Exclusive: President Trump vows to send as many troops to the border 'as necessary' to stop caravan

[DonViejo]

Source: USA Today



David Jackson,Susan Page and John Fritze, USA TODAY Published 7:35 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2018

HOUSTON – President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to send as many troops as necessary to the U.S.-Mexican border to block a growing caravan of Central American migrants, calling their trek “an assault on our country.”

In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY aboard Air Force One, the president said there were “people from the Middle East” in their ranks, reiterating a claim he made without evidence in a morning tweet. The president declined to say whether his assertion was based on intelligence agencies or some other source.

While Trump has made unsubstantiated charges that Democrats had funded the migrants, he said the television footage that showed them straggling north was rebounding to the political benefit of Republicans in the midterms. The caravan could be seen on a TV, tuned to Fox News, on the wall of his office aboard the presidential aircraft.

“I think this could be a blessing in disguise because it shows how bad our laws are,” he said. “The Democrats are responsible for that.”

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/22/trump-halt-migrant-caravan-many-troops-necessary/1731717002/

[beachbum bob]

1. as if anything happens and it wouldn't motivate ALL latino/hispanic voters to come out and VOTE

go for it trump



they aint voting republican

[gordianot]

2. Does anyone else wonder about the timing of this event?

[Wuddles440]

24. I certainly do!

Also, knowing the Trumpenfuhrer's draconian policies regarding immigrants, why would anyone even remotely think that they were going to be able to enter the United States without encountering significant resistance. I suspect that you'll see this caravan disappear after November 6th.

[gordianot]

25. Dirty tricks are so easy and desperate people are easily manipulated.

This type of manipulation would be almost impossible to prove.

[brush]

28. It's the timing of trump's playing it up is the issue. That so-called caravan won't get to the US...

border for another 90 days or so—and by then fatigue will have long set in and it'll more likely be remnants of what it is now as many will have dropped out and decided to make a go of it in Mexico.

They just got into southern Mexico and have 2.000 miles to go to reach our southern border.

It's all repug hype to influence voters. We don't have to fall for it. Once the election is over I'm betting we won't hear a word about it from the orange pustule.

[llmart]

36. Well, I just heard the headline on NPR...

and they started off their reporting saying "The majority of Americans agree with Trump on his caravan stance."

So, there's that. This is the sort of propaganda we're up against. It's just another version of the Comey story coming out right before the 2016 election.

[brush]

37. They're are trying their October surprise but the caravan won't be anywhere close on Nov. 6.

We'll still win at least the House and several state houses.

Don't panic. Millions of women are still pissed over Kavanaugh and will vote.

[llmart]

38. Whether it's close or not...(I mean the caravan)

if the news media keeps it out there, it will sway voters or get more trump dummies out to vote.

I do not want to underestimate anything any more.

[Va Lefty]

3. Lies and propaganda

Link to tweet

[Botany]

4. They are at a minimum 1,200 miles from the border .... hardly a threat.

I keep thinking the way Trump keeps saying that democratic money is behind
this caravan that in truth* republican/right wing money is helping the caravan
in order to help Trump w/his base.


* just like Trump keeps saying that paid people went to protest Kavanaugh
and support Hillary but in Truth Trump has paid people behind him @ his
rallies.

[haele]

32. The average healthy adult will travel, what? 25 - 30 miles a day?

I'm estimating an adult hiker of average strength and stamina at a determined pace by him/herself, walking about 10/11 hours at 2 - 3 mph, with breaks and 12 hours for setting up of camp and sleeping on normal terrain.
Not a foot soldier/trooper in a column on maneuver, which usually travel between at 40 - 70 at a sustained pace.

Now, throw in kids, people who are marginally sick or somewhat out of shape or disabled, and older people in a large, chaotic group where families are trying to stick together more than move forward, and I can't see more than maybe 15 miles a day at best for the majority of the group.

If they're planning on coming through Texas, there's some really rough terrain they'll have to cross. I doubt they're going to head through the jungles, so they'll have to come up somewhat westerly and then cross both desert and some pretty nasty mountainous area.
Even if the "caravan" of refugees is going to try and cross through Eastern California/Western Arizona, there's some serious desert to go through, and not a lot of foraging.
They also risk wandering drug cartel-affiliated bandits that go after mid-sized groups and other nasty-assed predator sub-humans that roam that area and prey on stragglers.
So, 80 days before whomever can survive come within 100 miles of the U.S.? Around mid/late January?

Haele

[Botany]

35. 10 miles per day average

Something about this caravan showings up right before the elections doesn't pass my small test.

[htuttle]

5. Have Trump or his surrogates ever explained..

...what it is that Democrats would gain from drafting George Soros to pay (who? for what?) for a migrant caravan (filled with Middle Eastern terrorists, no less) to come here with a lot of press coverage right before the midterms when they were trending ahead?

They're not just unsubstantiated charges -- they're nonsensical, irrational charges.

I can't even.

[SunSeeker]

6. So he's going to shoot at little kids? Moms? Families?

[atreides1]

8. Why Not?

He'll claim it was an invasion and his base and the Republicans in Congress will sit on their hands as the international press shows the world dead men, women and children!!!

[atreides1]

7. Here's a "What if"?

Il Douche, orders the troops to fire on unarmed civilians?

And don't say he won't do it...every time someone has said that even Trump wouldn't do this or do that...he's gone ahead and done it!!!

I truly believe that he will order the military to fire on unarmed civilians, and that those orders are already being drawn up and given to Mattis and the Joint Chiefs! Now, it's just a question of selecting the units that will obey without reservation!!!

[TomSlick]

10. See my Response #9 below.

I am reasonably confident that the JAGs in any unit ordered to enforce immigration law will be telling the commanders that violation of the Posse Comitatus Act is criminal. I am equally confident that DoD lawyers are advising the Joint Chiefs of the same.

[GulfCoast66]

11. Good luck with that.

The Officer Corp would flat out rebel. Not saying rebel in the Coup sense, but flat out refuse to fire on women and children in our own country.

I know several retired officers, most republican. They swear to the constitution not the president.

No fucking way.

Not to mention the troops. Who are Americans from all classes, regions and demographics of our nation.

[Socal31]

23. Once you light the fire, it is hard to control the flame.

4 dead in O-hi-o....
4 dead in O-hi-o...

[TomSlick]

9. I am curious that the media is not talking about the Posse Comitatus Act.

The military may not be used to enforce immigration laws. This is all bluster.

[GulfCoast66]

12. This. Bluster for his racist base.

[christx30]

19. Call it an invasion. Position troops on the Mexican side

of the border. You know Trump will find a way around anything he wants.

[TomSlick]

20. No matter what you call it, a cow patty is still a cow patty.

Any JAG worth his or her salary will worn the commander that enforcement of law is itself a criminal violation - and you can't be completely sure the next administration won't bring charges.

[christx30]

21. Trumpo doesn't really strike me as a "plan for the future" type. n/t

[YessirAtsaFact]

13. You can't use the military for law enforcement

The Posse comitatus act limits how the military can be used to enforce domestic policies.

[getagrip_already]

22. that isn't what it says...

The act prevents the government from using the army and air force from engaging in domestic law enforcement activities.

It was passed after the civil war to ensure the army wouldn't be used as an occupying force in the southern states. The air force was added much later, but the navy, marines, and coat guard aren't included.

If the military was deployed to repel a foreign invasion on us soil, it would be perfectly legal.

But this congress wouldn't do a damn thing even if he breaks the law directly. They might even suspend it for him. They may want that anyway to suppress protests.

[LanternWaste]

33. Seems he said six of one, you argued it's actually half a dozen of the other.

There's no substantive difference in the two different interpretations you each make, so your allegation of "that isn't what it says..." seems both inaccurate and somewhat irrational on its face.

[getagrip_already]

34. really? try ....

So instead of looking at the claim, and then what the act actually says, you make a personal attack?

Why don't you prove what I said wrong before attacking.

[left-of-center2012]

14. Remembering when ...

Remembering when Obama was president and Republicans said
there were ISIS training camps on the Mexican side of the US border.

[SWBTATTReg]

15. What's next on rump's list of things to accuse people wrongly of? That women voters are ...

voting and are not supposed to, that democrats are crooks, that good, decent people who truly care about this country sincerely believe that the country is going in the wrong direction are evil doers?

rump is a serial liar, a big fraud, a tax cheat who's afraid to release anything on his taxes for it'll show how much he's cheated on his taxes, and worse of all, he's a scam claiming that he worth billions of dollars. Prove it.

[nocoincidences]

16. It's just part of his blustering and lying,

because he will use any old excuse offered to do it.

He is "all hat, no cattle".

[Fullduplexxx]

17. He has all 3 branches of govnmnt

[PSPS]

18. And by "he," you really mean putin.

[Grasswire2]

26. ILLEGAL -- US is signatory to a treaty regarding refugees seeking asylum

Can't prevent refugees from seeking refuge.

[Grasswire2]

27. And isn't the caravan a thousand miles from the border, more or less?

Does anyone have updated info on that?

[duforsure]

29. How many troops were sent

When the neo nazi's and other hate groups were attacking people , killed one person in THIS country? He hasn't said a thing about the woman who was murdered on one of our city streets because of these hate groups. He won't demonize them for anything , yet claims these people fleeing violence and corruption, and personal harm are a threat to us, and are criminals. When a president protects the criminals over and over again over Americans or immigrants , and falsely claims immigrants are criminals you know the country is in bad shape.

[Sancho]

30. Seems to depend on who you are!!!

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/as-trump-tightens-border-u-s-congress-bill-would-allow-snowbirds-to-stay-for-an-extra-two-months

As Trump tightens border, U.S. Congress bill would allow snowbirds to stay for an extra two months

President Donald Trump has been single-minded when it comes to immigration, pledging to strengthen the United States’ borders and keep certain people out, especially if they happen to be from Mexico or some Muslim nations.

But that’s OK, says Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida, because they’re one group of foreigners that blends right in.

“We want people with good standing to come here and stay as long as they care,” Republican Yoho, co-sponsor of the bill, said in an interview. “We come from similar backgrounds, we believe in the same thing. There’s no assimilation (necessary). The morals and mores we have are pretty much the same as they have, so it’s pretty much an easy transition.”

[d_r]

31. well yeah

if you have money to spend the door is always open