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
Of course, at the time of the Virginia declaration of rights, Virginia was not only a slave state but the chief slave-producing state. Ahhh, Virginia.
Not to mention this (by Thomas Jefferson in the Kentucky-Virgina Resolutions)…
“That the several states composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their general government; but that, by compact, under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States, and of amendments thereto, they constituted a general government for special purposes, delegated to that government certain definite powers, reserving, each state to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self-government; and that whensoever the general government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force”
This once meant something…
Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) by Mason, Madison, and Jefferson
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the Representatives of the good people of VIRGINIA, assembled in full and free Convention; which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of Government.
I. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
II. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.
III. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community; of all the various modes and forms of government that is best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and that, whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
Wow. The most chilling thing about this article is the replies. People nowadays really have abandoned any desire for civil liberties, and will literary continue to defend the State and Party at all costs, demanding its expansion into civil society even on a article about how it is now making plans on how to kill them. Scary….
Thomas Jefferson would turn over in his grave if he saw what Collectivist political philosophy has done to our country and those once beloved principals of ’76 (and ’98)
Kraaken,
I think that mindset (not uncommon among the Founders) was part of it and simply the raw economics of starting a country from scratch was the other. Although they had defeated arguably the world’s greatest military power of the time, the freshly minted country needed to build infrastructure as quickly as possible if they wished to remain both free and competitive on the world stage.
Kraaken: “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 know exactly how you feel; this news article is not a surprise. But the future is not carved in stone.
The best antidote to this slide into a totalitarian state is general prosperity. People that are making money and having a good life just don’t have time or patience for government repression or much government BS of any sort. That we are watching an artificial impoverishment in the western world is not an accident IMO, and it’s not an end in itself, just a means to an end.
Bravo, Gene. You hit the proverbial nail on the head (so did Mr. Jefferson). Do you think that maybe that was the reason for not instituting an army post-revolution?
http://www.naturalnews.com/035607_government_checkpoints_Martial_Law.html
Just a few weeks ago, the federal government initiated a contract for acquiring 450 million rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. “The special hollow point effectively passes through a variety of barriers and holds its jacket in the toughest conditions,” says a press release from the award winner, ammunition manufacturer ATK. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/atk-secures-40-caliber-ammunition-co…). This ammo is for the Department of Homeland Security as well as ICE.
Question: What does DHS intend to do with 450 million rounds of barrier-piercing hollow point ammunition?
The really important answer is that no one buys hollow point bullets for target practice. They’re too expensive. Practice ammo is always FMJ ammo (Full Metal Jacket), meaning it has a solid tip. But the far more expensive hollow point ammo is ballistically designed to shred internal organs upon impact. It’s the kind of ammo used by police officers who want to shatter the bad guy’s sternum as quickly as possible and thereby bring him to the ground where he bleeds out from internal tissue trauma.
The DHS is a domestic agency. It does not fight wars overseas. It almost exclusively concerns itself with the American people on American soil. That the DHS is contracting to buy 450 million rounds of hollow point ammo can only mean DHS plans to need this ammo to be used against the American people.
What Gene said!
You are me.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “There are instruments so dangerous to the rights of the nation and which place them so totally at the mercy of their governors that those governors, whether legislative or executive, should be restrained from keeping such instruments on foot but in well-defined cases. Such an instrument is a standing army.”
Wise fellow, that Jefferson.
An army with no real legitimate military enemy is simply a coup d’état waiting to happen. Terrorism, unless it is openly state sponsored, is and always has been a police problem, not a military problem. You don’t have to be Nostradamus to see what dots are connecting. Just a student of history with minimal pattern matching skills.
The Soviet Union is gone, China is on the road to economically smoke us. Starting wars seems to be currently frowned upon. Although a Repub Prez, House and Senate (plus Fox & Limbaugh) could probably turn that around in a few years. Whats a Democratic Republic, slaved to Capitalism supposed to do now?
OH I know, lets divide our own people, get them to start tearing each other apart, then we can militarize our military against our own people… BRILLIANT.
The Soviet Totalitarians are gone. Now the USA has no US vs THEM game to play. Has anyone notice that we are becoming a bit more like the Soviets every year?
I bet there is a huge potential IRONY waiting to be discovered. Somewhere in the past there must be a political anti Soviet speech disclaiming certain Soviet practices,
…… and the practices being denigrated will be ones that the USA is beginning to implement on we citizens today. Irony Irony.
I just thought of this, The Soviet threat kept our government honest (at least 1/2 honest). Now it’s gone. For 50 years our military existed “massively” to counter this threat.
Our military is still massive, now we make up threats, and super size them. ….. And super size the fries too, you got a 64 oz bucket of coke no ice?
David Blauw 1, August 13, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Idealist
“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.”
You have a fake fur-lined one….What ? …… I hope your talking about a coat !!!!!!
“Well, it is so large and long that have never worn it since. Could accomodate at least two AQ voters.”
==================================
Keep your coat to yourself. You’re a pussy. Nobody wants your coat.
Swarthmore,
Maybe now we can talk about reasonable gun control restrictions.
Another shooting in Texas today……. this time it wasn’t another heavily armed white supremist.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the first “responders” was Blackwater. They shot 4 people that we know of. Bush then unleashed a group of soldiers on American soil to quell civil unrest. At that time, Democrats and civil libertarians believed doing so was wrong.
Since this time we have seen the complete integration of Israeli forces, US regular forces, US special forces and private contractors conducting surveillance and much worse towards American citizens. You need to research this if you do not understand what has happened.
Democrats are so easily turned against their fellow citizens. If they did not have the tea party they would have to think about what is really happening. It is no different for Republicans. If they did not have liberals they also would have to confront what is actually happening in our society.
I hope soon that people will not be so easily manipulated into hatred of their fellow citizen. This is counterproductive and serves the power elites well. It is why it is such an encouraged pass time among each party–a thought stopper so neither group will understand or think for herself.
If this doesn’t stop we the people do not have a chance. Only a smart, aware, ethical and united people can use soul force to combat a govt. which is armed to the teeth against its own population. That is the truth and no amount of self lies and comforting lies told to others will get us out of what we face.
Idealist
“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.”
You have a fake fur-lined one….What ? …… I hope your talking about a coat !!!!!!
“Well, it is so large and long that have never worn it since. Could accomodate at least two AQ voters.”
After reading this article and comments…and links, I had a sudden urge to stick chopsticks through my ear and pierce my frontal cortex. Cognitive thinking can bring its own despair, (in buckets). I wonder what it would be like to watch Fox and believe everything they say. I would be a patriot, a proud American, a good christian, a strong tough man, independent, and Right as in repub) and right as in correct. I would not need my frontal cortex. Cognitive Shmognitive…..
OH So tempting, ………. NAH, the price of Reason is worth the difficulties of Reason, to have the knowledge of Reality. I would rather experience the Joy and Fear of Reality.
I don’t don’t keep chop sticks in my house anyways. :o)
PS. I think I spelled Shmognitive wrong.
After reading the editorial in the “Washington Times” and looking at the picture of the Tea Party flag next to it, it looks to me like more moonie fodder for them.