Military commander proposes creation of unit to deal with natural disaster

[sabra]

http://www.volunteertv.com/global/story.asp?s=3966123&ClientType=Printable

Military commander proposes creation of unit to deal with natural disasters

WASHINGTON As the government ponders ways to prevent a repeat of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, another proposal is being offered.

A military commander is suggesting the creation of an active-duty force specifically trained to help the National Guard respond to natural disasters.

The proposal hasn't yet been presented to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. But a spokesman says "it's one of the ideas that's out there."

President Bush has asked Congress to consider whether the active-duty military should take a bigger role in responding to widespread natural disasters -- possibly even a leading role.

[ixion]

1. keep the military out of civillian affairs.

'nuff said.

[struggle4progress]

21. Yep. Why not just keep the National Guard at home? eom

[Tight_rope]

2. Nope...we don't to pay another so-called help the people organization

Got too many as it is and their all useless.

[texpatriot2004]

3. Are they trying to come in through the back door on this now? nt

[StrafingMoose]

8. back door?

Ask Aaron Broussard, Jefferson Parrish president, he'll probably tell you it was by the front door that they were trying to come trough :P

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Two words

Posse comitatus

[electron_blue]

5. This is the true reason Katrina was mishandled. To set this up.

[DELUSIONAL]

11. This is my guess --

also I have been predicting that bushie will not leave the white house in 08.

I also predicted that bushie would stay in the white house past 04. And we know that Ohio went to Kerry and probably Florida as well.

[jwirr]

19. I also worry that he and his SC and congress will

find some way to keep the little dictator in the WH.

[Karenina]

6. The National Guard doesn't need "help"

THEY NEED TO BE AT HOME TO RESPOND WHEN NEEDED!!!! :grr:

[Bridget Burke]

9. Bring home the National Guard.

If Bush wants to continue his "War." Isn't it great that we've got so many regular military with time on their hands!

[Tempest]

7. Nazi Germany had the same thing

It was called the SS.

And we all know how that ended.

[UncleSepp]

17. I dunno, this sounds more like the Arbeitsdienst

Them, the Organization Todt, or the Reichsarbeitsfront.

[DELUSIONAL]

10. Ass hole -- the military can already respond with HUMANITARIAN

AID during and after a natural (or man man) disaster.

The military has a long history of rapidly responding during flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricane, tornadoes etc.

The way these idiots are making a big deal out of this tells me that something else is up.

They must think that most people are dumb and have NO memory of how military personnel and equipment have been used effectively in the past.

There are lots of Vets who know the truth -- I'm a military brat and I KNOW that my father has gone out in the middle of the night and worked all night to rescue people off of house roofs during a flood. This is one of my earliest memories of "what dad does".

Had the military merely sent in personnel and equipment to help -- assist -- rescue in the very early hours after Katrina hit in New Orleans many lives would have been saved. Apparently some of the military commanders ordered no help to be offered. To me this says that someone way up at the top order the military to stand down -- rather than the "all hands on deck" order to help victims of the hurricane and flooding.

Now bushies is trying to cover up for SCREWING UP -- he could have ordered the military to HELP -- not shoot and murder American citizens. With the bushie plan -- I doubt that he would use troops help -- rather even more people would die at the hands of idiots who have zero local knowledge or give a damn.

[Coastie for Truth]

12. Absolutely

In the "Earthquake" and "Forest Fire" belts we have the Incident Command System - that co-ordinates everybody from the Campfire Kids through the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary and Urban Search and Rescue Corps and Wilderness/Mountain Search and Rescue Corps and Citzenc Corps/CERT to local Police, Fire, EMS, the National Guard, and the NGO's (Red Cross, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Southern Baptist Mass Feeding). It's called "Incident Command System" -- and it works.

1.

2.

3.

4.

The Incident Command System is a proven system - and it works - and we have a National Guard.

We do not need Rummie or Peter Pace telling our State National Guard and our local police, fire, ems, Red Cross, and Salvation Army what to do. Rummie and Pace have already screwed up Iraq.

Let's actually look at key excerpts from the

The force under consideration would keep hundreds of soldiers standing by on short notice to assist National Guard soldiers. The new unit could include military communications technicians, logistics specialists, doctors and nurses, engineers and even infantry.

... ... ...

The force would be designed to move in quickly alongside National Guard forces, with whom it would train, rather than taking over the mission. The virtue of such an active-duty unit is that it could swiftly bring important capabilities to bear in a natural disaster on American soil. With all of the operating rules agreed upon in advance, the command of the mission would remain with the National Guard, answering to state governors, putting off any need to debate whether to federalize the operation.

... ... ...

Active-duty troops may conduct relief operations without the federal government being in charge, but the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits active-duty forces from conducting law enforcement missions on American soil.

... ... ...

That would not be a problem with the standby force as long as it was kept to logistical and relief operations and the mission, in particular law-enforcement duties, remained with the National Guard reporting to the state governors.

IF THE FEDS ACTUALLY OBEYED THE POSSE COMITATUS ACT - and acted within its limits - leaving Operational Control -- and Law Enforcement -- strictly to the National Guard (the Governor's Army) this could be a needed infusion of people and equipment under a standard "Mutual Assistance Agreement" and the "Incident Command System" - the way Fire Departments and EMT units operate together.

With Bush and Cheney and Rove and Rummie and Pace the "IF" in "IF THE FEDS ACTUALLY OBEYED THE POSSE COMITATUS ACT" is one great big "IF" --- and I do not trust the team of Bush and Cheney and Rove and Rummie and Pace.

[Xithras]

13. Here's the real question: Why does it need to be military?

Posse Comitatus acts solely to restrict the military. There is NOTHING legally stopping the fed's from creating a new law enforcement unit, with whatever powers they delegate, that IS specifically designed to deal with this sort of thing. Call them FEMA Officers or something, and place them under that organization (after it's pulled OUT of Homeland Security, of course).

The real reason nobody will suggest this is that federal law enforcement agencies are answerable to Congress, while the military is answerable to the President. Make no mistake about this...it's all a Presidential grab for power, nothing more. If the goal was really to make the government more responsive to disasters, they wouldn't be suggesting that one of the most bloated and bureaucratic branches of government be in charge of it.

[all.of.me]

14. military, military, military. why does he want

the military to do everything?!?!?! for them to do all he wants them to do, every person in this country will have to enlist. there's no WAY there's enough man/womanpower to go around. ...i think i just answered my own question - everyone enlist. NOT!

[daleo]

20. It does seem like the mentality of a military dictatorship

Not a civilian republic.

[BeHereNow]

15. Hmm, could they start with the disaster at the White House?

I'm sure plenty of the troops would volunteer
for responding to that disaster.
LOTS of clean up to do there.
BHN

[texpatriot2004]

16. That's a marvelous idea.n.t

[jwirr]

18. We already have a unit that used to deal with

disasters - they did a wonderful job - they were called the National Guard. Bring them home and let them do the job they were created for.

[texpatriot2004]

22. Amen to that. Bring the National Guard home and let them do

their job.

[dkofos]

23. The last time I checked this would be against the law.

Cheaper and easier solution, USE THE NATIONAL GUARD that is what they trained for.

[LatinoSocialist]

24. how about spending the money

to create a unit of civilian officials designed to respond to disasters.

Oh wait, the problem is crony corruption in civilian departments. The reason the military is reado to go is because A) all our tax money is spent on that, to the detriment of all the other institutions, and B) the military's rules of promotion and relationships between higher ranked officials are not subject to such easy cronyism.

The problems is that our tax system is too focused on military spending and not enough civilian spending, and the problem is crony Republicanism.