U.S. ARMY TROOPS TO SERVE AS U.S. POLICEMEN?

[LastManOut]

U.S. ARMY TROOPS TO SERVE AS U.S. POLICEMEN?





By Chuck Baldwin
October 1, 2008
NewsWithViews.com

According to the Army Times (dated Tuesday, September 30, 2008), "Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT [Brigade Combat Team] will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks."

The article continued by saying, "But this new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to NorthCom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities.

"After 1st BCT finishes its dwell-time mission, expectations are that another, as yet unnamed, active-duty brigade will take over and that the mission will be a permanent one."

The Times column also reported that the Army brigade "may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control . . ." It seems that the Army's new domestic duties also include "traffic control" as well as subduing "unruly or dangerous individuals."

The brigade will be known for the next year as a Consequence Management Response Force, or CCMRF (pronounced "sea-smurf").

I am assuming that the planners and promoters of this newfound function for the Army brigade envision the Army assisting local first responders in dealing with natural emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and the like. Good intentions notwithstanding, to assign domestic police duties to the U.S. military is extremely disturbing.

To understand my concern for this new "homeland Army brigade," it is important that we rehearse the principles of liberty as they relate to standing armies.

One of America's most sacred principles has always been that the U.S. military was never to be used for domestic law enforcement. The fear of standing armies ran very deep in the hearts and minds of America's founders. The tyranny and misery inflicted upon the colonies by British troops weighed heavily upon those who drafted our Constitution and Bill of Rights. In their minds, the American people would never again be subjected to the heavy weight of army boots. Furthermore, they insisted that America would have a civilian--not military--government.

And after the fiasco of the abuse of federal troops in the South following the War Between the States, the doctrine of Posse Comitatus was enacted into law. The Wikipedia online encyclopedia says this about Posse Comitatus:

"The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services ... from exercising nominally state law enforcement police or peace officer powers that maintain 'law and order' on non-federal property. . . .

"The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the United States National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. . . .

"The Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act substantially limit the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement."

The Posse Comitatus Act was passed in 1878 and was universally accepted as being a very just--and extremely important--law of the land.


But in 2006, President George W. Bush pushed a Republican-controlled Congress to pass the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, which included a section titled "Use of the Armed Forces in major public emergencies." This section provided that "The President may employ the armed forces to restore public order in any State of the United States the President determines...." In effect, this bill obliterated Posse Comitatus.

When the Democrat-controlled Congress passed the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, however, the restrictions of Posse Comitatus were restored. But when President Bush signed the Act into law, he attached a signing statement (Executive Order) indicating that the Executive Branch did not feel bound by the changes enacted by the repeal. Translated: President Bush wiped out Posse Comitatus by Executive Order.

Now, just a few months after expunging Posse Comitatus, President Bush has authorized an Army brigade to be assigned the new role of dealing exclusively with domestic law enforcement and related duties. This evokes serious questions.

Who will give the order to send U.S. troops against American civilians, and under what circumstances? What will the rules of engagement be? How will "unruly" and "dangerous" be defined? How will soldiers be asked to deal with "crowd" or "traffic" control? And perhaps the biggest question is, Once we begin to go down this road, where will it lead?

For several years, the federal government has been accumulating to itself more and more authority that was historically understood to reside within the states and local communities. More and more, our police departments have taken on the image and tactics of the armed forces. And to a greater and greater degree, the rights and liberties of the American people are being sacrificed on the altar of "national security." It seems to me that to now ascribe law enforcement duties to the U.S. Army only serves to augment the argument that America is fast approaching police state status.

If Hurricane Katrina is the template that our federal government is using as a model for future events, Heaven help us! Do readers remember how National Guard troops were used to confiscate the personal firearms of isolated and vulnerable civilians shortly after that hurricane devastated the New Orleans area? Do you remember how representatives of the federal government were calling upon pastors and ministers to act as spokesmen for gun confiscation? Is this what the new Army brigade is preparing for? And do President Bush and his military planners envision an even broader role for military troops on American soil?

Add to the above rumors of thousands of plastic caskets--along with thousands of portable prison cells--being shipped and stored across the country, and one is left to ask, Exactly what is it that our federal government is planning?


I think there is an even bigger question, What exactly will members of our armed forces do if and when they are commanded to seize Americans' firearms, arrest them at gun point, or even fire upon them? How many soldiers and Marines love liberty and constitutional government enough to resist such orders, should they be given? And how many officers would resist issuing such orders?

Remember, it is the job of the armed forces to kill people and blow up things, not to do police work. Then again, Presidential administrations from both major parties have been using the U.S. military as U.N. "peacekeepers" for decades now. So, was all of this preparation for what is yet to take place in the United States?


God forbid that any of the above should actually take place in our beloved land, but I believe it would be naïve to not see that the actions and attitudes of the federal government over the past several years do nothing to assuage such fears.

*If you enjoyed this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link.

*Disclaimer: I am currently a candidate for President of the United States on the Constitution Party ticket. Click here for my official campaign web site.

© 2008 Chuck Baldwin - All Rights Reserved

[LorDiego01]

Scary. Very Scary indeed.

Lets hope that the members of our armed forces are not useless, mindless, robotic nimrods, and they'll defect from the chain of command when the order to "shoot American civilians" comes through the proper channels.

Then again...



Police Union Shirt Pokes Fun At DNC Protesters

I don't have too much hope...

[DennisH82]

While I believe that every Soldier given any illegal order would turn on their Chain of Command in a heartbeat, you always have a few robots. Soldiers come from your town and mine; they are smart enough and mentally strong enough to point the weapons in the right direction when needed.

And please remember that the Army Times is a paper and gets stuff wrong all the time. If you only knew how many Soldiers bought the latest and greatest uniform items and equipment because the ARMY TIMES said it was approved and wasted their money you would be surprised

But then again if your wear tin foil hats and see conspiracies everywhere then you know it’s all true.

[pirateron]

Chuck Baldwin for Prez!!!!

[LastManOut]

Military personnel, veterans can chime in here, are "conditioned" to obey their chain of command without question. It would not be a good thing for troops to want to stop and discuss an order while in battle. (You imagine the scenario.)

[LittleRedToyota]

While I believe that every Soldier given any illegal order would turn on their Chain of Command in a heartbeat

so....how's the weather in la-la land this time of year?

[Kenshin]

so....how's the weather in la-la land this time of year?

I have no doubt that the National Guard units would turn on their chain of command instantly. But then again this is why they are using the Army here at home and the National Guard in Iraq......


It's raining here and I've lost my tinfoil rainsuit...

The soldiers will eventually start to get feelings from this because its not like they are in a foreign country fighting people who dress differently, speak another language(yes i know there are other languages) and fly a different flag. You have to start wondering when the American flag is flying on both sides, it's going to start stirring questions about which side is right and contrary to popular belief Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Seamen are not mindless drones.

[pacodelahoya]

Well, I spent 8 years in the US Army.


I followed orders.


I never had a class on Constitutional law.

nuff said.

[DennisH82]

Let’s see as of Feb it has been over 31 years since this mindless drone put on the uniform and served our country. Even back then we were taught the difference between a legal and illegal order and our duty to follow legal orders. I have just over 14 years Active duty and the rest in the Reserves. I started out as an Infantryman and picked dup two additional Skill sets in the Reserves.

Active duty Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen all come from our home towns and cities and strive to do the right things. We are not perfect and we make some of the same mistakes as folks on the block but I think I have a pretty good idea what I would do if ordered to fire upon un-armed civilians if it ever came to that. The whole premise behind our military turning on the populace is ludicrous to say the least. I would not want to be the one to turn to my Soldiers and give an order like that and I have little belief that an Officer would want to give an illegal order standing in front of armed troops.
Our troops are not mindless drones and they think for themselves. Yes we are taught to follow orders but we also have a responsibility to our Nation to do the right thing. The last batch of Soldiers that just followed orders was the German Army and you see what happened to them.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if ever a scenario came about where our civilian leadership or a few Generals decided to take over they would never be able to control everyone and everything. Most people forget that our military has seen governments run by the Military and a few dictators and we want nothing to do with that BS.

Weather in Sunny, Dusty and Dirty Iraq (La La Land) went from a high of 129 degrees (Locally) to an average of 70-80 right now. Scattered dust and sand storms, followed by trash bags and empty water bottles with the occasional angry yet lazy individual in a man dress.

[Sharpshooter9x19]

Does this remind anyone else about the second season of Jericho?

Seriously, There's a reason only recruiters are allowed to serve active duty anywhere near their home towns. It wouldn't be very effective for some crazy general/senator/rich guy w authority to use "home town" troops to try & take over the country. That's why They'd move troops around 1st. i.e. would you have any qualms about quelling a rebellion of "anti-patriotic, anti-government fanatics in, say Southern Arizona? Not our "Home town" and depending on how the puppet masters spin it we might actually think we're doing it for God & country.

*Wow I think I just joined the ranks of the conspiracy nuts....I need to spend more time prepping for a REAL danger to society...The ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!