Pentagon cautious on police powers for U.S. troops

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N27230351.htm

Pentagon cautious on police powers for U.S. troops


WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Active-duty U.S. troops could take a greater early role in responding to future domestic natural disasters without assuming police duties, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Tuesday.

The nation's top military officer, Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, also urged caution in any changes to an 1878 law that forbids federal troops from domestic law enforcement.

....

Myers sounded even more cautions when asked about changing the Posse Comitatus Act, enacted in 1878 during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, which prohibits federal troops from acting in a law-enforcement capacity in the United States. The president can waive that law in an emergency.

"There are a lot of ways to go before you get to the point where you ... decide you want to give active-duty forces law enforcement authority," Myers, who will retire this week, told reporters.

[Tempest]

1. It must not have polled well

Otherwise, they would go for it full steam ahead.

[sabra]

2. ding ding ding

we have a winner :-)

[sui generis]

3. heck according to CNN 51 percent of Americans polled

thought it was a GREAT idea. (of course they also thought that invading Iraq was a great idea and that there is a huge debate in the scientific community over intelligent design)

A clear mandate, according to the republican definition.

[saigon68]

4. UNTRAINED LYNNDIE WITH A GUN AND A WHIP

LOVE TO HAVE HER POLICE my city </sarcasm>

[Javaman]

5. What would be next? Quartering of troops in private homes???

That was the last, and biggest straw, that started the revolution.

colossal racist failure*.

[obxhead]

6. If you are enlisted in the armed forces

of any kind and you are walking in public places, on American soil, with an M-16, you are assuming police duties.

[saigon68]

8. I agree

[obxhead]

7. kick