An ominous new phrase being used by MSM: "When the Military..."

[kohodog]

When talking about the federal response to catastrophic situations like Katrina suddenly newscasters are talking about the need for military response and what the military will do in future situations. It is no longer the National Guard or FEMA that they are mentioning, but the "military." In the past the Army, Navy, etc., have not been allowed to patrol US streets. The National Guard has had that responsibility and training. I don't believe the laws have changed, but people will accept what they hear from MSM. Perhaps the Army will be called in to patrol protests like the one next week in DC in a few years.

I think this is a dangerous turn of events and news outlets should be notified to stop using inaccurate phrases like this.

[niyad]

1. subtle way of brainwashing us for when martial law is declared

[rodeodance]

3. let us know next time you (or anyone) hears this. you are right.

[kohodog]

4. That's what I'm thinking.

Softening us up so we accept regular Army and Marines in our towns and cities.

[wtmusic]

2. Good catch

"...and in other news, the military helped quell a violent demonstration against the President's policies, with several known terrorists in attendance. Wolf Blitzer has the story..."

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. with several known terrorists in attendance

several prominent outspoken Democratic Congresspersons?

[wtmusic]

9. yep, or fill in the blank

It would be fabricated anyway.

[shraby]

5. The military is what should be in Iraq and the

National Guard is what should be here at home. Bush's bizarro world has it bass-ackward.

[TahitiNut]

7. Current events highlight the need for Universal National Service.

As I've said several times, I advocate a Universal National Service obligation - not a selective 'draft' bu a comprehensive service obligation for all citizens, male and female, straight and gay, no matter how 'abled.' Various forms of service would incur various terms of service - in the Public Health Service (would be handy in disasters, right?), a Conservation Corps (handy, too), the Peace Corps, VISTA, Americorps, as well as the various branches of the military.

When the only tool you have is a hammer (military), you tend to treat everything like a nail (enemy).

[SmokingJacket]

15. I agree. Great idea.

Why only national service for war? This country has other needs, too.

[Lochloosa]

17. I with you on this one...everyone..two years...you pick

build low income housing..go fight * war...whatever...

[truedelphi]

8. Project for a New American Century

Part of the goal was to develop a situation wherein the National Guard and Reserves would be willing to turn on their fellow citizens.

This was in papers that PNAC had published on the web and readily
available for anyone "googling" it.

I would imagine that being "stop-lossed" in Iraq for several eternities might have fried your sensibilities enough that you'd now be ready to kick in some doors at 4 am. Especially if martial law has been declared. And especially if the doors you kick in over in Chicago or Seattle or LA are the doors of a home belonging to a "terrorist"...

[kohodog]

12. The National Guard already turned on citizens at Kent State

But you are right. The line is being blurred and the National Guard has become active military without the benefits (healthcare, etc.) Have you read "The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell"? A great book, I think, showing both the stupidity in Iraq and the effect on our kids who are sent over.

Also, I saw a picture on the front page of the NYT on the web last week showing one soldier with a machine gun leaning next to a door and another with a pistol ready to open and go in. The caption read: "Rescue workers checking a house in New Orleans for survivors".

Unreal.

[tabasco]

10. I was active duty military during Hurricane Andrew.

A brigade from the 82nd and a brigade from 10th Mountain were there two days after the storm. That's about 5000 troops. We didn't carry weapons but we cleaned the streets of debris, distributed food & water, and helped set up aid stations. The National Guard did some security, but regular troops were not allowed to do police/security missions.

The problem with the Katrina response was that not enough troops of any kind were on the scene fast enough. That's Bush's fault.

Do you think the military would support Bush in some kind of power grab?? That's funny.

[kohodog]

14. It's not about Bush anymore

And, no, I don't seriously think that there would be an obvious coup like that. But our civil liberties are being eroded rather quickly, and I do think there is a strong possibility that things could get out of hand in a major terrorist event. Did you ever think there would be "Shoot to kill" orders like we just had in NO? Over looting? Did you think the military would be used to keep people out of the Hilton across from the Convention Center? Did you think Blackwater and other mercenary organizations would be paid to protect our own cities from our own people?

We're sliding down a slippery slope imho.

[tabasco]

20. Did the military shoot anybody in NO ?

I know cops shot some people but I didn't hear about any military shootings. National Guard can be used for security missions, but not regular troops AFAIK.

It would be a hard order to give in the military to shoot other Americans over tv sets. I wouldn't obey that order, and I'm an officer. There is no situation I can think of where protecting property warrants shooting people.

I'm more afraid of cops and contractors than military myself. It will probably be the military that saves us from these crazy bastards.

[kohodog]

22. My original point:

The military is for national defense against foreign armies and that the media is blurring the lines and that can lead to abuses by an administration of ideologues like this one who think that citizens who disagree are un american and unpatriotic. The media must use language correctly or they will subtly shift opinion toward acceptance of military protection and ultimately military policing in the US.

I suspect that many in the military from Generals on down hate the Rumsfeldian branch (the civilian branch) that is wearing our defenses down and deploying them in missions they were not trained for and sending them to pointless wars. The blurring of the line by reporters will not help.

[DELUSIONAL]

23. You need to write your Congressional Rep and Senators

and tell them about your experience and then ask WHY the military wasn't HELPING the victims.

The military was hardly used -- USS Bataan floated off the coast mostly unused.

I'm a military brat and my dad was out helping during Natural disasters -- my earliest memory was of him gone all night rescuing people off of roof from flood waters. He was very proud that he saved lives that night. That is one of my best memories of the military -- and I know that the military wasn't used anywhere near its capacity in times of national crisis.

[mandyky]

11. I keep thinking of the movie OUTBREAK

and the like. This mobilization of the "military" in crises is worrying. If this avian flu breaks out I can see towns being destroyed and worse. Did you here that you need papers to get into Jefferson Parish? PAPERS!! Jeebus Christmas, the fascists have won.

[AX10]

13. I agree. The Military is the chief protector of we, America.

The Military is intended to DEFEND us from foreign threats. That's why the Military REFUSED 100% to remove US citizens by force from New Orleans. The Military MUST NEVER BE USED AGAINST THE CITIZENS IT DEFENDS.

[KittyWampus]

16. So Why aren't you and every other DU'ers shouting about Clinton's success?

Clinton and FEMA under him responded in exemplary fashion in the floods of 93 and 97.

Clinton and Witt's FEMA are PROOF there is no need for more Federal powers or added Military presence.

[kohodog]

18. Why do you think I'm not?

Bush filled FEMA with cronies, not experienced individuals. But we're not moving backwards in time and MSM isn't helping the country move in the right direction with disinformation and language designed to allow our rights to be eroded without most noticing.

[emald]

19. kent state was a very real use of the national guard to kill

citizens. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe it wasn't. Personally it doesn't surprise me at all that we are seeing this slow ratcheting up of the use of the military. * isn't gonna give up power politely, not now. Anyone lifts the lid on these criminal asshats even a little bit the whole thing will fly open and they will be exposed for the criminals they are. He has no other choice than to cow the populace a bit.
I'm wondering if we aren't sitting and watching our country turn into something ugly and sinister. Wasn't there some one that wrote of the germans in WW2 that when the government came to take away an undesirable that they sat because it wasn't their kind. Then the next sort was shat upon by officials and again it wasn't his kind so he just watched it happen. Then another subset of human being was designated the target and they all did nothing again. Then the gov came for all those who had watched for so long and no one was left to do anything. Guess I'm just depressed by this whole mess but I see Katrina as blowing the cover of these fools we call leaders and they'll use it to further the looting of america. Will we all be in rags and at the wrong end of guns before we stop the corporations and their mighty military?

[whosinpower]

21. Maybe

It is just a way to justify the horrendous costs associated with the military.

Face it - there are fewer and fewer state enemies that the US can justify making war on. So - this way...they can justify the need for a miltary IF the military evolves into another beast - and not one that just blows things up.

Just a thought.....

[kohodog]

24. Military May Play Bigger Relief Role

I had not seen this when I posted.


Military May Play Bigger Relief Role
Sep 17 2:59 PM US/Eastern


By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON

President Bush's push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil.

Pentagon officials are reviewing that possibility, and some in Congress agree it needs to be considered.

<snip>

At question, however, is how far to push the military role, which by law may not include actions that can be defined as law enforcement _ stopping traffic, searching people, seizing property or making arrests. That prohibition is spelled out in the Posse Comitatus Act of enacted after the Civil War mainly to prevent federal troops from supervising elections in former Confederate states.

Speaking on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said, "I believe the time has come that we reflect on the Posse Comitatus Act." He advocated giving the president and the secretary of defense "correct standby authorities" to manage disasters.


http://www.breitbart.com/news/na/D8CM6FB00.html

[hedgehog]

28. The only thing the military can't do now is arrest people.

They can do any humanitarian mission required, but they are not law enforcement. According to a constitutional lawyer on NPR Friday, they could conceivably drive police officers around, but they can't arrest and hold people themselves. The National Guard can make arrests and has often been used to suppress riots. I don't want to imagine where Bush and Warner are going with this.

[Greyhound]

25. Hmm, move the National Gard out of the country,

move the regular military and mercenaries in, what could the reason for that possibly be? I'm sure they have our best interests at heart. :sarcasm:

[omega minimo]

26. Have you posted this in the DU Activist HQ?

Clearly, that was the threat in the speech on Thursday-- federalization and militarization of disaster response.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. And folks still think that elections are the way out

nope, they are not... the system is broken and they are just waiting for the ahem excuse to enact martial law, suspend the Constitution and take away guns from everybody, their dress rehearsal was NOLA