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Pentagon Approves Deployment Of National Guard Troops For DC Trucker Convoy Protest

• https://www.zerohedge.com, By Katabella Roberts

The Department of Defense (DOD) said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the deployments of the guards, which had been requested by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).

"The people who live, work and visit the District are part of our community, and their safety is our first mission priority," Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless, D.C. National Guard commanding general, said in a statement to news outlets.

"Our MPD and USCP partners have asked for our help in ensuring people can demonstrate peacefully and safely, and we stand ready to assist."

The approval will enable around 400 D.C. National Guard members to "provide support at designated traffic posts, provide command and control, and cover sustainment requirements."

Guards deployed to the area will not be armed and will not help with law enforcement or carry out domestic surveillance activities. No aircraft has been approved for use.

Austin also approved USCP's request for assistance for up to 300 National Guard troops from outside the Washington area to help at certain traffic posts and Capitol entry points, Breitbart reports. That will begin later than 7 a.m., on Saturday, February 26, according to Breitbart, who note that 50 large tactical vehicles will also be placed at designated traffic posts on a 24-hour basis in the area.

John Kirby, the Department of Defense's spokesman, told news outlets in a statement on Tuesday that the department was "analyzing a request for assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency."

"Those agencies have asked for National Guard personnel to provide support at traffic control points in and around the District to help the USCP and D.C. government address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries. No decisions have been made yet to approve these requests," Kirby added.


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