SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

Tara Copp of Military Times writes that the recently announced troop deployment to the border has several stated purposes:

In the operations order for the mission, which was obtained by Military Times, U.S. Army North stated that the reason behind the deployment was that the level of violent drug and gang activity and the influx of illegal border crossings had reached crisis levels.

“The security of the United States is imperiled by a drastic surge of illegal drugs, dangerous gang activity and extensive illegal immigration threatens the safety of citizens and undermines the rule of law.” the order states.

This suggests that the deployment is focused on problems that are ongoing, not just problems that might be caused by the caravan. (Gosh, I thought President Trump was supposed to have all of this under control.)

There are some concerns about the caravan:

Publicly, the top commander in charge of homeland defense will only say the military does not yet have a full understanding of what threats will surface from the caravan. However, some violent acts that have taken place within the caravan and the way it has forced its way through the border between Guatemala and Mexico has raised concerns that the makeup of the population traveling differs from the past.

And there are also concerns about demonstrators:

... the planning documents said, “historically, protests occur at the various [Customs and Border Patrol points of entry]” in support of immigrants and, in some incidents, cause closures. Previous protests in support of immigration caravans or enforcement of immigration law have occurred throughout the US. Normally peaceful unless extreme right or left groups attend."

But this is my favorite detail:

From the papers, the military is preparing to defend against an “estimated 200 unregulated armed militia members currently operating along the [Southwest Border]. Reported Incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments. They operate under the guise of citizen patrols supporting [Customs and Border Patrol] primarily between [Points of Entry].”

"Reported Incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments" -- yes, the fine cosplay warriors who obsess over immigration and the border love America so much that they steal the troops' equipment.

And then they accuse the rest of us of being unpatriotic.