No I think you might be underestimating the problem.

Post #46,503 by boxley 7/23/02 11:55:47 AM Reply	No I think you might be underestimating the problem. The military(army in particular) with the exception of CID and the MP's are trained to drink copious amounts of alchohol and kill people in far away places. They are not trained in Constitional procedures for searches, arrests, interogations or chain of custody for evidence. If terrorists are hiding in the US the army can setup roadblocks, annoy everyone, cause commerce to faulter due to delays and catch no one. They cannot do anything else useful. Now they may be useful in the ports examining containers, but an ultrawave device is a heck of a lot more useful. The only reason to suspend posse commititus is to place fear in the hearts of americans and get them used to being pushed around by other Americans. Does Kent State ring a bell. The military being called out to quell riots hasnt had a stellar record. I didnt realize that riots were about to happen. The 82nd Airborne went into Alabama and escorted safely a young lady to school. I didnt realize that terrorists needed escorts. think it through logically and the idea of the army policing the nation only helps those who wish to repress americans, the government. thanx, bill ."Once, in the wilds of Afghanistan, I had to subsist on food and water for several weeks." W.C. Fields
Post #46,516 by marlowe 7/23/02 12:52:49 PM Reply	It's not that I don't have my doubts. It's that I haven't seen much in the way of viable alternatives. I just don't think the FBI or INS are up to the task. Nor will any to-be constituent components of Homeland Security immediately after the coming reorg. Maybe after massive reforms, drastic personnel change, and a few years to get up to speed. But in the meantime, what? The local police? Too, um, local. (And in some places, corrupt and unprofessional.) We need to coordinate information on a national scale, at the very least. Global would be better. How about the National Guard? No, forget I said that. Armed Pinkerton operatives? Um, no. I know the sort of people who go into the Army. By most measures, they're not the brightest bulbs in the marqee. But most of them have a basic notion of right and wrong. That's better than can be said for a lot of people. Especially in the public sector. The one good thing about a drunk with a gun is his aim is lousy. So long as your aim is better than a drunk's and you're halfway alert, no problem. Now a line of drunken soldiers firing a volley... I doubt they'd be able to pull that off. At least not by classical Euclidean notions of planar geometry. Oh, and look for shelter for when their bullets come back down. Vigilantes? Private militia? Also too local. Tending to parochial. Sometimes wqith a distressing lack of respect for civilians. And there are those lingering questions about John Doe #2. Now private citizens with guns work out okay in Israel, as a supplemental measure. They do plug terrorists on occasion. But they have a lot more experience with this sort of thing. Give me my Second Amendment rights and I'll trust the government with all the rest... if they know what's good for `em. [link\|http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe/index.html\|http://www.angelfir...e/index.html] Everything's a mystery until you figure out how it works. Free Joel Mowbray! I'm a-gonna put a gun rack on my SUV.
Post #46,552 by Brandioch 7/23/02 4:25:50 PM Reply	Let's hear it from the Ivory Tower! By most measures, they're not the brightest bulbs in the marqee. But most of them have a basic notion of right and wrong. That's better than can be said for a lot of people. Especially in the public sector. Okay, this is where academics (Marlowe) and real world experience (Brandioch) conflict. I've been there. I was one. What is up with you people? You think "military" is a different species? These people are just like everyone else. They ARE everyone else. Except they joined the military. There is NOTHING that makes them special or honest or intelligent or ANYTHING different from any other citizen.
Post #46,709 by marlowe 7/24/02 11:22:46 AM Reply	Well, I sometimes think you're a different species. Or maybe Gomer Pyle's dark side. [link\|http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe/index.html\|http://www.angelfir...e/index.html] Everything's a mystery until you figure out how it works. Free Joel Mowbray! I'm a-gonna put a gun rack on my SUV.
Post #46,714 by boxley 7/24/02 11:59:31 AM Reply	ROFL! made me think of the new star trek Commercial, The two marketing analysts with a poster of a Klingon hottie on the wall behind them. thanx, bill ."Once, in the wilds of Afghanistan, I had to subsist on food and water for several weeks." W.C. Fields
Post #46,720 by Brandioch 7/24/02 12:08:37 PM Reply	Poor baby. Just because the real world doesn't match with your book fantasies. :( That's the problem with you ivory tower academics. You get so upset when the real world doesn't match your dreams of how it should be.

Welcome to IWETHEY!