Federal Troops Won't Enforce Mandatory Evacuations

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sep 7, 2005 | Jim Garamone

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2005 – Federal troops continue to deploy to the area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, but active-duty forces will not participate in the mandatory evacuation order issued by local authorities in New Orleans, a senior military officer involved in the operations said today.

Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Inge, deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, explained that active-duty troops would not be used in "a law enforcement issue." Guardsmen working under the order of a governor would, however, be able to enforce the mandatory evacuation order.

Emergency response officials are still in rescue mode in some areas while entering the remediation process in others, said Inge, briefing Pentagon reporters via a video connection from NORTHCOM's headquarters in Colorado.

Military aircraft will provide 71 hours of reconnaissance flights to survey damage "to determine what the priority for mitigation will be," Inge said. "We will continue to search and rescue. We will support the evacuation of survivors. We will transport and distribute relief supplies: ice, food, water and, of course, medical supplies. We are supporting firefighting efforts and have moved some capabilities into the (area)."

More than 63,000 military personnel in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, Inge said. This includes more than 18,000 active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. The Marine Corps has finished deploying the 11th and 24th Marine Expeditionary Units into Mississippi. Two brigades of soldiers -- one from 82nd Airborne Division, from Fort Bragg, N.C., and the 1st Cavalry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas -- will finish their deployment to Louisiana today.

More than 45,000 National Guardsmen are in the region. Inge said commanders on the ground are repositioning troops to make sure the right people are in the right places. They will launch a house-by-house search in flooded areas for people who need to be rescued.

Also, foreign military help is arriving. Canadian divers are helping with harbor reconstruction in the water off Pascagoula, Miss., Inge said. A Mexican vessel is scheduled to arrive today and join the USS Bataan in conducting search-and-rescue missions.

In the next few days, U.S. military personnel will continue to explore isolated areas and conduct rescues, provide for people awaiting evacuation, and expand medical facilities as needed. "We will deploy additional ships and aviation assets, should they become needed," Inge said.

The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort will arrive in New Orleans Sept. 9.

[cherry]

do you understand that there is ecoli in the water everywhere?

do you understand that the number one killer of children in the world is dysentery?

[MarkL]

They can't... Due to the posse commitatus law, they (active duty military, under federal control) are not allowed to act as law enforcement in the US. Enforcing the mandatory evacuation is, in effect, a law enforcement action. However, the NG, under state control can.

Mark

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[kittymyrib]

Let's see what happens when the hardcore rats left on the sinking ship that is NO begin shooting at the military. I have a feeling they will shoot back and won't care that that is law enforcement. If they count on Gov. Blanko commanding her troops in the LA Guard to do the job, it will never get done.

[endthematrix]

We created CENTCOM for this very reason: for the Feds to act locally.

All you'll ever hear is "no way " and "can't do it" because of Posse Commitatus. But it's all been swept aside and the mechanisms in place. Think that HHS can't quarantine? Think US troops won't act if States fail in an NBC attack?

FREEPERS should read what the powers-that-be consider Posse Commitatus....null and void.

[ARCADIA]

If they count on Gov. Blanko commanding her troops in the LA Guard to do the job, it will never get done.

The bigger question is, should it get done? The worst of the situation is over. Yes, the people need adequate sanitation, food, and water. But, we can make that available to them in NO, as we would in a shelter. I would not support the taking of property, or what amounts to putting people in protective custody, without due process. If they really have toxic situation in NO; then the city land area should be condemned and the area declared a toxic waste site. But, until that process is completed, no one should be forced to leave; and, even when officially expropriated of their property, they should be provided adequate time and transport to remove both themselves and their chattel. Frankly, if the situation is as bad as some would like to call it, the military rescuers would have been marching around in bio-hazard gear. Lets not erode the Constitution further by allowing alarmist / communist to pull our emotional strings. The mayor of NO should resign to begin preparation for what will certainly be a long list of personal criminal and civil claims against him.

[Trident/Delta]

We created CENTCOM for this very reason: for the Feds to act locally.

(ahem)... Centcom is in the Mid-east... North Com is the continental command. And you are ALSO blatently incorrect about posse commatatus, but, I will let other freepers point that out to you....as advice return now to wherever you emerged to spout your tripe.

Semper Fi

[gondramB]

"do you understand that there is ecoli in the water everywhere?

do you understand that the number one killer of children in the world is dysentery?"

I do understand that but some of the people are not in the water. The French Quarter, the oldest part of New Orleans is above water, and many of the people remaining live abovve their businesses and have stocks of food and water. Some of the busineess are actually open.

I read here on FREEP that the government dragged a 60 year old woman with a good stock of food and water out of her house this morning. That seems wrong.

[endthematrix]

An obvious mistake.

I understand what the Posse Comitatus Act is and isn't. I did attempt to create more awareness in my post. Congress has eroded the Act. Federal troops are assisting federal agencies in drug interdiction work, protecting national parks, executing quarantine and certain health laws. There are numerous exceptions and sidesteps to Posse Comitatus. The Stafford Act allows Federal troops within a State for a natural disaster. A civil disturbance can be declared under 10 U.S.C., 331–334 and Federal troops can be used. Federal troops were also deployed during the Olympics in Salt Lake.

To think that the military "can't do it" because of the Posse Comitatus is ignorant of what Pentagon lawyers and countless white papers have said. Washington "can do" under any other subsequent Act that has been passed.

Ever heard of JTF6?