Why it matters that some National Guard troops in L.A. are growing demoralized

There are growing signs that some of the National Guard troops whom President Donald Trump deployed to Los Angeles are demoralized and discontent with their ostensible mission of quashing the “rebellion” of protests against federal immigration raids. For those of you watching the “how close are we to an authoritarian state?” dial, it’s a small but meaningful indication that Trump might not be able to get all the armed forces on board in future authoritarian power grabs.

The latest reporting comes via The New York Times, which interviewed nearly two dozen people, including National Guard troops and officers, as well as officials and civilians who worked closely with them. The interviews “show that many members of the Guard are questioning the mission,” the Times reports. Six members of the Guard, ranging from infantrymen to officers to officials in leadership positions, described “low morale and deep concern that the deployment may hurt recruitment for the state-based military force for years to come.”

The Times says several of the guard members had “raised objections themselves or knew someone who objected, either because they did not want to be involved in immigration crackdowns or felt the Trump administration had put them on the streets for what they described as a ‘fake mission.’” According to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, the rate at which soldiers are set to extend their service during the deployment is dramatically lower than the typical extension rate. And then there was this colorful portrait of chaos:

At least 105 members of the deployment sought counseling from behavioral health officers, and at least one company commander and one battalion commander who objected to the mission were reassigned to work unrelated to the mobilization, the Guard officers said. Some troops became so disgruntled that there were several reports of soldiers defecating in Humvees and showers at the Southern California base where the troops are stationed, prompting tightened bathroom security.

We don’t know the exact reasons for the counseling, the reassignments, or the vandalistic defecation. But it does seem as if things aren’t looking great, and given the context and other background information, it’s plausible that some of it could be tied to political disillusionment.

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/national-guard-trump-morale-protest-los-angeles-rcna219670

This might suggest that a wave of anti-orange slime sentiment is percolating among the Gurad and may also be manifesting among troops.