Army Called in Aid of Alabama Police?

Yahoo ^ | 3/11/09 | Yahoo

[fightinbluhen51]

Click the link, too short to post

[gondramB]

>>Hard to really tell from the pic but looks like they might be carrying sidearms only, and wearing traffic safety vests.

Still not supposed to be there, but at least they aren’t loaded for war.

Was there more, or just these four?<<

Also couldn’t they be Alabama National Guard?

[444Flyer]

“LOL

Well, the headline says that the Army called for help from the Alabama police. It appears to be the other way around.”

Yeah, it didn't make sense to me either. Everyone knows when the Army gets in trouble they have to call in the Marines to bail them out. ;-)

[Thunder90]

Probably moved under the command of the Georgia National Guard until they could get there.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

Using the army for domestic law enforcement is a no-no!

[napscoordinator]

Thank you. I seriously did not know that and I am in the military...(embarassed). But now that I do I thank you.

[Constitution Day]

Well, the headline says that the Army called for help from the Alabama police. It appears to be the other way around.

No, it says "Army Called in Aid of Alabama Police"

I took that to mean they were called to HELP the Alabama police.

[mkcc30]

If things are THAT bad then they should deputize some of the locals. Military use is not right and not necessary.

[444Flyer]

I'm watching this one play out. If this goes unchecked we are in for a he_ _ of a lot of trouble in this nation. We should NEVER passively accept armed soldiers in our streets for a domestic tragedy such as this. Was someone looking for the opportunity to pull this card out of the deck?

[mkcc30]

“Guns are widely available for purchase in a country that prides itself on the right to own weapons for self defense and hunting.”

Yeah and if any of the victims had of been armed they would have killed the piece of trash! You think the criminal would NOT have had a firearm under restrictions? I swear the level of stupidity has hit an all time high worldwide!

[Lucky9teen]

Public Law 109-364, or the "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" (H.R.5122) (2), which was signed by President Bush on October 17th, 2006

It allows the President to declare a "public emergency" and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities, in order to "suppress public disorder." It basically revised the Insurrection Act, a set of laws that limits the President's ability to deploy troops within the United States.

[Lion Den Dan]

The troops are equipped like Military Police. There are no unit patches visible (left shoulder needed) so can't ID the unit which would tell if troops are regular army or NGs. I doubt these are reqular Army as the Army command is as touchy as most here at FR about breaching Posse Commitatus.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

FREE REPUBLIC @ ALABAMA
Keeping the people of Alabama informed!
FReepmail Ultra Sonic 007 to get on or off this ping list.

Huh.

[Abathar]

I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but here in Indiana the militia movement is picking up steam again.

When Bush was elected things seemed to dissipate, but now there seems to be some organizers who are beginning to get things called to order again.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

You are most welcome.
I am in bitter clingin’ Pennsylvania and don’t know the details about the Tex/Mex border, but possibly that is federal land and non-citizens so it’s a different kettle o’ fish. But against American citizens, the C-in-C cannot call out the US Army. Clinton caught hell for it when army materiel was brought in to deal with the Waco compound...if I recall, Wesley Clark was in charge of the fort nearby and therefore responsible for this breach of the law. Naturally nothing came of it. :( Different standards apply to democrat tyrants.
If your experience is common and the Army doesn’t tell soldiers the basic limits of the authority of their commanders, that in itself is very troubling.

[Winged Hussar]

If terrorists (foreign enemies) are in the United States, I see no reason why the Armed Forces cannot engage them as they would an enemy army. Then it’s war, not law enforcement.

[RWB Patriot]

My understanding is that the Posse Comitatus Act forbids the military from taking over police duties and civilian governments, not assisting the police in carrying out their duties (like during Katrina and the LA Riots). If they’re under the control of the police in this situation, then technically no violation has occured.

[ichabod1]

‘Bama Guard!

"O"-Bama Guard?

[Just another Joe]

The Posse Comitatus Act - Prohibits search, seizure, or arrest powers to US military personnel. Amended in 1981 under Public Law 97-86 to permit increased Department of Defense support of drug interdiction and other law enforcement activities. (Title 18, "Use of Army and Air Force as Posse Comitatus" - United States Code, Section 1385)
DoD Dictionary of Military Terms, 2006

And WHO was in office in 1981?
Just say "No".

[chainsaw]

* National Guard units while under the authority of the governor of a state;

* Troops used under the order of the President of the United States pursuant to the Insurrection Act, as was the case during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

* Under 18 U.S.C. § 831, the Attorney General may request that the Secretary of Defense provide emergency assistance if civilian law enforcement is inadequate to address certain types of threats involving the release of nuclear materials, such as potential use of a nuclear or radiological weapon. Such assistance may be by any personnel under the authority of the Department of Defense, provided such assistance does not adversely affect U.S. military preparedness.

[ForGod'sSake]

Can anyone else read “POLICE” on the back of their vests??? SWAT? State police maybe?