The mighty U.S. Army finds itself in the humiliating position of preparing to defend the U.S. against an "invasion" by a ragtag group of unarmed Central American migrants consisting mostly of women and children begging for asylum.
President Donald Trump has ordered Army troops to the border to defend U.S. soil from what he bombastically called an "invasion" of the United States by this migrant caravan. This destitute multitude is wearily wending their way through Mexico towards the United States. Experts say it will take these people about a month to reach the border at Texas.
On Oct. 29, Trump falsely tweeted that Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border ... This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you! He also asked the migrants to turn back.
These desperate people from Honduras, Guatemala, and other Central American countries are fleeing murderous violence in their home countries to seek safety and jobs in the United States.
It's estimated this caravan now 4,000 strong will have dwindled to only hundreds of tired, hungry and demoralized people when -- and if -- it reaches Mexico's border with the U.S. at Texas. Here, these migrants will have to contend with the Mexican federal police.
In response to Trump's orders, the U.S. Army announced the dispatch of 5,000 active duty armed troops to the Texas border. It said it will reinforce these trained combat soldiers with 2,000 more men. The Army has dubbed its anti-migrant operation as "Operation Faithful Patriot."
Critics of Trump and some political analysts are calling Trump's attacks on the migrants a blatant publicity stunt ahead of the midterm elections on Nov. 6 meant to rally his racist base of Republican supporters.
Polls show the Republicans losing control of the House of Representatives to the Democrats in the midterms, in part because of Trump's divisiveness, racism, and irrational behavior.
The U.S. Senate is up for grabs, but Democrats might pull off a historic upset and take the Senate, as well. Political analysts note that if Congress falls to the Democrats, the impeachment of Trump will quickly follow.
It is unclear what the role of the U.S. Army will be when the migrants reach the border. The Pentagon yesterday said the number of troops that will be sent to the border starting this week will be reinforced.
Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, Commander of the U.S. Northern Command and Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said he can confirm there will be additional forces over and above the 5,239 to be deployed to Texas, which has the longest border with Mexico.
Gen. O'Shaughnessy, however, said the final number of troops that will 'defend' the U.S. from these unarmed civilian 'invaders' is undetermined. This number will change as the Pentagon works to "refine the requests" from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
He said more than 1,000 troops are already in Texas. Another 1,800 troops from seven different bases will reach Texas within the week. Thousands of additional reserve forces are on hand for deployment to the border.
