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Hekate

(89,977 posts)
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 12:52 AM Jun 2020

DUers, we need to ask who these combat troops with NO INSIGNIA are. Senators, Congresscritters

Please take some time out tonight and tomorrow to write and/or call your Senators and Congressional Representatives. I'm going to include some of our heroes of the impeachment for good measure -- Adam Schiff, Eric Swallwell, Ted Lieu and others. Maybe Mme Speaker of the House as well. Don't forget: if yours are GOP, they need to hear from concerned freedom-loving citizens just as much.

These men are all dressed up in combat gear in our nation's Capitol and there's no indication of who they "belong" to and who they answer to. They were included in yesterday's Lafayette Park debacle and here's more "guarding" the Lincoln Memorial. I've expanded the photo on my iPad and could only see a couple of blurry patches. Who the heck are they if not US military?

Lincoln Memorial, copied from DU posts:


/photo/1

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DUers, we need to ask who these combat troops with NO INSIGNIA are. Senators, Congresscritters (Original Post) Hekate Jun 2020 OP
Who are they and MontanaMama Jun 2020 #1
So many questions I want answered Hekate Jun 2020 #3
DUer 2naSalit pointed out that MontanaMama Jun 2020 #4
They don't want anyone to recognize DENVERPOPS Jun 2020 #41
Yes! TY, Hekate! Cha Jun 2020 #2
Thank you, my friend! Hekate Jun 2020 #6
Keep it KICKED! I read some disturbing tweets Cha Jun 2020 #12
Probably Erik Prince's goons. roamer65 Jun 2020 #5
We need to know for sure, and members of Congress can find out Hekate Jun 2020 #8
Makes me also wonder if states like DE and NJ refused to send NG units. roamer65 Jun 2020 #11
I am puzzled sarisataka Jun 2020 #7
Last night there were many types of troops/LEO at the park, all identifiable except these uniforms Hekate Jun 2020 #13
I am familiar with the weapons sarisataka Jun 2020 #16
If they are not United States personnel, they have no business in our country. Don't get sidetracked Hekate Jun 2020 #17
I was able to run a 500% zoom and there are at least three different units in this picture sarisataka Jun 2020 #30
Thank you very much, sarisataka. Your ability to zoom in is far beyond mine, & one mystery is solved Hekate Jun 2020 #35
No problem. I must credit the posts below sarisataka Jun 2020 #37
One possibility here.... KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2020 #42
My Bet Would Be They are Paid Mercenaries with an Outfit Like Blackwater n/t Indykatie Jun 2020 #9
We need to know & we need to show that we care enough to contact Congress Hekate Jun 2020 #14
Even Republicans should not accept a foreign power deploying in our capital. Beartracks Jun 2020 #10
Exactly my point. I agree they *could* be Blackwater mercenaries, but I want it out in the open... Hekate Jun 2020 #15
Blackwater is trending on Twitter. Jamastiene Jun 2020 #18
Russians? StTimofEdenRoc Jun 2020 #19
Need to ask your Senator and Congresscritter, not speculate. Needs to be out in the sunlight. Hekate Jun 2020 #20
Kick! Newest Reality Jun 2020 #21
Some are wearing Velcro unit patches on their arms.... Brother Buzz Jun 2020 #22
It is the National Guard? Jamastiene Jun 2020 #23
New York Times is a respectable source, but who were those guys yesterday? Hekate Jun 2020 #24
Good point!! I'll be calling Thekaspervote Jun 2020 #25
Air Force Captain_New_York Jun 2020 #26
Thank you. I still want to ask. There's way too much hinky stuff coming from Trump's administration. Hekate Jun 2020 #27
Air National Guard Celerity Jun 2020 #32
I agree, they are a rather motley collection of airmen sarisataka Jun 2020 #33
K&R! SheltieLover Jun 2020 #28
The Schutzstaffel? n/t AntiFascist Jun 2020 #29
I see some kind of insignia right under their chins. marybourg Jun 2020 #31
This message was self-deleted by its author geralmar Jun 2020 #34
They look a little paunchy to be real military. C_U_L8R Jun 2020 #36
Standards aren't that prohibitive. nt greyl Jun 2020 #38
air force barely qualifies as military anyways jorgevlorgan Jun 2020 #40
There's been recent problems with right wing extremists in the air force correct? Captain Zero Jun 2020 #39
You should edit your title as one can see the insignia they are wearing Kaleva Jun 2020 #43
See link in my post just below, thanks Hekate Jun 2020 #45
Someone else is thinking along these lines/link below Hekate Jun 2020 #44
Kick Hekate Jun 2020 #46

MontanaMama

(23,219 posts)
4. DUer 2naSalit pointed out that
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 12:57 AM
Jun 2020

their uniforms bear no insignia or military branch affiliation. This isn’t good.

DENVERPOPS

(8,640 posts)
41. They don't want anyone to recognize
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 03:30 AM
Jun 2020

them.....especially their friends and neighbors!!!!!!!!

WASF.

If they are U.S. Military, the top officers in the Military should be fighting Trump for using U.S. Military personnel.......
Soldiers are only required to follow any LEGAL order, and, and an order to attack your own citizens is atrocious......if not treasonous.....

Cha

(295,543 posts)
12. Keep it KICKED! I read some disturbing tweets
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:00 AM
Jun 2020

in that thread, too.

I asked one.. ".. Just how ******* BRAINWASHED Are you?!!!"

roamer65

(36,738 posts)
11. Makes me also wonder if states like DE and NJ refused to send NG units.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:00 AM
Jun 2020

I thought I heard yesterday or day before that they were supposed to send some. Are Prince’s goons there because of that?

sarisataka

(18,145 posts)
7. I am puzzled
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 12:58 AM
Jun 2020

I do not see any sort of weapon or riot control gear. Just the body armor.

If someone storms the monument are they going to 'rassle?

Hekate

(89,977 posts)
13. Last night there were many types of troops/LEO at the park, all identifiable except these uniforms
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:02 AM
Jun 2020

Ultimately at least 3 types of weapons were used against the peaceful protestors across from the White House: rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades.

Just because these guys aren't toting AK whatevers doesn't mean they aren't armed.

sarisataka

(18,145 posts)
16. I am familiar with the weapons
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:08 AM
Jun 2020

that fire the rubber, pepper capsules, various grenades and thrown/personal use devices as well. I cannot see any of those on them

Hekate

(89,977 posts)
17. If they are not United States personnel, they have no business in our country. Don't get sidetracked
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:10 AM
Jun 2020

sarisataka

(18,145 posts)
30. I was able to run a 500% zoom and there are at least three different units in this picture
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:44 AM
Jun 2020

There are people wearing Air Force insignia- the far right one in the military police vest and the one in the front row with the bright green at the waste have enlisted rank insignia. About 1/3 of the people have the same camo pattern but are positioned wrong or the distortion is too great to clearly see their insignia

The closest man in the photo has no shoulder insignia but appears the have a rank insignia of an Air Force First Sergeant at the top of his armor, by his neck. He has a different camo pattern matched by several others. One group may be active duty and the other Air NG.

The second front the right in the front has a shield shaped patch on the soldier. It can be seen on several others in the photo. They are army or NG. It is difficult to make out but might be one of the Security Force Assistance Brigades (active army) Edit> I found some AF insignia that are close. That makes more sense if they are all AF personnel.

While I cannot account for everyone, all who have some identifiable insignia are US.

I also noticed on the left edge of the photo what appears to be legs and plexiglas which resemble a portable podium. Was this picture taken today? If it was someone giving an interview or speech at the memorial that would explain the variety of units and lack of actual weapons. It would be troops waiting for a dog and pony show to start.

That would also account for the two in the rear smoking and joking looking at a cell phone.

>Edit- I stand corrected. It was from today. If you click on the photo from the front you can see they are a cobbled together group, not exactly Spetsnaz


Hekate

(89,977 posts)
35. Thank you very much, sarisataka. Your ability to zoom in is far beyond mine, & one mystery is solved
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 02:22 AM
Jun 2020

Aside from the ambient paranoia generated by Trump and his enablers, I have to say lately he's been ratcheting it up practically hourly. His rant to the 50 governors of the USA was a choice example -- "Dominate! Heavily armed troops! Joint Chiefs of staff Gen. Milley is in charge! He's a warrior, never lost a battle, I can tell you that!" -- followed by his entire made-for-tv Rose Garden/Lafayette Park/St. John's Church episode, has me far more suspicious than I usually am.

He has always told us who he is, and he tells us what he wants to do. Then he goes and tries it. He wants to be a strongman, like those he admires so much, and he wants American carnage. He's a psychopathic sadist. He has a lot of enablers with their own agendas who benefit from him. We are in a moment of real chaos -- I so want the Pentagon to tell him NO. But so far it's been nearly 4 years and no one from anywhere has rescued us.

sarisataka

(18,145 posts)
37. No problem. I must credit the posts below
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 02:36 AM
Jun 2020

That gave cleaner images than my ability could do.

These are stressful times as he seems to want to push us to our greatest crisis in 140 years.

Even so I always try to look first for the simplest answer, though I too fall short at times.

I pray my brothers and sisters who still serve take their oath to the Constitution as seriously as they did when I served with them. There is a point when the oath will demand you say "No sir, I will not"

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,480 posts)
42. One possibility here....
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 03:41 AM
Jun 2020

Please see my post on another thread regarding a CPB deployment....

Link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13533279

Looks like they redressed them all with the same riot gear.

Beartracks

(12,754 posts)
10. Even Republicans should not accept a foreign power deploying in our capital.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:00 AM
Jun 2020

American soldiers shouldn't even be deployed against American citizens. But if these guys are not even American soldiers, they may as well be a foreign power, for where do their loyalties lie?

======

Hekate

(89,977 posts)
15. Exactly my point. I agree they *could* be Blackwater mercenaries, but I want it out in the open...
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:06 AM
Jun 2020

...and not just speculate.


Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
18. Blackwater is trending on Twitter.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:14 AM
Jun 2020

Of course, we don't know for certain this is remnants of Blackwater. That is only speculation. I say remnants of Blackwater, because the name has changed a couple of times since back then. Someone did mention Glock mags and said it did look like them to them, but still, just speculation.

But, it would not hurt to remember Blackwater later became Xe, then later Academi. So, if you see Xe or Academi mentioned, it still just a newer version of Blackwater.

That is who I think it is, but that is only speculation right now. I want to know for sure too. So, I will ask.

Brother Buzz

(36,127 posts)
22. Some are wearing Velcro unit patches on their arms....
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:21 AM
Jun 2020

They appear to be an MP unit, but I can't ID them. All I know, is it's not Jack Reacher's old unit, the venerable 110th MP unit.

Captain_New_York

(161 posts)
26. Air Force
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:27 AM
Jun 2020

The closest guy has E9 rank on his chest the next one has Air Force Unit patch. Being army I don’t know the details. Another point, based on the motley collection of cammo and things like missing gear ( like no Kevlar cover) I will say most definite reserve or air guard

sarisataka

(18,145 posts)
33. I agree, they are a rather motley collection of airmen
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 02:06 AM
Jun 2020

but hair catches fire easily. This is the third if fourth thread on this. It doesn't help that only one picture was retweeted, but I suspect that was intentional.

marybourg

(12,531 posts)
31. I see some kind of insignia right under their chins.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 01:45 AM
Jun 2020

The first one’s looks like a sergeant’s patch. The second one has a shoulder patch as well. They are not completely unidentifiable.

Response to Hekate (Original post)

C_U_L8R

(44,872 posts)
36. They look a little paunchy to be real military.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 02:25 AM
Jun 2020

More likely Erik Prince's idiot cosplay kkkomando$$$. Anything for a profit.

Captain Zero

(6,687 posts)
39. There's been recent problems with right wing extremists in the air force correct?
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 02:54 AM
Jun 2020

here ya go. they brought some of their boys.

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