Hey Guis! We're from the government and we're here to help you!

"The liberties of our Country, the freedom of our civil constitution are worth defending at all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have receiv'd them as a fair Inheritance from our worthy Ancestors: They purchas'd them for us with toil and danger and expence of treasure and blood; and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle; or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men. Of the latter we are in most danger at present: Let us therefore be aware of it. Let us contemplate our forefathers and posterity; and resolve to maintain the rights bequeath'd to us from the former, for the sake of the latter." ~ Samuel Adams, writing under the pseudonym, "Candidus," in The Boston Gazette (14 October 1771

Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it . . . no? How many times have you heard that? Yet, what kind connection have you made? Let us pay attention, shall we . . . the subject of this blog today: the encroaching police and military state.

I've been troubled for a long time by the increasing militarization of out police and now our government has seen fit to merely forget about militarizing the police and bring in the military itself. The prompt for today's blog is this article from the Phoenix Business Journal online entitled: "Ariz. police say they are prepared as War College warns military must prep for unrest; IMF warns of economic riots" . . . nice. The Army War College says that likely the military will be used against the American people if we get upset when the government, through it's own deliberate actions, brings in economic collapse.

Beginning in October the DoD announced 5000 troops for the rapid response in the homeland, reports the Army Times. This article is talking about the 1st Combat Brigade of the 3rd INfantry division, and the article starts by saying, "The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys. Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home." The article further goes onto say, "They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control . . ."

Nonchalant. No big deal. Help with "civil unrest," a "combat team," with the same mission as in Iraq, do, de, do, de, do, de, do . . . (*sound of screeching tires, to a halt*) . . . Wait! WHAT?! What the fuck did they just say?! Yeah. They just said that. Scratching your head yet? We don't need the army to operate the "jaws-of-life" at accident sites, or handing out food, or getting kittens out of trees - we have Police, Fire, Rescue, and National Guard . . . the Army? Don't they blow shit up and break things!

And there is more . . . now on Dec. 1st, the Washington Post is reporting that the Pentagon plans to have 20,000 troops here, assigned to NorthCOM by 2011. Does it not keep getting better?

And if that was not enough, how about Marines teaming up with the California Highway Patrol to run traffic stops in San Bernardino County, Southern California? Making this story every more interesting is that the CHP initially issued a press release stating the Marines would be helping out, but then when the predictable shit storm began because people are generally against the military on the street, CHP issued another press release saying the Marines would NOT be in attendance . . . ok . . . then why were the Marines then in attendance after the denial. Don't believe this stuff? Follow the links - CHP press releases here.

So what the big deal? It's only kind of illegal . . . the Posse Comitatus Act makes it illegal for the government to use the military in police actions that maintain law and order on non-federal property. The Insurrection Act of 1807 does allow the President to use the military in the case of "insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy" . . . However, the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (after a full repeal of the John Warner Defense Act) now gives the president power to use the military also for "natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition" (WTF is "other considtion" anyway? Some definitions here would be nice) and then only if "domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order." I think Cato Institute Vice President Gene Healy said it very well when he said, "There's a notion that whenever there's an important problem, that the thing to do is to call in the boys in green, and that's at odds with our long-standing tradition of being wary of the use of standing armies to keep the peace."

Which brings me to my final point. Why is the government and our military planning to bring troops home for work with NorthCOM? Why have new laws been passed that allow the President powers to maintain "public order" . . . think about it. Think hard about it. These troops are not for terrorists any more than they are for pop-eye the sailor man. These troops - are - for . . . us. We are falling headlong into the wrost economic collapse that the modern world has ever known, and the government knows things are going to get bad. They know there will be riots. You tell me how you get a populace ready for troops on the streets and martial law . . . I'll tell you how you do it . . . look around you . . . just the way it's being done, just exactly the way it's being done.

Now you know.