Chertoff Differs With the Military (No Martial Law via the Pentagon???)

[papau]

Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff said on CNN that he has authority over the Pentagon in the event of a terrorist attack in the United States, and security specialists outside the government said the plans reported by the Post did not appear to mark a substantive break with past practice. So, No Martial Law via the Pentagon?????

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-security9aug09,1,1603189.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Chertoff Differs With the Military

Disputing a news report, the Homeland Security chief says his office, not the Pentagon, would take the lead if terrorists strike again in the U.S.

By Nicole Gaouette, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — <snip>"The Department of Homeland Security has the responsibility under the president's directives to coordinate the entirety of the response to a terrorist act here in the United States," Chertoff said on CNN, responding to news reports that the Pentagon has drawn up plans for military action.

<snip>
The Washington Post reported Monday that the Defense Department has a series of classified plans for the role it might play in scenarios that range from crowd-control assignments to dealing with a radiological or biological attack. The article quoted Adm. Thomas J. Keating, head of the Northern Command, as saying: " a biological, chemical or nuclear attack in any of the 50 states, the Department of Defense is best positioned — of the various eight federal agencies that would be involved — to take the lead."
.
<snip>
The story raised concern about possible plans for declaring martial law, since the military is forbidden to take part in domestic law enforcement under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. Some analysts questioned whether the plans signaled a historic shift for the Pentagon.

<snip>
Pentagon officials in the past have stressed that in any emergency situation in which the military was deployed, it would work to back up local and state authorities. In June, the Pentagon issued a domestic defense strategy underscoring that civilian law enforcement had primary responsibility for domestic law enforcement.<snip>

[bemildred]

1. Tsk. A turf war among the "Security" whores. nt

[spooked911]

2. Boy, isn't that a relief!

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Lerkfish]

3. PAY ATTENTION, PEOPLE! they are telling us what they plan to do.

martial law will be in place before 2008. There will be no 2008 election.

[shanti]

16. so, in that scenario

would *ush remain pResident?

[Lerkfish]

17. or cheney. when its a junta, does it matter?

[Eloriel]

18. in that scenario, Bush would do whatever he wants

and HAVE done whatever he wants

[displacedtexan]

4. Just who will carry out Homeland Security orders?

Street sweepers, meter maids, and train ticket takers?

I think this is a freepin' ruse, designed to take the heat off Northcon plans.

I blogged this this morning and noted that Nixon wanted to do the same thing. The military stopped him.

I have the links to Nixon's interview with David Frost, the Supreme Court ruling (Ex Parte: Milligan), etc. on my blog (link is under the burning Bush below).

This scares the Novak out of me.

[papau]

5. It is scary - as in why have the discussion in public?

:-(

[Lerkfish]

9. to get us used to the idea.

[Cassandra]

6. A Heritage Foundation guy was on C-SPAN this AM

talking about this. I didn't hear it all but it sounded like someone was discussing martial law.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. So, no clear plan re. authority and action in case of another attack?

Well, that's great.

:eyes:

[halobeam]

8. There are reasons why I wouldn't make it 5 mins if I reported the news.

I would be talking about this NOW and then after that and then after that. The real fear lies in the things they actually DON'T tell you to be afraid about. Or tell you about at ALL. If they say it's good, we all know by now THAT IS BAD.

[AndyTiedye]

12. In Case of Attack, Military and DHS Battle for Control

The military has most of the weapons in the world. DHS has, uh....

[DeepModem Mom]

13. And, meanwhile, what about the victims?

:scared:

[moodforaday]

10. Wouldn't thet be NorthCom?

Basically, NorthCom website says they sit and wait for an emergency to happen, when they'll move into action:

http://www.northcom.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=s.who_mission

The command's mission is homeland defense and civil support, specifically:

* Conduct operations to deter, prevent, and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests within the assigned area of responsibility; and
* As directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provide defense support of civil authorities including consequence management operations.

U.S. Northern Command plans, organizes, and executes homeland defense and civil support missions, but has few permanently assigned forces. The command will be assigned forces whenever necessary to execute missions as ordered by the President.

[formercia]

11. so, who's going to be apha bitch

having a little spat?

[wli]

14. sounds like time to run

This is really dangerous.

[Supersedeas]

15. git yourn stinkin paws off-a meh seeekkkarity!!!

[halsaxby]

19. Well, at least they...

are telling us that they are planning martial law and how they are going to do it to us. They are going to have to create a super "Pearl Harbor-like event" beforehand.