Bulwark Takes Retired General Warns Militarizing Minneapolis Would Be A Disaster | Command Post
Jan 29, 2026
Mark Hertling, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and military analyst. He warns against militarizing U.S. cities and explains legal and practical risks of federal forces in local policing. He contrasts National Guard roles with federalized troops and critiques Border Patrol and ICE tactics. He also discusses NATO activity and Arctic defense.
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Insurrection Act Turns Soldiers Into Police
- The Insurrection Act federalizes troops and permits military-style policing, including lethal force, against citizens.
- Mark Hertling warns this transforms soldiers into a kinetic force unsuited for community policing.
Limit Guard To Support Tasks
- Use the National Guard for Support for Civilian Authorities tasks like guarding and logistics, not arrests.
- Avoid federalizing forces for routine law enforcement to prevent unlawful policing by soldiers.
Paramilitary Look, Police Training Lacking
- ICE and Border Patrol personnel showed poor leadership and inadequate training during Minneapolis deployments.
- Hertling highlights their paramilitary appearance but lack of appropriate policing discipline.