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Secretary of Defense Esper has spoken out against military action in the current protests in the country. That is the "last resort". With this he turns against President Trump.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has spoken out against the use of the US military to end unrest in the country. He was against activating a corresponding law, the "Insurrection Act", Esper said. The National Guard was best placed to assist local law enforcement agencies in situations like these. The option to deploy active military personnel in a law enforcement role "should only be used as a last resort and only in the most pressing and dire situations," he cautioned, stressing: "We are not currently in such a situation."
Defense minister Esper said the use of the military internally was "only as a last resort."
The "Insurrection Act" of 1807 allows the US President, under certain circumstances, to use the US military domestically to quell lawlessness and insurrection. The activation of this regulation was discussed last after US President Donald Trump threatened to use military force to stop the current unrest in the country if necessary. "If a city or state refuses to take any measures necessary to protect the lives and property of its citizens, I will use the United States military and quickly resolve the issue for them," Trump said on Monday evening (local time) announced.
