Former Marine Colonel To Town Council: 'You're Building A Domestic Army, Are You Blind?'
http://www.businessinsider.com/marine-colonel-domestic-army-2013-8Every day, it seems more like the "war on terror" is at home in the U.S. rather than abroad in a foreign country.
Whether its the NSA denying they scoop domestic communications while their chief tells hackers "we're looking for the terrorist among us," or it's the growing militarization and equipping of domestic police forces, it seems more and more crows keep coming home to roost.
Well, one former Marine colonel has had about enough.
In a rousing confrontation at a local council meeting in Concord, NH, he calls out his government for facilitating what he feels is a needless militarization of a domestic force.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/marine-colonel-domestic-army-2013-8#ixzz2c2oxlqeQ
RC
(25,592 posts)Can't use the military on us domestic civilians, so militarize the next best thing, the local police and sheriffs.
We have to get those power hungry, authoritarian, paranoids out of their assumed positions of power, before it is too late.
newfie11
(8,159 posts)This is not the country I though i knew!
We are corrupted and sold out to the highest bidder.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)1.) Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2.) Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3.) Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
4.) Supremacy of the Military
5.) Rampant Sexism
6.) Controlled Mass Media
7.) Obsession with National Security
8.) Religion and Government are Intertwined
9.) Corporate Power is Protected
10.) Labor Power is Suppressed
11.) Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12.) Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13.) Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14.) Fraudulent Elections
The plutocrats need these militarized police. The Koch Brothers and other fascists won't feel safe without them.
Auggie
(31,173 posts)some more than others.
A reminder why I love California.
indepat
(20,899 posts)Auggie
(31,173 posts)JEB
(4,748 posts)with those 14 points. Not the America I knew growing up.
Tesha
(20,854 posts)First, this will replace an older vehicle that is much the same, it offers off road capability for this largely rural area. It really isn't that big a deal.
Yes, it troubles many of us who warn against militarization, but we have recently seen quite an uptick in violence in NH, the Free State Project, the 9/12 groups, the NRA sends email and phone warnings of death and rape... Because we're taking their guns! Even though we aren't...
We held a rally recently for background checks... And we were flooded with big angry nasty men with guns... Screaming, ripping signs from little white haired ladies' hands...
It's not the government I'm afraid of... It's these people...
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)when another Giggles problem might arise & demand a militarized response.
We didnt know they were doing surveillance, she said. Five days before the raid, a DNR agent was hiding in the woods by our shelter watching the deer walk in and out of the barn. Schultz said agents rounded up the shelters nine staff members and detained them for nearly three hours as they searched for Giggles.
They shut down our shelter and wouldnt let anyone leave, she said. Nobody was allowed to use their phones. They were under armed guard.
A 19-year-old staff member took photographs of the raid, but Schultz said a deputy sheriff confiscated his cell phone and deleted all the pictures.
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/agents-raid-animal-shelter-kill-deer-named-giggles.html
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)how long until we look like Egypt?
How many Americans will need to be killed by armed 'peace keepers'?
Wait for the expansion of the meaning of terrorist to justify the armed intervention.
Seeing as the Posse Comitatus Act is watered down, militarized police forces can take over in the gray areas.
With so many Americans owning firearms, the stage is set.
matt819
(10,749 posts)I would add that the problem goes even deeper.
State and local police forces are hiring veterans who bring with them their military approach to civilian services, which, in turn, are becoming more militarized, as described by the Marine in this video. Perhaps this has always been the case, but previously these veterans would adapt their military expertise to civilian police services. Now, however, with police forces becoming more militarized, these veterans are not being asked to adapt to civilian situations. Thus we have the anti-Occupy operations from last year, small towns buying Bearcat military vehicles, inappropriate use of SWAT services, etc.
snappyturtle
(14,656 posts)It's excellent too. Thanks to Veilex for posting it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017138939
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)HelenWheels
(2,284 posts)We have reached saturation point of ex-military people hired onto domestic police forces. They bring their military training with them and apply it to domestic situations and it's a poor fit.
matt819
(10,749 posts)It's happening everywhere. I believe all federal agencies have veterans preferences. Same situation - military thinking into non-military agencies.
Federal contractors also - preference to veteran-owned companies, even when the agency is non-military and the contracting company need not have military experience.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)militarization project people the bad guys.
I don't mind if they want to shoot it out as
long as it doesn't harm anybody else.
midnight
(26,624 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)since they're the ones giving blank checks to every dirtwater police force to buy these high-powered toys...