The Civil War of 2016: U.S. military officers are told to plan to fight Americans
Army Tactical Manuals Describe How to Control Domestic Insurrection
Several bloggers have presented this information with predictable alarmist themes, that the Federal Government is planning martial law, etcetera.
First of all I'd like to point out that there is nothing new about the US military planning for civil disturbance training - we did it in the 82D Airborne, where we were told that one of the 82D's missions was the Federal Government's go-to unit for such missions. This training was accompanied by mandatory classes in the Law of Land Warfare, and historical examples of when Federal troops had deployed to domestic situations; such as the Cuban immigrant riots at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA following the Mariel boatlift crisis of 1980 and the Detroit riots of 1968. A platoon sergeant who was a Vietnam veteran explained to me that compared to the riot action he saw in Detroit, Vietnam was a Sunday School picnic.
While the Insurrection Act of 1807 authorizes the President of the United States to deploy Federal troops to fight an insurrection in any state against the government, local governments and law enforcement agencies are constrained in using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of the land by the Posse Comitatus Act - 18 U.S.C. § 1385, original at 20 Stat. 152 - passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction. Its intent (in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807) requires that any authority to do so must exist with the United States Constitution or Act of Congress. In this way, most use of the Army and the Air Force at the direction of the President does not offend the statute, even though it may be problematic for political reasons.
Comment & Analysis
I have a Gadsden flag on the back of my car - right next to the Stars & Stripes. In May of 1986 I took the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance at the ceremony where I became a Citizen of the United States; this was three years after I first took the US Military Oath of Enlistment in which I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I love the United States Constitution; I think it's one of the most sublime documents ever written by Man, especially the 2d Amendment, which guarantees the rest of the Bill of Rights. I carry two guns with me everywhere I go - legally - and if you ever visit my house, be aware that Wife TigerLily has a 12-guage shotgun within easy reach; ready to rack one in the chamber and rock and roll.
Having said all that, the above does not make me a survivalist freak or some kind of militia nutjob. I believe in the Rule of Law and frankly I am glad that the US military has a plan for domestic insurrection. Quite honestly I am surprised that the Occupy movement has fizzled - I suspect that the Democrats quietly pulled the plug on what they originally viewed as a grassroots counterweight to the TEA Party movement. This political season is turning out to be a lot quieter than what I anticipated, and as a TEA Party follower and supporter, I do not imagine Federal troops or law enforcement of any kind being required to attend to our legal & peaceful assemblies.
It is unfortunate that the military, in its planning model chose a fictional TEA Party -inspired militia movement. This just reflects the politically-correct mindedness of the numbnuts officers they have writing their scenarios; products of their environment. To date, the only frustration the TEA Party has provided the current occupiers of the Whitehouse and their willing minions in Congress is the fact that we are law-abiding and courteous in our conduct. Compare this to the filth and rape tents of the Occupy movement, or the thuggish tactics and savagery of recent trade union demonstrations in Washington DC and Wisconsin.
In other words; it's not time to panic, yet. When it comes time to panic, I will let you know. At that time I will say, "You, you and you: PANIC! The rest of you, come with me . . ."
"That's my story and I'm sticking to it"
- STORMBRINGER SENDS
Just a little on the lite side for now as it should be.
ReplyDeletewhat I've seen in the past, shows a very dark path for the future. Stage 3, You fight knowing you can't win, but dead beats being a slave.
Sir I respectfuly disagre, I think the "leadership" in DC want nothing on earth so much as martial law. They have lusted for global government, and global slavery from the end of ww2. Without universal disarmerment they will never have it. I think they now know that they cannot reach that goal peacefully. The military takeover of the CONUS is the only card left in the game.
ReplyDeleteJust to note, the paper was published in a private forum, by a civilian and a retired officer, and do not represent any official capacity.
ReplyDeleteMy co-author has presented his views on the paper here: http://xbradtc.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/18887/
So, OK, we are depending on the goodwill and common sense of the Powers That Be? Relying on the leader of our great nation and those under his control to follow the laws, obey the constraints of our Consitiution, act in accordance with the rules, laws, regulations, restrictions, controls placed upon official government agencies?
ReplyDeleteWe need only look to the many instances where such guidelines have been ignored, trampled, disobeyed, so forth (and I will not provide links, anybody that reads can see 'em all over the internet and what mainstream media that do not drink the kool-aid.) Um, Holder comes to mind. Executive Orders comes to mind.
Sean, you present a compelling argument for remaining calm, not taking the law into our own hands, following the rules of law and expecting others to do the same. Good counsel for the time being, but I personally "hope for the best ... and plan for the worst". To paraphrase Sun Tzu (probably Clausewitz and a bunch of other strategists too).
No time to get ready, we all of us have to BE ready. Suddenlt too late is not what I want to hear.
So mote it be.
Concur with Anonymous August 12, 2012 2:54 PM...retired officer and I don't even recognize the new army...social workers with guns except for special ops types. Increasing sizes of MP units, DHS unprecedented ammo and weapon purchase; if BHO wins, get ready for the re-education camps...if he loses, he will not go quietly into the night. We must be ready
DeletePerhaps, the military is worried about having to contain the almost certain race riots that will break out after the zerO is defeated in November.
ReplyDeleteHangtown Bob
We once had certainty that our military was loyal to us and would never attack like in syria, with the plan to fill it with illegal aliens that certainty is no more.
ReplyDeleteMichael Gene
Same stuff we heard about GW when he was President. He was going to declare Martial Law because it did not want to leave in 2008, which by the way Martial Law is the absents of civilian rule and the military is the ruler. If they declared something it would be a State of Emergency where the civilain government is still the authority. So what am I worried about, it is Obama winning a second term thus being able to appoint up to two new Supreme Court Justices. This would have a lasting impact of 40 or 50 years. It would be a leftist wet dream. God help us if that happens!
ReplyDeleteWell, folks, this ain't a football game, oh gee our team lost. We are now operating on a cerebral level, war games and theoretical scenarios and the comforts of our couches, like nah, they would never turn off the electricity (ignore massive brownouts and regional power failures) and, and, the banks would never fail, would they? Wait until things happen for real.
ReplyDeleteOf course our very own citizens - add in any non-citizens - they would never resort to violent means once the food runs out, would they? I was around Watts, Detroit, Chicago, other hot spots back when folks burned the places down. Those places, it happened to be Black folks up in arms. Next time it's gonna be more color-blind. You think the good citizens of Tulsa, Nashville, Portland, Milwaukee, wherever all over our nation, you think they would not get antsy when things go bad?
It would not take much to declare a National Emergency, lots of riots and other violent civil disobedience, utilities going down, transportation and communications gone haywire. If Romney wins the election the troubles will not go away and the declaration of Martial Law might happen on his watch.
People are only human biped mammals and when the SHTF the people will go feral and they won't be looking at political party or the color of our skin or what church we go to or if we are short-tall, fat-skinny, old-young, gay-straight, any of that stuff. It will be more like primal survival of the biggest baddest fittest. I would like some semblance of law and order probably provided by the military, but ... I sure don't wanna see it like it was around Katrina.
No matter what happens and how, it will be bad.
You're SO right.
DeleteRemember how they were eating babies in the Superdome after Katrina? The massive riots and civil unrest after Walker defeated the recall election? The pogrom against Muslims after 9/11?
Do we face challenges? Yes.
But, as the host says, it's not time to panic yet.
I remember when I first enlisted, all the manuals and training materials told us we were preparing to fight against the nebulous "Threat". Sure, we were being trained to fight an enemy armed with AK's, T-62's, MiGs and BMP's, and the illustrations all showed opponents in Russian helmets and baggy uniforms, but President Carter had decided it was offensive to peace to call the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact by name, so....
ReplyDelete"Quite honestly I am surprised that the Occupy movement has fizzled - I suspect that the Democrats quietly pulled the plug on what they originally viewed as a grassroots counterweight to the TEA Party movement. This political season is turning out to be a lot quieter than what I anticipated, and as a TEA Party follower and supporter, I do not imagine Federal troops or law enforcement of any kind being required to attend to our legal & peaceful assemblies."
ReplyDeleteI am too. But it ain't over yet. A lot can happen in 80+ days...
The only thing we have to fear is fear its self
ReplyDeleteGentlemen, do remember the advice of we old timers... "When in danger, or in doubt... Run in circles, Scream and Shout". The military invariably plan using a "threat" that at least vaguely matches a Nation or political body that currently exists. Of course, if said groups have suitable support other "likely" targets will be generated. Of course you have to remember that in the past the Red Force WAS Red! So the politicos had us rename them "Orange"... And it fooled nobody. You can train to kill an opponent but must not call them nasty names that may hurt the feelings of the little darlings.
ReplyDeleteTTFN :)