We love Obama. He is the coolest President since JFK.
Oh, wait, he’s not President yet. Well, we will love him.
Unconditionally. We’ll even forgive him for allowing without comment or objection the Bush administration’s final middle finger to what was once known as “America.”
Twenty thousand U.S. soldiers are now stationed on U.S. soil to deal with domestic disturbances. Like what? The Battle in Seattle? The L.A. riots? A new march on the Pentagon to stop Obama’s invasion of Pakistan? Oops, we’re ranting. We’re a country rock band, not a clearinghouse for information on the collapse of American values. We yield to the professionals, with gratitude and admiration:Check this out, from COUNTERPUNCH, absolutely the best website for knowing what’s really going on in
“America.”
The New Generation of “Non-Lethal” WeaponsBy MIKE FERNER
“Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent.” — Isaac Asimov
The Army Times reported on September 30 that a combat brigade, about 4,000 troops, which could be called on for “civil unrest and crowd control,” had been assigned inside the United States for the first time since Reconstruction. Civil libertarians reacted immediately, noting the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits federal military personnel from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States. Peace activists condemned the decision as well. “It is a sad day for America when our government is preparing to protect itself by using the military on its own citizens,” Michael McPhearson, Director of Veterans For Peace, said in response to the news.
Now, in a December 1 story, the Washington Post reports that the Pentagon plans to have not just that 4,000, but 20,000 uniformed troops inside the U. S. by 2011. Dedicating 20,000 troops to domestic response “would have been extraordinary to the point of unbelievable,” Paul McHale, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense, said, but the realization that civilian authorities may be overwhelmed in a catastrophe prompted “a fundamental change in military culture.”The report in the Post made no mention of “civil unrest and crowd control,” focusing instead on the troops’ ability to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe.
However, the Army Times report of September notes that the First Brigade Combat Team’s commander, Col. Roger Cloutier, said his soldiers will learn how to use the first ever package of so-called “nonlethal” weapons the Army has fielded, referring to crowd and traffic control equipment and weapons designed to subdue individuals without killing them.”It’s a new modular package of nonlethal capabilities…they’ve been using pieces of it in Iraq, but this is the first time that these modules were consolidated and this package fielded, and because of this mission we’re undertaking we were the first to get it,” Cloutier added.”
Where are these unruly American crowds and who are the dangerous individuals these “nonlethal” weapons will be used on? Exactly what is in the Pentagon and local police department arsenals? What, indeed? Read on, dear reader, and head for the hills:
http://www.counterpunch.org/ferner12082008.html