Letter to the Hon. Mark T. Esper - Haaland, 14 Members of Congress to Esper: "United States Citizens Are Not the Enemy and our Military Should Not Plan or Execute Attacks Against Them"

Letter

Dear Secretary Esper:
We are dismayed and gravely concerned regarding your recent statements and subsequent
actions in response to the civil unrest in our nation. As Secretary, you have authority, direction
and control over the Department of Defense. Your rhetoric and command set the standard for all
who serve our country.
This week you described American streets and communities as a "battlespace" that must
be "dominate[d]". Our own military doctrine, developed over the history of our nation and to
which you are entrusted with executing, states that "dominate activities" are those that "focus on
breaking the enemy's will" and "attacking weaknesses at the leading edge of the enemy's
defensive perimeter." In response to this, let us be clear: United States citizens are not the enemy
and our military should not plan or execute attacks against them.
More than 28,000 National Guard personnel are now deployed across 28 states and
Washington, D.C., a greater force than the combined number of troops we currently have
deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The same military doctrine that defines our approach to
our enemies states that activities which "enable civil authority" to support "legitimate civil
governance" should be conducted through "agreement with the appropriate civil authority,"
"especially for operations within the US." It is imperative that any use of the National Guard or
the armed forces adhere to these precepts, and our citizens are treated as Americans - not enemy
combatants on the battlefield.
We are concerned that the actions by the armed forces in recent days indicate this is not
the course you or the Department intend to take. Military police have been deployed from Ft.
Bragg and other locations in preparation for potential operations in the nation's capital. Military
helicopters have been used at extremely low altitude in a dangerous effort to disrupt protests. The
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has patrolled the streets of the District of Columbia in
military fatigues. These actions are inappropriate under our military doctrine and the values of
our society upon which they are built.
Around the nation, we have seen productive actions by our civil authorities to recognize
the frustration felt by our communities and deescalate the unrest; from police chiefs kneeling
alongside protestors to demonstrators standing shoulder-to-shoulder to protect our businesses and
communities from vandalism. The strength that we have seen from these citizens and neighbors
has set the example for how we can establish a peaceful and nonviolent foundation that reduces
the intensity of the discourse and provides a path forward to constructive dialogue on the issues
that face our country.
The actions that you and our armed forces take in the coming days will ultimately be
viewed through the lens of history. As a leader you must have the confidence to stand alone and
the courage to make tough decisions. Those under your leadership will be looking to you for the
integrity of your words and the equity of your actions. As the civilian leader of our armed forces,
we call on you to heed these words and set a standard for our servicemen and women that history
will recognize as a positive force in the resolution of this unrest.
We recognize your statements today as a first step in this direction. We are hopeful that
you will continue to listen to the needs of our nation and our communities to ensure that the
victory that results is not based in military force, but in civility that provides equity and justice
for all.