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The President is putting America’s armed forces in a bind
Turning soldiers into cops was once a last resort. How far might he go?
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Members of the Ohio National Guard patrolling the National Mall, weeks after US President Donald Trump ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement to assist in crime prevention.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Economist
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The technical term for it is a military presence patrol. The non-technical term is a political stunt.
Since August, National Guard troops have been ambling around landmarks in Washington, DC, including the Mall and the main train station. Mr Donald Trump ostensibly sent them to fight crime. In reality, they are not making arrests and these are some of the safer parts of America’s capital. So they are collecting rubbish and spreading mulch in city parks. Tourists ask them for selfies; some locals tell them to get lost.
