After just two days, President Donald Trump is already trumpeting his decision to federalize the Washington, D.C., police force and send in the National Guard as a rousing success.

"As of about yesterday…you see a big change and people are feeling safer already," said Trump at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, during remarks that were recorded by Reason's Justin Zuckerman. "They were afraid to walk out. They're not afraid anymore."

City residents who are eager for sound solutions to D.C.'s enduring crime problems should hold their applause: A temporary display of police force is not a panacea for the widespread government incompetence that continues to cripple D.C.'s criminal justice system.

Dozens of National Guard troops appeared on the National Mall on Tuesday, and up to 800 of them a

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