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Bush-Era Debate: Using G.I.’s in U.S.
New York Times ^ | July 24, 2009 | MARK MAZZETTI and DAVID JOHNSTON

Posted on 07/24/2009 6:54:54 PM PDT by rdl6989

WASHINGTON — Top Bush administration officials in 2002 debated testing the Constitution by sending American troops into the suburbs of Buffalo to arrest a group of men suspected of plotting with Al Qaeda, according to former administration officials.

Some of the advisers to President George W. Bush, including Vice President Dick Cheney, argued that a president had the power to use the military on domestic soil to sweep up the terrorism suspects, who came to be known as the Lackawanna Six, and declare them enemy combatants.

Mr. Bush ultimately decided against the proposal to use military force.

A decision to dispatch troops into the streets to make arrests would be nearly unprecedented in American history, as both the Constitution and subsequent laws restrict the military from being used to conduct domestic raids and seize property.

The Fourth Amendment bans “unreasonable” searches and seizures without probable cause. And the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits the military from acting in a law enforcement capacity.

In the discussions, Mr. Cheney and others cited an Oct. 23, 2001, memorandum from the Justice Department that, using a broad interpretation of presidential authority, argued that the domestic use of the military against Al Qaeda would be legal because it served a national security, rather than a law enforcement, purpose.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; bush43; counterterrorism; jihadinamerica; jihadists; lackawannasix; lping; presidentbush; september12era; terrorisminusa; vicepresidentcheney; wot
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1 posted on 07/24/2009 6:54:54 PM PDT by rdl6989
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To: rdl6989

NY Slimes strike again.


2 posted on 07/24/2009 6:56:18 PM PDT by rdl6989
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To: rdl6989

The idea of sending troops to arrest people within in the US makes me really uncomfortable. That’s the job of the FBI. Imagine if he had sent this precedent, and then it became okay for Obama to do this with “right-wing extremists.”


3 posted on 07/24/2009 6:59:42 PM PDT by Rodebrecht (If everybody just left everybody else alone, everybody would be a lot happier.)
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To: rdl6989

So what’s the point? They considered doing something they chose not to do and didn’t. Wow, now there is some big news right there by golly.

If the NYT knew what all I have dreamed of doing in response to their traitorous acts against my country, they would move to an undisclosed location.


4 posted on 07/24/2009 7:03:45 PM PDT by Gator113 (I live in "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." Imam Obama told me so.)
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To: Rodebrecht

“Obama to do this with “right-wing extremists.”

Give it time....he’ll do it.


5 posted on 07/24/2009 7:08:40 PM PDT by Fireone (Jim Thompson's message speaks my thoughts exactly! Thanks JimRob!)
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To: Rodebrecht; rdl6989
The idea of sending troops to arrest people within in the US makes me really uncomfortable. That’s the job of the FBI. Imagine if he had sent this precedent, and then it became okay for Obama to do this with “right-wing extremists.”

Plus the FBI doesn't have that many people. They often have to rely on cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.

6 posted on 07/24/2009 7:09:39 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: rdl6989

That is not a “Bush era debate” topic.
It’s a “Washington era debate” topic, and the prohibition that was decided upon is coded into law.


7 posted on 07/24/2009 7:14:37 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Paleo Conservative

The reasons to do this would be:

a) To establish the legality of the practice, in case it needed to happen on a mass scale.
b) To avoid putting terrorism suspects into civilian courts.


8 posted on 07/24/2009 7:16:27 PM PDT by furquhart (Would it not be easier to dissolve the people and elect another?)
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To: rdl6989
Hrmmm...

Anyone ever figure out who called these guys to Alabama?


9 posted on 07/24/2009 7:16:27 PM PDT by Domandred (Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.. I am Jim Thompson.)
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To: rdl6989

Not just NO!!!, but HELL NO!!!!

Next thing you know, there are some thing American troops can’t or refuse to do, so the gummint hires foreigners, aka mercenaries.

NO MILITARY TROOPS IN OUR STREETS!!!!!


10 posted on 07/24/2009 7:17:43 PM PDT by djf (The "racism" spiel is a crutch, those who unashamedly lean on it, cripples!)
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To: rdl6989

Wait till we find out what the Thug in Chief is up to.


11 posted on 07/24/2009 7:18:57 PM PDT by PghBaldy (http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/06/president-obama-visits-wounded-troops.html)
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To: rdl6989
As I see it, there was a discussion and nothing happened. The Constitution prevailed.

On the other hand, Zero has sh!t on the Constituion so many times in his short tenure, that this might become reality under his regime.

12 posted on 07/24/2009 7:27:46 PM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (I'll miss President Bush greatly! Palin in 2012! The "other" Jim Thompson)
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To: Bushbacker1
Constituion = Constitution
13 posted on 07/24/2009 7:29:15 PM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (I'll miss President Bush greatly! Palin in 2012! The "other" Jim Thompson)
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To: furquhart; Rodebrecht; rdl6989
The reasons to do this would be:

a) To establish the legality of the practice, in case it needed to happen on a mass scale.
b) To avoid putting terrorism suspects into civilian courts.

In 1942 the US arrested, tried, convicted, and executed a group of NAZI saboteurs who were smuggled into the US via U-boat. They were tried by military tribunals on US soil. Some of them even had dual US-German citizenship. There's already precedent for trying saboteurs by military tribunals on US soil regardles of who apprehended them.

14 posted on 07/24/2009 7:32:47 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: Rodebrecht

Obama doesn’t need precedent to take action against his enemies.


15 posted on 07/24/2009 7:34:46 PM PDT by rabidralph (http://www.thealaskafundtrust.com/ http://www.sarahpac.com)
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To: Paleo Conservative
“There's already precedent for trying saboteurs by military tribunals on US soil regardles of who apprehended them.”
Well, I say it's time to apprehend Obama, Pelosi, Reed, Franks, Dodds, Schumer, Watters and the rest of the commie scum.
16 posted on 07/24/2009 7:43:23 PM PDT by bitterohiogunclinger (America held hostage - day 163)
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To: bamahead

Read up!


17 posted on 07/24/2009 7:46:07 PM PDT by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Rodebrecht
You’re right to be uneasy about it. Just look at what happened in New Orleans after Katrina. The federalized National Guard helped carry out an unconstitutional and criminal order from the mayor to violate citizen’s Second Amendment rights under color of law.

To date no charges have been brought against the mayor, the police chief, the General in charge of the troops, or anyone who participated in the crimes.

18 posted on 07/24/2009 7:46:12 PM PDT by SUSSA
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To: KoRn; Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; akatel; albertp; AlexandriaDuke; Alexander Rubin; ...
“What would it look like to have the American military go into an American town and knock on people’s door?”

Let's not find out...



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19 posted on 07/24/2009 7:57:16 PM PDT by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: rdl6989

How soon some forget tanks at Waco.......another democrat president


20 posted on 07/24/2009 7:58:06 PM PDT by goat granny
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