Civil libertarians have been concerned for years with the move toward greater use of the military in domestic operations by both President George W. Bush and now by President Barack Obama. The military continues to shift resources for prepare for large-scale domestic operations. Most recently, the Marines moved to create a battalion to allow the military to “be capable of helping control civil disturbances, handling detainees, carrying out forensic work, and using biometrics to identify suspects.” Now the Small Wars Journal, a respected publication closely followed in the U.S. military, has published an article entitled “Full Spectrum Operations in the Homeland: A ‘Vision’ of the Future” by retired Army Col. Kevin Benson of the Army’s University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Jennifer Weber, a Civil War expert at the University of Kansas. It lays out not just the military but the legal basis for military operations to crush domestic insurrections in the United States.
The authors write how the military must be prepared to act against citizens when they received orders regarding domestic threats to the government. What is troubling is the lack of balance in the article and the general assumption of legality in the full spectrum of such operations. What is clear is that, again, Congress is allowing for such preparations without any serious discussion or review. The assumption of legality will soon become the acceptance of legality in domestic use of military forces.
The article lays out how the existing policies regarding “full spectrum” operations require the military to prepare for internal campaigns against our own citizens: “full spectrum operations in the coming two decades (US Army Training and Doctrine Command, The Army Operating Concept 2016 – 2028, TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1, dated 19 August 2010, p. iii. Hereafter cited as TD Pam 525-3-1. The Army defines full spectrum operations as the combination of offensive, defensive, and either stability operations overseas or civil support operations on U.S. soil).”
The underlying scenarios are set for as soon as 2016 if the economy does not improve and unrest grows. Focusing on a town called Darlington, the article explores an order to “Fix Darlington, but don’t destroy it!” The authors write “We cannot discount the agility of an external threat, the evolution of Al Qaeda for example, and its ability to take advantage of a ‘Darlington event’ within U.S. borders.”
The authors write “once it is put into play, Americans will expect the military to execute without pause and as professionally as if it were acting overseas.” The article takes on a chilling tone, telling its many military personnel readers that “the Army cannot disappoint the American people, especially in such a moment.”
The authors spend comparatively little time considering the constitutional and legal barriers to the operations. They details how “Federal forces continue to tighten the noose as troops seize and secure power and water stations, radio and TV stations, and hospitals.” Yet, legal limitations are treated as largely irrelevant.
I have no problem with provocative articles exploring scenarios. This are issues that we should be discussing. However, the tenor and one-sided analysis of the piece is rather chilling. What is even more chilling is the lack of national debate as the Obama Administration continues the expansion of the military into domestic law enforcement and operations. It is indeed a “vision for the future” — the question is whether this is the vision that most citizens have for their government and themselves.
Source: Wasington Times
Kraaken,
If it is any consolation, I’ve been calling this since I was in law school (well before 9/11). People I knew then kind of laughed it off when I said, “Soon we will start having our civil liberties stripped away under the guise of fighting terrorism, real or imagined.” They don’t laugh about it anymore. Being correct in analysis (either post hoc or predictive) is very often not the equivalent of being happy with the answers. But that is the thing about sussing out the truth. It isn’t always pretty nor what you want it to be, but it has the benefit of being true.
Are you looking for a reply? You aren’t going to get one.
Hey, peaceniks! How’s that All Volunteer Force workin’ for ya now!!
Blouise,
Love your over the top humor.
To which I reply: Do I get to check the accept contract box before clicking. We all risk false results thanks to electronic voting machines.
PS
I will wear extra long coat on election day. (keep wanting to say erection day….why?. been long since last, maybe. Old times sake?)
I have a fake-fur lined one I bought on an expensive shopping street in Rome, just the one running down the hill from the Spanish steps.
Well, it is so large and long that have never worn it since. Could accomodate at least two AQ voters.
Okay, look on the internet. Until they turn it off.
Swarthmore mom, I think the Moonies sold it to the Loonies, their ugly cousins.
Malisha,
My neighbor, Lena, did not say, and I did not ask as she was in a hurry. Her mom was from Poland. No details. She is the one who first tried to get me to let her ride on my trip to the country, but has declined to be buddies since. Would love to get to know her as she did consulate duty for at least 3 years in NYC.
SwM,
On November 2, 2010, Moon and a group of former Washington Times editors purchased the paper from Moon’s son, Preston Moon, for $1.
That’s all I could find.
Swooosh 😉
Pogo was right. “We have met the enemy, and he is us”.
Ask Obama and his masters in the Pentagon who the enemy is. It’s us.
I thought it was illegal for the military to act within our borders.
Preparing for food riots? Maybe a civil war? Now that is possible given the current political climate.
nick, Do the Moonies still own the “Washington Times”?
I don’t vote. I didn’t even watch your national flag stupidity.
You know, for the longest time, since 9/11 (gag), I have been telling people that this was coming. Now that it is becoming so obvious, I thought I would feel a little pride for being so prescient. However, I mostly feel sick. I spent four years in the Navy, serving my country, but, damnit, this isn’t the country I promised to serve and protect. idealist707, Sweden is begining to look very nice!
Very moonbatty.
“Blouise, thanks for the warning. I vote at the embassy. Very tight AQ control there. smile.” (id707)
Well then, only 3 troops need to be quartered with you just in case an al Qaeda operative has moved into your basement and registered an imaginary friend as living in your bathtub who then follows you to the embassy with the sole purpose of hiding under your coattails and sneaking in to cast a fraudulent vote.
Que appropriate music to guarantee your acceptance of this danger and agreement that all possible measures should be taken … even in Sweden: (this video has it all … fresh-faced troops, football players, flag, jets, two former Presidents, Michael Douglas, and trumpeters)
I spent four years in the U.S. Navy, active duty. Proud of it.
Idealist, mother of your Jewish neighbor in Sweden? Or here? Where was the mother?
Matt J, I agree about JFK, and it was pretty obvious that the story wouldn’t fly even by the time Jackie stood there with blood all over her pink suit and said, “Let them see what they have done.” I also think the Jack Ruby thing was carefully arranged and he was so nuts he didn’t understand it himself. What a bunch of Romans we will look like to the future historians, if there is a future.
Soon half the population will be surveilling the other half—actually all will be doing it to each other.
Kids against parents, students against professors, etc.
Anerican politicians liked the Soviet model so well we have been adopting it in secret. Our next goal is to imitate China. Any volunteers for a factory job?
Curious about Sovjet terror? Want to see our ultimate fate? It won’t be as nice as 1984.
Read “Hope against Hope”, by Nadesda Mandelstam, available at Amazon. I got it from the library. The mother of my jewish neighbor used to read samisdat of his poetry smuggled out. Osip did not have anything of his own published since 1920’s, but wrote a lot not published but circulated in samisdat, yet he is regarded today as Russia’s most significant poet in 1900s. Two russians I know have concurred upon my questioning of his rep.
Learning of others mistakes and strengths is useful.
Blouise, thanks for the warning. I vote at the embassy. Very tight AQ control there. smile.
The United States Government killed JFK. Lee Harvey Oswald had a junk standard Italian army surplus rifle. That isn’t a sniper rifle. Lee Harvey Oswald was drinking a soda when JFK was shot.
“In the real world, elite dislike of democracy is the norm.” Chomsky cited by Dredd above.
For the Pentagon view of democracy, the press, the Congress and the necessity of lying to them all, read the first chapters of Daniel Ellsberg’s book: “Secrets”.
Ellberg is a proven hero, he had waded the paddies in Vietnam with our troops, wént out to the ARVN units to expose the lies reported by our advisors to satisfy the requirements to feed Washington and the press with, advised JFK in 1951 (on JFKs visit there), and was earlier a marine battalion op officer who extended his discharge date to stay on board with his unit waiting for invasion orders off the Mediterranean coast.
A true Anerican patriot. We need more now.
Pentagon’s attitude: You don’t need to know. Don’t get in the way. We know best. That is all you need to know.