America Invaded; Government Impotent in Response

Fantastic, I know.  Perhaps you are thinking, “what – is this a post about the War of 1812?”  After all, that might be the last (if not only) time that one would consider the statement in the title to be true. 

It has long helped that the United States was protected from invasion by two vast oceans.  It also helps that the United States spends more on military, intelligence, security than much of the rest of the world combined.  It also helps that the population is well armed.

To the extent one considers Pearl Harbor or 911 an invasion, the response to each was most certainly not “impotent.” 

So, who could ever invade, and if they did so why on earth would the United States be impotent in its response?

WASHINGTON — Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, including his government security forces and several armed individuals, violently charged a group of protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence here on Tuesday night in what the police characterized as “a brutal attack.”

Eleven people were injured, including a police officer, and nine were taken to a hospital, the Metropolitan Police chief, Peter Newsham, said at a news conference on Wednesday. Two Secret Service agents were also assaulted in the melee, according to a federal law enforcement official.

And the initial response?

The State Department condemned the attack as an assault on free speech and warned Turkey that the action would not be tolerated. “We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms,” said Heather Nauert, a State Department spokeswoman.

No arrests.

Agents of a foreign government, on American soil, attacked and beat Americans.  An invasion; an impotent response.

Maybe the protestors instigated the aggression; Erdogan’s security detail was merely acting in defense?

Hardly.  The New York Times (yes, I know) has done an extensive examination of the many videos that were taken at the time of the attack.  Here is what they found:

The men kicked people lying on the ground and put a woman in a chokehold just a mile from the White House. They outnumbered the protesters nearly two to one.

Ten of the men who attacked protesters appear to be part of a formal security detail. Two of these men charged protesters and appeared to start the main part of the fight.  At one point, as many as four of the men were attacking the same protester.

Six men who attacked protesters wore outfits resembling a summer uniform worn by Turkish guards…One man knocked two women to the ground, and another man repeatedly punched Lucy Usoyan, a protester, as she lay on the ground.

Some of the attackers identified themselves as supporters of Turkey’s president…Two of these men, Alpkenan Dereci and Sinan Narin, were involved at the very beginning, when they pushed and punched protesters they met in the street.

But why call this an invasion?  Did the Turkish government have anything to do with this?

Turkey’s president, Mr. Erdogan, watched the brawl from a black Mercedes-Benz sedan parked nearby, at the Turkish ambassador’s residence. His role in the clash, if any, is unclear. But video of his entourage shows that at least one member of the security detail positioned next to him rushed into the fight and started kicking and punching protesters.

While sitting in the car, Mr. Erdogan conferred with Muhsin Kose, his head of security, who leaned into the car’s rear door. After speaking with Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Kose talked into his earpiece, and three security personnel who were guarding the president’s car hurried toward the protest.

The brawl began moments later, and one of these men, a heavy-set bald man, appeared on video punching and kicking people.

Mr. Kose talked to Mr. Erdogan throughout the brawl.

It is worth going to the article; the video examination is very thorough and telling.

Conclusion

Almost two weeks later and still no arrests, no sanctions, no statement from Trump, nothing.

The United States can identify the guilty for terrorist events 6000 miles from shore within 30 minutes; the United States can find a way to retaliate for such “crimes” within a few days thereafter.

Within minutes, the US government can place economic and financial sanctions on Russia, Iran, Syria, etc.  None of which have invaded the United States.

But an invasion by a foreign government on US soil?  Nothing. 

Impotent.

Make America Great Again?  Pass the Viagra.