In a stealth maneuver, President Bush has signed into law
a provision which, according to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), will actually encourage the President to declare federal
martial law (1). It does so by revising the Insurrection Act, a set of laws that limits the President's ability to deploy
troops within the United States. The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus
Act (18 U.S.C.1385), helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked
swipe of his pen, Bush is seeking to undo those prohibitions.
Public Law 109-364, or the "John Warner Defense Authorization Act
of 2007" (H.R.5122) (2), which was signed by the commander in chief on October 17th, 2006, in a private Oval Office ceremony,
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."
This is available on Google video too, but
because a few people simply still don't "get it" when they watch the footage from the Indiana Grove camp, let me spell it
out with this one.
We'll be cleaning up Bush's mess long after his scheduled
abdication on January 20, 2009. But the trillions of dollars in national debt he has run up and his two losing wars will drain
our economy for decades to come. We've provoked a new generation of terrorists. Yet even more damaging and nearly impossible
to unravel will be the threats to Americans posed by the neofascist national security apparatus the Bushists will leave behind--unless
they use it to remain in power.
Shortly after 9/11 Bush began the first of a long series of power grabs that have
transformed him from the leader of a country beholden to its people to an authoritarian despot. He signed a secret executive
order granting himself the right to declare anyone in the world, including a U.S. citizen, an "enemy combatant"--without proof--and
order him assassinated. Violating federal law and privacy rights, Bush authorized the NSA to listen to our phone calls and
read our e-mail. FBI, CIA and HomeSec goons "disappeared" thousands of people into a horrible new matrix of concentration
camps and secret prisons. On October 17, 2006 Bush signed the Military Commissions Act. The new law, scarcely mentioned
in the media, is breathtaking for the breadth of its attack on basic rights. Under the MCA either the president or the secretary
of defense may declare you an "enemy combatant"--as usual, without proof. Under that designation you may be jailed, without
the right to an attorney, for the rest of your life. You can even be tortured. Your U.S. citizenship can't protect you. And
it's all "legal."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a system which
will in essence make it mandatory for you to have permission before leaving or entering the country, effectively putting everyone
on a no-fly list unless the government says otherwise. ((MORE HERE))
The right to travel freely in their own country is a right that has been taken by Americans as their birthright.
This right is basic, fundamental, and necessary for the free exercise of many of our other protected rights. Identity-based
domestic security programs condition our mobility to freely assemble, associate, speak, and exchange ideas upon the government's
permission to do so. **CLICK LINK ABOVE FOR FULL ARTICLE**
BountyX on 10-9-08 writes "While America's attention has shifted to the economic
meltdown and the presidential race between corporate favorites John McCain and Barack Obama, The Wall Street Journal reported
Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Applications Office (NAO) 'will proceed with the first
phase of a controversial satellite-surveillance program, even though an independent
review found the department hasn't yet ensured the program will comply with privacy laws.' NAO will coordinate how domestic
law enforcement and 'disaster relief' agencies such as FEMA use satellite imagery intelligence (IMINT) generated by US spy
satellites. Based on available evidence, hard to come by since these programs are classified 'above top secret,' the technological
power of these military assets are truly terrifying."
Fraser Institute "The Case for the Amero the Building of the North American Union Canadian Council
Chief Executives: NASPI & New Frontiers Documents CD Howe Institute Beyond Border Series Trilateral Commission
2002 Toronto Ontario Conference: Letters to Trilateral regards Future of North America Council Foreign Relations "Building
a North American Community" Read Them for Yourselves
A new report by the U.S. Army War College talks about the possibility of Pentagon resources and troops being used should the economic crisis lead
to civil unrest, such as protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks.
“Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to
reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security,” said the War College report.
The study says economic collapse, terrorism and loss of legal order are among possible domestic shocks
that might require military action within the U.S.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned Wednesday of economy-related
riots and unrest in various global markets if the financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are hurt by
credit constraints and rising unemployment.
U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., both said U.S. Treasury Secretary
Henry Paulson brought up a worst-case scenario as he pushed for the Wall Street bailout in September. Paulson, former Goldman
Sachs CEO, said that might even require a declaration of martial law, the two noted.
State and local police in Arizona say they have broad plans to deal with social unrest, including trouble
resulting from economic distress. The security and police agencies declined to give specifics, but said they would employ
existing and generalized emergency responses to civil unrest that arises for any reason.
“The Phoenix Police Department is not expecting any civil unrest at this time, but we always
train to prepare for any civil unrest issue. We have a Tactical Response Unit that trains continually and has deployed on
many occasions for any potential civil unrest issue,” said Phoenix Police spokesman Andy Hill.
“We have well established plans in place for such civil unrest,” said Scottsdale Police
spokesman Mark Clark.
Clark, Hill and other local police officials said the region did plenty of planning and emergency management
training for the Super Bowl in February in Glendale.
“We’re prepared,” said Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy Chief Dave Trombi citing his
office’s past dealings with immigration marches and major events.
Super Bowl security efforts included personnel and resources from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
and U.S. military’s Northern Command, which coordinated with Arizona officials. The Northern Command was created after
9/11 to have troops and Defense Department resources ready to respond to security problems, terrorism and natural disasters.
Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek and Arizona Army National Guard Major. Paul Aguirre said
they are not aware of any new planning for domestic situations related to the economy.
Nick Dranias, director of constitutional government at the libertarian Goldwater Institute, said a
declaration of marital law would be an extraordinary event and give military control over civilian authorities and institutions.
Dranias said the Posse Comitatus Act restricts the U.S. military’s role in domestic law enforcement. But he points to
a 1994 U.S. Defense Department Directive (DODD 3025) he says allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic
situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage.
Dranias said such an emergency declaration could worsen the economic situation and doubts extreme measures
will been taken. “I don’t think it’s likely. But it’s not impossible,” he said.
The economy is in recession. Consumer spending is down, foreclosures are up and a host of businesses
are laying off workers and struggling with tight credit and the troubled housing and financial markets. The U.S. Federal Reserve
Bank and U.S. Treasury Department have pumped more than $8.5 trillion into the economy via equity purchases of bank stocks,
liquidity infusions, Wall Street and bank bailouts and taxpayer rebates. U.S. automakers are seeking more than $14 billion
in federal loans with fears they could fall into bankruptcy without a bailout. The U.S. housing and subprime lending-induced
recession also has hit economies in Europe, Japan and China.
Gov. Janet Napolitano’s office declined comment on emergency planning and possible civil unrest.
Napolitano is president-elect Barack Obama’s pick for secretary of Homeland Security, an agency that oversees airport
security, disaster response, border security, customs and anti-terrorism efforts.
As governor, Napolitano sent National Guard troops to Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in 2003
in response to terrorism threats.
Glendale Police spokesman Jim Toomey said the West Valley suburb developed new emergency plans with
the approach of Y2K computer changeovers leading up to the year 2000 and police have updated those plans several times including
after 9/11. Toomey said strategies to deal with public unrest usually involve deploying personnel and equipment to deal with
specific incidents while still providing usual services.
FYI, Army Regulation AR-210-35 "Civilian Inmate Labor Program"
