X-Rap,
The question isn't one of my allowing or not allowing discussion, I'm not some tin-pot dictator here. The question is only one of following the rules and maintaining discussion at the standard THR has established. S&T rules limit us to "what if" discussion of things that members might actually have to deal with, and our aim is to discuss useful approaches to dealing with problems.
That mainstream media thinks there might be a problem in this instance, is in fact becoming clearer. From CNN on Friday:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0810/24/ldt.01.html
And rising concerns that an Army brigade with combat experience in Iraq could be used to deal with civil disorder in this country. We'll have a special report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SYLVESTER: New questions tonight about an Army combat brigade being trained to deal with civil disturbances in the United States, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits federal uniformed services from carrying out domestic law enforcement duties, except in cases expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress. Critics say the brigade's training goes against one of the founding principles of our country, separation of military and civilian government. Louise Schiavone has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They spent 30 months on the streets of Baghdad, now the first brigade combat team of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division is back in the USA. "The Army Times" reporting quote, "they may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios", end quote. The question arises why and isn't that what the National Guard does?
CRAIG TREBILCOCK, ATTORNEY: Infantry brigade is designed to engage an enemy with maximum effective force and destroy it. That's not the sort of thing anybody wants to see in the streets of the United States.
SCHIAVONE: Almost 5,000 strong, the brigade is based at Fort Stewart (ph), Georgia under control of Northern Command who tells CNN quote, "the primary purpose of this force is to provide help to people in need in the aftermath of a WMD-like event in the homeland so that were they called to support civil authority, those governors or local state jurisdictions that might need our help that they would be responsive and capable in the aftermath of an event like this", end quote. On Capitol Hill questions about how the Pentagon determined that a thinly-stretched military with two conflicts underway could spare these troops?
REP. TOM DAVIS (R), VIRGINIA: That's a misuse of assets as it can be deployed I think more efficiently somewhere else when you have a Guard that you can call up on a moment's notice.
SCHIAVONE: Historically the posting is unusual. In modern history Army troops have been used at extraordinary junctures under the first President Bush to contain the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, under President Lyndon Johnson in response to Detroit's 1967 riots and in the grips of a depression by President Herbert Hoover to contain Army veterans demanding their bonuses, all actions says historian Robert Dallek undertaken by...
ROBERT DALLEK, AUTHOR, "HARRY S. TRUMAN": Unpopular presidents on edge about their capacity to lead, to invoke public support for whatever it is they think needs to be done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHIAVONE: Lisa, "The Army Times" journalist tells us that the story has generated intense public interest and four weeks into a flurry of questions about the report, the Army finally contacted her. And they requested that she publish a clarification that containing domestic civil unrest was not part of the first brigade mission.
SYLVESTER: Louise Schiavone, thank you very much for that report.
The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding information on the Army brigade's deployment. It claims quote, "this deployment jeopardizes the long-standing separation between civilian and military government." Now this isn't the first time this week the ACLU has challenged the federal government.
As we reported here, the ACLU is suing the Department of Homeland Security to block a successful Border Patrol checkpoint program. The Border Patrol currently has the authority to operate checkpoints up to 100 miles from the border. Now the ACLU claims this program violates the rights of those who live in that zone.
A majority of Americans tonight say they want more enforcement of our nation's immigration laws. A new "Judicial Watch"/Zogby poll found that among likely voters, 71 percent believe local police should enforce federal immigration law.
Seventy-one percent said local governments shouldn't use taxpayer funds to operate day labor cites that cater to illegal aliens and the employers who hire them. Fifty-seven percent believe more law enforcement is needed to deal with the illegal immigration crisis and 55 percent oppose sanctuary policies in American cities. Well coming up, new recession fears send the markets plummeting. We'll ask three of the top economic thinkers in the country what they would do to fix this mess.
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So what do you do in the event disturbances begin?
1) STAY INFORMED, STAY ALERT. Keeping up with local television and radio news will NOT be something you can take for granted. You need to know what is going on in your area.
And you can't always depend on the media to tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it. If you haven't ever adopted actively listening to emergency radio traffic via a radio scanner before, this might be a good time to do it- especially if you live in an area where disorder is a possibility. If you want something to buy, a scanner might be a better idea than another firearm. There IS a learning curve involved in using a scanner, there are frequencies to find, codes to learn, etc. Having a detailed map of your area posted is a good idea too, so you can keep up with locations where calls are being dispatched.
2) STAY HOME. Traveling into the area of a civil disturbance is likely to put you at risk of becoming a victim. If you know flash mobs are forming, or riots are happening, stay home- don't travel. There's little excuse for being caught unaware after the first reports of disturbances surface on local media- play it safe.
And be prepared to stay home- keep your pantry stocked so you don't need to make an emergency trip to the grocery store. Think ahead and buy ahead on other necessities also, so that you don't have to run any other errands either.
3) STAY READY TO LEAVE IF NECESSARY. Make sure your vehicle is fueled, in good shape mechanically and ready to travel at a moment's notice if you have to depart your area on short notice.
Prepare a pack or bag of necessities ('bug-out bag') for yourself and each family member so you can leave quickly if necessary. You should have an emergency evacuation plan in place no matter where you live or what hazards you face- if you don't have one, it's past time to establish one for your family. You need to have copies of important legal papers, family pictures and anything else important ready to take with you, as if your house might not be there when you come back. People who live in hurricane prone or wildfire prone areas are accustomed to having evacuation plans- you need one too, in case anything ever happens in your area that forces your family to flee.
For more on emergency evacuation planning, see
http://www.nationalterroralert.com/evacuation-plan/ ,
http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/p/0004.html (read your stickies here at S&T!),
http://www.backwoodshome.com/columns/wolfe050815.html or similar topics.
Notice so far, we haven't talked about confronting a mob of rioters? That's because it's generally a Bad Idea. There's an old saying- "Discretion is the better part of valor." It applies to situations like this. It is often better in most cases to be gone, rather than be involved, where rioting mobs are concerned.
IF concerted action among your neighbors is possible, and if there are enough of you, then you may be able to barricade access to your neighborhood and deny the approaches to roving groups of troublemakers. But if you don't already have an organized neighborhood watch, or a coordinated group of similar purpose already at work in your neighborhood, then getting one going on the spur of the moment is just not going to happen. That being the case, evacuation on your own terms, on your own time, is likely your best bet.
lpl
