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Military reviews placing special ops on U.S. soil
Examiner ^ | 21 June 2007 | Rowan Scarborough

Posted on 06/26/2007 8:13:45 AM PDT by BGHater

The U.S. military command in charge of protecting the homeland asked the Pentagon earlier this year for a contingent of special operations officers to help with domestic anti-terrorism missions.

Military sources told The Examiner that U.S. Northern Command, established at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado in 2002, requested its own special operations command similar to ones assigned to overseas war-fighting commands, such as U.S. Central Command.

A spokeswoman for NorthCom this week issued a statement to The Examiner saying, "This capability resides in every other geographical combatant command and would allow the commander of U.S. Northern Command to deploy these unique capabilities for homeland defense and civil support operations."

The request was approved six months ago by the then-commander of NorthCom, Adm. Timothy Keating, who has since moved to U.S. Pacific Command.

But now, the new NorthCom commander, Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, is reviewing Keating's decision.

On Wednesday, Lt. Col. John Cornelio, a NorthCom spokesman, told The Examiner:

"U.S. Northern Command is currently reassessing our requirement for special operations forces to accomplish our homeland defense and civil support missions. While the initial request for a small element of SOF staff for planning and command and control purposes was requested under the previous commander, the new commander ... has not made a decision on this issue."

Keating's request to the Pentagon raised some eyebrows because of the sensitivity of deploying commandos domestically. Under U.S. Special Operations Command, covert warriors are playing a key role in fighting terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas.

"The possibility for military operations in the U.S. is something that we have to plan for in the age of international terrorism," said Daniel Gallington, a former policy adviser to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

The Bush administration created NorthCom, one of the military's nine war-fighting commands, after the Sept. 11 attacks revealed deep flaws in the military's procedures for repelling an attack on American soil.

The idea of giving NorthCom a commando unit shows how the military increasingly looks at the U.S. homeland as a target for more terrorist attacks and how it may need elite counter-terrorism forces to deal with the threat.


TOPICS: Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: military; northcomm; sof; wot
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1 posted on 06/26/2007 8:13:46 AM PDT by BGHater
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To: Admin Moderator

My fault, here is the corrected link. Please adjust for me. Thanks

http://www.examiner.com/a-790871~Military_reviews_placing_special_ops_on_U_S__soil.html


2 posted on 06/26/2007 8:15:43 AM PDT by BGHater (My Tagline will defend freedom.)
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To: BGHater

They can stay at my house.


3 posted on 06/26/2007 8:17:48 AM PDT by hsalaw
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To: BGHater

Posse Comitatus is a big problem in getting this idea approved, and some insiders would argue that U.S. Spec Ops already routinely operate inside the U.S., with them being most prominently deployed as “advisors” during the Waco Siege in 1993.


4 posted on 06/26/2007 8:21:23 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: hsalaw

“...They can stay at my house.”...

You *DO* realize that’s one of the reaons for throwing the British out, don’tcha???


5 posted on 06/26/2007 8:21:48 AM PDT by chadwimc (Proud to be an infidel ! Allah fubar !!!)
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To: chadwimc

LOL! I *DO* realize that, but (1) they’re not the British, and (2) I’m all for a strong program of domestic anti-terrorism. Plus, maybe they’d like to help with the cooking and do a little gardening.


6 posted on 06/26/2007 8:26:41 AM PDT by hsalaw
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

Perhaps, when NorthComm realizes that they took a oath to protect and defend the Constitution and realize that we are being invaded will I begin to listen to them.

Also, when the Executive branch believes we are at War and gives sentry powers to our Border Patrol that enable them to shoot first and ask questions later.


7 posted on 06/26/2007 8:28:11 AM PDT by BGHater (My Tagline will defend freedom.)
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To: hsalaw

Would you feel the same if they were blue helmets? (U.N.)


8 posted on 06/26/2007 8:34:55 AM PDT by chadwimc (Proud to be an infidel ! Allah fubar !!!)
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To: chadwimc

He obviously does not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CyxOlL9zKg


9 posted on 06/26/2007 8:37:01 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
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To: chadwimc

He obviously does not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CyxOlL9zKg


10 posted on 06/26/2007 8:37:12 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
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To: chadwimc
Would you feel the same if they were blue helmets? (U.N.)

NO. BTW, I meant the "they can stay at my house" comment to be humorous, not as advocacy for a military overthrow of the government. Good grief.

11 posted on 06/26/2007 8:40:26 AM PDT by hsalaw
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

Posse comitatus is an outdated law that should have been repealed thirty years ago.

Think about it - posse comitatus virtually ensures that our military can only be used outside of the United States. Who defends OUR borders?

Redeploy our military to our borders - NOW.


12 posted on 06/26/2007 8:41:16 AM PDT by Terabitten (Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets - E-Frat '94. Unity and Pride!)
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To: BGHater
I would have to agree that it is not adding up. Special forces are already stationed at the multiplicity of bases across the United States and are ready for duty. Besides which, terrorism on the scale they are referring to is well in the hands of domestic agencies such as the FBI and the CIA. They have their counter terror teams and SWAT teams. I’m not sure I understand why NorthComm wants to do this power grab, especially in light of your comment about not securing the borders first. The whole thing just tastes bad.
13 posted on 06/26/2007 8:41:26 AM PDT by DanielLongo (Don't tread on me)
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To: hsalaw
... a military overthrow of the government ...
You're advocating a military overthrow of the government!? OMG!!!!!!!!
14 posted on 06/26/2007 8:45:20 AM PDT by Asclepius (the admin moderator ordered me to "lose" my tagline.)
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To: Asclepius
rolling eyes and sighing in frustration
15 posted on 06/26/2007 8:50:02 AM PDT by hsalaw
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To: hsalaw
LOL! I *DO* realize that, but (1) they’re not the British, and (2) I’m all for a strong program of domestic anti-terrorism. Plus, maybe they’d like to help with the cooking and do a little gardening.

And, if Hillery comes to be in charge, do you still want them? She would make Bill and Janet look like saints. You need your head examined and your soul searched.

16 posted on 06/26/2007 8:57:20 AM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts (The only good Mullah is a dead Mullah. The only good Mosque is the one that used to be there.)
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To: DanielLongo

Northcom is not just responsible for the continental US (including Alaska), but also Mexico, Canada, several islands and the sea approaches to the US. When you look at those other parts of their area of responsibility, it makes a little more sense.


17 posted on 06/26/2007 9:01:18 AM PDT by sftmdaddy081
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To: Terabitten
I disagree that Posse Comitatus needs to be repealed, since it acts as a strong legal bulwark against any potential military adventurers from getting any ideas about overthrowing the U.S. government, a la Seven Days in May. However, it does need to be amended and updated to reflect the challenges of managing our 21st century borders and the terrorism threat instead of policing the South during Reconstruction.
18 posted on 06/26/2007 9:19:20 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: Terabitten

“Redeploy our military to our borders - NOW.”

I’ve always thought it would be a good idea to deploy the military about 10 miles from the border...on the Mexican side, that is.


19 posted on 06/26/2007 9:49:58 AM PDT by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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To: BGHater
This is a bad idea. Given that, I'm quite sure it will soon be official policy. Gotta be able to make sure the peasants don't get too uppity.
20 posted on 06/26/2007 9:56:38 AM PDT by zeugma (Don't Want illegal Alien Amnesty? Call 800-417-7666)
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