Obama signs order to combine Federal/State military activities.

[dixiegrrrrl]

"Executive Order will Strengthen Further Partnership Between the Federal and State and Local Governments to Better Protect Our Nation

The President today signed an Executive Order (attached) establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards. When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support;
synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States;

and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities."

The Order is to establish a Council of Governors, but the above is part of the goal of the order.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-signs-executive-order-establishing-council-governors

[arcadian]

1. What's the point?

In 50 years we will have an all mercenary army. Mark my words.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Not sure I understand your question of "What's the point"?

Could you clarify?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Just trying to get the wrinkles out of the tin foil, apparently.

[arcadian]

17. Oh really?

Is that why contractors out number military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq? You don't think that the military is next in the Republican's bullseye of government programs to privatize? Where have you been for the last 10 years?

[whattheidonot]

15. almost do now.

We almost do now. The perfect enemy is there to create this. a shady band of radicals from no specific country of which the public knows little other than they are treacherous. We know have a volunteer army which goes about doing what it pleases. The CIA has many private soldiers all over the place. The public is tolerant of this because of the enemy. The problem with this is that when the rules go out the door we are fighting on the enemies terms. Atrocities will be committed that will be PR-ed on Middle East TV. The enemy knows more about our private army than we do. Their intelligence is better. If we kill civilians are intelligence we be hard pressed. Oil certainly plays into this somewhere. We are in deep.

[MineralMan]

21. Uh, we already have that.

We've had a mercenary army since the draft was ended.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Oh, man, I can't wait to see what Glenn Beck does with this.

:eyes:

[upi402]

5. It woulda been a screaming necessity at Faux News if McCain had won! n/t

[SteppingRazor]

13. Yeah, but now it'll be evidence of the slow-burning tyranny of the Obama regime.

zOMG! He's gonna send troops into U.S. cities!!!11!

[avaistheone1]

4. Protect us from what?

From our elected leaders?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. someone sure as fuck needs to... n/t

[KansDem]

10. Maybe the oligarchy is getting nervous...

They've had some three decades of unbridled growth of wealth: Reaganomics, "trickle-down" economics," Bush tax cuts, demonizing the poor, lowered tax rates, privatization, outsourcing American jobs to slave-like labor countries, bailouts of banks and Wall Street, etc.etc.etc. Maybe they're sensing the masses are getting angry.

Maybe they would feel better with the US armed forces between them and the other 90-98 percent...

[havocmom]

22. Seems about right.

We should send them pics of the Soviet soldiers refusing to fire upon their mothers and grandmothers.

The oligarchy forgets one essential point: the troops are more us than them. Initially, they might be a threat to the 98%, but in the long run, probably not so much.

Human nature and greed helped bring down the Soviets, and it is bringing down the US too. Cycles. Ya can't deny cycles ;)

[NightWatcher]

7. when I saw this post, I KNEW it would be the top story at (unmentionable website)

under the title "Obama Executive Order Stokes Martial Law Fears "

were you listening to Alex Jones today?

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Nope.. I.don't listen to Alex Jones.

I do know there is an issue over state's control over National Guard troops, tho.


"To the dismay of the nation’s governors, the White House now will be empowered to go over a governor’s head and call up National Guard troops to aid a state in time of natural disasters or other public emergencies. Up to now, governors were the sole commanders in chief of citizen soldiers in local Guard units during emergencies within the state.

A conflict over who should control Guard units arose in the days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. President Bush sought to federalize control of Guardsmen in Louisiana in the chaos after the hurricane, but Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) refused to relinquish command.

Over objections from all 50 governors, Congress in October tweaked the 200-year-old Insurrection Act to empower the hand of the president in future stateside emergencies. In a letter to Congress, the governors called the change "a dramatic expansion of federal authority during natural disasters that could cause confusion in the command-and-control of the National Guard and interfere with states' ability to respond to natural disasters within their borders."
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=170453

[NightWatcher]

11. I used to listen periodically to his batshit crazy, but had to stop after Obama was elected

Regardless of the spin on it, I dont like the move, nor do I think it is necessary for our "protection"

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. This is about control of the National Guard as a defacto army.

Something I have been following for some time.
My antenna went up when I saw the Order was titled "Creating a Governor's Conference"
thus hiding one of the key issues.
for instance, Oregon is fighting against the use of the National Guard as an overseas army:
"The bill calls on Oregon's governor to ensure the Guard is only used in the presence of a "valid congressional enactment consistent with the Constitution of the United States of America."

"The Constitution gives only Congress the authority to declare war," said Richardson, who served as an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

"If the new president, a constitutional scholar, wants to use Oregon's National Guard, he should only do so pursuant to a valid congressional resolution," he added. "The Oregon National Guard should not be treated like the private army of any U.S. president."

"This is the most important issue of our time: how and when to send our National Guard members into war," Shields said."
http://prorev.com/2009/05/local-heroes-bipartisan-effort-to.html

There is a HUGE State versus Feds argument going on, most people are missing that issue.

[havocmom]

25. Yep

Our gov (Montana) raised hell re our Guard being overseas (along with prectious helicopters) a few years back. He got a lot of troops and the birds back here where they are critical during fire seasons. The Brass and the pols in DC hate govs who insist on proper form.

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. I think this is definitely what it is about -

but as I remember the conflict, Blanco thought Bush DID have authority and was expecting orders to come from Washington while Bush was off eating a birthday cake.

My understanding is, if the President declares it an emergency, he has authorization to mobilize the Guard even over the objections of the governor - leading to exchanges like "Listen, governor, you get those people in the field within 12 hours or I will do it myself." Of course, under Bush that would never happen because he never DID anything - he always waited for someone else to do it.

If the governor declares a state emergency first, and mobilizes the guard, the president would not have the authority to take the guard away. Either way, once the guard is mobilized, the governor would retain authority over it. This is just about who starts the ball rolling, and when.

but I could be wrong.

[avaistheone1]

14. This is a White House press release.

No one mentioned Alex Jones.


However, I don't like militarizing our community police departments - we are becoming like a banana republic. It is offensive and stupid. I really don't want to see a bunch of pumped up Robo-cops operating locally and paid for by my tax dollars.

[MineralMan]

9. Ah...something to make freeper heads explode.

Always a good thing...

[MineralMan]

18. Ah, yes...the saber-polishing and flintlock loading has

commenced over at Freeper Central. Morons abound!

[Sukie]

19. This appears to be an effort to protect

the National Guard. Perhaps better define what they will be asked to do, for one.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. Depends, I think, on how they pack the Governor's Council.

Keeping in mind that Gates will be over the whole shebang.

[Sukie]

24. Ten governors, with only 5 max from each party?

That will guarantee that the dem/repub split will be equal, unless a third party governor makes it in.

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. Ahhh..but will it be Blue Dog dems, which are almost as bad as Repugs?

[Laelth]

27. The President had no choice in this matter.

The Council he created was mandated by the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. Still, it makes me nervous. It's another challenge to Posse Comitatus.

:dem:

-Laelth

[dixiegrrrrl]

28. My concern also.

A very quiet backdoor issue.
I wish more people could think about it.