Pelosi’s General Proposes Quick Reaction Force To Protect U.S. Capitol from Americans

March 6 , 2021 (EIRNS)—Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, the highly partisan military man hired to do a security assessment of the Capitol after Jan. 6, turned his report over to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday, the text of which was subsequently published by Fox News. Honoré recommended, among other things, the creation of a “quick reaction force” (QRF) made up of federal law enforcement or National Guard troops to be stationed at or near the Capitol, Fox reported. The report also calls for U.S. Capitol police reforms, an increased National Guard presence and stocking up on mobile fencing that could be deployed in response to a crisis in the future, then quickly packed up when it’s over.

“[W]e recommend establishment of a robust, dedicated QRF, not only for the USCP [U.S. Capitol Police], but to serve the nation’s capital writ large,” Honoré’s report says. The QRF he proposes would be manned 24/7, 365 days a year, and cost taxpayers between $40 and $130 million annually.

Aside from that, the report seems to be mainly an attack on the Capitol Police, who Honoré claimed in a media appearance shortly after the Jan. 6 events, is full of “Trumpsters.” Fox observes that absent from the report is any indication the Pentagon slowed requests for the National Guard to respond. The report says only a “handful” of Capitol Police officers “have significant intelligence training.”

Republicans ripped Pelosi’s task force due to its clearly partisan nature. “Although we are grateful for his service to our country, [Lt. Gen.] Honoré has made many comments critical of U.S. Capitol Police officers and certain Members of Congress—statements that call into question the supposed impartiality of his review,” a group of House Republicans wrote in a letter to Pelosi on March 2.