Having read further through the thread than I had when I posted, I found much of what I wanted to know, reported on in later posts. But yes. such an obvious apparent violation of the Act, seems like it should have garnered much more national coverage than it has so far. Thinking on the matter, I could see how a police cheif might have been ignorant of the Posse Comitatus Act, but I find it harder to fathom that a military command officer, would be unaware of it. I am willing to acceppt that this was an unintentional violation, based on exigent circumstances and under-educated persons of authority, but it should be used as a national teaching point.
I find it harder to fathom that a military command officer, would be unaware of it
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I do too. John Murtha got all ‘upset’ when he thought that combat troops in a combat situation had overstepped their authority in Haditha, Iraq. So I really find it almost impossible that a group of MPs in 2009 U S Army could think it was okay to respond to a sheriff’s phone call - if that is truly what happened.
With Elian Gonzalez it was the Attorney General of the United States that sent American soldiers with guns pointed at American citizens. Ditto Waco. So I am waiting to learn that this request was passed up to Justice HQ and some deputy AG said, “sure, why not! We only need to respect posse comitatus when a Republican is in the White House.”