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To: capitan_refugio
"I can't remember when the military was last used against the populace."

Here's a brief historical primer:

1920s and 1930s when federal troops assaulted WWI veterans in Washington DC who were seeking their promised benefits;

1970 when Ohio National Guard fired on and killed students (so what if they were protesting the war: free speech, and all that; they posed no threat to the Guard);

1970s National Guard killed students at Jackson State;

1993 in Waco, of course. Besides FBI and BATF, there were some military troops (not too many, though) present.
108 posted on 04/29/2003 4:53:02 PM PDT by ought-six
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To: ought-six
I was a history minor in college (geology major). You listed some interesting incidents, but I don't think they match the concept I was thinking about, or the one that had been used as an example in an earlier post (A-10 attack plane firing Hellfire missiles at citizens).

Let's look at the "Bonus March" of 1932. Over 20,000 WWI vets had marched on and encamped in Washington D.C. They were demanding early payment of service vouchers (due to be paid in 1945). The marchers had clashed with D.C. police, who had been overwhelmed. Three of the leaders of the marchers were known Communists trouble makers. When the House passed an early payment bill, but the Senate failed to pass the bill, the marchers became riotous. D.C. police could not handle the situation and there was no State militia or National Guard to call upon.

Hoover called on the Army to restore calm before a full-blown rebellion erupted. Douglas MacArthur ordered the Army to remove the illegal squatters. They did so without firing a shot! The Army fixed bayonets and the Cavalry drew their sabres, but there was no gunfire. The Army torched the illegal encampments and also used tear gas - a common enough police techniques. Although it was a public relations disaster for Hoover, the Army showed remarkable restraint.

In the case of the National Guard incidents at the Kent State and Jackson State in 1970, you are dealing with non-federal forces. In both cases, you had state National Guard units reacting in a defensive posture. I disagree with your statement "... they posed no threat to the Guard. At Kent State, they did pose a threat by their very numbers and actions, and in light of the events of the prior 24 hours.

At the Branch Davidian complex outside of Waco, TX, I think we witnessed a mass execution. I agree that the actions of the Clinton Administration to end the seige were an abuse of power and totally unjustified. However, the final "assault" was made by "police" forces and not military forces. Any military forces in the area played an auxilary role, at worst.

129 posted on 04/30/2003 11:26:27 AM PDT by capitan_refugio
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