Community of Nations Discusses Military Homeland Defense Role

American Forces Press Service ^ | Joe Ferrare

[SandRat]

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany, May 26, 2006 – Twenty-nine nations of the trans-Atlantic community took a first step toward hammering out an understanding of when and how to use military forces to secure the homeland during a conference held here May 22-24.

More than 100 national representatives, speakers, observers and organizers met near the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies for the Euro-Atlantic Perspectives on the Role of Military Forces in Homeland Security conference. The event was organized by the Marshall Center in cooperation with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College.

The common understanding participants strove for is the first step toward making all nations safer, said conference moderator Jack Clarke.

"We're trying to build a trans-Atlantic community of expertise in homeland defense, and this is a start," Clarke said. "We're trying to understand how different countries employ military forces in dealing with domestic emergencies and domestic contingencies. This is an opportunity for both sides of the Atlantic to learn from one another."

To that end, participants heard speakers and panel members explore the European and U.S. traditions, as well as those of the former Soviet states in attendance. Understanding those diverse backgrounds is important because a unified community of nations is something terrorists and others actively target, Clarke said.

"All of us have come to realize that security is all too divisible in the world we live in today," he said. "By that I mean terrorists and others understand that they can make people think they can be more secure when they do not join in alliances. We want to ensure that security remains indivisible, and therefore we work together for the same kinds of cooperative security goals."

Even discussing the same subject with participants from countries ranging from the United States to Estonia and Georgia brings is a challenge, Clarke said.

"Sure, 30 different nations can be a management challenge, but I think this has worked really, really well, because ... regardless of where they're from, they're all in the same business.

"Granted, not all of them get a chance to talk and tell us how they do it in their country, but that's not really the goal. The goal is that you get exposed to different ideas and you take them back, and you try to integrate them as appropriate to your planning process, or your strategic concept," he said.

Different ideas were not in short supply, Clarke added.

"I would say that one of the biggest differences is that some countries in Europe have specialized forces to deal with a lot of these kinds of issues, and others don't. Countries like France and Italy and Spain have what we call paramilitary police forces, like the gendarmerie. They're particularly well-suited to dealing with a broad range of homeland security and homeland defense tasks.

"In the United States, we have the National Guard," he continued. "That's a completely different kind of organization that doesn't exist anywhere in Europe, where the state governor has control of his own military forces."

With all those differences in mind, conference organizers and speakers asked participants to look to the future and contemplate homeland security challenges their nations might face.

"We've looked at things like, what's the role of the military in managing bird flu?" Clarke said. "How would the military respond to a dirty bomb attack? We've also looked at the different kinds of ... strategic approaches. We heard from the British about their resiliency strategy, and then we compared that to the homeland security strategy of the United States and found a lot of areas of commonality, but found some important differences."

Studying the different approaches is important because the threats nations face have become global, said Peter F. Verga, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense.

"Transnational flows aid the acceleration of disease transmission, terrorism, proliferation of advanced weapons and weapons of mass destruction materials and extremist ideologies," Verga said.

"All free nations - including their citizens, territory and infrastructure - are vulnerable to these threats. These challenges, in both the security environment and the diluted concept of sovereignty, argue for identifying new ways of cooperating with our allies and partners," he said.

Participants found those new ways by sharing examples and ideas, bringing forth a new understanding, Clarke said.

"Definitions are clearly important, but a conference like this makes it clear to the participants that, regardless of what definitions you use, we're doing the same kinds of things. And that's a particularly important aspect of the conference, is that at the end of the day people can say, 'Hey, they may call it homeland security and we may call it internal security, but ... it's the same thing,'" Clarke explained.

Bill Bann, another representative from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, told participants that reaching the state of a common understanding is the beginning of greater security for all.

"I would recommend to you that you build on the knowledge that you gained here, maintain the contacts that we've made ... so that we don't just leave this here, that we build upon this," he said. "I think it makes us stronger as a nation, and as an international community, to face these very difficult and tough challenges that are before us."

(Joe Ferrare works at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.)

[nicmarlo]

I hope Harris loses her race in Florida. I wonder if Florida freepers know what a jerk she is?

I doubt most know she's apparently an advocate of the North American Community, as I didn't even know until today. Of course, I'm willing to actually read facts and formulate truth from reality.

[Smartass]

The whole San Francisco Bay area is infected with rabid psychotic liberalism. There is no other place as wealthy. Yes, because of that psychosis, there isn't a better place in the U.S.A., for him to do his part for the NEW WORLD ORDER!

 

[nicmarlo]

because of that psychosis, there isn't a better place in the U.S.A., for him to do his part for the NEW WORLD ORDER!

Probably true, but NY's pretty bad, too...and the UN is only a hop, skip, and jump from pretty much any downtown building.

[ntnychik]

Some of my favorites from The Earth Charter http://www.earthcharterusa.org/earth_charter.html

(Emphasis mine)

10. a. Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations.

b. Enhance the intellectual, financial, technical, and social resources of developing nations, and relieve them of onerous international debt.

c. Ensure that all trade supports sustainable resource use, environmental protection, and progressive labor standards.

d. Require multinational corporations and international financial organizations to act transparently in the public good, and hold them accountable for the consequences of their activities.

14. a. Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to sustainable development.

b. Promote the contribution of the arts and humanities as well as the sciences in sustainability education.

c. Enhance the role of the mass media in raising awareness of ecological and social challenges.

d. Recognize the importance of moral and spiritual education for sustainable living.

16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace. a. Encourage and support mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among all peoples and within and among nations.

b. Implement comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict and use collaborative problem solving to manage and resolve environmental conflicts and other disputes.

c. Demilitarize national security systems to the level of a non-provocative defense posture, and convert military resources to peaceful purposes, including ecological restoration.

d. Eliminate nuclear, biological, and toxic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

e. Ensure that the use of orbital and outer space supports environmental protection and peace.

f. Recognize that peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part.

[Quix]

Things that make me go hmmm.
- - --

After I retch, first.

[Quix]

The NWO is becoming a reality.
- - - -

In a lot of ways, it's been a reality for decades, under the table, in the shadows, in the universities; in lots of international organizations and conglomerates . . . in the traitorous halls of political power.

And, it's bee brazenly increasing it's overt existence more and more as it's felt more in control of everything and thereby more able to withstand any accusations or assaults with the usual gestapo means to their evil ends.

[nicmarlo]

Yeah, it was about that point (#10) that my radar started to go on.

[Smartass]

All are important. But this one really stood out:

"16. f. Recognize that peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part."

Did someone make a small mistake. What happened to our Creator, God? Ahhh nuts, I forgot, the New World Order, has a single New World Religion without Christ, Mohammad, Buddha, etc.! I wonder how that is going to be achieved?

I wonder if our benevolent "Bloviationg Fiddlers" in Washington knew about all of the above before they voted on S-2611?

 

[Quix]

Make no mistake, you are slated for dehumanization.
- - - -

Actually, it's told from a diversity of sources that patriotic Constitutional folks and authentic Christians

are slated to be amongst the first

to be terminated.

"Gotta get em out of the way and reduce the population 500,000,000 globally."

Besides, think of all the organ transplants they can charge a fortune for.

Then there's the complicit new agers who claim huge mother ships are going to come and RELIEVE the world of the authentic Christians so that the world can "PROGRESS" into the . . . . drum roll . . .

NEW AGE!

The line forms to the LEFT for rainbows and naked body painting . . . line up single file now. Now rowdiness. We turn rowdies into alligator food in these parts. No second chances. You may talk quietly as long as the line is kept tidily in order. You must control yourself if you want to live in the New Age. We believe in freedom through conformity. Misfits are removed out of this existence for the good of the children.

Then around the corner from the naked body painting is the SLAG chip implantation station. No refusals now! Refusing will divert you to the guillotine station and accepting the SLAG will allow you to buy and sell.

Here come the media. Now smile group. We wouldn't want the World Ruler to see any unhappy faces now would we. He might think you were disloyal. And we all know what animals the disloyal feed. And we know how much the lions, tigers and bears do enjoy the sport of chasing their meal. No biggy to me. But I'd suggest you smile as sweetly and authentically as you can. Big Brother is definitely watching.

[/satire--though very flawed satire--it's too realistically true to their plans]

[La Enchiladita]

"Let there be peeeeace on earth, and let it begin with meeeeeeeeee...." (sway, repeat, sway, repeat)

[barf, gag, hurl]

[Quix]

Right.

And the cluless dream on.

After all, the sky will never fall.

Nukes? naw, just fear mongering in the part of the radical right.

Move along, now. Nothing here.

Why, yes, the water in this hot tub IS getting gradually hotter. I wonder what garnish they'll decorate you with.

/s

[Quix]

Does anyone have a trusted representative in the government who can tell us what the new programs might be that would require additional detention space?
- - - -

Great question. Have tried to stir up such answers hereon for years. I figure we must have Freepers close enough to some big wigs to know when they head for the hills and the bunkers.

In terms of the additional detenion space . . . .

It will be sufficient to be an authentic Christian, Constitutionalist, patriot not conforming to the mind control programs, the Machiavellian programs, the one world religion . . . and eventually, for not worshipping the world ruler as god.

Of course, they also plan to remove all handicapped people, homosexuals, the disfigured, the lazy, the least bit nonlaw abiding; original, creative, assertive, smart nonconformists; . . .

They originally slated the removal of all blacks. And that may still be in the plans. But they discovered along the way that they could manipulate virtually the whole black population to their ends--especially politically here so they have been happy to use folks like MLK, and I think, likely, too, Colin Powell.

Have read recently that some sources assert that the plan is that for an individual having say a 2nd minor parking ticket--to be shot on the spot--dead. Certainly for more serioius rule breaking--the law officer on the scene or any other enforcer . . . will merely terminate the individual immediately. No need to waste funds and time on trials; checking facts; seeing if there's some misunderstanding etc. Just shoot them and get them out of the way.

These idiots have their grand plans. God Almighty will still make fools of them. They will eat their own poop and much worse for their evil unGodly deeds and cruel ruthlessness.

[Quix]

That sort of indoctrination has been going on for at least 4 decades.

I'm relieved that some more folks hereon seem to be better informed and waking up to these realities.

But the worst is ahead.

[Quix]

Why do you say Kathleen Harris is a jerk? Are we talking about the same person--the one who was in the news during election hassles?

I thought she was an authentic Christian conservative.

[Quix]

16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace. a. Encourage and support mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among all peoples and within and among nations.
- - - -

Interesting. The Bible speaks of the world leader

"making war with peace."

A master at setting traps and springing them on increassing numbers of victims.

[Smartass]

Thanks...It is seriously funny though... :o)

[FairOpinion]

"Does anyone have a trusted representative in the government who can tell us what the new programs might be that would require additional detention space?"


=====

All I know is what I read in the papers and internet, but here is what it says on the WH website -- I think the extra detention facilities are related to stopping the "catch and release" program.


"To End "Catch And Release," We Will Continue Expanding The Number Of Beds In Our Detention Facilities And Continue Expediting The Removal Process To Cut The Average Deportation Time. We are making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept back their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we have ended catch and release for illegal immigrants from some countries. The President will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority to permanently end catch and release at the southern border once and for all. "

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration/

They had "catch and release", because they couldn't just send back the illegals who were OTM (other than Mexicans) immediately, so they needed to detain them, until they could make arrangements to send them back to their country of origin. They didn't have enough space, where to detain them, so they let them loose, and of course they never saw them again.

Now they are expanding those detention facilities, so they can keep those illegals, instead of releasing them into the US.

[texastoo]

Yes, this is same Kathrine Harrison from Florida who helped in the count during 2001 Bush against Gore.

We found this out yesterday.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR02672:

Click on "text of legistlation" Have a barf bag ready.

She has the House version of this bill and Richard Lugar is sponsoring the Senate version. Recall Richard Lugar is also sponsoring, LOST, the Law of the Sea Treaty another UN boondoggle.

[texastoo]

Over the last few years, PC, political correctness has been a tool of the left in schools. For instance jungle to rain forrest. Now, my granddaughter has read a one sided book ,on communism and conclued that communismm is O.K. We are now getting down to the big push.

I agree the worst is yet ahead.

[nicmarlo]

S.853 Title: A bill to direct the Secretary of State to establish a program to bolster the mutual security and safety of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and for other purposes.

And the cluless dream on. After all, the sky will never fall.

Right. There's clearly nothing to be concerned about within the language or content in Senate Bill 2005-853 (or the House Bill), introduced in April 2005. Also, make sure you ignore the fact that, based upon his CAREER VOTING HISTORY, SENATOR LUGAR doesn't pass the smell test for immigration reform. Please also disregard the fact that Lugar was GRADED "D" on immigration reform by numbersUSA.

Rather, continue holding to the polyanna universe where you
BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY AND NOT WHAT THEY DO:

Lugar's a"Republican Senator" who "continues to work closely with party leaders in promoting the Republican agenda of economic growth, strong national security and U.S. leadership in the world" and who "ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 on a platform of prosperity, national security and integrity"."

Don't question why "he is constantly honored with a perfect 100 percent rating from both the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business" but has absolutely NO kudos from from ANY Conservative organizations.

Also, don't concern yourself with the fact that the same sponsor of this Senate Bill is the same "Republican" Senator Lugar, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. [Latest Major Action: 4/20/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.]

And, finally, don't be concerned about the fact that 4/6 of the Senate co-Sponsors are AMNESTY REPUBLICANS:

Sen Coleman, Norm [R-MN] (Immigration Reform: Career: D+ Recent: D+)
Sen Cornyn, John [R-TX] (Immigration Reform: Career: B Recent: B)
Sen Hagel, Chuck [R-NE] (Immigration Reform: Career: D+ Recent: D+)
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX] (Immigration Reform: Career: C Recent: B)
Sen McCain, John [R-AZ] (Immigration Reform: Career D Recent F)
Sen Stevens, Ted [R-AK] (Immigration Reform: Career: D+ Recent: D-)

And especially don't worry that 5/7 of the S.853 Senate Sponsor/co-Sponsors are Members of the

"Amnesty Republicans":

"Without these Republicans there would be no amnesty bill! (credit to JustPiper)

Robert Bennett (UT): (202) 224-5444
Sam Brownback (KS): (202) 224-6521
Lincoln Chafee (RI): (202) 224-2921
Norm Coleman (MN): (202) 224-5641
Susan Collins (ME) (202) 224-2523
Larry Craig (ID): (202) 224-2752
Mike DeWine (OH): (202) 224-2315
Pete Domenici (NM): (202) 224-6621
Bill Frist (TN): (202) 224-3344
Lindsay Graham (SC): (202) 224-5972
Judd Gregg (NH): (202) 224-3324
Chuck Hagel (NE): (202) 224-4224
Richard Lugar (IN): (202) 224-4814
Mel Martinez (FL): (202) 224-3041
John McCain (AZ): (202) 224-2235
Mitch McConnell (KY): (202) 224-2541
Lisa Murkowski (AK): (202) 224-6665
Gordon Smith (OR): (202) 224-3753
Olympia Snowe (ME): 202) 224-5344
Arlen Specter (PA): (202) 224-4254
Ted Stevens (AK): (202) 224-3004
George Voinovich (OH): (202) 224-3353
John Warner (VA): (202) 224-2023