Bill Gertz -
The Washington Times
A 2010
Pentagon directive on military support to civilian authorities details what critics say is a troubling policy that envisions the
Obama administration’s potential use of military force against Americans.
The
directive contains noncontroversial provisions on support to civilian
fire and emergency services, special events and the domestic use of the
Army Corps of Engineers.
The troubling aspect of the directive outlines presidential authority
for the use of military arms and forces, including unarmed drones, in
operations against domestic unrest.
“This appears to be the latest step in the
administration’s decision to use force within the United States against its citizens,” said a defense official opposed to the directive.
Directive
No. 3025.18, “Defense Support of Civil Authorities,” was issued Dec.
29, 2010, and states that U.S. commanders “are provided emergency
authority under this directive.”
“Federal military forces shall
not be used to quell civil disturbances unless specifically authorized
by the president in accordance with applicable law or permitted under
emergency authority,” the directive states.
“In these
circumstances, those federal military commanders have the authority, in
extraordinary emergency circumstances where prior authorization by the
president is impossible and duly constituted local authorities are
unable to control the situation, to engage temporarily in activities
that are necessary to quell large-scale, unexpected civil disturbances”
under two conditions.
The conditions include military support needed “to prevent significant
loss of life or wanton destruction of property and are necessary to
restore governmental function and public order.” A second use is when
federal, state and local authorities “are unable or decline to provide
adequate protection for federal property or federal governmental
functions.”
“Federal action, including the use of federal military forces, is
authorized when necessary to protect the federal property or functions,”
the directive states.
Military assistance
can include loans of arms, ammunition, vessels and aircraft. The
directive states clearly that it is for engaging civilians during times
of unrest.
...A U.S. official said the
Obama administration considered but rejected deploying military force under the directive during the recent standoff with Nevada rancher
Cliven Bundy and his armed supporters.
...Defense analysts say there has been a buildup of military units
within non-security-related federal agencies, notably the creation of
Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. The buildup has raised
questions about whether the
Obama administration is undermining civil liberties under the guise of counterterrorism and counternarcotics efforts.
Other
agencies with SWAT teams reportedly include the Department of
Agriculture, the Railroad Retirement Board, the Tennessee Valley
Authority, the Office of Personnel Management, the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Education
Department.
The militarization of federal agencies, under
little-known statues that permit deputization of security officials,
comes as the White House has launched verbal attacks on private
citizens’ ownership of firearms despite the fact that most gun owners
are law-abiding citizens.
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