Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I definitely did not say or imply anyone should "leave it alone".  I said live ammo is not a solution, in my view.  I'm OK with bringing in the NG, the look fairly imposing in their riot gear and can "man lines", they don't have arrest powers, the do free up local police who do.

I don't think Marines are needed in this situation.  They have very different training and warrior ethos.  Their aim is to win battles, using deadly force.

There was a story, perhaps made up, that a policeman ordered some Marines "Cover me!" and the Marines lit up the area, which astonished the policeman, who thought it meant "Be ready to fire if something shows up".  To a Marine, it means lay down suppressive fire.

I said live ammo is not a solution, in my view.  I'm OK with bringing in the NG, the look fairly imposing in their riot gear and can "man lines", they don't have arrest powers, the do free up local police who do.

I don't think you can compromise in that way.  

In 1970 Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes sent the Ohio National Guard to Kent State due to looting.  Violent (today they would be called "mostly peaceful") protestors literally burned down the ROTC Building and stole and slashed fire hoses to prevent the local FD from putting out the blaze.  

After the Guardsmen opened fire and killed four people Rhodes tried to duck responsibility.  My dad (who was a died in the wool Republican) HATED Jim Rhodes for that and a few other dishonest things that he did.  

I don't think the military (or any component thereof such as NG) should EVER be sent somewhere without live ammo to "look fairly imposing".  The problem is that they lack the ability to defend themselves.  That isn't fair to them and it also creates downstream problems because if people figure out that those guys who look like troops and "look fairly imposing" are actually unarmed then they just become extra potential casualties.  

IMHO, the only viable options are either send them with live ammo or don't send them.  Then the corollary is that if the relevant government official (Governor, President, whatever) doesn't have the guts to stand behind the consequences he/she shouldn't send them.  

seems you can either allow the riots and looting or you can use force to stop the riots and looting

Is a bunch of illegals burning things and attacking law enforcement an act of war?

Well apparently this particular use of marine force is going to cost the US taxpayers $134 million.

https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-congress-hegseth-signal-hearings-c53cd37c2eae4327dd74e4c717057469

right, they otherwise wouldn't have food and lodging and paychecks
$134 million???  probably less than a parade
US Tax payers don't pay, we just tack it onto the deficit

Is a bunch of illegals burning things and attacking law enforcement an act of war?

Probably not. And chances are, probably not primarily illegals.