Posted on 07/21/2002 9:38:40 AM PDT by GeneD
Edited on 07/19/2004 2:10:08 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Washington, July 21 (Bloomberg) -- The government should consider reversing a more than a century of tradition and law to give the military authority to make arrests and fire their weapons on U.S. soil in the event of a terrorist attack, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said.
(Excerpt) Read more at quote.bloomberg.com ...
Buried in the story was a short note that Rumsfeld declined to ask for any such power. That should tell some people here something. He would not stake his reputation and beliefs on any such scheme contrary to the law so they turned to Ridge to be the patsy and he was dumb enough to to float the balloon.
The stunning national silence followinging his suggestion that we employ the military to protect our borders tells me where there heads are at.
(Hint: It's where the sun don't shine.)
That's enough to know it's a bad idea.
...on the ``Fox News Sunday'' program. That would ``allow for military that has expertise with weapons of mass destruction to be called in'' if such a plot was discovered.
...First of all, Joe, there is already a Federal task force for handling WMD's that has been around for over twenty years (for nuclear and other radioactive weapons anyway) up and running all this time. Not to mention the FBI which is supposed to deal with other such domestic threats. Secondly, Joe, giving the military powers to arrest and shoot in domestic situations has no relevance whatsoever in dealing with WMD's or 'plots', as I'm sure you know you disingenuous commie swine.
Wrong! The military in the US has no power to shoot or arrest a terrorist inside the US even if he is in the act of poisoning a water supply.
Well then let's not..
"The government should consider reversing a more than a century of tradition and law to give the military authority to make arrests and fire their weapons on U.S. soil in the event of a terrorist attack, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said."
Jose Padella is what then? If the Military does not have the power to arrest American Citizens it sure the heck does not have the right to detain them either. Ridge is contradicting a Bush Executive Order.
"``Right now, when you call in the military, the military would not be allowed to shoot-to-kill, if in fact they were approaching the weapon,'' Biden said."
This is pure unadulterated bull! The Joint Resolution on the use of force gives the Commander and Chief the authority to use the Military on US Soil for direct actions in the time of a national emergency to protect the United States. The Resolution supercedes the Posse Comitatus Act. The Legislative Intent of the Posse Comitatus Act was to involve the Military in “Law Enforcement Purposes”. If Congress is really this concerned then Officially Declare War. I got to wonder what is really behind this latest move? Biden worries me.
I totally agree that Congress should empower the Military to arrest, detain and try ALL Terrorist both Foreign and Domestic. However, I remain very, very guarded over the rest of it. I highly recommend we all watch how this unfolds. This has a huge potential to become excessive..
Unless this is a political move to keep everyone minds off the economy?
I don't want them to have the "power to arrest" then. (Anyway, what is "domestic law enforcement" if it isn't the "power to arrest"? I don't see the difference).
Also, do you realize who the feds consider to be a "domestic terrorist"? I'll give you a hint-- it's not some murderous goblin from Iraq.
The "power to arrest" isn't going to do anything to stop foreign terrorists here. What we need is "power to stop", i.e., the recognition of the government that Free Americans have the Right to bear arms to defend ourselves.
If the government is truly interested in "stopping the terrorists", then enact a nationwide CCW law that protects the Rights of Free men and women to bear arms against any force that would do them harm.
But they aren't interested in preventing terrorism. They are only interested in instituting a totalitarian police state, using terrorism (which they allow to happen) as an excuse.
Most of us read it and understand it for what it really means, not for what they or you would like us to believe.
Rumsfeld is the boss of the military, he wanted no part of it. Homeland security, I hate that name, they were a different story, they would like to tweak the law a mite, just in certain cases, mind you,all to better protect us.
Please give the rest of us a little credit for being able to read and form some opinion of what is really afoot here.
Appears a redundent request. The military already has the legal authority (with presidential directive) to defend the nation from extranational invasion.
I suspect the fuss is the interpretation that Ridge intends troops garrisoned on US soil to affect control of the civil population.
That is a possibility but before we all jump ship I suggest we ask 43 to better define his intentions.
The problem is that there are not enough police to do it all - borders, reservoirs, refineries, canals, power grids, dams, nuclear power generators, et al.
The reason this law change is needed is so the National Guard will not have to walk around with empty rifles, as they now have to do because of the posse comitatus law.
Like "checkpoints" for weapons searches.
If you think a guardsman standing behind a "federalized" (read: "unionized") airport screener, in plain view with a rifle (unloaded or not) is any more than fluf to make the 80 year old ladies feel secure before their strip search then you are truly clueless..
There are not enough US troops to secure all these potential targets either (unless they are brought home from most of the countries they are in-- something the current administration is unwilling to do). So they will have to be foreign troops.
The reason this law change is needed is so the National Guard will not have to walk around with empty rifles, as they now have to do because of the posse comitatus law.
It is my understanding that the Guard had loaded weapons at most airports, when they were there.
Ridge has his head up his butt. The military already has all the authority it needs to defend our borders just like General Black Jack Pershing did.
Lived in Brasil (a republican democracy) for two years in the 1980s. A "checkpoint" every 25 to 100 kilometers on the major highways.
Mixed emotions. Felt powerless with regard to civil rights; felt comfort for the increased security.
I was stopped at a roadblock the other day, four policemen, stopping all traffic both ways, "TO SEE IF I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT". I had to produce a drivers licence, have my plates checked and they checked inside the backseat. They said it was for my own protection. This was from civil police, looking out for me, bless em. From little seeds a big tree grows.
Amen to that! But nothing scares these socialists and their wannabe-cradle-to-grave-teat-sucking constituents more than that horrific four letter word you so brazenly uttered...
FREE!
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