2008-11-02 Elite combat brigade for homeland security missions raises ire of ACLU

2008-11-02 Erin Rosa The Colorado Independent \2008 US domestic troop deployment\American Civil Liberties Union http://coloradoindependent.com/13321/elite-combat-brigade-for-homeland-security-missions-raises-ire-of-aclu Elite combat brigade for homeland security missions raises ire of ACLU Elite combat brigade for homeland security missions raises ire of ACLU  In the next three years the military plans to activate and train an estimated 4,700 service members for specialized domestic operations, according to Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of U.S. Northern Command, which was created in 2002 for homeland defense missions. ... Military representatives claim that the unit, now referred to as the Consequence Management Response Force, is only supposed to assist in responding to terrorist attacks or natural disasters, but that hasnâ€™t stopped numerous civil liberties advocates from speculating just how closely the military will be involved with law enforcement issues falling under a stateâ€™s jurisdiction. ... â€œThese are medical personnel, theyâ€™re chemical decontamination teams, theyâ€™re engineering teams, theyâ€™re logistics folks,â€ Renuart said. â€œIt is really a force designed to respond to an event of catastrophic size. There have been some who say that this is designed as a law enforcement activity or that it will somehow be used to take away the authorities of a governor or a state, and thatâ€™s absolutely not the case.â€ The question is why we suddenly need these troops now, rather than (say) right after Hurricane Katrina or 9/11.

&ldquo;In the next three years the military plans to activate and train an estimated 4,700 service members for specialized domestic operations...&rdquo;   