[pluto9]

"The DOD" (actually just a single National Guard unit) was ordered not to by their civilian leadership until a few hours ago. This has nothing to do with the military's budget or capabilities and everything to do with civilian oversight of it, which is a very good thing. It would be far more embarrassing to have the kind of military that could act on its own accord to secure the capital, which is what a large fraction of "the world" that's supposedly looking down their noses at them has.

It would sure be nice if these kind of histrionics stayed off of HN.

[willis936]

I’m not quite sure I understand your point. A military’s job shouldn’t include security of the legislative head? Half a trillion dollars a year is absurd for defense and having the capital security being entirely handled by capital police begs the question: where are my tax dollars going? The obvious answer is to keep the military industrial complex afloat.

Don’t be disparaging. This is a real conversation even if you don’t like what it brings to light.

An actual alternative narrative is that the executive branch willfully did not defend the capital. That makes this a more standard coup.

[pluto9]

> A military’s job shouldn’t include security of the legislative head?

Yes, our military does not do that. That is the job of law enforcement. Look up the Posse Comitatus Act.

There's a lot to be said about the evils of the military industrial complex, but you're making that point in the worst possible way. Complaining that your tax dollars are being wasted because the military is too lazy to perform duties that they are explicitly not allowed to perform for very good reasons does not bring anything to light.

> An actual alternative narrative is that the executive branch willfully did not defend the capital.

It isn't a matter of narrative, it is a simple fact that the executive branch chose not to authorize an exception to Posse Comitatus in this case, which is what the National Guard does and requires specific authorization each and every time. Without that authorization, the military has no more authority in D.C. than the NYPD does. It's quite simply outside of their jurisdiction.