Subject: Re: [drugwar] US's 'private army' grows Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 11:47:02 -0400 To: From: Bob Armstrong Interesting point , for activities within the US . But it's a real question what is left when we have cammo clad M-16 wielding troops hanging out at our subway stops . On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 10:28:35 -0500, Vigilius Haufniensis wrote: > whatever is left of posse comitatus doesnt apply to them, because they are not the government. http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/comrel/factfile/Factcards/PosseComita= tus.html Posse Comitatus Act Source: G-OPL "POSSE COMITATUS ACT" (18 USC 1385): A Reconstruction Era= criminal law proscribing use of Army (later, Air Force) to= "execute the laws" except where expressly authorized by= Constitution or Congress. Limit on use of military for civilian= law enforcement also applies to Navy by regulation. Dec '81= additional laws were enacted (codified 10 USC 371-78) clarifying= permissible military assistance to civilian law enforcement= agencies--including the Coast Guard--especially in combating= drug smuggling into the United States. Posse Comitatus= clarifications emphasize supportive and technical assistance= (e.g., use of facilities, vessels, aircraft, intelligence, tech= aid, surveillance, etc.) while generally prohibiting direct= participation of DoD personnel in law enforcement (e.g., search,= seizure, and arrests). For example, Coast Guard Law Enforcement= Detachments (LEDETS) serve aboard Navy vessels and perform the= actual boardings of interdicted suspect drug smuggling vessels= and, if needed, arrest their crews). Positive results have been= realized especially from Navy ship/aircraft involvement. --=A0 =A0Bob Armstrong -- http://CoSy.com -- 212-285-1864 Liberty : http://cosy.com/Liberty.htm =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A02003/09/04 11:41:13 AM