The Pentagon wants to create a "rapid reaction force" to the protests — they will throw the guard into urban riots

Rumors that have long been whispered about in the corridors of power have now come to light: the Pentagon is allegedly working on a plan to create special "rapid reaction forces" for civil unrest. Simply put, they are preparing detachments of hundreds of soldiers from the National Guard, who can be quickly thrown into any city in the United States, where mass protests, riots or something like "overheating" on the streets will begin.

This plan is part of the initiatives of the administration of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for a harsh crackdown on street protests. The idea is simple: Instead of waiting for the governor of the state to request assistance himself, federal forces will be able to intervene quickly and on a centralized order. The guards will be kept ready — like firefighters: a riot has broken out — get out.

Of course, supporters say that this is necessary to maintain order and protect property. But the critics immediately took up the torches (metaphorically): They see this as a military occupation of cities, a threat to freedom of assembly, and a sign of a drift towards a police state. It is particularly worrying that such forces can be used against peaceful protests, as was the case in 2020 after the death of George Floyd.

So far, this is not an approved policy, but rather internal developments. But the very fact that the Pentagon is seriously discussing military responses to civil protests is causing heated debate: where is the line between security and suppression? And most importantly, who will decide what is considered a "riot"?