Military Preparing for Domestic Disturbances

[RugerNiner]

Newsmax.com


U.S. Military Preparing for Domestic Disturbances
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 1:14 PM

By: Jim Meyers


A new report from the U.S. Army War College discusses the use of American troops to quell civil unrest brought about by a worsening economic crisis.

The report from the War College’s Strategic Studies Institute warns that the U.S. military must prepare for a “violent, strategic dislocation inside the United States” that could be provoked by “unforeseen economic collapse” or “loss of functioning political and legal order.”

Entitled “Known Unknowns: Unconventional ‘Strategic Shocks’ in Defense Strategy Development,” the report was produced by Nathan Freier, a recently retired Army lieutenant colonel who is a professor at the college — the Army’s main training institute for prospective senior officers.

He writes: “To the extent events like this involve organized violence against local, state, and national authorities and exceed the capacity of the former two to restore public order and protect vulnerable populations, DoD [Department of Defense] would be required to fill the gap.”

Freier continues: “Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order … An American government and defense establishment lulled into complacency by a long-secure domestic order would be forced to rapidly divest some or most external security commitments in order to address rapidly expanding human insecurity at home.”

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned last week of riots and unrest in global markets if the ongoing financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are beset with credit constraints and rising unemployment, the Phoenix Business Journal reported.

Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Rep. Brad Sherman of California disclosed that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discussed a worst-case scenario as he pushed the Wall Street bailout in September, and said that scenario might even require a declaration of martial law.

The Army College report states: “DoD might be forced by circumstances to put its broad resources at the disposal of civil authorities to contain and reverse violent threats to domestic tranquility. Under the most extreme circumstances, this might include use of military force against hostile groups inside the United States.

“Further, DoD would be, by necessity, an essential enabling hub for the continuity of political authority in a multi-state or nationwide civil conflict or disturbance.”

He concludes this section of the report by observing: “DoD is already challenged by stabilization abroad. Imagine the challenges associated with doing so on a massive scale at home."

As Newsmax reported earlier, the Defense Department has made plans to deploy 20,000 troops nationwide by 2011 to help state and local officials respond to emergencies.

The 130-year-old Posse Comitatus Act restricts the military’s role in domestic law enforcement. But a 1994 Defense Department Directive allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage, according to the Business Journal.

And Gen. Tommy Franks, who led the U.S. military operations to liberate Iraq, said in a 2003 interview that if the U.S. is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government.

© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/military_domestic_use/2008/12/23/164765.html?s=al&promo_code=%20763B-1

[sluggie24]

The question I have for them is this.....

If the day comes that all the citizens of this country are unhappy with what the government is doing and want them all gone what does our military think they could do besides slightly delay the inevitable?

[cgbudde]

[QUOTE=RugerNiner;544037][COLOR=#191970]Newsmax.com


U.S. Military Preparing for Domestic Disturbances
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 1:14 PM

By: Jim Meyers

And Gen. Tommy Franks, who led the U.S. military operations to liberate Iraq, said in a 2003 interview that if the U.S. is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government.

© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved


I'M sure that is what the army is hoping for, a military form of gvt and no rights

[RugerNiner]

I truly believe that a physical gun confiscation attempt of some sort will come in the next 4 years.

[Penguini66]

But a 1994 Defense Department Directive allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage, according to the Business Journal.

That's a pretty big and vague can-o-worms right there. Seems to me just a little bit too much wiggle room.

[sjohn26]

The question I have for them is this.....

If the day comes that all the citizens of this country are unhappy with what the government is doing and want them all gone what does our military think they could do besides slightly delay the inevitable?

Won't come to that - everyone too busy with their 401Ks, Big-screen Tv's, SUV's , college savings for the kids, etc to care and stand tall in a unified force.

A few patriots will resist, and promptly be smacked down by well armed SWAT/Mil forces - afterwards labeled as unstable-gun nuts.

The rest will see the bloodshed and think - I'm not risking my neck.......will be a sad end

[Neo31rex31]

I truly believe that a physical gun confiscation attempt of some sort will come in the next 4 years.

I wouldn't doubt it

[Guns4Fun]

The question I have for them is this.....

If the day comes that all the citizens of this country are unhappy with what the government is doing and want them all gone what does our military think they could do besides slightly delay the inevitable?

The problem with this is that too many Americans like the idea of the .gov providing / taking care of them. Most wont even care if they throw the Constitution out the window as long as they still have their big screens and free stuff.

I do foresee some areas of the country becoming a police state (with military help) when / if things ever do break down though. Again, most wont care because they will feel "safer". In fact, most will give them praise for protecting them.

Look how quickly they gave up their rights after the DC / VA sniper was on the loose. No one even cared when they shut down I95 and searched "white vans" at the check points. That was just two guys. Can you imagine what they'd be willing to give up if it were 10-20-50-100-1000 people creating unrest. All the evil doers would be considered domestic terrorists and everyone would cheer as they (.gov) killed them one by one, burnt down their homes, killed their wives and children, shot their dogs, etc. The media would spin it so the “bad guys” were considered nut jobs with arsenals of weapons. They would never spin it that the “bad guys” were standing up against tyrants. Not saying the VA snipers were anything but nut jobs--just using them as an example of how quickly people gave up their 4th amendment rights to feel a little “safer”.

[T34418L31]

The problem with this is that too many Americans like the idea of the .gov providing / taking care of them. Most wont even care if they throw the Constitution out the window as long as they still have their big screens and free stuff.

Bread and circuses, my friend.

[Guns4Fun]

Bread and circuses, my friend.

Very wise words from a person of only 22 years. Very wise in deed. It is refreshing to see that some of the younger generation "gets it". Rep sent.