WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush says the possibility of an avian flu pandemic is among the reasons he wants Congress to give him the power to use the nation's military in law enforcement roles in the United States.
"I'm concerned about what an avian flu outbreak could mean for the United States and the world," he told reporters during a Rose Garden news conference on Tuesday.
Such an deadly event would raise difficult questions, such as how a quarantine might be enforced, he said.
"One option is the use of a military that's able to plan and move," he said. "So that's why I put it on the table. I think it's an important debate for Congress to have."
****End****
The high probability of a flu pandemic frightens me enough. Now we have King George seeking even more power in - thankfully - his last few years - not few enough - in office. Bush should listen to Commander Adama from Battlestar Galactica about what happens when the military become the police. Time to call and write my Senators and Congress Persons again.
****Begin****
Battlestar Galactica
Season One
Episode, Water
Galactica - Adama’s quarters
President Roslin: Colonel Tigh was right. Rioting broke out on a cruise ship when they reduced water rations. We need to demonstrate an ability to maintain order; we need to do it now.
Commander Adama: We don't have the manpower for fleet security.
Roslin: You have the only armed, disciplined, force available.
Adama: Yeah, but I'm not gonna be your policeman.
Roslin: Hmm.
Adama: There's a reason we separate military and the police: one fights the enemy of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.
Roslin: I appreciate the complexity of the issue. And I won't let that happen.
Adama: (resignedly) I'll send troops to the cruise ship.
Roslin: (reassuringly) Commander, I won't let that happen.
****End****
Truer words are rarely spoken.
You couldn't be more right, Will. The reason the Galactica provides security in the fleet is the simple fact that there IS no one else who is even remotely trained to do the job. The problem is that the military - ANY military - is trained to kill people and break things, not to provide "security". We can take a look at a few countries that have had military-style policemen...
Franco's Spain - the Guardia Civil were some of the most ruthless head-crackers in the world back in the 70's. They put the Soviets to shame for sheer bloody-mindedness. I put them first because they aren't
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - police there were called by the nifty title of "militsiya" (militia or military police). I won't bother to bore the readers with the details of Soviet Law Enforcement. There are still "militsiya" in Russia - in fact, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (called MVD) has its own army, with tanks. Regardless of what the mass media may want you to believe about those Muslims in Chechnya, you can guarantee that the MVD is killing a lot more Muslims than the Muslims are Russians. Of course, Chechnya is a civil war, so the rules are a little different. However, the tactics used by MVD troops vary little with location.
French-colonized Africa - nahhhh, the Gendarmerie never killed anyone. All a vicious rumor.
Here's the deal, folks. I was in the Air Force for a long time. The men and women of our armed forces are, for the most part, some wonderful people, but they can't do EVERYTHING. We're just not trained to pull cats out of trees. We have guys that can give a cat the smackdown with a .50 cal rifle from two counties away. THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
Policing and running a war are two different animals, and you can't train to do both at the same time. If you try, you can do both, but you'll do both badly.
Who knows, maybe the folks at the top are relying on the current "Support Our Troops" hysteria to keep folks from "blaming the troops first" when some poor 18-year-old just back from Iraq opens fire into a crowd of folks trying to escape from Birdflutown, USA.
In the immortal words of Admiral Josh Painter in the film version of "The Hunt for Red October" (played by the estimable ex-Senator Fred Thompson), "This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it."
Things get crazy when you throw high-velocity-bullet-throwing assault rifles into the mix. Because, in the final analysis, you should never show up to any kind of event with a weapon you're not prepared to use.
Posted by: Steve-o on October 6, 2005 02:41 PMAnd here's another tidbit on George.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/06/bush.shtml
Doesn't it bother anyone that he hears voices that tell him to make war? Well it bothers the shit out of me!
Posted by: Will Burnham on October 6, 2005 03:38 PMI agree with Steve-o.
Gee Dubya has been itching to use the military in a martial law capacity ever since Sept. 11, 2001. His comments are one step closer to that goal.
There are conspiracy theorists out there that call FEMA "The Shadow Government." Ever watch the X-Files movie? Lemme tell you something, if Katrina is any yardstick on the control FEMA would have over the country in a state of emergency, we're all FUCKED. And these conspiracy people truly have their tin-foil hats on too tight. The military would HAVE to be called in to control the state of anarchy that would ensue.
I have never envied a soldier's job but I respect their authority, especially when I'm staring down the business end of a high-velocity weapon.
Posted by: SteveK on October 7, 2005 03:12 PMPALPATINE: Remember back to your early teachings. Anakin. "All those who gain power are afraid to lose it." Even the Jedi.
Dare I say... even GEORGE W. BUSH!!!!