Posted on 03/11/2011 3:34:52 PM PST by greyfoxx39
Deployment Erodes Longstanding Separation Between Civilian And Military Government
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666;
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union today demanded information from the government about reports that an active military unit has been deployed inside the U.S. to help with "civil unrest" and "crowd control" – matters traditionally handled by civilian authorities. This deployment jeopardizes the longstanding separation between civilian and military government, and the public has a right to know where and why the unit has been deployed, according to an ACLU Freedom of Information request filed today.
"The military's deployment within U.S. borders raises critical questions that must be answered," said Jonathan Hafetz, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. "What is the unit's mission? What functions will it perform? And why was it necessary to deploy the unit rather than rely on civilian agencies and personnel and the National Guard? Given the magnitude of the issues at stake, it is imperative that the American people know the truth about this new and unprecedented intrusion of the military in domestic affairs."
According to a report in the Army Times, the Army recently deployed an active military unit inside the United States under Northern Command, which was established in 2002 to assist federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities. This deployment marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to Northern Command.
Civilian authorities, not the military, have historically controlled and directed the internal affairs of the United States. This rule traces its origins to the nation's founding and has been reaffirmed in landmark statutes including the Posse Comitatus Act, which helps preserve the foundational principles of our Constitution and democracy.
"This is a radical departure from separation of civilian law enforcement and military authority, and could, quite possibly, represent a violation of law," said Mike German, ACLU national security policy counsel and former FBI Agent. "Our Founding Fathers understood the threat that a standing army could pose to American liberty. While future generations recognized the need for a strong military to defend against increasingly capable foreign threats, they also passed statutory protections to ensure that the Army could not be turned against the American people. The erosion of these protections should concern every American."
In order to assess the implications of the recent deployment, the ACLU requested the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Defense today to immediately make public all legal opinions, executive orders, presidential directives, memos, policy guidance, and other documents that authorize the deployment of military troops for domestic purposes.
Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Department of Defense has dramatically expanded its role in domestic law enforcement and intelligence operations, including the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping programs, the Department of Homeland Security's use of military spy satellites, and the participation of military personnel in state and local intelligence fusion centers. The ACLU has repeatedly expressed concern about these incremental encroachments of the military into domestic affairs, and the assignment of active duty troops to Northern Command only heightens these concerns.
I love W, but it appears that this was something that Obama and his minions are now taking advantage of.
If you would like to be on my low volume ping list, please FReepmail me.
I know. I have been watching the riots and outrage coming from the left over barry continuing the policy. /s/
Yeah, and you can bet the ACLU will just JUMP all over this latest development with both feet real soon! /sarc
Maybe the Union is planning a major assault on the next location that has De-Certification/Union cutbacks of Public Employee Unions on the radar. Could be Ohio, or elsewhere, and the carnage due to the Goon Squads will be a coordinated effort of Dem Operatives, Union Goons, and now DHS?????
Yeah, and Michael Moore will be leading the charge with his bullhorn!
Recall that special regional policing groups were set up a year or so ago that insure that the LEO teams sent into areas of unrest will not be from the area being policed. This is the next increment.
This where people of faith must rely on that and on God. This is still a war for hearts and minds and we must not be stampeded into actions that will be used against us.
I pray for the temperament of those on our side. May they be calm, reasoned and protected.
It was obvious in Wisconsin and will probably be so tomorrow, that the dems/unions are just trying to provoke us to retaliate to their threats and hate.
The pressures on us all are numerous, come from all sorts of directions and show no sign of decreasing in intensity or variability. Not everyone has the discipline to maintain composure in the face of this sort of malignant intimidation. I fear that the opposition will get its desired result, eventually, when someone just snaps.
There will be no media compassion for any conservative who understandably loses control. All harsh judgments will be applied to our philosophy and to all of us, indiscriminately. I hope it is not inevitable.
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