Former Marine Colonel To Town Council: 'You're Building A Domestic Army, Are You Blind?'

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/marine-colonel-domestic-army-2013-8

Every 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]

1. That former Marine Colonel makes a lot of sense.

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]

2. Now the shit we've done to other countries seem to be coming home

This is not the country I though i knew!
We are corrupted and sold out to the highest bidder.

[KansDem]

3. Shall we review the 14 points of fascism?

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]

11. Oh, wow ... we experience all those 14 points in various stages already

some more than others.

A reminder why I love California.

[indepat]

18. And all so reichously carrying a cross and wrapped in the American flag

[Auggie]

20. Frightening ...

[JEB]

13. Looks like we are pretty much lockstep

with those 14 points. Not the America I knew growing up.

[Tesha]

4. This is much more complex than you think...

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]

5. I'm with you -- civilians arming up don't bode well for future.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. They not only have to be ready for our crazy militias, but you never know

when another Giggles problem might arise & demand a militarized response.

On July 15 DNR agents and four deputy sheriff’s staged the surprise raid in what staff workers called a massive and “intimidating” show of force.

“We didn’t 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 shelter’s nine staff members and detained them for nearly three hours as they searched for Giggles.

“They shut down our shelter and wouldn’t 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]

7. With so many states arresting peaceful protesters,

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]

8. This is a must-view video

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]

15. Here's a video about the same subject posted in Video and Multimedia:

It's excellent too. Thanks to Veilex for posting it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017138939

[L0oniX]

9. US civilian = terrorist. n/t

[HelenWheels]

10. No more military police, please

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]

17. Thank you for this

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]

12. this is confusing to me. are the civilian militias the bad guys or are the homeland security secret

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.

[DeSwiss]

14. K&R

[midnight]

16. Thanks for posting this....

[Blue_Tires]

19. He should ask the state legislature and DHS

since they're the ones giving blank checks to every dirtwater police force to buy these high-powered toys...