More Evidence of Conspiracy, Even Involving the Pentagon
It’s becoming pretty clear now that the attack on the Capitol on Wednesday was not just some spontaneous demonstration by wild eyed Trumpists that got out of hand. Evidence is emerging of a coordinated attack on our government with the intent of insurrectionists to not only stop the Electoral College vote certification, but to also kidnap and even kill US officials to take control of the US government and hand it to Trump in a coup. Fortunately the coup failed and our democracy endured, but that’s not the end of the story, not by a long shot.
Despite the rightwing media blitz of bullshit that the rioters were “infiltrated by Antifa and BLM”, well known Nazis, white supremacists, Qanon nutbags, and radical gun nuts were at the front of the line. One such radical is retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Larry Rendell Brock, Jr. who’s family and friends have described him as increasingly unhinged and radical. He was photographed in the well of the Senate chamber on Wednesday wearing body armor, a military issue combat helmet and carrying zip tie handcuffs. He was also photographed enter Nancy Pelosi’s office and then quietly pushing past the mob and out. Here he is in the chamber:
Other disturbing videos and photos have been posted online of other radicals carrying zip ties and weapons. The video of the shocking scene of radicals smashing doors and the ultimate shooting of a Trump radical was the entrance to the Speaker’s lobby just outside of the House chamber. The person shot and killed was trying to climb through the window of the door. Her name was Ashli Babbitt, another Air Force vet, Qanon conspiracy nut, and extremist who’d become more and more radicalized. The target of the violence? House members who were evacuating through the lobby down a secure elevator. The intent is clear.
Even worse, it is now pretty apparent that someone, or some persons, at the Pentagon either overtly or tacitly supported this attempted coup by confusing or delaying military and Capitol Police response. As we talked about yesterday, governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, announced yesterday that he was denied clearance numerous times to deploy National Guard troops to the Capitol. Dithering/stonewalling from the Pentagon caused loss of control at the Capitol resulting in numerous injuries and 5 deaths including a Capitol Hill Police officer who was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher.
On top of all this evidence, security experts in allied countries are now speaking out about the apparent conspiracy to support the attempted coup by Trump. These experts, speaking anonymously, said what we all know, that keeping a building like the Capitol secure is not a secret. The techniques that keep bad actors out of secure buildings all over the world are the same, and well known by security experts who share information and regularly train together. One NATO official interviewed said to Business Insider, “Today I am briefing my government that we believe with a reasonable level of certainty that Donald Trump attempted a coup that failed when the system did not buckle. I can’t believe this happened.” Now THAT, kids, is a scary but also very likely correct conclusion.
In the coming days I believe that there will be, and should be, criminal conspiracy charges against individuals in US government agencies including in the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and even the White House. Then, we’ll have to grapple with the conclusion that millions of Americans still support the person who tried to steal our government from us. I’m not hopeful we can pull out of this.
What really worries me is the thought of somebody less incompetent trying it again down the road.
1I am sad to say that this comports with what we know to be the scenarios fed into Mango’s head by the Dead End Gang over the past few weeks:
Flynn, Powell, Giuliani and of course Miller.
Plus anyone you would like to add that didn’t spring to mind.
2Rich in Fla @2 thank you. Would add Ken Cuccinelli, Chad Wolf, the names of the fu king moron’s latest additions to the Pentagon who slow walked Gov. Hogan’s requests to deploy his guard troops, and the recently fired/resigned head of the Capital Police. All participants in the coup as much by inaction as action.
3We, in the United States, have a healthy reputation for not prosecuting political: speakers, displays, acts or speech. This is not political; it is tyranny. Tyranny brought by a 75 y.o. failed entrepreneur who can’t even manage a “mom & pop realty store”, who has the emotional maturity of a 3 y.o. brat that throws a tantrum every time it doesn’t get its way. It’s time, on the 20th, to detain, interrogate and charge it – as is appropriate – as a domestic terrorist … or under the Alien and Sedition Acts.
This garbage bag masquerading as a human being, doesn’t pay its bills or taxes and brags about it; it is the icon for failed white power, illegitimately wielded by old fat white men who are ashamed of their appearance – hiding it behind elevator shoes, suit coats to their knees and comb-overs or toupees. They stir the pot to hide what the other hand is doing. The mainstream media and rite-wing organizations comply by continually calling attention to the latest galling event, while carefully shoving the errocive event under the table and out-of-sight.
What the rite-wing knumb-knuts don’t get is that civil rights aren’t like money. Civil and human rights are not a zero-sum (they think zero some) event. Neither my rights nor anyone else’s will be diminished by another’s right(s) being enforced — unless the perpetrator of the removed or denied right(s) must be chastened or punished for repeated violations.
Systemic and institutional processes that limit application of rights or discourage their application to events or the pursuit of: life, liberty, peace, prosperity or the goods and services attached to a life well-lived must be removed. Removed first in our culture and society, and by example and extension across the planet.
4Since I am a fervent believer in the incompetence, overall, of the US armed forces, I find it easier to believe the delay in releasing the Guard was due to 1) sensitivity, in the military and DC civil government to well-justified criticism of use of the military during the summer; 2) absence of the acting secretary of defense abroad, plus incompetence and inexperience of understrappers; 3) fog of failed coup attempt; 4) stupidity.
I find it easy enough to believe that antigovernment individuals in police, military and White House were hopeful, ready to lend a hand as situations developed, and deliberately ignored or failed to act on intelligence.
Pending further evidence, though, I don’t think this was a putsch.
5The insurrection at the capital on 1/6 was worse than the attack on the us embassy in Benghazi. It was difficult to bring the Benghazi instigators to justice, but repugnanticans spent days trying to blame HRC and Obama.
6We have on video those that incited the attack on our capital and hours of video of those that carried it out. Repugnanticans want to just let it go and move on. Congress has a lot of priorities after 1/20, but holding those responsible accountable must be one of them, starting with Trumpf, Giuliani and Jr Trumpf who are on video directly inciting insurrection. Include hawley giving a fist pump to the mob in front of the capital steps.
In addition, they must investigate the DC police leadership and preparations along with Trumpf’s pentagon delaying the national Guard to assist at the capital. They should have been there from the start.
I agree the Guard should have been nearby but do not think the Capitol should have been ringed with troops. That was the look we wanted to avoid, plus the possibility that unless you are absolutely certain of the loyalty and judgment of the commanding officer, you might end up with troops guarding the revolt. That’s how revolts that succeed usually go.
I had mixed feelings. I do not trust the judgment or the competence of the high command, but you defend your country with the army you have.
I had hoped that the Chiefs, or Milley alone, would have detailed a trusted colonel way back in August (when it was clear trump would not go on his own) to plan for and assemble a battalion of reaction forces to deal with whatever went down. This would have been supersensitive but we pay (overpay in my opinion) these guys to deal with sensitive situations.
7The propaganda effort to twist this insurrection and coup d’etat attempt into a minor event just went into overdrive:
“The Pentagon is calling Wednesday’s events “First Amendment Protests.” ”
Effing ‘First Amendment Protests’!
Undoubtedly by those peaceful MAGAots [just waving a few trump flags around]. It was the false flag infiltrating BLM/Antifa terrorists who really committed the crimes.
And they are attempting to rewrite history by redoing the timeline of events.
Orwellian to the max.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/9/2007552/-Trump-appointed-Pentagon-officials-provide-timeline-of-assault-on-Capitol-prepare-to-be-outraged
8I had been on the fence regarding impeachment vs 25th amendment. Either way he was out.
Until today when I learned that impeachment would result in the loss of his pension, health ins, secret service protection, office/staff, transition funds, travel allowances, and he cannot run for office again. (It’s also sad that I’ve never had to know that before….and today I do.) As more and more comes out in the coming days I don’t see how any conscientious republican could vote against that. I keep thinking “What would Dick Lugar do?”
I also believe Trump and his kids are such imbeciles that they were easily manipulated by others with even more dangerous agendas. They don’t even know they’ve been punked.
9Outlaws like those who sacked the Capitol building are not beyond forcing the issue of martyrdom. If troops had opened fire on them and left behind a windrow of dead “protesters”, the outlaws would have considered the occasion a huge success, a press bonanza to build their “innocence” around the world, especially with a firestorm of pictures all over the world. The Capitol police had already received some bad press when they long ago dragged out people in wheelchairs who were peacefully protesting. Ditto for the small group of pastors who prayed in a circle in the middle of the rotunda a while ago.
Consequently, no matter if there is second impeachment or not or a 25th Amendment or even a resignation,, come noon of January 21st tRump should be arrested, booked without bail and barred from releasing any kind of statement. I do not want my tax money to go anywhere near him after Jan. 20 in any form of a retirement package and that includes Secret Service protection. The Sec Serv needs protection from tRump.
Cruz et al. should be shown the door as fast as possible. By the Stance that they took, they are under the law unable to continue serving.
10Somebody explain to this ole Fla gal why Pence is not down for 25ing Benedict Donald? Donnie’s “ elite strike force” were looking for Prince Pence to execute him.
11Don’t know about you, but I would take that personal…the man’s Mrs. and daughter were in the house.
In fact, since I am old and a bit unstable, I would probably shiv the asshole with one of those “ signing pens” but that’s just me.
Sorry. As soon as the MAGA rallyists (providing cover?) headed for the Capitol, it SHOULD have been ringed with troops, several deep! The “optics” of us protecting our elected officials from a bunch of slavering riffraff jicked up by an unhinged megalomaniac would have been far preferable to the “optics” of said riffraff overrunning our congressional halls, carrying on like the vandals they are, but also embedded with more competent and purposeful persons with criminal and deadly intent. Fortunately, a mob rapidly becomes a Hydra of many heads, and those criminals bent on kidnapping and murder were impeded by the cover chaos.
The word for this “unprecedented incident” is TREASON.
More interesting reflections from the Twitter machine:
https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1347742091032596483?s=20
Josh Marshall has a splendid community of folks, much like our own Juanita Jean and her Beauty Salon has here. I’m off to see what Jim Wright has to say, and may add anything relevant to our discussion here later.
12Follow the money. Reporters are already exposing who helped organize this. He gutted all the departments and put in his flunkies. Now they are reporting the US Attorney for Atlanta was pushed out. Seems he wasn’t uncovering voter fraud to Trumps liking. It won’t surprise me this goes all the way to the White House. I’m glad they are arresting these clowns but I want the people who organized it and funded it arrested.
13Here’s part of a piece I posted to Facebook yesterday:
Remember when Trump decapitated the Pentagon over the past month or so?
While the Capitol was under siege, Pelosi and a representative from Delaware were in a bunker together. He just happened to have the number of John Carney, the governor of his state, on his phone. So he called to ask him to send police or troops to the Capitol to rescue the leaders of our nation. The [Republican] governor said, “Of course, I’ll get right on it.”
But this was DC — a federal “protectorate” — and the head of the Department of Defense was required to permit the deployment of troops within the city. And the head of the department was one of those newbies who had just been installed in his position. And he wasn’t picking up his phone.
Finally, about 1 1/2 hours later, the head of the Army called Governor Carney out of the blue saying, “Um. Do you think you might get some troops into DC and help us out?”
Why, yes. Carney had been tearing his hair out trying to get those troops moving. The head of the Army wasn’t the “right person” to okay the deployment of the troops but Carney grasped that straw and ran with it.
So I ask you: what was Trump’s intent when he got rid of the top echelons of the Pentagon last month? Was there a method to his madness? As strange as it seems, Trump may actually have planned ahead.
14Under the heading of, “I learn something new every day”, I learned today that retired military who took part in the riot can be recalled to active duty for the purpose of court-martialing them, conviction in which would strip them of pensions and other retirement benefits. Biden SoD: DO IT!!!
15Yep, once you accept the president’s commission, you are commissioned for life unless degraded.
“An officer and a gentleman by act of Congress,” my father used to say, with a pregnant pause after “officer.”
He held a commission in the Navy
16Vic: they’ll be trying again in less then two weeks, not “down the road.” This was the test run, the “proof of principle” run, with their S&T commander remote to the site (for safety & deniability) but in constant contact with the military (not crazy old military–fit, active duty, both ours and mercs) embedded in the cattle crush. And Trump can still derail defense on the next one because he’s still president.
Look: It’s very clear that Trump’s sudden intrusion of new “acting” heads of this and that were intended to give him more power to resist the loss and more control of who could do what when something happened. SecDef Christopher Miller quickly made a Pentagon-wide rule that there would be *no cooperation* with Biden’s transition team…a flashing red warning sign to those watching. He was new to that post, but not a “newbie”–he has extensive experience in the military and in security situations. See this: https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Biographies/Biography/Article/2111192/christopher-c-miller/ He didn’t make a mistake or fail to notice…he did what he was told to do. He stayed off the phone to allow butt-covering deniability.
As I mentioned before, because the D.C. National Guard is directly under a president’s control, and state National Guard units cannot serve out of state w/o permission from SecDef, Trump was able to lock down a National Guard response–the troops chosen to protect the Capitol in other situations could be held back. It’s good to have civilians in control of your military unless they’re BAD civilians. Traitors.
Trump did plan ahead. Did he do the actual planning? Probably not; I doubt he’s capable. But he had access to men who could, and who bought into his political stance. Did they really believe the election was fraudulent? Probably not, but they wanted a longer Trump presidency. Who did the planning? Bunch of possibilities. Current military officers who are white supremacist and hyper conservative, and who have the relevant experience in urban warfare. Mercenaries or former mercs who think it’s to their advantage. Foreign military personnel (least likely, though I’ll bet there were “Russian mob” guys embedded.) Possibly some allies in the Capitol Police (higher ranking). In my opinion. Eric Prince will certainly be in the planning group and is very likely the commander. He is experienced, fully qualified, and absolutely untrustworthy despite being good-looking and well-spoken. (I have mentioned that I saw him interviewed on Charlie Rose years and years ago and my thought by the end of the show was “We are fu-[redacted for mama] if he’s not killed pretty soon.”) He does not like this country, hates democracy, despises our military (he was in the Navy; left to become a merc), he’s rich and friends with the wrong rich people (Kochs, Mercer, etc.) Also, like his sister Betsy, cold and cruel. And very, very power hungry, and likes Russians. He should be on the Most Wanted list right now, after this, but I’ll bet he’s not.
This was a planned assault using in part untrained enthusiasts for cover, so the pros could assess how the plan worked, and what they would want to change by Jan 15. There would have been, within a block or two, at least one vehicle with a mobile command & communication setup, equivalent of ours. For the next assault there will be more. (Why you want an AWACS upstairs, among other reasons.) Although they had guns, pipe bombs and other IEDs, they didn’t need them. This does not diminish the likelihood that the next attack will include serious and much more dangerous weapons, up to multiple armored vehicles and small nukes. Yes, that’s plural.
And SecDef can prevent the military from making the plans they should be making right this minute and every minute since 7 am Friday, by just saying NO.
So I hope someone has already established a back door into the relevant *loyal* military. (If you ever daydream about becoming POTUS, start early making friends in the officer corps of each branch–not tight friendships, necessarily because some you meet will be less desirable–but friendly connections. Don’t talk politics much–listen. Watch their careers, watch how they grow or don’t, whether their understanding of the Constitution changes, etc.) Officers go sour in the “field grade” ranks…major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, though some go sour with a first star. You’re looking for character.)
I will bet the military is already wide awake about the [redacted for Mama] that’s coming and senior generals are eyeing each other and hoping it’s not as bad as it could be. Keep your cars’ gas tanks full, cash money on hand (ATMs and credit cards may not be working for awhile if they zap power or the internet). Food in the house, warm clothes and bedding in case your heat source drops out, etc, etc. Despite the plethora of clues online, old and new, I do not know if a foreign power is set to intervene. One could be. Nobody’s going to come to our help after 4 years of Trump, if there is a hostile foreign power grab.
Welcome to 2021. I see it standing there like the buckskin mare that bucked me off as I mounted…ears back, tail tucked, stiff all over, eyes slitted. Get on fast, and get ready for a rough ride.
17We are just lucky that the plotters possessed all the skill and know-how of the Bay of Pigs army.
18Elizabeth #17: I wouldn’t be surprised if Eric Prince were in charge or part of the team in charge of this coup attempt. Between you and Malcolm Nance, I’m not sure which of you makes me more nervous, but thanks for your insight. One would hope that the FBI and others are investigating who/what needs to be happening now to prevent or mitigate whatever is being planned on & before the 20th. A larger investigation and charges will take longer.
19Wow.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-attempted-coup-federal-law-enforcement-capitol-police-2021-1?amp&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=topbar&__twitter_impression=true
20The rioters on Wednesday had all the aplomb and verve of the draft-dodgers they probably were … except for the few Air Force air men and women there to ” … obey the order of my commander.” Their commander-in-thief. These rioters are TOO stupid to know that when real security arrives to protect the real Commander-in-Chief, President Biden, there will be no escape to Virginia, Maryland or home. The round-up will be thorough, polite, lawful and firm. The Dept. of Defense – which happens to be the Guardians of de-fence – knows how to take prisoners. They are secured; silenced; segregated, and transported to a confinement facility. If a fat, white, male educated in Alabama and South Carolina who is over 70 (well over) can understand that these are insurrectionists and what they are doing is a capital offense, and has no First Amendment protection, they are culpable.
21I’m not advocating execution. The death sentence is a deplorable punishment and confined to the likes of McVeigh, Saddam al Tiktriti Josep Stalin and Adolf Hitler & his band of goons & hoods. These rioters are more like Keystone crooks.