Posse Comitatus.

This is coolbert:

From the Chicago Tribune today:

“Defense Department to expand role inside U.S."

“Troops to respond to terror disaster”

“WASHINGTON - - The U.S., military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials.”

“There are critics of the change, in the military and among civil liberties groups and libertarians who express concern . . . that the new homeland emphasis . . . [will] undermine the Posse Comitatus Act”

“The first 4,700-person unit, built around an active-duty combat brigade based at Ft. Stewart, Ga. was available as of Oct. 1.”

“Two additional teams will join nearly 80 smaller National Guard and reserve units . . . All would be trained to respond to a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive attack.”

Some of you might remember the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe from 2005. Just three years ago now. General Honore, commanding the troops on the scene, did express concerns that Posse Comitatus was an impediment to the FEDERAL authorities using FEDERAL military units in time of disaster. EVEN WHEN NOT IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE!!

The Posse Comitatus Act was originally enacted in 1876. Prevents FEDERAL troops from being used in a law enforcement role. A law ONLY promulgated at the behest of southern politicians as a result of the contested election of 1876. Removed from the occupied former rebellious Confederate states Union troops. This Posse “Act” is WAY-OUT-OF-DATE needs to be either abolished or rewritten?

And, can anyone, in their right mind, including “civil liberties groups and libertarians”, not consider that federal military units would be needed in case of a nuclear/biological/chemical [NBC] attack on a major U.S. city!!??

A single atomic attack - - on say - - Chicago - - for instance, even in case of a low-yield nuclear weapon, would necessitate the evacuation of all and any survivors. The immediate vicinity of the detonation and for some many miles outward from ground zero would be uninhabitable for the foreseeable future and some time to come!!!

And in the case of multiple simultaneous atomic detonations, well, catastrophe of a much greater magnitude looms!!

MILLIONS OF PERSONS WOULD HAVE TO BE EVACUATED!! AND RESETTLED IN SOME OTHER LOCATION, WHERE EVER THAT WOULD BE!! ONLY THE MILITARY HAS THE NUMBERS, THE ASSETS, AND THE ORGANIZATION TO DEAL WITH SUCH A SITUATION!!

Military units that if need be, would be empowered to USE FORCE AS PART OF THE PROCESS!!

Plain, pure, and simple as that!! Does anyone disagree??!!

coolbert.