While Trump Bloviates About Military Assault on Political Opponents, Biden – Harris Authorize US Military Domestic Lethal Force and Drone Strikes

Fascist Rerpression Either Way for the Anti-Genocide Movement

In a revision to DOD Directive 5240.01, Assistant Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has approved authorization for US military to provide assistance to federal, state and local law enforcement including the use of lethal force and the use of such force by “DoD Unmanned Systems.”

While media has focused on Trump’s bloviating pronouncement that he intends to use military force against opposition from day one should he be re-elected, Hicks who serves under the BIden-Harris administration has approved such military assaults and use of lethal force as of September 27. 2024. Both candidates are in agreement with the use of the US military for domestic repression and Harris-Biden already have approved the concept of such use.

One big challenge domestically that will continue regardless if Trump or Harris takes the helm in 2025 is opposition to US support for Israel, the genocide in Gaza (spreading to West Bank) and the escalation toward total Middle East war led by Israel with “ironclad” support from the US. There is bipartisan support for laws that violate the protected First Amendment rights to free speech. They are making it illegal to oppose the slaughter by Israel – as any criticism of Israel is seen as questioning “Israel’s Right to Exist” which if properly defined means Israel impunity for every depraved act of mass slaughter.

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are on board with unleashing the US military domestically to massacre dissenters. The following is the language from DOD Directive 5240.01 revisions approved by Assistant Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks:

See document authotizing US military lethal use of force for domestic repression, including use of drones at this link – scroll to Section 3.3 3.3. LEVELS OF AUTHORITY https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/524001p.pdf

LEVELS OF AUTHORITY.
Subject to Paragraph 3.1., Defense Intelligence Components may provide personnel to assist a Federal department or agency, including a Federal law enforcement agency, or a State or local law enforcement agency when lives are in danger, in response to a request for such assistance, in accordance with the following approval authorities:
a. Secretary of Defense Approval.
(1) The Secretary of Defense may approve any type of requested permissible assistance described in Paragraph 3.2.
(2) The decision to approve requests for these types of permissible assistance described in Paragraph 3.2. to law enforcement agencies and other civil authorities are reserved to the Secretary of Defense:
(a) Provision of personnel to support response efforts for civil disturbances, which may also require Presidential authorization.
(b) DoD response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive incidents.
(c) Assistance in responding with assets with potential for lethality, or any situation in which it is reasonably foreseeable that providing the requested assistance may involve the use of force that is likely to result in lethal force, including death or serious bodily injury. It also includes all support to civilian law enforcement officials in situations where a confrontation between civilian law enforcement and civilian individuals or groups is reasonably anticipated. Such use of force must be in accordance with DoDD 5210.56, potentially as further restricted based on the specifics of the requested support.
(d) Provision or use of DoD unmanned systems in the United States except as delegated by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to the October 31, 2023 Secretary of Defense Memorandum.