May 12th, 2006
The Militarization of America
by Philip Baruth
http://vermontdailybriefing.com/...
Yesterday's (yawn) bombshell -- that the NSA and George Bush deliberately misled us about the extent of their data mining -- served to obscure an equally disturbing story: Donald Rumsfeld now has permission, via the Homeland Security Department, to deploy troops on US soil.
Not to aid in a disaster, or to evacuate following an earthquake.
No, no. These troops would be semi-permanent border guards.
In other words, a small but standing army deployed primarily in Southern (read, Conservative) states.
CNN lays it out today, but here are some key grafs:
"In back-to-back moves this week, the Pentagon began exploring ways to lend support at the Southern border, while the House on Thursday voted to allow the Homeland Security Department in limited cases to use soldiers in that region.
"At the Pentagon, Paul McHale, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, asked officials to offer options for the use of military resources and troops -- particularly the National Guard -- along the border with Mexico, according to defense officials familiar with the discussions.
"Thursday's House vote allowed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to assign military personnel under certain circumstances to help the Homeland Security Department with border security. The vote was 252-171, and the provision was added to a larger military measure."
Click on the link to read more,
Barbara