Pentagon to Detail Troops to Bolster Domestic Security

By Spencer S. Hsu and Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, December 1, 2008; A01



The U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials.

The long-planned shift in the Defense Department's role in homeland security was recently backed with funding and troop commitments after years of prodding by Congress and outside experts, defense analysts said.

There are critics of the change, in the military and among civil liberties groups and libertarians who express concern that the new homeland emphasis threatens to strain the military and possibly undermine the Posse Comitatus Act, a 130-year-old federal law restricting the military's role in domestic law enforcement.

But the Bush administration and some in Congress have pushed for a heightened homeland military role since the middle of this decade, saying the greatest domestic threat is terrorists exploiting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, dedicating 20,000 troops to domestic response -- a nearly sevenfold increase in five years -- "would have been extraordinary to the point of unbelievable," Paul McHale, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense, said in remarks last month at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. But the realization that civilian authorities may be overwhelmed in a catastrophe prompted "a fundamental change in military culture," he said.

The Pentagon's plan calls for three rapid-reaction forces to be ready for emergency response by September 2011. The first 4,700-person unit, built around an active-duty combat brigade based at Fort Stewart, Ga., was available as of Oct. 1, said Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of the U.S. Northern Command.


Uh-oh!

Ewwww lol

Yeah that and little rolled up pieces of toilet paper there. UGH, that is just gross lol

I just read in the papers today about a young lady who was on jury service and posted all the details of the case she was sitting on on Facebook,asking her friends what they thought she should do??

The expression "gormless erection" springs to mind

Needless to say she was discovered and kicked off the jury!

Hahah What was she thinking?

Facebook controls too many people.

It certainly does.

Speaking of which,i'm off to update my status

whats ya Facebook addy thing , Yogi?

Sorted mate!

Bought little Matt a new pair of shoes today in a half price sale. They were still £15 though

Ted Rogers

1933 - 2008

R.I.P.

Who is Ted Rogers?

That guy, who did the thing, you know?

Owner of the Toronto Blue Jays, media mogul and one of the richest people in Canada. His company Rogers Comm. is the largest cell. phone/internet/cable company in the country.

That was him?

The first thing, or the second thing?

No, the one before the first thing.

No, the one before the first thing. [/quote]

Did you talk to the guy?

No, the one before the first thing. [/quote]

Did you talk to the guy? [/quote]

Which Guy? The Guy with the thing?

No the guy who fixed the quoting problem.

How?

When?

Where?

WHAT!?

WHY?!

WHO!?

Who's on first?

Yes

Who's on First, What's on Second, I Don't Know's on Third, Why's Left Fielder, Because's Centerfield, Tommorow's Pitcher, Today's Catcher, I Don't Give a Darn's Shortstop

How many of you remeber that Abbott and Costello skit? It has to be the funniest ever.

You got that right.

A very good work pal of mine is having a bad time of it just lately. His daughter has been diagnosed with cancer of the bowel and liver and it is spreading. She is the apple of his eye and only 29

He rang in sick this morning and i took the call. He was crying and i have never felt so useless and sad in my whole life. He is a good friend and a decent man. I feel terrible for him and his daughter!