Homeland Defense asks for Use of Military on Mexican Border

O man, this fills me with such chills i'mma need another sweater stat. Posse Comitatus, anyone?

Pentagon Exploring Ways Military Can Help Provide More Security Along US Southern Border
Lolita C Baldor, ABC News

WASHINGTON May 12, 2006 (AP)— The Pentagon is looking at ways the military can help provide more security along the U.S. southern border, defense officials said Thursday, once again drawing the nation's armed forces into a politically sensitive domestic role.

Paul McHale, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, asked officials this week to come up with 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. The officials, who requested anonymity because the matter has not been made public, said there are no details yet on a defense strategy.

First, can I point out the title is HOMELAND DEFENSE? What. The. Fuck. Because, you know, the military has proven to be SO FUCKING EFFECTIVE at doing things that aren't their job or responsibility concerning controlling civilians.

The request comes as some Southern lawmakers met this week with White House strategist Karl Rove for a discussion that included making greater use of National Guard troops to shore up border control. The Senate is poised to pass legislation this month that would call for additional border security, a new guest worker program and provisions opening the way to eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.

Well, at least ABC doesn't have its head up its ass so far they can't recognise cause and effect. (It's sad when you applaud the media for kind of doing its job a little. Thank you, Stephen.)

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said the military help "is basically what she has been asking for," spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said. Napolitano has been asking the Pentagon to send more National Guard troops but not regular military to confront illegal immigration from Mexico. About 170 National Guard troops are helping in such efforts in the state now.

Similarly, Texas Gov. Rick Perry hadn't specifically requested assistance from the military, but he liked the idea, according to spokeswoman Kathy Walt. "The assets are stretched thin, at least in Texas, because of the war on terror," she said. "The governor would welcome any effort by the federal government in meeting its responsibility to secure our border."

Man, this is just asking for an international incident. Just what we fucking need, jittery military units rotated out of Iraq stationed along the US-Mexico border.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, Bush asked Pentagon officials to review ways to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters. But officials are somewhat reluctant to make major changes, leery of the image of armed military troops patrolling U.S. cities.

Under the Civil War-era Posse Comitatus Act, federal troops are prohibited from performing law enforcement actions, such as making arrests, seizing property or searching people. In extreme cases, however, the president can invoke the Insurrection Act, also from the Civil War, which allows him to use active-duty or National Guard troops for law enforcement.

And on that chilling note, I leave it to you, dear readers, to learn more.