Pentagon getting cold feet on law enforcement ?

[tocqueville]

Federal troops get limited role in Katrina work By Will Dunham
1 hour, 42 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Saturday it will carefully limit the role of 7,200 federal troops heading into chaotic New Orleans and other places hit by Hurricane Katrina to avoid violating a law barring them from domestic law enforcement duties.

"They will not take on a law enforcement role nor have they been directed in any way to do so," said Lt. Gen. Joseph Inge, deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, which oversees the military relief effort.

....

but :

The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, enacted during the post-Civil War reconstruction period, prohibits federal military personnel from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States. But the president can waive the law in an emergency.

Asked whether Bush might waive the law, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "We continue to consider the full range of options."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050903/ts_nm/military_role_dc

[Spazito]

1. Hmmm, then why are they sending in FBI sharpshooters?

She (Rita Cosby) just reported that she is at the airport in Baton Rouge, and that AG Gonzales has arrived along with scores of FBI sharpshooters. When asked why was Gonzales there and the sharpshooters, was there something that they can do in the recovery. She said that there is all kinds of lawlessness going on in NO and the recovery can't continue until the area is secure. WTF????

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4611167

[cornermouse]

3. Recovery appears to be delayed indefinitely.

[The Blue Flower]

2. Whenever they say

"All options are on the table" that means yes--when use of force is the question.

[ToolTex]

4. Testing!

They are there testing whether they can get US troups to shoot trapped lab rats taking food and water that hasn't got their name on it.

[markus]

5. It was I believe CNN that reported FBI sniper teams

"dressed like there were going to war" debarking in Baton Rouge. The attorney general is there, and the reporters was asking "so how are they helping the storm efforrt?"

"Law enforcment" was one response, leading to the above descrition.