. March 4, 2021
The U.S. Capital remains on high alert patrolled by thousands of National Guard troops and police with sharp razor wire on a perimeter fence surrounding the entire building to deter any more potential violence following the infamous Trump-inspired riot. Capital Police are asking for nearly $620 million in total spending, an increase of almost 21 percent over current levels to pay for new equipment, training and an additional 212 officers. The U.S. Capitol Police disclosed last week it is in possession of intelligence of a potential plot by a militia group to storm the historical building again. Two months ago, Trump loyalists breached the iconic building on the Hill in an act of unprecedented violence many dubbed as domestic terrorism. March 4 was supposed to be the day Donald Trump would be restored to the presidency and unleash a holy war of sorts on all his political enemies. This scenario was widely believed and advanced on social media by a pro-Trump conspiracy theory spawned by some QAnon followers. Amid the threats, the House of Representatives cancelled last Thursday’s session. However, President Biden remains the President of the U.S. Now, some new QAnon conspiracy theories have Trump being reinstated as president on another date in March to placate its disappointed followers.
Republican Lawmakers Question Whether Thousands of Uniformed Troops Are still needed to Secure Capital
(By Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) U.S. Capital in Washington D.C. with razor wire on a perimeter fence surrounding the entire historical building Feb. 12, 2021.
The outer perimeter of fencing surrounding the Capitol will likely be coming down in the next two months. But the fencing around the immediate Capitol grounds – from Constitution Avenue on the Senate side, to Independence Avenue on the House side – would probably remain up until security personnel figure out an overall fencing plan. A week after President Biden was sworn in, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton wrote an op-ed for Fox News stating that contrary to Defense Department and local law enforcement plans, the guardsmen should leave the Capitol grounds as soon as possible.
“I’m aware of no specific, credible threat reporting … that justifies this continued troop presence,” wrote Cotton, a former soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Thus, I believe the rest of these soldiers should also go home to their families and civilian jobs.”
