Posted on 07/23/2002 4:04:33 PM PDT by BlownChevelle
Alabama Activates Tank Unit
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
July 18, 2002 A day after President Bush's release of a homeland defense strategy calling for the possible domestic use of U.S. military forces, Alabama activated a 300-soldier Army National Guard tank battalion as part of a homeland defense force. In a statement released Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman said the Ozark, Ala.-based 1st Battalion, 131st Armor "is equipped with modern battle tanks, the M1A1 Abrams" and "will serve in the homeland defense role within the United States."
Siegelman, commander-in-chief of the state's national guard, did not say what role the tank battalion would serve in homeland defense. In addition to the tank battalion, 200 guardsmen from Special Forces units based in Auburn and Huntsville were activated and "will conduct post- mobilization training and then deploy to undisclosed locations in support of the war on terrorism," Siegelman said. Siegelman's office forwarded questions about Wednesday's activation to the Alabama National Guard. Asked if the armored battalion was deploying with its tanks and, if so, what role they would play in a domestic role, Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Horton said: "That can't be discussed. It all will depend on the mission." Though he said he could not provide specifics, Horton said the activation was not linked to Bush's quest for use of U.S. military forces on the home front. The deployment will last one to two years, Horton said.
Copyright 2002 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Is that so.. ?
Maybe they figure if the National Guard is sitting on them at the screener station then people will finally feel "safe"
Mineta is asking for more people for the Airlines security Force.
Maybe the tanks can help!
Speaking of the Federal ... well here is a joke>>>>
Almost 150 years ago, President Lincoln found it necessary to hire a private investigator - Alan Pinkerton - for protection. And that was the beginning of the Secret Service. Since that time, federal police authority has grown to a large number of multi-letter agencies - FBI, CIA, INS, IRS, DEA, BATF, etc. Now we have the "Federal Air Transportation Airport Security Service." Can't you see them now, these highly trained men and women in their black outfits with their initials in large white letters across their backs: "FATASS."
France got the bomb, but don't you grieve,
'Cause they're on our side (I believe).
China got the bomb, but have no fears;
They can't wipe us out for at least five years!
Who's next?
Then Indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day.
South Africa wants two, that's right:
One for the black and one for the white!
Who's next?
Egypt's gonna get one, too,
Just to use on you know who.
So Israel's getting tense,
Wants one in self defense.
"The Lord's our shepherd," says the psalm,
But just in case, we better get a bomb!
Who's next?
Luxembourg is next to go
And, who knows, maybe Monaco.
We'll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb!
Who's next, who's next, who's next?
Who's next?
Tom Lehrer
Alabama invades California, defeats illegal immigrant army and leftist collaborators?
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