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It begins
Posted by: Rod ()
Date: December 20, 2008 12:12PM

3rd Infantry’s Division starts homeland tours start Oct. 1
http://republican.meetup.com/609/messages/boards/thread/5460333


Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks
Ariz. police say they are prepared as War College warns military must prep for unrest; IMF warns of economic riots
Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A new report by the U.S. Army War College talks about the possibility of Pentagon resources and troops being used should the economic crisis lead to civil unrest, such as protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks.

“Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security,” said the War College report.

The study says economic collapse, terrorism and loss of legal order are among possible domestic shocks that might require military action within the U.S.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned Wednesday of economy-related riots and unrest in various global markets if the financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income households are hurt by credit constraints and rising unemployment.

U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., both said U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson brought up a worst-case scenario as he pushed for the Wall Street bailout in September. Paulson, former Goldman Sachs CEO, said that might even require a declaration of martial law, the two noted.

State and local police in Arizona say they have broad plans to deal with social unrest, including trouble resulting from economic distress. The security and police agencies declined to give specifics, but said they would employ existing and generalized emergency responses to civil unrest that arises for any reason.

“The Phoenix Police Department is not expecting any civil unrest at this time, but we always train to prepare for any civil unrest issue. We have a Tactical Response Unit that trains continually and has deployed on many occasions for any potential civil unrest issue,” said Phoenix Police spokesman Andy Hill.

“We have well established plans in place for such civil unrest,” said Scottsdale Police spokesman Mark Clark.

Clark, Hill and other local police officials said the region did plenty of planning and emergency management training for the Super Bowl in February in Glendale.

“We’re prepared,” said Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy Chief Dave Trombi citing his office’s past dealings with immigration marches and major events.

Super Bowl security efforts included personnel and resources from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. military’s Northern Command, which coordinated with Arizona officials. The Northern Command was created after 9/11 to have troops and Defense Department resources ready to respond to security problems, terrorism and natural disasters.

Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek and Arizona Army National Guard Major. Paul Aguirre said they are not aware of any new planning for domestic situations related to the economy.

Nick Dranias, director of constitutional government at the libertarian Goldwater Institute, said a declaration of marital law would be an extraordinary event and give military control over civilian authorities and institutions. Dranias said the Posse Comitatus Act restricts the U.S. military’s role in domestic law enforcement. But he points to a 1994 U.S. Defense Department Directive (DODD 3025) he says allows military commanders to take emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or mitigate great property damage.

Dranias said such an emergency declaration could worsen the economic situation and doubts extreme measures will been taken. “I don’t think it’s likely. But it’s not impossible,” he said.

The economy is in recession. Consumer spending is down, foreclosures are up and a host of businesses are laying off workers and struggling with tight credit and the troubled housing and financial markets. The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and U.S. Treasury Department have pumped more than $8.5 trillion into the economy via equity purchases of bank stocks, liquidity infusions, Wall Street and bank bailouts and taxpayer rebates. U.S. automakers are seeking more than $14 billion in federal loans with fears they could fall into bankruptcy without a bailout. The U.S. housing and subprime lending-induced recession also has hit economies in Europe, Japan and China.

Gov. Janet Napolitano’s office declined comment on emergency planning and possible civil unrest. Napolitano is president-elect Barack Obama’s pick for secretary of Homeland Security, an agency that oversees airport security, disaster response, border security, customs and anti-terrorism efforts.

As governor, Napolitano sent National Guard troops to Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in 2003 in response to terrorism threats.

Glendale Police spokesman Jim Toomey said the West Valley suburb developed new emergency plans with the approach of Y2K computer changeovers leading up to the year 2000 and police have updated those plans several times including after 9/11. Toomey said strategies to deal with public unrest usually involve deploying personnel and equipment to deal with specific incidents while still providing usual services.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/12/15/daily34.html

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Re: It begins
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: December 20, 2008 12:27PM

Oh my god! You mean that the government might use the army to maintain control in the event of widespread civil unrest? That NEVER happens!

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Re: It begins
Posted by: Bob ()
Date: December 21, 2008 06:21AM

MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oh my god! You mean that the government might use
> the army to maintain control in the event of
> widespread civil unrest? That NEVER happens!


Technically, there is a difference between what has been traditionally a state governor using that state's national guard in times of crisis, and a federal official or the president using troops.

There's only been a few instances in our history where federal troops were used, like the civil war and when the 101st ABN was sent to Central High.

It does make people uneasy to think the federal government would use federal troops against its own people. I sorta see the reasoning. At least if the soldier is from the same area as the people he's "policing" he's less likely to use excessive force than if a soldier from Arkansas is sent to police people in Texas, or whatever. (though even that has conflicting examples, like Kent State)

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Re: It begins
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: December 21, 2008 10:26AM

Every government in the world will use the military at some point to maintain order if it's thought to be necessary. America's not any different. The population is so polarized anymore that there would be some support for it somewhere.

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Re: It begins
Posted by: Cold Warrior ()
Date: December 21, 2008 10:40AM

Bob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MrMephisto Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Oh my god! You mean that the government might
> use
> > the army to maintain control in the event of
> > widespread civil unrest? That NEVER happens!
>
>
> Technically, there is a difference between what
> has been traditionally a state governor using that
> state's national guard in times of crisis, and a
> federal official or the president using troops.
>
> There's only been a few instances in our history
> where federal troops were used, like the civil war
> and when the 101st ABN was sent to Central High.
>
> It does make people uneasy to think the federal
> government would use federal troops against its
> own people. I sorta see the reasoning. At least
> if the soldier is from the same area as the people
> he's "policing" he's less likely to use excessive
> force than if a soldier from Arkansas is sent to
> police people in Texas, or whatever. (though even
> that has conflicting examples, like Kent State)

Do you mean like the Soviet Army in Czechoslovakia in 1968?

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Re: It begins
Date: December 21, 2008 11:11AM

Last time I looked, the War College and the IMF were not the Commander in Chief. Recommendations don't mean the U.S. will use the military outside of established protocols with the National Guard (which can be activated in times of emergency as they were after 9/11, Katrina and during the border patrols).

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