Posse Comitatus...beware...be very aware.

[spanone]

Many repukes are using 'hurricanes' to call for a review of this law.
Be very afraid DUers.

~snip~ In a nutshell, this act bans the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines from participating in arrests, searches, seizure of evidence and other police-type activity on U.S. soil. The Coast Guard and National Guard troops under the control of state governors are excluded from the act.
~snip~

http://www.dojgov.net/posse_comitatus_act.htm

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Since it's obvious that the Republicans have great influence in the

military branches, I'm afraid that posse comitatus is a necessary evil.

[spanone]

3. I'm not sure it's evil. I think it's necessary considering todays politics

[niallmac]

2. I don't know if this thread subject has been spooled out before

but I agree that the way the repugs get so giggley and excited about eliminating local control of our militias is DAMN scary! The trick then is to get across the U.S. border north or south before they sign the law banning states rights.
What a confusion of conservative ideals. Ron Raygun says "no big gumment" and look who is busy creating Big Brother!

[davsand]

4. I used to think the militia guys were loonies when they discussed this.

I remember when the militia types were people I used to view as paranoid when they'd get started on this subject. I have to admit I no longer feel that way. We live in a time when I actually distrust our government enough to fear what they will attempt next.

I'm not ready yet to put on cammies and play weekend warrior, but I gotta admit I'm glad as hell that somebody is. But then again, I never thought I'd live to see the day that I'd agree with conservatives on anything and I'd consider bringing my guns into the same house with my child...



Laura

[cascadiance]

10. I've been wondering if we could actually institute an "official" militia

here in California to "replace" our national guard with. They would be funded and controlled at the state level and couldn't be "called up" to fight in places like Iraq, unlike the National Guard. Then we could pass a state law or something like that that those signing up for this miliitia would be kept out of any federal draft if the feds try to start that later.

Initiially, this militia would be primarily for National Guard type functions that would include firefighting and handling of other state emergencies, but by having that command and control set of personnel set in place, if it ever did come to the point that we here in California felt we needed to declare a secession from the U.S. because of our federal government getting too corrupt or filled with malfeasance, we would already have the mechanism of our own military in place to start with. Might have to take over ships docked in some of our harbors which might cause some difficulties, but at least we'd have a potential military force that's only answerable to us here.

[LouisianaLiberal]

5. The die is cast.

You don't cross the Rubicon. Ceasar and Sulla did it (if memory serves).

If we still had a real republic, the reason behind retaining posse comitatus would never be questioned.

[NEOBuckeye]

7. "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

[cascadiance]

6. I've mentioned this also on another board too...

When you couple them trying to take down this act, along with what's trying to go through with the Patriot Act, the "protection" afforded them of the "states secret" act that keeps them from being accountable in many cases now, the "military action" by SWAT teams in full military gear that recently occured to shut down a licensed rave concert in Utah recently, and you really have to be concerned about what might really happen if the pukes in this government really feels challenged at some point. I would hope that most of those in the military called upon to take action against people on our soil in any potential extreme government action would put down their weapons and say "I'm not doing this! Get the NG units back from Iraq to do what they're supposed to be doing here, and not us!" Unfortunately with an organization like the military, there won't be too many like that.

Just yesterday at the protest here in San Diego, I saw local cops videotaping for over a block or so one or two protestors after they'd arrested another. Someone next to me suggested that this might have been the DEA going after these guys, since these persons were at another protest near the border earlier. Still it was disturbing seeing uniformed police officers on the side with video cameras taking video of those marching.

To be fair to the cops, I saw at least one other cop that smiled and looked to even voice a few cheers in approval toward us as we were marching. They are human beings too I guess!

[NEOBuckeye]

9. Let's just hope that enough of them remember that fact.

[cascadiance]

15. Here's a pic of the cop with the camera in the San Diego march...

this image was too huge for this page, so I'm removing it. However, if you want to get this pic and more as well as another's account of these incidents, go to this link here:

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/111192.shtml

[tabasco]

8. I think Posse Comitatus is a good law.

But don't believe for a second that the military would blindly obey orders from the corporate cabal. If there is anything good that has come from the Bush disaster, it has opened the eyes of many military people that the republicans want neverending war.

I have recently been recalled to active duty and I have talked to many military that are disgusted with the national leadership. I am a mid-grade officer, and many NCOs will say something like, "Sir, I can't tell you how I feel, but it's a big mess!" Of course, that's because military are prohibited from speaking against the President.

Many republicans delude themselves that the military is loyal to them but it just ain't so. Many of the folks I talk to regret voting for an AWOL coward over a man who volunteered for combat.

Just my $0.02.

[cascadiance]

12. Yeah, I refuse to believe that we live in a "They Live" style movie either

We're not being "body snatched" I don't think, so even though the Rethugs are overly powerful in Washington and carrying out an agenda that doesn't support most of us Americans, I still have to believe in the human spirit and that there are many in the military, security services, government, courts, etc. that have consciences and the courage in many cases to do the right thing. I'm using this hope to believe that Fitzgerald will ultimately do the right thing and indict all of these criminals we have working at the top now. Hopefully he's just waiting for a little help that Sibel Edmonds might be able to give if we have 5 supreme court justices with a conscience in a couple of weeks to overturn this "states secret" act too.

[davsand]

13. Too many of us forget that vets and active duty folks are Americans.

Most of the vets I know, and many of the active duty folks I know, are dedicated to the nation and its ideals rather than any one political mindset. I honestly think a lot of the folks here at DU make a terrible mistake to ever think that the people in the military would do anything "wrong" or "immoral" simply because it was "ordered."

I am FAR more concerned abut the police forces in some areas than I am about our military...

Thanks for your service, tabasco.


Laura

[sandnsea]

14. They wouldn't believe it was wrong or immoral

I think liberals, Democrats, Greens, anybody NOT right wing Republican; make a mistake thinking the active duty folks would know a wrong or immoral act if they were ordered to commit one. Many would LOVE to be ordered to open fire on whatever group of protestors that has been annoying the piss out of them for decades. Anti-nuclear groups comes to mind. I don't trust any of them. Actually, I don't trust anybody who thinks armament is the answer to anything.

[LouisianaLiberal]

11. Never a good idea.

This is just another way of saying "In order to save X we must dismantle it" They have tried the same trick with entitlement programs, government "bureaucracy", and anything else that weakens their control.

A standing army, or in this case, a working army, should never be allowed within the borders. This ancient law was adopted for a very good reason. Leaders are corruptible, and with the power to control the people on their own land, they will most certainly become corrupt.

[zulchzulu]

16. These Neocon MotherF*c*ers will try anything to kill America

It's obvious that they want martial law and a police state by November 2008. Tht's the only way they are going to "win".